Each time I see this comment pasted (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) I need to figure out whether to read through it to look for changes from the other times. What would you think of linking to your existing comments instead of pasting multiple duplicate comments?
(Also this one (6, 7) but since that’s only two it’s less of an issue)
Many people like me might only read one or two of these replies, and I at least find it easier to see the full thing written out even if there’s a lot of repetition.
Minor issue but I personally prefer in most cases to see things in t he body rather than have to follow a link, then having to find my way back to the original discussion afterwards.
I think it might be helpful to imagine what the forum would look like if this were a typical approach?
Also, consider what it does to the tree of the discussion: every duplicate comment forks the tree. Imagine I think there is something false in the comment that I think it’s readers should know. I write it on the first copy that appears, but every later copy will not have my response. I could try and track the copy-pasting and duplicate my response as well, but that requires manual tracking and is also even more noisy.
Each time I see this comment pasted (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) I need to figure out whether to read through it to look for changes from the other times. What would you think of linking to your existing comments instead of pasting multiple duplicate comments?
(Also this one (6, 7) but since that’s only two it’s less of an issue)
Many people like me might only read one or two of these replies, and I at least find it easier to see the full thing written out even if there’s a lot of repetition.
Minor issue but I personally prefer in most cases to see things in t he body rather than have to follow a link, then having to find my way back to the original discussion afterwards.
Unless it’s pages long then I prefer a link.
I think it might be helpful to imagine what the forum would look like if this were a typical approach?
Also, consider what it does to the tree of the discussion: every duplicate comment forks the tree. Imagine I think there is something false in the comment that I think it’s readers should know. I write it on the first copy that appears, but every later copy will not have my response. I could try and track the copy-pasting and duplicate my response as well, but that requires manual tracking and is also even more noisy.
Thanks I didn’t think of that.
Maybe a bit of inconvenience for people like me is worth it to prevent potential mess like you say.