NationStates Jolt Archive

I understand this is trite and superifical but I know it annoys some of you out there.

Why is it that a vast majority here cannot add a simple space (or carriage return) between their paragraphs? It makes it very difficult to read and follow. Since we cannot indent 5 spaces to form a paragraph it is widely accepted that you add a space in between the paragraphs to denote their ends and beginnings.

For example, the following paragraph is a simple statement.
But the next paragraph starts right afterwards. Doesn't this hurt your eyes?

Now if it is done like I have been doing throughout this post it is much easier to read.

Sound off if you too are annoyed by the lack of spacing between paragraphs. And lastly, START A SENTENCE WITH A CAPITAL LETTER!!!!!

It's alright. Now sit down and take a nice big deep breath.

In...

Out...

In...

Out...

Good. Now drink this glass of water and when you stand up again, if you feel giddy, just sit right back down again and have another rest.

LOL I have some hope someone will agree with me. It's just a pain in the butt when you are in an RP and the person has a very long lost and your eyes hurt trying to read it because of the lack of spacing. Also it is very easy to forget where you were in the reading if you are distracted.

Why is it that a vast majority here cannot add a simple space (or carriage return) between their paragraphs?

I blame a decline in actual typing skills brought about by word processors. Back in the day when I slaved over a manual typewriter there were basically three rules which have got lost due to mechanisation/computerisation of the whole process:

1. two spaces after a full stop
2. carriage return when you reach the right hand side of the page
3. double carriage return to indicate a break between paragraphs

(1) and (2) are no longer necessary with most computer systems doing them automatically, but (3) seems to have got lost somewhere along the line.

Grammer Nazi. :p

I agree, some posts are hard to read, and guess what? If its hard to read, most people will not read it.

Defeats the purpose of posting in the first place, doesn't it?

It makes you wonder how people type up such long responses without spaces themselves. Do they not go back and read it over? Alternatively, they create documents in Word with an automatic 5 space indent and then copy them into here forgetting the 5 spaces don't carry over.

I always put paragraph spaces in because it makes the post much easier to read. I sometimes think that people don't like to paragraph their posts because it also makes it easier to quote in a line by line riposte.

I heard there is a name for this internet quote and line by line riposte thing but I don't recall it.

Word does a 5-space indent for paragaphs? That's so 1960. Double space for paragraphs people, indenting is old hats.

Well, just when I thought threads couldn't get more pedantic, along comes another one to prove me wrong!

I heard there is a name for this internet quote and line by line riposte thing but I don't recall it.

'Interposting'?

My faves are those who put in that unreadable 50-line block of text... and it also turns out to have been a copy/paste fom some other website.


Not only are they too damn lazy to write their own stuff, they are even too damn lazy to edit the stuff they steal....

Without the space, it is so hard to freaking distinguish between separate paragraphs. PLEASE SAVE OUR EYES!

I blame a decline in actual typing skills brought about by word processors. Back in the day when I slaved over a manual typewriter there were basically three rules which have got lost due to mechanisation/computerisation of the whole process:

1. two spaces after a full stop
2. carriage return when you reach the right hand side of the page
3. double carriage return to indicate a break between paragraphs

(1) and (2) are no longer necessary with most computer systems doing them automatically, but (3) seems to have got lost somewhere along the line.
There is one user on this forum who particularly seems to subscribe to the second rule, except with double-breaks. I haven't bothered to say anything to them about it (well, I don't think I have, I've often thought about saying something, certainly) because it's their own style and far be it for me to crimp someone's style, even when it is so annoying to read...

As an example, he's writing his lines in the Message: box, as I am now, but

then, like that, manually puts line-feeds in when he reaches the end of the

row, like that, and it looks odd even on the Reply screen, still within the box

but, like that, breaks up the flow of reading even more when trying to make a

statement, like that.

However, he's welcome to do it, I suppose. It could be worse, he could be breaking lines (singley) at really
awkward places and randomly so that
the layout goes all haywire with no apparent order, sometimes running on for more than a line and sometimes only for
one
word at a time.

