I must admit that when I open a thread that I have not been following, and see a posting of more than a few paragraphs, I rarely proceed to read any of it. I guess my attention span has shortened as I have gotten older. I'm not sure of exactly how long is too long, but I know if it appears to be what would be more than a full page of typewritten text, I just pass on it. Is it just me?
How long is too long?
- Thread starter vito
- Start date
Go back and review some of YOUR posts. 
OP
I have no trouble with my own posts, each one a hidden pearl in a sea of trash. Its only other posts that are too long for me to read.
Since I'm retired I'm not in that big of a hurry.
If people on here take the time and effort to post a long post. I think the least I can do is read it even if I'm interested or not.
Yes some of yours I have read are been long and I enjoy reading them.
If people on here take the time and effort to post a long post. I think the least I can do is read it even if I'm interested or not.
Yes some of yours I have read are been long and I enjoy reading them.
Lol ! It's not really a problem if paragraphs are used with good punctuation. Some of the crap you see on the gun forums makes you wonder if they should own a gun. And to be fair a good many have college educations.
The topic has to be interesting to me, of the following discussion at least. If then I will read longer posts.
Also I consider who is writing. Some people are just better at writing and holding the art (edit: attention, not art) of the reader than others, even here.
Also I consider who is writing. Some people are just better at writing and holding the art (edit: attention, not art) of the reader than others, even here.
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Sometimes I'll read it and others not so much.
The one thing that WILL kill me reading it is no page/paragraph breaks.
The one thing that WILL kill me reading it is no page/paragraph breaks.
What I don't like is reading a really long post and then realizing that it is 2 years old, and I've probably already read it.
In my case a lot depends on who wrote the exceedingly long paragraph. There are a few, on the Forum, that write lots of words, but contain little substance. I see their post and move on.
OP
So far no one has posted an excessively long reply, so I have read all of them. I confess that this forum, and a very few others, are my primary means of communicating with rational and sane people, so I am motivated to start threads that might generate some discussion. I know that forums in general are a dying form of communication. So many people today, especially the youngsters (i.e., anyone under 50) prefer short texts or brief comments on a group page of Facebook or Instagram, or even the disorganization of Twitter. So I try to do my part to keep the good forums alive.
As time goes on I do find myself more and more isolated intellectually. I see my grown children captured by the Leftist worldview and I fear that many of my grandchildren are as well. While I used to have many good friends, sadly many have moved to the brown side of the grass. My old motorcycle buddies are either not riding anymore, or not with us anymore. I guess I am becoming more of a curmugeon and have to keep myself occupied with being a grammar Nazi or finding little things, like overly long threads, to complain about.
As time goes on I do find myself more and more isolated intellectually. I see my grown children captured by the Leftist worldview and I fear that many of my grandchildren are as well. While I used to have many good friends, sadly many have moved to the brown side of the grass. My old motorcycle buddies are either not riding anymore, or not with us anymore. I guess I am becoming more of a curmugeon and have to keep myself occupied with being a grammar Nazi or finding little things, like overly long threads, to complain about.
Social media has ruin social contact the young people today have no social skills they also have a high rate of suicide. We didn't grow up with the internet. But don't fool yourself about intellectualism on a gun forum, we are here to occupy our time.
And the first time you say something or go against the mind-set you'll get deleted or booted.
And the first time you say something or go against the mind-set you'll get deleted or booted.
OP
Been here for almost 18 years. This is a special, maybe unique forum. And for that I am grateful.
I would agree with you, but after reading the thread about what the future will bring, I’m not sure rational and sane fit.
But by all means, keep up the threads with provocative ideas to generate conversation. Those are the most interesting threads anyway. Just as long as the conversation doesn’t get political. It get tiring to read when a few people dominate the thread with irrational ideas.
I hear ya vito, I comment on your threads because as Kevin points out they are interesting. Basically after 35 a person is set in their way of thinking and had you ever challenged that way of thinking you would not have lasted 18 years. As far as it being special or unique, keep a low profile and don't stir up the evangelicals.
Vito, after reading your #12 post, I realized that I am pretty much in the same boat as you. My grand children have been fully indoctrinated by the internet, celebrities, and public education In the leftist ideology. Practically all of my old golfing buddies, have moved away, died, or given up the game. Growing older has a cruel edge that we all must accept as inevitable. Life will go on, although I can see that life in America has changed and will be a different country than the one I have known. I remember a famous politician once saying “America is the greatest country in the wold. Now, help me change it.” The crowd cheered with no clue as to the change he had in mind. Damn, what fools!
