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Minimum character limit
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Posted by: uh...ok
So I know many bulletin boards use a feature that enforces a minimum character limit (it's not that big, usually like 10 characters or so) as a measure of preventing useless posts. Is there any particular reason why OTS doesn't utilize this?
Posted by: armystud0911
word association thread. plus nothing states a point better than a well thought out smiley sometimes!
Posted by: SKYHN
101
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
Well many tech-related and General/Off-topic issues cant be properly identified with just one or two words.
Posted by: Gunslinger
 Quote:
Originally posted by armystud0911
word association thread. plus nothing states a point better than a well thought out smiley sometimes!
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I believe actually, he was asking for reasons why OTS does not utilize such a limitation--reasons why we should, well, they go without saying.
Posted by: redwench
are there really that many posts that fall under 10 characters?
Posted by: uh...ok
Yeah.
Posted by: uh...ok
Now that I've had my fun (couldn't resist)... a minimum character limit would at the very least encourage some people to think before they post, because they actually have to come up with something more than just one or two words. From my experience in other forums, it's stopped me from posting certain things that, in retrospect, would not have made a difference. And for parts where it was supposed to make a difference, I was pushed to elaborate a little more (e.g. above post, I would have probably elaborated by citing examples, or talking about where/when it occurred most often).
Posted by: TheeMon
yea i would like this enabled here too (bye bye word association thread)
Posted by: Canis Lupus
Great suggestion, actually ... I'll see how I can push it on my next update  ... of course, knowing some of the people here, they'll just post wiseass things like:
yeah + smilie smilie smilie
or
smilie smilie smilie x 10
That's the main reason I didn't bother imposing the restriction in the first place, but we'll see what I can cook up...
Posted by: uh...ok
Well isn't there a smiley limit of 8 per post anyway? I know that doesn't make things much better, but it's certainly useful to keep in mind.
Of course, if they're *really* trying, they could just use IMG tags to direct to the smileys instead.
Posted by: laborat
Do people here actually post less than 10 words? (faints)X 10 Wordy as I am most of the time/ beyond the current generation's attention span as has been pointed out to me, I am not sure that a minimum is a good idea. Sometimes one word is sufficient to get the point across. Those of us who work with words live for those days when one word says it all.
Posted by: uh...ok
As I mentioned earlier, even in posts where "one word says it all", further (and careful) elaboration can only help improve the utility of a post.
Using one word to get your point across may sometimes seem like a cool way to communicate... in a chatroom at least. But in a bulletin board, I think that if you're going to post at all, you should at the very least have to use one coherent sentence.
I mean, wouldn't you be annoyed if you were following a particular thread(s) and when you saw that there was a new post on it and clicked on it only to find a bunch of posts like "lol" or "haha," or even in the case that the one-worder might be appropriate, "Yeah"?
Posted by: redwench
the occasional gerbil spam is tolerable.
Posted by: RAcastClarke
I think that if people post enough posts with 10 characters or under, give em a warning. Don't prevent them from doing so, just let em do it. Post this rule somewhere where everyone can see it, and just let them know to think before they post.
Posted by: uh...ok
That places way too much of the burden on the moderators. With already enough responsibilites as is, they shouldn't have to keep track of the sizes of users' posts.
Posted by: armystud0911
true that, just start the limit I don't really care. I was in one forum that had a 50 character limit once. In some ways it would be nice to impose cuz lots of folks (me inc) are getting huge post counts from the word association thread.
Posted by: redwench
of course, that thread could just be deleted.........
why are you so concerned with post counts?
Posted by: SKYHN
Cuz post counts decide the hierarchy of life! He who has highest post'est gets the most'est.
Posted by: Canis Lupus
Quote:
Originally posted by SKYHN
Cuz post counts decide the hierarchy of life! He who has highest post'est gets the most'est.
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no comment
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
Quote:
Originally posted by SKYHN
Cuz post counts decide the hierarchy of life! He who has highest post'est gets the most'est.
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setting up for a coup d'tat eh? But yeah, posts counts count.
Posted by: redwench
http://www.darkintellect.com/redwench/eyebrow.gif
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
Quote:
<laughs at Redwench> 
Posted by: RAcastClarke
Hah, character limit..sigh...
One smiley?? That's it?? red, that really is..funny, to me...yeah..um..
Posted by: Canis Lupus
Quote:
Originally posted by Bunmiadefisayo
But yeah, posts counts count.
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there is a reason why post counts don't show up on the left side it encourages people to choose quality over quantity...
some don't know the difference, obviously 
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
"sigh" Sie sind der Chef ich glaube... 
Posted by: SKYHN
Back in the Medieval Times, the king and queen had the highest post count.
Posted by: Oldcrocd
People who impose limits normally have an agenda of their own making in making the suggestion in the first place. Most of the short posts are normally what makes this and other boards funny. Without humour you might as well climb in the box now and close the lid!
By the way what does IMO stand for I can't figure that one out.
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
Me neither, i keep seeing IMO and i have no idea wat it means.
yeah so, character limits...
Posted by: Outlaw
IMO=in my opinion
Posted by: uh...ok
Quote:
Originally posted by Oldcrocd
People who impose limits normally have an agenda of their own making in making the suggestion in the first place. Most of the short posts are normally what makes this and other boards funny. Without humour you might as well climb in the box now and close the lid!
By the way what does IMO stand for I can't figure that one out.
