Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site fluke.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!harpo!ihnp4!alberta!ubc-vision!uw-beaver!microsoft!fluke!inc From: inc@fluke.UUCP (Gary Benson) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Bitchy; Destructive; Hate-Mail? Message-ID: <182@tpvax.fluke.UUCP> Date: Mon, 30-Jan-84 16:46:06 EST Article-I.D.: tpvax.182 Posted: Mon Jan 30 16:46:06 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 3-Feb-84 02:45:39 EST References: <154@ubc-vision.UUCP> Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Everett, Wash Lines: 46 ABSTRACT: ======== 1.) Refutes the argument that Laura Creighton is not a good network citizen. 2.) Suggests moving discussion of long articles to a more appropriate forum. 3.) Proposes that an abstact be supplied for lengthy articles, and argues this point from the side of the reader. BODY OF ARTICLE: =============== Laura Creighton is always one of the top 25 submitters, based on the regularly posted reviews of network activity. Furthermore, she usually has something to say, regardless of whether it takes her 25 lines (frequent), or 135 (less so). Nonetheless, there have been many discussions about article length, and the points made on every side usually have some sort of merit. I would like to suggest that this discussion not take place in .singles or .women, but to a more appropriate place, say an exchnage in mail between the latest adversaries, or perhaps to .followup or .news (where the network itself is discussed). There are a great many standard practices and points of etiquette that have been suggested, discussed, adopted, adapted or dropped since the creation of this mode of converstion. One suggestion that has not recieved *near* enough attention is to preface long articles (>~100 lines, for example) with a "synopsis" or "abstract". This is not a foreign concept to the majority of contributors. The value of using this tactic is that while it is true that by reading the number of lines on the header, anyone can decide if they really want to spend the time, an abstract may help some readers decide. Your attitude about the 'n' key surprised me, Laura. An abstract would take only moments to prepare, and would indirectly say to your potential readers, "I am aware of the time it is going to take you to read 200 lines, and therefore, I have politely provided you with a decision-making tool." Sometimes I like to read all 200 lines, but I often don't know if I want to until I'm 150 into it. If I had an abstract of the major points the article will raise, I could more easily decide to 'n' it or not. Thank you. -- Gary Benson John Fluke Mfg. Co. Everett, WA, USA