From: Complex? (Spacing)

[MG 2.0]

I think we all understand the letter and spirit of the law in regards to A.I. and hit and run links.

If you're referring to 'period gate', yeah...for reasons given...I am questioning what's going on with that.

Where do you draw the line? Literally. Where does one line begin and the other/next one start?

My gosh, the moderators could have a heyday with any one poster they decide to jump on.

Who's going to be the 'period police'?

Regards,
MG

No - I'm not referring specifically to "period gate". My comment was as specific as I wanted it to be - which is, not very.

I don't think that it's necessary for us to imagine a world in which the mods hound one poor poster over every little real/imagined infraction, in order to suggest that a discussion board is likely to run better when everyone agrees to adhere to the rules, including perhaps some rules that particular posters don't like. Nor do I think that it's unreasonable to expect that direct requests from the board owner be respected.

Are you seriously afraid that the mods here are all going to decide to jump on one poster. And that that poster is you? If so, I believe that history here does not support your fear.

To answer your question about lines, my second paragraph describes pretty much where I draw the line, and I believe that it's a reasonable place to do so. YMMV. I'm not at all suggesting that every "line" here is perfect, or that some are not inconvenient at times. But I think that Dr Shades and the mods are fair, and reasonable, and that we're lucky to have such a place to converse. Again, YMMV.

As my favourite poet says:

ON PROBLEMS

Our choicest plans have fallen through,
our airiest castles tumbled over,
because of lines we neatly drew
and later neatly stumbled over.”

I appreciate your point of view. My beef is with where periods are placed and new sentences begin. I am very careful about NORMALLY using appropriately spaces paragraphs. There are times, however, when I deem it useful to use a demarcation line between points I'm making that I would like to emphasize.

Thus at times, using a 'one return' space between emphasized points that I'd like to be seen

Big deal, right?

YMMV

If you weren't referring to 'period gate', fine. I'm thinking, however, that this is one more opportunity to express my disagreement/displeasure in this matter.

For reasons already given.

I'm glad we were able to communicate one on one in this instance!

Regards,
MG

[malkie]

A traditional way of making the kind of distinction/separation/demarcation lines between points you would like to emphasize is by using unordered (a.k.a. bulleted) and ordered (a.k.a. numbered) lists. Like many examples of discussion board software, phpBB has the features built in on the formatting toolbar to do this.

For example:

• Point one - when it doesn't matter to you what order the points are in, use bullets
• Point two - if you go over one line's worth, the software even respects the indent while wrapping your content - you don't have to do anything but type! What could be easier that that.
• Point three

and

1. Point one - when you care about what order points are in - there's a logical sequence - use numbers, or see below
2. Point two. Is this what you're trying to achieve? If so, all you needed to do was ask your local friendly technical writer I'm pretty sure that Dr Shades would be perfectly happy to see your points laid out like this.
3. Point three

or

1. Point one - when you care about what order points are in - there's a logical sequence - but don't want to use numbers, you can use letters instead
2. Point two
3. Point three

You can even nest them, if you want to get fancy:

1. Point one.
   • First sub-point to point one
   • Second sub-point to point one
2. Point two.
   • First sub-point to point two
   • Second sub-point to point two
   • etc
3. Point three
   • etc
   • etc
   • etc

[MG 2.0]

A traditional way of making the kind of distinction/separation/demarcation lines between points you would like to emphasize is by using unordered (a.k.a. bulleted) and ordered (a.k.a. numbered) lists. Like many examples of discussion board software, phpBB has the features built in on the formatting toolbar to do this.

For example:

• Point one - when it doesn't matter to you what order the points are in, use bullets
• Point two - if you go over one line's worth, the software even respects the indent while wrapping your content - you don't have to do anything but type! What could be easier that that.
• Point three

and

1. Point one - when you care about what order points are in - there's a logical sequence - use numbers, or see below
2. Point two. Is this what you're trying to achieve? If so, all you needed to do was ask your local friendly technical writer I'm pretty sure that Dr Shades would be perfectly happy to see your points laid out like this.
3. Point three

or

1. Point one - when you care about what order points are in - there's a logical sequence - but don't want to use numbers, you can use letters instead
2. Point two
3. Point three

You can even nest them, if you want to get fancy:

1. Point one.
   • First sub-point to point one
   • Second sub-point to point one
2. Point two.
   • First sub-point to point two
   • Second sub-point to point two
   • etc
3. Point three
   • etc
   • etc
   • etc

Yeah...I've been doing the things the same way for years. It works and it's easy. As said, my question is why all the hoopla now? What initiated it NOW and not before. Especially where it's really not a big deal.

Why is it a big deal, I say?

A.I.- OK...big deal for some.
Link and run- OK...big deal for some.
Sentences at times separated by a single 'return'- big deal for...who?

I'll bet that up until Shades decided it WAS a big deal there were very few, if any, that cared or even recognized there was a so-called problem.

I still think there's something else a foot. But that's just my opinion.

First...A.I.
Then...link and run.
Now...spacing 'issues' wreaking havoc?

Sheesh. What's next?

Why do think Shades is making a big deal out of this?

Obvious he has his reasons ..and for some reason he didn't before...for years. What's up with that?

Regards
MG

[malkie]

"Be careful, his bowtie is really a camera"

[I Have Questions]

I don't think that it's necessary for us to imagine a world in which the mods hound one poor poster over every little real/imagined infraction, in order to suggest that a discussion board is likely to run better when everyone agrees to adhere to the rules, including perhaps some rules that particular posters don't like. Nor do I think that it's unreasonable to expect that direct requests from the board owner be respected.