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Yes... I have an agenda of my own in asking for this. It's all in my big plan to take over OTS... 
Posted by: Canis Lupus
I believe that it is not the length of what you say but what you actually say that matters... some people can find more wisdom in 5 words than 5 paragraphs - but of course, there are those who promote brevity to compensate for their lack of the ability to be articulate 
So, uhm ... quality versus quantity still applies, I guess
Posted by: Canis Lupus
Quote:
Originally posted by Oldcrocd
People who impose limits normally have an agenda of their own making in making the suggestion in the first place.
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Agreed, and a possible agenda would be to promote meaingful discussions instead of small talk better left to chatrooms and instant messaging software
And humour is relative. I find more humour in most of laborat's infamous "diatribes" as some members call it, than most of the short quips that are confusingly construed as "funny" by some members here ... or maybe my sense of humor can't fathom their lack of meaning... probably my shortcoming
oops, my post is too long
Posted by: Spider
I, for one disagree with the thought of posting limitations on one's posts.
Like Lito said, some prefer brevity in their posts than to be long winded.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages. But placing a minimum size limit on the posts in any forum are really just catering to one type of poster. And tossing the others to the wind. Or forcing them to add meaningless fluff to their posts so they are still able to reply their assent or dissent of the subject at hand.
Also, while one word posts might be pointless to some, others might like to know when people agree, disagree or express that they thought a post was funny, even if in only three characters. If they don't go into great length about why or not.
I understand that the normal freedoms given to us don't apply to private forums (for lack of a better word.) However I think this is going a step beyond what we normally would, or even should. I just wished to voice my opinion on the matter, however it is ultimately Lito's domain and it's his choice to do what he wants.
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
Limitaions on posts would mean Messr Laborat would be out of business
I see one simple solution to removing the Short Post syndrome, seeing as it is a thorn ion the side of some people... close teh General/Off-topic forum.
Of course then Thee would be out of business and i will really miss Red's short, caustic humour. Ah well like Spider said, c'est la vie!
Posted by: Spider
You misunderstood my use of the word limitations.
On a completely unrelated note. <paranoia> That's weird you say that. C'est La Vie was a phrase I used to use quite a lot, back in the cretaceous. But you weren't here for that. </paranoia>
Posted by: Canis Lupus
Quote:
Originally posted by Bunmiadefisayo
Limitaions on posts would mean Messr Laborat would be out of business
I see one simple solution to removing the Short Post syndrome, seeing as it is a thorn ion the side of some people... close teh General/Off-topic forum.
Of course then Thee would be out of business and i will really miss Red's short, caustic humour. Ah well like Spider said, c'est la vie!
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It is also amusing that most of the bias is against laborat, when your old friend Icebreaker is also a wealth of words
Let's not make this personal, shall we? Suggestions are made here to make the forums better, not to make the life of one or two members more comfortable, and to hell with the rest... The minimum character limit is actually a good suggestion, but not a practical one, seeing as most members "really" can only express themselves in only a few words, and small talk is popular. Even if it was enforced, people will find a way around it.
Personally, I don't care if you use a word or a paragraph, as long as your post is actually useful and/or contributes to the discussion at hand and/or makes a point.
The suggestion to close down General/Off topic as a means to sarcastically make your point is, predictably, ridiculous. Obviously you have more on your mind to say, Bunmiadefisayo, so why don't you just say it? The last time a suggestion that the Off topic forum be closed just coz of a trivial thing was a year ago, and that person only said it coz he was pissed at something else - are you?
(anyway, that's like saying "to solve terrorism, bomb the middle east"... which actually makes sense if you're Republican, but that's another topic, huh?)
Anyway, this is a non-issue. I say, think before you post, and it doesn't matter how long or short your post is, as long as it is absolutely fascinating.
And my apologies to those who think this post is too long... I hope it wasn't a burden
Posted by: SKYHN
Laborat and Icebreaker have Weapons of Mass Destruction!!11one
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
<sigh> Canis i am misunderstood here (on purpose, i dunno). I have nothing against Laborat.
In any case like Spider said )or was it Tecil?) in a thread of mine..i will have to summarize here rather than risk misquoting, this year's Coup d"tat is already over. unfortunately i was right in the middle of it. Sorry about that, i really do try and keep my personal feelings from spilling on-line.
This post is getting too long...
Posted by: Canis Lupus
Understood, now let's get on with our lives and search for meaning
Posted by: SKYHN
NO! Must...raise...postcount...
Oh wait...
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
SKYHN seriously, you must have about a hundred thousand posts right now! You've been here since 2001!
Posted by: SKYHN
Yeah, Ive got lots of posts here.
See, heres another one.
Posted by: Canis Lupus
too bad posts in this subforum don't get included in post counts
Posted by: SKYHN
Quote:
Originally posted by Canis Lupus
too bad posts in this subforum don't get included in post counts
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It seems my sarcasm is a bit off lately
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
Quote:
Originally posted by Bunmiadefisayo
SKYHN seriously, you must have about a hundred thousand posts right now! You've been here since 2001!
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OK, lets repost this with a tiny adjustment and see if it makes any difference;
SKHYN seriously, you must have about a hundred thousand posts right now! You've been here since 2001!
Posted by: compukeith
I think that it's a good idea, but, if it's imposed, we will miss so many of redwench's great one word replies that make that ever important difference!
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