My biggest problem is that, while I do insert appropriate page-breaks inbetween paragraphs, I tend to run on and on and on in the same paragraph. I won't demonstrate further, though...

I do also subscribe to double-spaces after full-stops, but some HTML representations of white-space (unless explicitly defined with the &;-item) tend to remove multiple examples, leaving just a space in the place of a any whitespace (space, tab, cr/lf) in the HTML source at that point...

However, he's welcome to do it, I suppose. It could be worse, he could be breaking lines (singley) at really
awkward places and randomly so that
the layout goes all haywire with no apparent order, sometimes running on for more than a line and sometimes only for
one
word at a time.

You are ee cummings and I claim my five pounds.

i get super-annoyed by the lack of spacing between paragraphs...

i refuse to start sentences with caps...too much strain on my pinkies!
besides, i'm getting even with ancient greeks who wrote everything in caps.

and, finally, STOP SHOUTING!!!

There is one user on this forum who particularly seems to subscribe to the second rule, except with double-breaks. I haven't bothered to say anything to them about it (well, I don't think I have, I've often thought about saying something, certainly) because it's their own style and far be it for me to crimp someone's style, even when it is so annoying to read...

As an example, he's writing his lines in the Message: box, as I am now, but

then, like that, manually puts line-feeds in when he reaches the end of the

row, like that, and it looks odd even on the Reply screen, still within the box

but, like that, breaks up the flow of reading even more when trying to make a

statement, like that.

However, he's welcome to do it, I suppose. It could be worse, he could be breaking lines (singley) at really
awkward places and randomly so that
the layout goes all haywire with no apparent order, sometimes running on for more than a line and sometimes only for
one
word at a time.

My biggest problem is that, while I do insert appropriate page-breaks inbetween paragraphs, I tend to run on and on and on in the same paragraph. I won't demonstrate further, though...

I do also subscribe to double-spaces after full-stops, but some HTML representations of white-space (unless explicitly defined with the &;-item) tend to remove multiple examples, leaving just a space in the place of a any whitespace (space, tab, cr/lf) in the HTML source at that point...


Maybe someone learned to type pre-computer? Some of us are old gezzers (geezers, and some of us never learned to type) now.

besides, i'm getting even with ancient greeks who wrote everything in caps.

Are you thinking of the Romans? The ancient Greeks used an entirely different alphabet, as you know.

Maybe someone learned to type pre-computer? Some of us are old gezzers (geezers, and some of us never learned to type) now.Dunno. I learnt to type (on computers) in the early 80s and hence have an inbuilt resistence to txt-spk & tht srt of thng. I also managed to miss, through not being on-line in all the wrong places, 7h47 cr42y 7114-5p34k f1NG 7H0 1 (4n 47 |_3457 R34|) |7 3\/3|\| !# !7'Z |-|/\|2|) 2 |2173

:)

1. two spaces after a full stop
2. carriage return when you reach the right hand side of the page
3. double carriage return to indicate a break between paragraphs

(1) and (2) are no longer necessary with most computer systems doing them automatically, but (3) seems to have got lost somewhere along the line.

The two space rule ended at some point after the development of more advanced word processors. I haven't double-spaced after a period in years, but WP apps don't do it for me either. I never quite was sure on the why's of the rule anyway.

I find it harder to read the posts without good punctuation and/or with no seperation for paragraphs at all than anything else. I usually end up editing them myself in any replies, just so I understand what is going on.

Well thank you that so many of you get annoyed as I do. Hell I learned to type in 9th grade on an old electronic typewriter but this was only '97. You know the teacher gave me a C? Hell, that b**** I can type up to 100 words per minute with as few as 6 mistakes and make it accurate as well. Hell she just didn't like me and I don't use my pinky's so I guess the "bad-form" made it not up to her par. Anyhow she was a 90-year old bat so whatever...

