Something thats really started to be irritating to me!

by mkr32208 18 Replies latest jw friends

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  mkr32208

  This is something that's really started to be irritating to me here and on some other forums that I visit. While I've seen it in the past it seems to be getting out of hand (see the 9/11 and global warming threads) people are arguing or discussing something and all of the sudden you start seeing MASSIVE cut and paste documents! One person post a 1000 word essay (or more) by a claimed expert supporting their side then the other does the same. Back and forth and back and forth surely no one is reading all that bullshit! So why post it!?

  It's like English class! How well would you have done on your thesis work if you had copied verbatim giant stretches of the source material? Post a short summery of the person's support for your argument or the point they are bringing up then post a link to that website! Short quotes ok summaries ok. Cutting and pasting the entire book... Less ok!
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  tijkmo

  How well would you have done on your thesis work if you had copied verbatim giant stretches of the source material?

  well that is seemingly what a lot of students are doing nowadays

  so much so that lecturers have had to come up with some way of recognizing the plagerism
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  Gregor

  When I scroll down and see several hundred words my eyes blur and I either skim it or don't read it at all. Sometimes I feel badly because I know some of these are original thoughts written out and a lot of research work went into them. I admire those who can get their point across in brief, pithy, remarks. This makes reading the thread seem more like a stimulating conversation instead of a lecture. In general, I try to keep my posts no longer than this one.
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  upside/down

  Agreed... if you have source material...just post a link...and the reader can pursue it if need be.

  u/d
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  juni

  AMEN Mr. Kool-Ade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Juni
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  daystar

  mkr32208

  Oh man am I with you! I see it as a lack of original thought and of critical thinking skills in many, but not all, cases.
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  AuldSoul

  I don't like it because the person posting someone else's thoughts feels no compulsion to defend the ideas presented on behalf of the original writer. The defense can always be used, "Hey, I didn't write it!" Implying, "Don't shoot the messenger!"

  But if you are publishing something to a discussion forum you should be able to discuss it as though the ideas are your own. Otherwise, why post it? If you agree, be prepared to support the view, if you disagree be prepared with logical challenges to the points raised. Challenging the messenger is appropriate, and if the messenger can't defend their post then hopefully they will modify their viewpoint—or at least allow the possibility they may be in error.

  If we all expected everyone to agree why would we need a discussion forum? While I do prefer original content, everyone's viewpoints are shaped by what they have considered. I agree with posting synopsis or specific points a writer makes and a link to the context for those interested. But posting someone else's long treatise as a stand-alone post without commentary seems pointless.

  Respectfully,
  AuldSoul (of the "Verbose But Likeable" class)
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  greendawn

  I also believe that no one will bother with reading very long posts or inserts and I don't unless they are exceptional. Posting a link is the decent thing to do for those that happen to want to read a long article.
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  TheListener

  This topic was too long. Was I supposed to read it all?
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  ferret

  mkr32208

  I agree with you nobody reads them and this is not the place to post them.