[HPforGrownups] Housekeeping (long response)

[Neil Ward]

No: HPFGUIDX 1008

Re: Penny's Housekeeping Post

A few comments...

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I agree with everything Penny said about relevance of subject headings and
snipping irrelevant material from the original posts.  It took me a while to
decide on the neatest way to present a reply to a message, and, frankly, I'm
still working on that one <g>.  It's so much easier for messages to look
cluttered now we have a reply feature which presents the original post in
its entirety, so it's worth thinking about readability.   

Penny, I'm glad you mentioned combining messages, as Simon did, because you
posted something requesting exactly the opposite in the old Yahoo club (in
relation to relevance of headings, I think).  Here, it makes more sense to
combine, but only if the poster takes the trouble to list all the topics
covered in the post, not fogetting the limited length of the heading field.

Re: that focaccia thread.  I could see that discussion veering off-topic
once we were into 'where is Durmstrang?'  I could kick myself for posting a
lengthy piece on Durmstrang under 'focaccia' (when I'd meant to change the
title before hitting 'send') and *then* cluttering up your e-mail boxes with
another message, to redirect the topic.  And *now*, here's this ramble about
my own failings - doh! I'm digging my own grave aren't I?

One point to note is that when posting the e-mail system, you don't get that
'are you sure you want to post this crap?' moment, whereas online, there's a
prompt for edits which double checks.  Obviously, it's sensible to check
e-mails before sending them (famous last words), but still, it's useful to
have that external voice saying 'are you sure?'

For a number of reasons I've posted less since we moved house.  One reason
for that is that I am now receiving messages by e-mail and, concurring with
Penny's comment, find the sheer volume each day a bit much.  I don't have
the time to read them all properly, and that tends to affect what I might
say in return.  I don't want to add to the logjam myself and I think this
has put a psychological block on what, and when, I post.  Despite the
facilities here, I think I'm less keen on eGroups. It's odd, because some
people who were very quiet in the Yahoo club have suddenly found a voice here.  

Hmmm.  I wonder who has the berposter crown now?  Dee - I'd get your
acceptance speech ready, if I were you ;)

Neil (thinks Peg Kerr's essay posts are great too, and feels safe sneaking a
"me too!" in here)

            Flying-Ford-Anglia

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   "Then, dented, scratched and steaming, 
   the car rumbled off into the darkness, 
   its rear lights blazing angrily"

 [Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]

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