Replying etiquette: Opinions please

I'm a lazy butt, so I don't necessarily reply to everyone's replies. I think you're on the right track. Maybe lumping one or two quotes and replies into a post makes things more readable. I never really thought about that...good points.

I think what ever YOU decide to do is RIGHT. blast anyone elses opinions.

I like you so I hereby give you permission to points whore away if it makes you happy.... And on the topic, reply however you find it easiest to think and write. It is your blog and unles you write 23 one word comments....you are fine.

Me, I think replying over and over in single entries is transparently cheesy. I know I have people I consider friends around here that do it, but I couldn't bring myself to. The way I see it, points that I make on my own blog don't say a thing about me.

When people see you do that, and then see you in the top ten list, they say "Oh, well, I guess all that answering your own blog over and over pays off". Frankly, if I have to do that to be there, I won't be there. No offense, people vary in their values, but to me, when I answer several people, I do it on one post and leave it at that.

One way to make the responses more clear is to put the names of the people you are speaking to in bold, and blockquote the responses. I am doing that more now on long replies, and it seems a lot more readable.

One way to make the responses more clear is to put the names of the people you are speaking to in bold, and blockquote the responses. I am doing that more now on long replies, and it seems a lot more readable.

Bingo, that is what I needed to hear. I think I have been too dense to think of doing that. That is what I will do. Thanks BakerStreet. I feel exactly like you about the list of replies.

BlueDev:

Hope I don't offend any of the oldsters around here, I know a lot of people do it. Not at all saying you'd be cheesy to do it yourself, either. It is just a matter of personal taste, I think. It is *slightly* annoying, though, when you seen that there have been a half dozen replies to an article you are watching, and when you get there you find they are a bunch of single line responses like "Yep, I agreee" "Good point" from the author. I think such is used far too often just to bump an article every few minutes for an hour or two.

(something like that)

Me, I think replying over and over in single entries is transparently cheesy. I know I have people I consider friends around here that do it, but I couldn't bring myself to. The way I see it, points that I make on my own blog don't say a thing about me.

Guilty!  But in my defense I will say I like the short answers.  Long answers can get confusing.  And when replying in Forums, you do not get points for replying on your own article.  So it is not points whoring.

As Moderateman says, it is a matter of personal taste.  Some like Tex, like the mass reply, others like myself, like the individual one.  Some posts are serious and demand a serious response.  Others are whimsical, and then I banter with the replier.  I would hate to have to do both in the same reply.

"Why you 2 toed misbeggoten sloth.........Did you hear the one about the Priest and the Rabbi?"

Somehow that kind of loses its appeal.

The points system was recently changed so you only get one point for replying to your own article, so you need not concern yourself with 'points whoring'. This information was double checked with T-man, but I have not tried it myself to find out. However, I'm all for replying in whatever way you want. I don't find it cheesy to try and respond to everyone in a single comment, but I do find them hard to wade through when they become long. I chalk that up to my own laziness.

I usually reply to everything with one reply, but sometimes that can be intimidating because if I'm replying to 10 comments, all of which require a paragraph of response, it can be a very long statement.

As Cordelia said, I wouldn't worry about it.

Dan

Reply By: Cordelia

Cordelia, you and T-man better never leave Brad! He may own Stardock, but you guys make him look good!

I prefer the long reply or one or two grouped relies... just makes it easier to read... also I am unlikely to read the commentary at all if it is beyond 50 comments...

I say "whatever floats your boat" and to hell with what anyone else thinks about it. I thought the whole point (pun intended) was to communicate, not keep score.

Marcie:

Maybe lumping one or two quotes and replies into a post makes things more readable.

It becomes difficult for me to follow when a reply is a long, long string of replies to many people. But I also get annoyed when all the new replies are from the original author. I think BakerStreet was on the right track. I think I will adopt sort of a blend of the ideas.

ModMan

I think what ever YOU decide to do is RIGHT. blast anyone elses opinions.

Heh, that is one of the things I like about you. You stick to your guns, and damn the rest.

LH

I like you so I hereby give you permission to points whore away if it makes you happy

, thanks LH. I appreciate it. But I suppose I asked the question because I don't like blatant points-whoring. So I think I will go for a simple blend of ideas.

