Only we are inside our own heads
A plea for all of us who write topics and ask questions. Don't worry about brevity when it sacrifices clarity!
What I mean is that there are a bunch of posts/threads/questions that seem really interesting but are somewhat confusing or just don't seem to make sense (at least to me). It occurred to me that this might be because when we're writing a post, we know what we mean. Of course, no one else has any idea what we mean yet. Since this is the internet and people from different countries and cultures, different educational systems and backgrounds are all contributing to and reading the site we definitely can't expect everyone to understand things the same way. Heck, even if its my younger brother I sometimes have to explain what I'm trying to say 4 different ways before we're on the same page.
My point, I hope, is that since it is the internet we don't have to worry as much about space when writing a question or a post. Thus, I'm tossing out the idea of expanding a bit on your question when you ask it. Maybe write a little about what you think or what particular term means in your culinary world. I'm not proposing any rules or trying to tell anyone that should be writing 500 word posts! Mostly, I'm trying to learn to remember that no one else is in my head so I have to put enough information out there for people to work with.
It seems like posters often try to keep their posts really short for some reason. Sometimes that makes a lot of sense. But sometimes, it seems like it just leaves out a lot of really useful, interesting stuff. Thanks!
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9 Comments:
I don't find the length bothersome, what does sometimes annoy me is when people have very vague topic lines (kind of like this one, no offense, but perhaps it was deliberate) and then when I click because of the number of responses, I find it's an interesting discussion.
In other words, if you need help with your sugar cookie recipe, I guess I kind of find it more helpful if the topic line is: "Help! Sugar cookies way too hard!" as opposed to "Help!"
HeartofGlass at 9:40AM on 12/09/08
@Heart ~ "Help! Sugar cookies way too hard!"
hard as in break your teeth, or hard as in too difficult. As cc pointed out, no one can know what's in your head. We all make those mistakes for that very reason.
Some questions are straightforward and others try to capture attention. Neither are wrong.
PerkyMac at 9:49AM on 12/09/08
Excellent post. You can't solve the problem if you don't really understand it.
1stmakearoux at 9:51AM on 12/09/08
The Mods @ SE have helped out a lot in this regard as they have expanded the original post space by lots of characters! My questions used to look like "If Ucn rd ths msg..."
I've also enjoyed the preview function for the first post as well. It helps me "hear" the post as a reader might when I can preview it. (I can also make sure my links and formatting work!)
therealchiffonade at 11:03AM on 12/09/08
@Perky--I agree that no topic heading will be 'perfect' but still, I do find it irritating when some seem deliberately vague--and I agree @chiff, the new length for topic headings is much better.
HeartofGlass at 12:00PM on 12/09/08
If only I am inside my head, who are all those other voices?
dbcurrie at 12:03AM on 12/10/08
@db... bwahahahaha!!! me too...
LoCo at 12:12AM on 12/10/08
Woooooo ooooooo ooooooooooo.....
carolrsfMISSESTEXAS at 12:16AM on 12/10/08
I want my mommy
bessfour at 8:19PM on 12/15/08