What is the point of putting “(long)”, " - long ", or some variant thereof after your subject line? What possible problems could an overly long post cause? It’s just text - it downloads at basically the same speed whether you’re on a cable modem or a 56k.
If this belongs in ATMB, sorry.
Many people do it in case there are people (like me) who are often too lazy to read a very long post. At least, that’s why I appreciate the warning.
I don’t think it has anything to do with downloading. Some people wouldn’t have the time or the patience to read an increadibly long OP, so writing ‘long’ is sort of a warning not to click on the thread unless you’ve got some time.
It cracks me up when I click on one of these “long” threads, and am presented with about three paragraphs, taking up maybe 2/3rd of the browser window. Not all that uncommon, either.
The “long” notification isn’t so much a warning length – since it only applies to the first post.
Seeing the number of replies is more of an acid test, for me. If there’s a fairly well-trodden subject with 2 pages of responses, I’ll often give it a pass, assuming that: a) most of the major points have already been made, b) that the discussion has a high probability of having become complicated and convoluted.
The “long” notification in the SDMB means to me: somebody’s rambling, and they want to warn others it’s not a coherent post. I almost never open the “long” threads.
yes
Sorry, I also appreciate the long post warning, because I also suffer from laziness
And so you see the “long” tag is a device to scare away lazy readers. And it works.
Off to ATMB.
We don’t like being lazy. We [Or I, at least] consider it a curse.
Or more often, to warn of lazy writers. It’s quite simple to perform a “brain dump” of jumbled thoughts into a lengthy post. It takes more effort to make one’s post as brief and clear as possible.
“I have made this letter longer than usual, because I lack the time to make it shorter.”
-Blaise Pascal
<< Or more often, to warn of lazy writers >>
Well, I dunno. I guess it depends on forum. If I see a tagline for a personal question in MPSIMS or IMHO that says “long”, and I’m only on for a few minutes, I can judge whether I want to read it then, later, or never. It’s not necessarily laziness so much as interest and time.
For instance, a thread about “My colonoscopy (long)”, I’d probably decide not to read. Not laziness, just lack of interest. “My colonoscopy (short)” I might read just for the ewwww-factor.
No, it doesn’t.
does
Perhaps they are people like me, new to SDMB and used to other online communities where 2 or 3 paragraphs IS considered “long”??
Aren’t those called “chat rooms”? 