To ask you to use paragraphs?

[purplecoathanger]

I skip through long posts without paragraphs. AIBU to ask posters to use paragraphs in their posts?

I don't read them as it's usually a jumble of sentences and I find it hard to follow.

Whining about women's grammar when they're quite clearly upset and posting as a stream of consciousness is really quite nasty.

Well I agree. But what I suspect is mostly happens is that people open the post, find themselves confronted by a wall of words and just think "Nah" and go away without reading it or posting a snippy comment.

This means someone who could potentially have posted helpful advice and comments just won't get involved and the OP is thus limiting the pool of people who might have been able to help them.

After all, nobody is compelled to read every single post so anyone who makes it difficult to do so is likely to lose out.

YANBU

Posts are easier to read if they're broken up but it doesn't really bother me.

I would much prefer if people could remember to state the ages of their children in the OP, as so often the ages are dependent on the answers.

Also, helpful if the OP could hand around for at least 5 minutes after pressing post, just to clarify the odd point.

Otherwise they come back hours later, to pages and pages of speculation and I can't see how that helps them.

*hang around

Whining about women's grammar when they're quite clearly upset and posting as a stream of consciousness is really quite nasty

Bollocks to this. No one is whining about grammar, just making a sensible suggestion.

Contrary to assumptions on MN, not every single adult living in this country has had access to a quality education. Some people have disabilities. Some people are so distressed that paragraphs are the last thing on their mind. Others simply don't have the literacy skills. If you don't like it, don't read it. But whining about it is classist, disability and snobby.

FFS I'm just suggesting that leaving a few spaces will make the text easier to read. I'm not checking on their literacy skills.

Geez, I hope it's comfy up there on the high moral ground!

I couldn't agree with you more. When I see long posts with no paragraphs and no punctuation, I skip by them.

I ask people to use paragraphs all the time.

When I'm marking their IELTS papers.

On MN, because I don't get to dictate how people write, I tend not to.

For two reasons: because it doesn't matter, but mainly because I'm not a twat.

I'd like people to use correct punctuation though...

This means someone who could potentially have posted helpful advice and comments just won't get involved and the OP is thus limiting the pool of people who might have been able to help them.

^^This.

Nobody said posting here was an English language GCSE exam which but surely anybody with a primary school education is aware of the use of paragraphs.

OP, I think you're getting a hard time unnecessarily.

Phone typo... Better correct it before I get slated.

"Nobody said posting here was an English language GCSE exam, but surely anybody with a primary school education is aware of the use of paragraphs."

Ffs, it's an Internet forum not an English assignment! 🙄

Can't be doing with the "you should do this, this phrase makes my teeth itch, no hugs or Huns or Lols" rules on here.

MN is a great forum but, Jesus Christ, some people really do have a stick up their arse! 😠

Sorry, I'm in a bad mood - had a bad day! That was really rude.

Posters who write lengthy posts without spaces are limiting how many people will read them.

It's nothing to do with literacy and grammar but don't let that stop posters from banging on about it.

I will try to read them and see what the post is about but usually have to give up as I struggle to read large blocks of text, my sight isn't good enough.

I am also unable to type on a phone but believe that many people that do this end up with blocks of text, I could be wrong.

Nobody's 'whining'

so you feel your opinion and contribution to a thread is so invaluable that others are be missing out on your nuggets of wisdom when they don't use paragraphs?

And this is just your polite way to suffer they write as you tell them, so that you may impart them with your opinion?

It's like the posters who demand diagrams and pictures.

Skip the thread. chances are your opinion had already been expressed on a thread anyway.

Offer not suffer.

I cant read the blocks with no paragraphs. Did once try to edit one and repost but dont know if it helped so have not done it again.

I think that there is a catch 22 situation StewieGMum. You think it "classist, disability and snobby" to highlight that those of us with reading disabilities have this problem yet those of us with reading disabilities would also argue that its very bad not consider the abilities of others. How to square that circle is a hard one and name calling is harsh.