# Quoting Extremely Long Posts... **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 26, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017 "2013-03-26T16:36:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/1 "2013-03-26T16:36:05Z")
There is currently a Pit thread where one of our newer members is trying out the Moon Hoax theory again. His OP is quite a screed - I can’t bring myself to read the whole thing, but it is many, many paragraphs long with dozens of embedded links. Some of the replies to this re-quote the whole OP and then add a single line (TL;DR or “Cite?” or the like). Is it any extra burden on the server or the hamsters to quote such a long post? I know there is, or used to be, a size limit on posts, and I am sure our latest Moon hoaxer is pushing it, but does it mess anything up to quote the thing? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/2 "2013-03-26T16:39:37Z")
Which post are you talking about? Could you repost it here? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/3 "2013-03-26T16:49:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Which post are you talking about? Could you repost it here? This one. You were post #10. > **[The Apollo Moon Missions Were Faked in a Studio](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=686258)** > > The evidence that the Apollo moon missions were faked in a studio is crushing. The US government can’t censor the evidence that’s on the internet but it can bury it with disinformation and obfuscation. If you enter “Apollo hoax” in Google, you’ll... ETA: and you made a funny. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/4 "2013-03-26T16:53:37Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > This one. You were post #10. > > [The Apollo Moon Missions Were Faked in a Studio - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=686258) > > ETA: and you made a funny. I blame my new meds(Zoloft)…unless it really _was_ funny, then I give full credit to my new meds(Zoloft). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/5 "2013-03-26T16:55:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I blame my new meds(Zoloft)…unless it really _was_ funny, then I give full credit to my new meds(Zoloft). 'Twas funny. Gimme a few of them zoloft. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/6 "2013-03-26T18:23:27Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I blame my new meds(Zoloft)…unless it really _was_ funny, then I give full credit to my new meds(Zoloft). “Cite?” was funny, but this was the topper: > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Could you repost it here? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/7 "2013-03-26T18:24:06Z")
😃 > [@Skammer](#): > > “Cite?” was funny, but this was the topper: ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/8 "2013-03-26T18:29:09Z")
IIRC, courtesy recommends only to quote the most salient part of a post in which to offer a comment, rebuttal, maintain the thread flow, etc. In the thread in question, it appears **Czarcasm** , among others, was doing just that. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/9 "2013-03-26T21:21:47Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > There is currently a Pit thread where one of our newer members is trying out the Moon Hoax theory again. His OP is quite a screed - I can’t bring myself to read the whole thing, but it is many, many paragraphs long with dozens of embedded links. > > Some of the replies to this re-quote the whole OP and then add a single line (TL;DR or “Cite?” or the like). > > Is it any extra burden on the server or the hamsters to quote such a long post? I know there is, or used to be, a size limit on posts, and I am sure our latest Moon hoaxer is pushing it, but does it mess anything up to quote the thing? > > Regards, > Shodan > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Which post are you talking about? Could you repost it here? > [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > This one. You were post #10. > > [The Apollo Moon Missions Were Faked in a Studio - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=686258) > > ETA: and you made a funny. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > I blame my new meds(Zoloft)…unless it really _was_ funny, then I give full credit to my new meds(Zoloft). > [@kayaker](#): > > 'Twas funny. Gimme a few of them zoloft. > [@Skammer](#): > > “Cite?” was funny, but this was the topper: > [@Czarcasm](#): > > 😃 > [@Duckster](#): > > IIRC, courtesy recommends only to quote the most salient part of a post in which to offer a comment, rebuttal, maintain the thread flow, etc. > > In the thread in question, it appears **Czarcasm** , among others, was doing just that. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/10 "2013-03-26T21:36:02Z")
I’m amazed anyone read past the first sentence of the OP in question. Thereafter, It was rather annoying having to scroll through it the first time, let alone several more times. Quoting that wall of text is like responding to a fart in an elevator by farting. It’s only funny to the guy passing gas. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/11 "2013-03-26T22:04:33Z")
I think people who quote several pages or paragraphs just to add a one line response to the bottom that could’ve been made just as well without quoting at all should be moderated. Not a warning, but a “mod note, this is bad practice” type of thing. This board is way better about it than the rest of the internet, but we should actively discourage what little remains. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/12 "2013-03-26T22:33:50Z")
Does anyone know if it constitutes extra load for the servers or the MB software to re-quote very long posts? That’s what I would like to know. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/13 "2013-03-26T23:11:36Z")
Seems to me that in general long re-posts are bad manners but in this particular instance it was done for comedic purpose. Lets be honest, no one here is going to take that OP seriously so it’s not like it’s shitting up a good thread. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/14 "2013-03-26T23:18:45Z")
^And if wasted electrons are a huge concern, well there’s the irony of this lil chat going on for. . .what, a quarter page? ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/15 "2013-03-27T02:26:35Z")
On the flipside, I thought there was a rule that informs us not to snip out a portion of a quoted post but instead to quote a post in its entirety. Is this just an informal guideline, am I mis-remembering or did my search just now not take me there? I read through the rules on Posting and such… and came up empty-handed. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/16 "2013-03-27T02:42:18Z")
I believe it’s ok to snip if the snipping doesn’t change the intended meaning. IANAMod. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/17 "2013-03-27T02:57:25Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > On the flipside, I thought there was a rule that informs us not to snip out a portion of a quoted post but instead to quote a post in its entirety. There has never been such a rule. The major rule about attributed quotes within the quote box is that they should not be edited to change their meaning. You may quote parts of posts. Within a quoted section, you may also edit out parts while inserting an ellipsis, [snip], or other indication of the edit. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/18 "2013-03-27T02:58:11Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I’m amazed anyone read past the first sentence of the OP in question. Thereafter, It was rather annoying having to scroll through it the first time, let alone several more times. Quoting that wall of text is like responding to a fart in an elevator by farting. It’s only funny to the guy passing gas. I found it hilarious, FTR. But I have a working scroll wheel. Those who don’t might not find it as amusing. That said, c’mon: the thread was preposterous to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/19 "2013-03-27T02:59:22Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > There has never been such a rule. The major rule about attributed quotes within the quote box is that they should not be edited to change their meaning. You may quote parts of posts. Within a quoted section, you may also edit out parts while inserting an ellipsis, [snip], or other indication of the edit. Excellent, thank you for the clarification. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017/20 "2013-03-27T02:59:37Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > On the flipside, I thought there was a rule that informs us not to snip out a portion of a quoted post but instead to quote a post in its entirety. > > Is this just an informal guideline, am I mis-remembering or did my search just now not take me there? I read through the rules on Posting and such… and came up empty-handed. It seems to be OK to snip quotes as long as it doesn’t change the meaning. [Can I modify other posters’ quotes?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7697048#post7697048) > [@](#): > > … > > Text inside (QUOTE) tags is sacrosanct. Normal editorial rules apply: that is, you may indicate omitted portions of a quote by the use of ellipses “…” and you may add text to clarify a word using square brackets (e.g., “her [the sister’s] friend”), but you may not add editorial comments or edit a quote so as to change the substantive meaning; nor may you substitute text such as “some blather” or “more nonsense” inside the (QUOTE) tags. > > … (slightly altered the inner quote tags so they didn’t bollix up the coding) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-extremely-long-posts/654017.md?page=2)