By golly, you're catching on. That part of your post actually made me smile and nod my head.
xtratoy
Hunter
Not aimed at you Vito but everyone has a different rate of reading comprehension. I've know people who take several minutes to read a short paragraph that others can read in a few seconds.
GypsmJim
GypsmJim
I don't read long posts. Not because of a poor attention span, or being lazy, or not having enough time.
Short, concise posts usually answer the question at hand. OTOH, the long ones are usually rambling about things that don't fit the thread.
Short, concise posts usually answer the question at hand. OTOH, the long ones are usually rambling about things that don't fit the thread.
OP
Good conversation is not always short and concise, but I agree that when it gets to rambling, its too long.
I enjoy reading most posts, long or short, until they become overbearing or spiteful & argumentized.
I am trying to be short & concise.
I am trying to be short & concise.
Life's short, then you die. Enjoy Coke.
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I know I used to have that same point of view, when I was a young man. Don't remember if I still do, or not.
I will agree. At least for me if someone's reply in a post is more that a couple lines long I usually don't read it. Seems some people will go on and on.
Reminds me of a Mark Twain short story... but I can't remember the title. It was when he was mining and folks told him to never ask a guy about his uncle or such... but then one night he did. It is actually one of Twain's best stories.....
But then that reminds me of my late uncle Hugh who always volunteered to say the blessing at any family meal. His blessings lasted about 5 minutes and were pretty much a sermon that did not go well with us young ones who were sitting there with a plate of food and ready to dig in. Digging in? that reminds me that when I was a young teenager my friends and I got into digging tunnels and building underground bunkers.... we kind of stopped when we had a pretty bad cave in... also we discovered that snakes in S.C. would fall in our 'pit's and weren't able to get out.....
When I was growing up, all snakes were evil... and if we saw one we killed it. that is no longer the case.... I still will kill a copperhead near my house but most snakes get a pass from me. In fact we have one that lives in our attic that I see every once and a while and I've also posted a picture of Slinkey our neighborhood king snake that is about 7ft long. I seriously hope no one decides he is a bad evil thing.
But you know, you don't get to choose your neighbors... even less than relatives.... is that true/. Not sure how it goes.....
If anyone has made it this fair then they have figured out what I was doing.... I think it is called a shaggy dog story where the whole story changes as you read along.... Twains was the best.... I'll have to look it up....
Reminds me of a Mark Twain short story... but I can't remember the title. It was when he was mining and folks told him to never ask a guy about his uncle or such... but then one night he did. It is actually one of Twain's best stories.....
But then that reminds me of my late uncle Hugh who always volunteered to say the blessing at any family meal. His blessings lasted about 5 minutes and were pretty much a sermon that did not go well with us young ones who were sitting there with a plate of food and ready to dig in. Digging in? that reminds me that when I was a young teenager my friends and I got into digging tunnels and building underground bunkers.... we kind of stopped when we had a pretty bad cave in... also we discovered that snakes in S.C. would fall in our 'pit's and weren't able to get out.....
When I was growing up, all snakes were evil... and if we saw one we killed it. that is no longer the case.... I still will kill a copperhead near my house but most snakes get a pass from me. In fact we have one that lives in our attic that I see every once and a while and I've also posted a picture of Slinkey our neighborhood king snake that is about 7ft long. I seriously hope no one decides he is a bad evil thing.
But you know, you don't get to choose your neighbors... even less than relatives.... is that true/. Not sure how it goes.....
If anyone has made it this fair then they have figured out what I was doing.... I think it is called a shaggy dog story where the whole story changes as you read along.... Twains was the best.... I'll have to look it up....
Blume, I’m sure most caught the sense of humor.
Mark Twain was one of my favorites too by the way.
The menials have a short cut for long winded answers.
“TL;DR”.
Too Long; Didn’t Read.
So after the long winded reply, they type tl;dr and then a short summary.
Mark Twain was one of my favorites too by the way.
The menials have a short cut for long winded answers.
“TL;DR”.
Too Long; Didn’t Read.
So after the long winded reply, they type tl;dr and then a short summary.
xtratoy
Hunter
Pepsi.....
How long I am willing to spend reading a post depends on how much it interests me.
I do remember reading a book about writing & the essence of it was to use the least words possible to convey an idea. As far as communication goes it works, is brief, and concise but not so much fun.
I do remember reading a book about writing & the essence of it was to use the least words possible to convey an idea. As far as communication goes it works, is brief, and concise but not so much fun.
