Gah! Stop Talking!

Twenty paragraphs. Thirty paragraphs. Fifty paragraphs. A hundred paragraphs.

What do you do when you see them? It's something on a discussion topic, one that EVERYBODY ELSE posts two or three paragraphs. And then there's inevitably that single person who posts 20+ that you look at, look for the tl;dr and when there is one, you just don't read it at all.

This is definitely not limited to role-play sites. So, with my reaction to one today, I got curious. When you see this, what do you do?

I exercise my right to "tl;dr."

I fluctuate between writing long ass responses and one-liners I tend to think too much and I've got so much on my mind, so unfortunately I write too much when I do have something to say. But to be utterly fair, if I am interested in the subject of the thread, I will read everything.

It really depends of the subject. I think the longest wall of text I've read was Majora Creepy Pasta. And... well, it was accompanied by videos between every few paragraphs. After this, it really depends. A text talking about politics, I wouldn't even read the first sentence. However, a text talking about paranormal stuff, now that's something that may pick my curiosity.

Also, a text without pictures doesn't make me feel like reading it. I'm looking at you, BOOKS!

Dear So and So,

You're posts are long and lovely, however, after some discussion the staff politely requests that you bold or color when your character speaks in order for your writing partners, after the first thread through, find the bits they need to respond to easier.

Thank you,
Staff.

I've forbidden long texts in my Role Play forum. IMO, they ruin the quality of the Role Play. It's a lot more fun and fast with posts of around 5 lines, and also a lot more realistic than when there's a bunch of paragraphs. People say they focus on thoughts and emotion, I say thinking 80 lines worth of text in 2-3 seconds isn't possible at all.

I don't mind it when people RP long posts given that they're not doing it just to be cool - you know that whole, "I'm so cool because I can write seven plus paragraphs 8DDD I'm so good at writing because I can write seven plus paragraphs 8DDDDDDD" I don't mind things that are long as long as the content is good. But particularly RPing when people force themselves to write alot... it doesn't make sense to me, it doesn't make you any better of a writer.

That being said, I'm guilty of writing long paragraphs because I get brimming with ideas as I go along whether it be an RP or just a simple discussion. There are times where I don't have much to say, again whether it's RP or discussion, and I understand if that's the case with other people too.

Like Ghormenghast, I am one who happens to post long psots sometimes too.

But I read everything, wherever it is, if I am interested in the subject.

Not talking about role-play or anything on my board- On discussions.

LOL Pixie, that is wonderful!

And I agree; if it's something that interests me greatly, I'll read it. But if it's just a few little discussions that are fun to read and participate in I don't want to read somebody's novel on how they think they're right and everybody else's wrong and every single little detail on why they think thus. xP

I've very rarely been one to write massive walls of text. I'll just introduce the topic/reintroduce it, get my point across and I'm done. I always get my point across quickly making most of my responses seem like I didn't say anything at all. Ironically this has hindered me in real life when writing papers that have a minimum amount of required pages...

Usually, I'll skim it to see if I agree with what they're saying. If not, I will pick it apart piece by piece -- because I'm horrible like that. Only on subjects that interest me though.

I admit that one of my problems is verbosity (not in creative writing but in persuasive writing, essays, articles, online comments) and I try to work on it, but it can be difficult; many people can say in five words what will take me fifty. Unfortunately, I just think this way, and then I try to be clear when I write and it doesn't always go the shortest route. From courtesy, I try to break it into paragraphs so it isn't one wall of text but I don't know how much that helps.

Because of that, I read long comment posts in detail, because I tend to assume that the person is like me and brevity isn't that easy for everyone. Length doesn't turn me off in comments; content will.

Like others I have been guilty of writing long walls for a post. However, I also conform write (for the most part) to my threading partner, after all if I don't get much to work with by way of my partner(s) post I can't really write much.

When confronted with long walls of writing I actually get excited and I suppose that is just my love of reading and writing showing through. I role play because I love to write and if I am interested in the thread I will be excited and overjoyed to read long posts. As far as threads I don't participate in I often don't read them. Sorry but I don't, I just don't have the time, so I couldn't really comment as to those posts.

With respect to comments, if it is a topic I am interested in then I will read it. I will admit to having high blood pressure so if I don't exactly agree with the person's point of view I will read enough to get the gist.

Skim unless I'm replying/accepting apps.

If I'm doing the latter, I'll copy and paste it into another document and insert loads of spaces. Even my members know I do that. ^_^

This is pretty much what I do. I'm even guilty of doing it with my own writing. I try not to be that bad, but sometimes... it's just too much. I don't mean to disrespect other people and writers, but when it comes to RPGs online, doesn't less mean more in many cases?

When it comes to DISCUSSION (not roleplay -- I am the lover of the short post), I would consider it rude to reply to a discussion and not read what is being said in it. Nothing irritates me more than someone who comes in and goes, "Well, I didn't read anything past the first two posts, but here's my take on it: <repeats what a thousand people have said, said in a way that makes it clear they are oblivious that they are simply echoing a million other thoughts that have already taken place>."

If you can't be bothered to read what's going on in a discussion -- or even, IRL, if you can't be bothered to listen to what the people in a conversation are talking about -- do everyone a favor and refrain from interjecting.

When people respond to my ROLEPLAY THREADS with long, unnecessary posts... I will sigh and kick my heels up a bit, but I will read every word. They posted it for me. I expect them to read my stuff, so it's only fair to return the favor IMO. If it gets to be the world's largest chore, I'll simply try and thread with them less and focus on people who are more in tune with what I'm wanting.

Again, colour me sitting here staring at my screen.
Is this some kind of backlash of this amazing internet culture that people think stuff can be neatly disected and posted into two neat paragraphs?

The world is complex and unless we are discussing who Kim Kardashian is going to marry next, the discussion is complex. Long texts are good things, cherish them, learn from them. They mean people sit there and care so much about your education you actually get it for free.
There is no such thing as a simple two paragraph answer to the world's problems and issues and topics. And if you can't focus on a post for 10 minutes then maybe you shouldn't participate in a serious discussion.

Roleplaying is an interactive reading and writing game. Treat others how you would like to be treated.

Read it. If you can't bear to, then at the very least, skim it.