# Quote sniping is fucking annoying to read and respond to. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 3, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298 "2010-11-03T03:22:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/1 "2010-11-03T03:22:22Z")
To preface: I came here recently from another intelligent forum in which quote-sniping is heavily discouraged. It’s not a bannable offense unless it’s done repeatedly and obtusely (afaik nobody has actually been perma-banned over it, either they stop doing it, or leave pissed off that the community united against them). Mods will generally just place a spoiler around the sniper’s post and warn against doing it again. In your opinion, Pit: does quote-sniping have any merit at all? I’m willing to reconsider my stance on it, though I will always find the practice aesthetically displeasing. My opinion is that you should say what you want to say instead of quoting ten different separate people or ideas and responding to each in a nitpicky fashion. Or quote a larger block of text once instead of chopping it into 10 separate quote blocks. There is always a better way of discoursing than to quote-snipe. I am specifically referring to [posts](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13095118&postcount=6) [like](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13094841&postcount=419) [these](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13046092&postcount=3857) made by **Shot From Guns** (the last of which is the most egregious example length-wise, though arguably the least offensive regarding content). I realize my work monitor is tiny and shitty, but I really wish I didn’t have to page down 8 fucking times to bypass your verbal diarrhea. And yes, I realize there is a foe function on the boards. But I see others quote-sniping here, and I’d prefer not to. (I also would prefer not to foe anyone over their style, that seems childish) ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/2 "2010-11-03T03:29:06Z")
I’m with ya, but what’s ‘foe’? Fuck Off Elmo?’ ‘Flush Out Effluent?’ Flying Over Evanston? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/3 "2010-11-03T03:30:07Z")
Quote sniping? There’s a name for this? I dunno, honestly, it makes it easier for me to follow when I see the quote and the response like that. _shrug_ YM obviously V. ETA: I assume “foe” is “ignore.” ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/4 "2010-11-03T03:31:47Z")
Over here we call it quote parsing. It can be done annoyingly and often is if it’s done a lot but frankly, people who do things like quote the entire OP in the first reply piss me off more. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/5 "2010-11-03T03:32:54Z")
I don’t understand why anyone would have a problem with it. As long as the quoting is not done in such a way as to misrepresent the argument of the person being quoted, it can make it easier for people to follow the discussion. Sometimes particular parts of a post require specific responses, and the conversation flows better when it is clear to all readers exactly which comments are being responded to. As for aesthetics, this board has generally been less about aesthetics than about content, so i really don’t care much for that argument. And verbal diarrhea is not dependent upon quote sniping. It’s perfectly possible to be verbose without any quotes at all. If you want to bypass posts, then how you do it is your problem. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/6 "2010-11-03T03:34:48Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > But I see others quote-sniping here, and I’d prefer not to. So don’t. Reply in your own style. Quite a few posters here use that style you refer to as quote-sniping; quite a few don’t. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t. I’ll readily agree that once it gets above three or four parts, I tend to just start scrolling. But that’s no reason to stop those posters from doing it, it’s just a reason for my eyes to glaze over and not read anymore. You’d have _loved_ it here a couple of months ago when we were experimenting with automatic nested quotes. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/7 "2010-11-03T03:34:51Z")
“Quote sniping”? I’ve never heard that term before. Can you define what you mean by it? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/8 "2010-11-03T03:35:28Z")
Oh, snipping? Quote snipping? As in taking a piece of what someone else wrote, snipping it out of their post and replying to it in your own post? It’s parsing here, and it’s for good reason. How else am I supposed to directly answer a specific post, so that others can see what exactly I’m responding to, so others to whom I’m not responding to don’t misunderstand and get their panties in a twist? This has been going on for many, many, years at the SDMB. I was a lurker for nearly 5 years before I became a member, and it’s always been done. It really helps eliminate any confusion as to whom you are responding to and in what context. How is it nitpicking? It’s making sure everyone who reads your post gets it in the correct context, so you don’t start a fight with anyone you’re not planning to. If you want to snipe back at me about it, feel free. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/9 "2010-11-03T03:42:22Z")
