[FFML] A thought on the future of the FFML

[Adrian Tymes]

On Wed, Jun 26, 2013 at 9:09 AM, The Wanderer <wanderer at fastmail.fm> wrote:

> For example, when the post you're replying to is the one immediately
> preceding yours, and consists of e.g. only one paragraph (as many posts
> in many Web forums do), and will still be visible on the same page as
> your post when your post is added, the original text will be immediately
> visible for context even if you don't quote; quoting it would be
> unnecessary duplication and clutter.
>
> In more complex scenarios, the question becomes a bit murkier, but it's
> still far from clear that quoting is the correct thing to do in all
> cases when the original post will still be visible.
>

Ah, but:

* In an email thread, the earlier message is visible - on another
page/view, if necessary, but it's still visible.

* In the specific case of the FFML, it would seem that most
posts will not be single-paragraph.  While those do exist, the
point of the FFML is long posts - either fics, or extensive C&C
on said fics.

This is complicated further by the fact that different people have
> different ideas of what's correct when it comes to quoting when
> replying; the difference between top-posting and interleaved replying is
> one major one, and I suspect that the mindset which leads you to use
> interleaved replies also contributes to your opinion that quoting is
> always the correct thing to do.
>

This can also be adjusted, somewhat, by the default behavior
of the quoting tool.  If, by default, it deposits the user's cursor
above, then the user will top-post by default.  OTOH, if it
moves to the bottom by default, bottom-posting becomes the
default.  And if it tries to detect the end of the first paragraph
and defaults to putting the cursor there...


> I've seen newsgroups that impose a maximum-quoted-lines-percentage
> requirement (news.admin.net-abuse.policy being the one that springs to
> mind), and while it does help in some ways, it also makes contributing
> to discussions more difficult.
>

Could you elaborate on how exactly it helps and makes
contributing more difficult, for those of us who haven't been
to Usenet recently?  Also, would a minimum-quoted-lines
percentage requirement help?


> Still, there seem to be ways to celebrate text while accommodating
>> modern sensibilities - if we apply more design sense than most who
>> set up forums do.
>>
>
> I agree, there do seem to be such ways. Implementing them may be a bit
> of another question, but I think it should be eminently possible if
> we're willing to put in the effort.
>

Starting with discussing possible designs in, say, this
very thread.  :)
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