From OTC: List-volume discussion (way long)

[Erin]

Estrilda wrote:
I think the problem on the main list is not the number of posts, but 
the length of the posts.  It is fun to read a give and take 
discussion on a topic between several people.  It is overwhelming to 
wade through one person's three-foot essay on their position <snip>

Erin responds:
Maybe you don't like the long posts, but people's ideas of "fun" can 
differ, you know.  The long, well-thought-out posts are my reason for 
reading the list.  The thought of a list made up entirely of short, 
conversational posts gives me the shudders!  I can't think of 
anything more... teenybopper.  (Doesn't mean it is, just that's how I 
view it.  An entire list of one-liners, me too's, and Dumbledore's 
gleams. *Shudder*)

My whole joy in the list is to go back through and search for the 
wonderful long theories. Magic Dishwasher, ESE!Anyone, and anything 
Elkins ever wrote are what make the list great.   Conversations can 
be fun, but for me there's nothing memorable in them, nothing to make 
you want to go back and reread.  Or if there is, I immediately wish 
that it was consolidated into a larger, "proper" theory so as to make 
it easier to refer back to :-) 




Estrilda wrote:
It is even  more annoying to see the same three-foot essay reappear 
five times in its entirety as other members comment on it. <snip> Too 
often, posters <snip> are just too lazy or unknowledgeable to delete 
old text after they hit reply. 

Erin:
In this we are in total agreement.  I personally think anyone who 
quotes over, say, seven lines in a row from a previous post should be 
sent a howler from the mods.  And some of my favorite posters, people 
whose posts I love to read and who seem like perfectly lovely people, 
frequently do this.  (If you are reading this and have an 
uncomfortable feeling that I might be refering to you, I probably 
am.  But I'd never be so rude as to say it directly to you....)

It's really not that hard to highlight and press Backspace, people!  



Estrilda wrote: 
> The second problem, in my view, is that the "very large posts" 
> with "a lot of research" make the list very unwelcome to anyone 
with less than several hours to spend reading.

Erin:
Wait, wasn't that your first problem?  Look, it's a list for adults.  
I *expect* a lot of research.  If your theory isn't backed up by 
canon, and you can't show me the place in the books your canon comes 
from, then how do I know your theory is worth bothering with or 
believing in?  To me, research and quotes actually *save* time, 
because then I don't have to go and look it up in the books myself.

If you don't like long posts, my advice to you is the same as to 
those who don't like FILKs: just skip them.  


--Erin