Seems to me it is the most efficient way to refute multiple points in a way a casual reader can understand. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/10 "2010-11-03T03:44:59Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Seems to me it is the most efficient way to refute multiple points in a way a casual reader can understand. Aye, me too. I like it because it makes the post into a mini two-person conversation. I’m Snowboarder Bo, and I approve of this method. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/11 "2010-11-03T03:48:20Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > But I see others quote-sniping here, and I’d prefer not to. > [@Frank](#): > > So don’t. Reply in your own style. You appear to be reading the OP as saying [s]he would prefer not to _do_ quote-snip[p]ing. I’m reading him [her] as saying [s]he would prefer not to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/12 "2010-11-03T03:51:29Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > You appear to be reading the OP as saying [s]he would prefer not to _do_ quote-snip[p]ing. I am. > [@](#): > > I’m reading him [her] as saying [s]he would prefer not to see it. Ah, perhaps you’re right. If so, please substitute “Tough shit.” for “So don’t. Reply in your own style.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/13 "2010-11-03T03:52:59Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Oh, snipping? Quote snipping? Ah, this makes so much more sense. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me before. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/14 "2010-11-03T03:54:00Z")
Your examples do not show what you think they show. The first link is indeed ‘quote sniping’ or quote parsing, and it can get annoying, especially when the quote parser replies to a later part of the quote as if it had been said after an earlier reply (Quote: X. Reply: Refutation of X. Quote: Continuation of X. Reply: Snotty mention that X had just been refuted.) The other two links are something completely different: multi-quoting. That’s when quotes from multiple people are included in one large post. If you’ll notice, not one of the quotes in the second two links have been pulled apart; they are individual quotes from different posters. While I can kind of see how that might be personally annoying to you, it’s a weak-ass thing to bitch about. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/15 "2010-11-03T04:02:46Z")
I think rachel is smart enough to know the difference between snipping and sniping, so I think she may be referring to a different practice. She doesn’t mean just snipping out what you don’t need, but breaking the quote up into sections, responding to each sentence bit by bit, instead of actually separating them by thought. And, yes, it is annoying, but we are pedantic like that. And sometimes, it’s the easiest way to answer someone. But I would suggest you don’t split up something so you lose meaning. And there are times when it is clearly done becuase someone wants to refute every single comment, even when there’s nothing to dispute. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/16 "2010-11-03T04:14:06Z")
Quoting _entire_ previous lengthy posts needlessly is worse. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/17 "2010-11-03T04:17:23Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > To preface: I came here recently from another intelligent forum WHaaaaaaat??? _Another_ intelligent forum? That’s unpossible! Teh intarnetz would asplode! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/18 "2010-11-03T04:19:03Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I think rachel is smart enough to know the difference between snipping and sniping, so I think she may be referring to a different practice. That’s perfectly plausible. It would probably be a good idea for her to come around and tell us what exactly it (sniping) _is_. > [@BigT](#): > > She doesn’t mean just snipping out what you don’t need, but breaking the quote up into sections, responding to each sentence bit by bit, instead of actually separating them by thought. That’s quite apparent. But 'round these parts, the practice is called “quote-parsing.” > [@BigT](#): > > And, yes, it is annoying, but we are pedantic like that. And sometimes, it’s the easiest way to answer someone. I don’t get calling it “annoying.” It’s definitely the easiest way to keep track of which counter-statement is being addressed to which original statement. What’s _annoying_ is bottom-quoting (where you write your response to a post and put the post you’re responding to beneath your response). > [@BigT](#): > > But I would suggest you don’t split up something so you lose meaning. You might have a point with the fear that breaking the original post up threatens to obscure its _Gestalt_. But with that handy-dandy arrow/link that brings the reader right back to the quoted post, I don’t see that as a big issue. And if I don’t feel a need to dispute a particular statement, I usually leave it out of my response. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/19 "2010-11-03T04:19:42Z")
So, you hold this bag down close the ground, make the mating call, get your stick ready, and then when the quote snipe runs out from the brush… ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298/20 "2010-11-03T04:31:46Z")
I thought this was called “[fisking](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisking)”. And I love it. It tells me whose posts to scroll right through. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-sniping-is-fucking-annoying-to-read-and-respond-to/559298.md?page=2)