Regardless, yes people need to learn how to type correctly and don't get me started on grammar and use of the English language. Please, English is a second language to people who speak it because they don't earn squat. I love the mistakes people make that they should have learned in first grade but since they went to dumb-dumb school they have no clue...

i never noticed a mandate for double spacing after a paragraph. it certainly isnt that way in any other printed medium. do you have problems reading BOOKS that dont have double spaces after paragraphs?

i thought it was just a style choice.

i never noticed a mandate for double spacing after a paragraph. it certainly isnt that way in any other printed medium. do you have problems reading BOOKS that dont have double spaces after paragraphs?

i thought it was just a style choice.

There are 2 ways to do paragraphs.

1. You indent 5 spaces at the beginning of each paragraph. You do not leave a space between paragraphs.

2. You do not indent (like these forums) at the beginning of each paragraph. You leave 1 empty line between each paragraph.

Doesn't this hurt your eyes?No. Actually, it hurt my eyes to read your post...
Do they not go back and read it over?Sure, I do...Just fine. :\
71141337
f1NG [...] |2173|>|_{/-\_\`{ (_|_\`{ (()()|>\{(+ _\`|>{|_|_][|\|6 \/\/|-|{|\| (_|_\`][|\|6 1337.
I never quite was sure on the why's of the rule anyway.It helps (me) separate the sentences.

I understand this is trite and superifical but I know it annoys some of you out there.

Why is it that a vast majority here cannot add a simple space (or carriage return) between their paragraphs? It makes it very difficult to read and follow. Since we cannot indent 5 spaces to form a paragraph it is widely accepted that you add a space in between the paragraphs to denote their ends and beginnings.

For example, the following paragraph is a simple statement.
But the next paragraph starts right afterwards. Doesn't this hurt your eyes?

Now if it is done like I have been doing throughout this post it is much easier to read.

Sound off if you too are annoyed by the lack of spacing between paragraphs. And lastly, START A SENTENCE WITH A CAPITAL LETTER!!!!!

Well, on the forum I try to put a space between paragraphs if I have a long post, but if I'm typing a paper for school I never put a space between paragraphs because:
1. There isn't supposed to be a space between paragraphs.
2. My teachers don't like spaces between paragraphs.
3. It is annoying to read a story with spaces between paragraphs and it wastes a lot of paper (you don't see spaces in books).

But on the forum I would definitely prefer spaces between paragraphs.

Everyone, repeat after me.

LOL, internet.

I heard there is a name for this internet quote and line by line riposte thing but I don't recall it.Fisking.

There are 2 ways to do paragraphs.

1. You indent 5 spaces at the beginning of each paragraph. You do not leave a space between paragraphs.

2. You do not indent (like these forums) at the beginning of each paragraph. You leave 1 empty line between each paragraph.

This is precisely my point. If you can indent 5 spaces you don't need to space.

:: SIGH ::

Dunno. I learnt to type (on computers) in the early 80s and hence have an inbuilt resistence to txt-spk & tht srt of thng. I also managed to miss, through not being on-line in all the wrong places, 7h47 cr42y 7114-5p34k f1NG 7H0 1 (4n 47 |_3457 R34|) |7 3\/3|\| !# !7'Z |-|/\|2|) 2 |2173

:)
:headbang: I am soooo confoooooozed!!!!

Grammar Nazis, unite! :p

Internet writing etiquette states that a space should be between paragraphs because of the lack of indentation capabilities, but, I do belive there are indent vBulletin codes that would allow you to do so here if you had the time.

i never noticed a mandate for double spacing after a paragraph. it certainly isnt that way in any other printed medium. do you have problems reading BOOKS that dont have double spaces after paragraphs?

i thought it was just a style choice.