Dr. Guy

Some posts are serious and demand a serious response. Others are whimsical, and then I banter with the replier. I would hate to have to do both in the same reply.

I think that is a good point. I suppose a lot of it depends on the situation. I will play it by ear from here on out. If it is enough of a post to really be a lone post, I will just do one. If it is not (as above) I will group some together, but probably no more than 3 or 4. I think that strikes a balance between manageability and not outright points grubbing.

To the many other who responded. I appreciate and value your input. This wasn't really a big deal, I just sort of wanted to see what people thought. And I like the input. It has helped me sort out my own thoughts on the subject.

LW

The time factor isn't one I really had considered, mostly because I only sit down to reply if I have the time. But I think you raise a good point.

I say do whatever you want. Some people just care too much about points. Points are good, I won't lie, they somehow validate you and what you have to say and there's nothing wrong with that. Anyone who denies that is in another world.

However, it's up to you to choose how you reply. I agree also that sometimes it just depends on how much time you have to devote to either one line comments or a paragraph. It also depends a lot on the subject being discussed, especially if the topic is pretty heated (not in a fight, but argumentively). I sometimes separate comments I make to one individual because sometimes just one general response is impossible especially when several points have been made in one comment.

I tend to do the loooong comments responding to all and sundry and try to separate by acknowledging whom I'm responding to. (like now for example!!)

Points whoring is not responding to someone who took the time to read and reply to what you wrote; points whoring is someone who blatantly do things to get their blogs up in the numbers game. I think we've all seen enough of that going on to know what is and isn't.

It doesn't make a great deal of difference and I think anyone who gets annoyed about those who choose to respond in single posts are really making a mountain out of a molehill. Like Nadeon said:

I thought the whole point (pun intended) was to communicate, not keep score

for me it depends. I don't usually reply to all if they are saying the same thing, or are just plain dumb. But I tend to reply to a couple at a time, and break them down into paragraphs. But I'm also too lazy to reply a lot of the time.

I think what ever YOU decide to do is RIGHT. blast anyone elses opinions.

I think Moderate Man's opinions are worthless, and he is never RIGHT. He's always just moderate. Blast his opinion.

Just kidding.

I think his answer is dead on.

Do what you think is right, and what you think will make the most sense for your readers. If you think you can communicate your point and continue the discussion best using one reply, then go for that. If it seems you need to reply to a few points separately to make more sense of the discussion, then use a few separate replies. Whatever works for you.

Don't worry about being called a points whore. Unless you're so completely blatant about putting in many multiples of one-line replies that pick apart one original reply one line/paragraph at a time, most people will not consider you PW'ing (Points Whoring).

Again, do what works best for you and your audience. That is what matters. Not what others here want to think. Consider how many times people bump their own articles and yet no one really says a word about it. If you haven't been doing that, then you really have nothing to be complained about.

Don't worry about being called a points whore.

Some have done that, and were overt about it.  And most played along with them.  Most dont do it.  I have a religious article that got almost 200 responses (yes, many mine, less than half).  Some avoid religion.  I was impressed and surprised by the fact it fared so well.

Some never post to the lesser known forums.  Of all the forums, I would estimate I have posted to over half.  I wonder how many have done so to that many of them?

is that point whoring?  I dont beleive so.  I post to the forum of most significance.  Others just hang out in Politics or Blogging.  Are they?  I guess that is for them to decide.  I dont judge.

Simply stating that it annoys me is hardly making a mountain out of a molehill! It would have to be a molehill's worth of annoyance in the first place, which it is not, it resembles a hill of beans more than the hill of a mole

Sorry, Whip, if I offended you (I'm sure I didn't). I wasn't pointing my comment at you particularly. You're right too, it does really only add up to a hill of beans.

I do a little of both.......depends on the situation.

btw, I know people "bump" their article to get it on the Forum iniatially...how on earth are they bumping
it to get it to come back up???

The way it's been going lately, I really don't have to worry about writing replies either way.....wahhhhhh

, it's YOUR call BluDev !

btw, I know people "bump" their article to get it on the Forum iniatially

I don't get that. I have no problem seeing my posts show up in the forums, sans annoying *bump*. Odd.

I do the best I can is all. And that's far from perfect. I like how Tex does it myself.