When you’re a guest in someone’s house, it is considered bad manners to disregard the hosts wishes. When you flagrantly, repeatedly and loudly disregard the hosts wishes at every opportunity, yes it grants the offender the attention he craves. But it spoils the party for all the other guests.

In terms of the specific reason behind why Shades seeks to minimise spacing in favour of content, I would guess that it’s because space on a hosted message board costs money. Creating space for the sake of it, wastes money. And that is the last I will say on the topic.

[Dr. Shades]

[MODERATOR NOTE: MG 2.0, please stop hitting the "Enter" key after every period. Instead, please allow your paragraphs to have more than one sentence each.

Thank you.]

Umm...am I not able to punctuate the way I want to now?

Your punctuation isn't, and was never, the problem. By all means, continue punctuating however you'd like (within the standard rules of the English language).

The problem is hitting the "Enter" key after every period. . . twice, in your practice. This creates unnecessary "white space" that makes your posts a little more jarring to read. Think of the last fictional book you read; maybe it was by Stephen King, Sue Grafton, or John Grisham. How enjoyable would your reading experience have been if there were no paragraphs? How well, or unwell, would the story have "flowed" if there was a double-space between each sentence?

My request isn't to dogpile you or to hamstring you. It's to make your posts easier to read. In other words, I'm trying to make your posts better, not worse.

Are punctuation requirements and expectations in the board rules?

No. But neither is rAndOmlY InTeRmIxInG caPiTal anD SmALl LeTeRS lIkE dOctoRcAmNc4mE soMeTimEs dOEs, it simply makes those sentences extremely annoying to read.

I had my reasons for doing so.

Your reasons were illegitimate. The cashier behind the counter at McDonald's may have his reasons for using the "F" word every other word, but that doesn't mean his reasons are legitimate.

My reasoning behind separating these comments through the use of a period to emphasize each statement individually.

Personally, I don't see a problem with that.

Here's the problem: To emphasize everything is to emphasize nothing.

Yes, they may have been pretty strong statements, and by the way, they weren't responded to.

Punctuation was the story of the day!

Double-spacing after every sentence doesn't strengthen a sentence; it makes your message "choppy" to read. . . and therefore weakens them.

No. That's not what I'm doing. I believe that my punctuation use is just fine. I've been making posts for years and this 'infraction' has been unnoticed and unmentioned.

Why?

I ignored each and every instance for, what, well over a decade? Just because I didn't bother saying anything until now doesn't mean it wasn't an annoyance prior to now.

Are we looking for technicalities to squelch free speech now??

Say WHAT? Does a polite request to observe the regular rules of paragraphination (gr?) make you feel your free speech is being squelched? When you were in first or second grade and your teacher asked you to capitalize the first letter of each of your sentences, did you feel your free speech was being squelched then, too?

Why do [you] think Shades is making a big deal out of this?

How does "MG 2.0, please stop hitting the 'Enter' key after every period. Instead, please allow your paragraphs to have more than one sentence each. Thank you" qualify as "making a big deal?"

In your mind, is there a difference between a polite request and a making big deal? If so, what is it?

[canpakes]

Hey, all - this conversation on spacing has taken on a life of its own, so I’ve carved out that portion from the original topic into this split. Content and location will continue to be adjusted as required.

[MG 2.0]

As though that was the only or most reasonable choice?

When you 'broke through it' what were the results?

Regards,
MG

This comment seems to demonstrate that Twain may have perused the Book of Mormon but possibly failed to recognize some of the complexities that Grant Hardy has written a whole book about.

I don't think it is reasonable to simply take Mark Twain at his word in this respect.

Mark Twain wasn't a theologian. I doubt he spent much time digging deep in that regard.

I like his fiction though! Read it when I was a young lad.

Regards,
MG

[MODERATOR NOTE: MG 2.0, please stop hitting the "Enter" key after every period. Instead, please allow your paragraphs to have more than one sentence each.

Thank you.]

OK.

Regards,
MG

[Moksha]

Folks, this is interesting. And a little scary.

Just obey, IHQ says. "Why can't you just obey?'

Think about this.

Of course, what we are listening to is someone from the UK. That might help explain things.

Regards,
MG

So are the Brits punctuation rebels or conformists? Do they put their shoulder to the wheel and push along? Do they make their bloomin' sentences into a paragraph strong? They will not rest when they can be a pest; put your shoulder to the wheel!!!

[Morley]

As though that was the only or most reasonable choice?

When you 'broke through it' what were the results?

Regards,
MG

This comment seems to demonstrate that Twain may have perused the Book of Mormon but possibly failed to recognize some of the complexities that Grant Hardy has written a whole book about.

I don't think it is reasonable to simply take Mark Twain at his word in this respect.

Mark Twain wasn't a theologian. I doubt he spent much time digging deep in that regard.

I like his fiction though! Read it when I was a young lad.

Regards,
MG

[MODERATOR NOTE: MG 2.0, please stop hitting the "Enter" key after every period. Instead, please allow your paragraphs to have more than one sentence each.

Thank you.]

Shades, MG irritates me as much as he does anyone else. I've made no secret of this. He often acts the troll who enjoys pushing envelope. It gets in the way of discussion and drives me up the wall.

I'm going to side with him on this one, however. I think that, stylistically, MG should be allowed to post this way.

The reason I think this is because you let others do so. For example, I'm pretty sure that consiglieri hits <enter> at the end of every sentence he types. He's done this since he began posting here, years ago. He does it now. This has never been an issue, as it's a part of his style. To my knowledge, you've never issued a word of reprimand to him.

To reprimand MG for something that you've allowed others to do seems grossly unfair.