RAAM: Race Across America

Freewheeling

Melanie:

As a general rule I top post, although if it's in direct
response to something in the thread I usually quote that.
That's a form or procedure that's often used on web forums
where bandwidth *is* an issue. It's also used in email
listserves, and has become something of a necessity in the
blogging world, where it goes under the name "fisking."
Often, if I'm in a hurry I simply don't read a messasge that
isn't top posted, because it takes too long to scroll to
something that might not be interesting anyway. If you can
easily see a response, or at least a quote that the author
considers important, it's easy to decide whether you want to
read more.

Trolls hate top posting, for some reason. Well, they hate a
lot of stuff, including themselves.

--
--Scott "Melanie" <fullmoonbunny@wideopenwest.com> wrote in
message
news:f63c98e9.0406280347.6913b976@posting.google.com...
> Ed, you wrote:
>
> You are effecting a letter writing style as opposed to a
> newsgroup posting style.
>
> Reply:
>
> No, on many ng, the "style" you referred to is actually a
> rule. Its certainly something unique to the internet, to
> assist individuals with lower end computers, or who are
> very busy and have very little time, to be able to
> participate in a discussion.
>
> The fact that some ng readers don't do their homework and
> don't read to inform themselves shouldn't cause
> disrespect for the vast majority who do Ed. I do hear in
> this that you think I edited you too much. So I'll try
> and include a little more of what I am responding to so
> you won't be so lost.
>
> Ed, you also wrote: But you are not contentious like I am
> and so others are not jumping in on your messages and
> taking issue with everything you say.
>
> Reply:
>
> Some of what you say Ed doesn't have anything to do with
> bent bikes, and that is why this NG exists. Everybody has
> political opinions of one kind or another, but I
> personally don't think they belong here. Nor do personal
> insults, because as you say "Everyone is reading what we
> say". (well probably not, many NG readers either stop
> reading or participating in a news group full of off topic
> posts, spam or flame wars. Why do you think so many
> regulars left the newsgroup?)
>
> You wrote: "I am the opposite of you. "
>
> No, Ed, I think you WANT to be opposite of EVERYONE to get
> them to respond to you-- watching your posts over the
> years, I hypothesize you go outside the rules and
> etiquette because you want attention. Perhaps you are
> lonely and this is the only way to get attention so folks
> will respond to you-- let you know that you matter, and
> that you are thought about...."
>
> The thing is Ed, you do matter, even if you were to stay
> on topic and try and think about the majority of readers
> who do read your posts. You have so much to contribute
> from your life experience, your rides, and your bikes. You
> have wisdom.
>
> But it gets lost when in setting out to deliberately
> inflame people. You lose your ability to persuade, to get
> respect and change lives and minds, when you set up to be
> deliberately off topic and contrarian all the time.
>
> I don't think its a gender thing: I think it goes to
> maturity, and the patience to be open minded and
> respectful.
>
> OTOH, I have heard that extreme exercise can bring
> extremely high levels of testosterone, and this can make
> man or woman extremely aggressive and disagreeable.
>
> Maybe its a hormonal thing. Perhaps rest would help you?
>
> You too could be peacemaker, and maybe even persuade folks
> that you are right, that is if you wanted to...
>
> Its up to you I suppose. If you did that, even more people
> would listen to you Ed. Why not share one of your great
> ride stories with us?
>
> All the best Ed,
>
> Keep riding....
>
> Melanie