I wasn't quite sure where to put this as this isn't really a problem with the forums. It is more a problem with some of the people.
I don't want to sound like a nagging nelly but, it annoys me greatly when I read a post and then below it there are 3 or 4 replies with the whole original post quoted. Usually it is followed by a short reply like "Oh, that was scary!" or sometimes with just a face like this: .
Then you have to skim through the WHOLE original post just to get to that one line. There is really no need to quote the whole post.
Don't get me wrong, I do understand the need for quoting posts when more than one discussion is taking place and you must make it clear who or what you are addressing. But, when you are commenting on a story or an article of news then you don't need to requote it.
It may seem like a minute thing to "nag" about but, it does have a negative impact on those with slower loading computers or those with limited time on this site that have to spend it skimming through something they already read.
Unfortunately, I don't really see a way of fixing this problem. But, I just wanted to mention it anyways in hopes that some people will read this and remember this when further posting.
I still think this place is great regardless.
P.S. I hope my post doesn't seem too pushy or out of line.

Its a typical problem online. Just scroll past it.

I think most people find quoting entire posts annoying, no matter how many times we tell people not to do it they still do.

Apart from disabling quotes completely there isn't really a solution to it.

It use to be a heck of alot worse, until the new version of the forum format was available that disabled the ability to do it, multiple quotes would be carried over and added to with each reply, that would really drive you batty.

I've seen Forums where that happens! It's like a pyramid of quotes, with the original topic, followed by "LOL" "Don't Spam" "Don't Spam urself" "OMG GTFO!" "BBQ!" etc.

But each post, no matter how small, takes up a load of quote room. If you need to quote the whole of a large post because it was some pages ago - break it into multiple quotes and place comments in between; or embolden a particular sentence to discuss it.

Well, at least I now know that I am not alone in my annoyance.
I just wish there was some resolution. Though I know it is not possible.
I guess I will look on the bright side that people can no longer quote post upon post upon post...because then I would probably be worse than a nagging nelly!

iv'e never actually noticed anyone else complaining...so maybe i should stop doing it.
to b fair i only quote short posts.

I've seen people mention it on Forums - just saying "Did you have to quote the whole post?" - but other than that, it goes unnoticed. And it's not like the Mods would be able to ban people for it

^ Hey, that's an idea. I'll table it at the next staff-meeting

hehe! As SaRuMaN says, there's not really much we can do about it.

~edit: look - no quote, just a little ^ symbol to show who I'm talking to~

For a small fee I will punch everyone who abuses the quotes.

Just say the word.

If you did that people would just cut and paste anyway.

Not to mention it helps to copy and paste the user name that links back to their post when you have to break up their post into sections to respond back to. Would just make things a tad confusing, even more so when you're responding to more then one person.

Could if it really bothers you, shoot a nice (yes, I mean nice as in nice) PM asking the person to edit their post so other users can read the thread without scrolling down forever. No guarantees though that they would be considerate.

Add my idea about every post having a large icon of a piece of cheese next to it; like Trivial Pursuit, and every time someone clicks it, a piece goes away, until they are all gone - and the post gets removed It has to be cheese though, that or a robot.

Actually, that was meant to be a joke, but it's quite a good idea, if I don't say so myself...




Well done Leading by example and all that...

How about enforcing a maximum word count between the Quote markup tags? It sounds as if most people only do it because they either know no better, or because they're too lazy to trim the quote.

In order to pander to their laziness, you could always add a "Your selected quote contains too many words. Autotrim?" with a Yes or Cancel dialog to the Add Reply event.

If they do cancel and go back to cut and paste it, then so be it - but at least they can be actively "smited" then, for trying to get around the posting restrictions, rather than argue that it just "did it for them" when they clicked the button...

Those solutions are easier said than done unfortunately.

At some point a feature to solve the problem will very likely be incorporated into the forum software or made available as a modification, but so far it's not something that i've seen in any existing discussion forum software.

I don't know...I'm more for coldethyl's idea.
As long as she video tapes it for entertainment purposes of course.

Lorelei I agree 100%. The bandwidth wasted on forums full of huge quotes is immense. It actually makes you lose interest in the original thead topic for all the scrolling. This problem is not only here but it is most frustrating. Even taking partial quotes and responding to each separately ruins the continuity of the read. If anyone hasn't read the original comments that are being responded to that's their problem. But yes, cut this mass quoting out if possible.

Of course.

(And look, I didn't quote anything.)

Isn't it more of a reply problem? People wanna reply and they click the wrong one. The one that is under the persons post, which will quote the whole thing instead of just adding a new reply beside "fast reply." That is what I notice is the problem, maybe if reply was taken out it would be easier. I know when I first came on, I have no idea what I was doing, so I just did whatever

Twitch thanks for the support.
I don't mind at all when someone quotes smaller posts or even breaks down a large discussion into smaller sections and replies to each individual quote (I even do this ). I just can't stand when someone quotes a HUGE post and then puts "That was funny!" or "That was scary!" etc. That is when it gets annoying.

Becca yes, it can be a little confusing when you first start using this site. But, I always preview my replies before posting and I would definitely notice if the whole original post was still in there! Plus there is always the Help/FAQ or asking for help here.

What does the plus or minus quote button do? Perhaps you could change that to something else.

It allows you to quote multiple replies through several threads, or within one thread. You select quote on every reply you wish to quote, then click "Add reply" on the bottom of the page and everything is there, quoted.

I don't think this is a problem with the reply button, since it is helpful to have a one-click quote-and-reply button. It's just a problem with, well, stupidity. I think the only possible tactic is for the mods to crack down on it, and/or mention it in the site rules.

^^^^^^I never knew that! Thanks!