Books are generally typeset so that the line immediately prior to the beginning of a new paragraph does not run all the way to the right margin. They also, usually, have an indent at the start of a paragraph. These two tricks help to indicate that a change of paragraph has taken place, without them, in media such as this forum, it is sometime hard to discern exactly when a new paragraph has begun and so when a new idea is being expressed, which can very easily lead to confusion.

i guess it never bothers ME because unless its written by the person who posted it AND is extraordinarily interesting to me, i cant be bothered to read a huge post, spaces or not

turns out there are very few subject posted about here that havent already been covered thoroughly in the past to someones new treatise on <whatever> just isnt worth it to me.

which is why its such a good thing that i dont post on the same boards as my son does, he's known for making 5000 word posts.

My e-mail does this thing now where it double spaces automatically. Its quite annoying because there's no way to tell it when not to.

Also, why can't the internet use tabs? Is it really all that important that we have a button that takes us to the next object listener? If you really need a key for that, use the <INSERT> key. That key so gets in the way when I program I've considered poping it off the keyboard. Does it serve a purpose except to overwrite valuable code in compilier interfaces?

ARGGH!

I do belive there are indent vBulletin codes that would allow you to do so here if you had the time.TEST
TEST
You are correct! ...But it also puts blank lines between paragraphs.

... blank lines...
RACIST!

RACIST!:(

Thanks for mentioning it, Tuesday Heights. I wouldn't have known about it otherwise.

Thanks for mentioning it, Tuesday Heights. I wouldn't have known about it otherwise.

No problem, I only recently learned of its existense. :)

Are you thinking of the Romans? The ancient Greeks used an entirely different alphabet, as you know.

umm...dude...
i know the difference between the roman and the greek alphabets...
and the cyrillic, and the cuneiform, and chinese, and japanese, et al...
the ancient greeks used caps all the time and, to further aggravate me,
they didn't even use punctuation marks!

still, you're correct, of course, the romans, too, used nothing but caps
in their communications.

next project: find out who introduced lower case.

next project: find out who introduced lower case.I don't know if any individual is credited with the invention, but I recall the reason - pens/pencils were invented. Once people got past writing with chisels and it became easier, they developed lowercase lettering to speed up the process of writing. I don't know if it coresponds to the invention of lowercase letters, but the practice of using them become common in the early middle ages (in Europe).

As for double spacing paragraphs, well it depends on how involved I am in what I am typing and whether or not I revert to typing as I learned it many years ago or not (yep, I indent sometimes when typing posts even though it doesn't show up). I try to pay attention and double carriage return for paragraphs but just may forget upon occasion, especially if (for whatever reason) I've used a typewriter recently.

1337Ah, good, someone was paying attention.
|>|_{/-\_\`{ (_|_\`{ (()()|>\{(+ _\`|>{|_|_][|\|6 \/\/|-|{|\| (_|_\`][|\|6 1337."COORECT"? I take it that was deliberate.... :)

"COORECT"? I take it that was deliberate.... :)Um, no...Writing in 1337 is slow (and apparently not very accurate) for me. :o

i used to be a gud typedr but i got board of makin effortz
you will have to excuz my teribul grammer and spellin skilz i am one hcild left behind so i will vote for kerry because i got left behind
thank you for understand my diffivulte i know it is hard

i get super-annoyed by the lack of spacing between paragraphs...

i refuse to start sentences with caps...too much strain on my pinkies!
besides, i'm getting even with ancient greeks who wrote everything in caps.

and, finally, STOP SHOUTING!!!

Wimp, I say we go back to the Roman style of no lower case, no word spacing, and no vowels!
NWTHTWLDRCK!
THNKVLLTHSPCSVDNNCNTWRDPRCCSSRS!

i used to be a gud typedr but i got board of makin effortz
you will have to excuz my teribul grammer and spellin skilz i am one hcild left behind so i will vote for kerry because i got left behind
thank you for understand my diffivulte i know it is hard

Proof positive of my theory that the working title of No Child Left Behind was "No Lefty Assed Kids."

Proof positive of my theory that the working title of No Child Left Behind was "No Lefty Assed Kids."
wud iz 'left assed kidz' i dun get it

using the indent tag
&ndsp; &ndsp; &ndsp; &ndsp; &ndsp; using the HTML space

*grumble*