The "Constructive Criticism" Thread

[Zinkovich]

Very simple- just post some constructive criticism concerning the posting style/reasoning of some of the users on these fine message boards.

I'll try to post something when I think of someone to criticise, but until then feel free to use someone else as an example.

[Kamehameha34]

I'd appreciate it if someone could give me some criticism, because I'm .. new to debate, and I don't want my points to suffer because of an ill-prepared barer :'(

[Stewbert]

Yes I would appreciate it if people could share tips and experience for informal debating.

[Osborn F Enready]

Speak whats on your mind, honestly, and try to be open to defend your positions.

If you start a thread, try to research it as much as you can, and post links if possible.

Treat others as you wish to be treated.

Try not to lose your temper. (I know, I am working on it.)

Attempt to see the logic in your opponents argument, and define areas of agreement and disagreement to move the flow of the debate.

Try not to post too much at once.





Those are my informal debate guidelines, and usually what I try to let guide me, though we all slip occasionally, I am working on making my slips more infrequent.

I value all debate styles that have substance, intellectual honesty and passion.

Welcome also, by the way.

(Nice avatar Stewbert, it has truthiness)

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: Osborn F Enready (Nice avatar Stewbert, it has truthiness)

I was hoping one of the people nominated as the better debators would comment.


I would also add ...

1) Provide your sources when you can.

2) Label opinion as opinion.

3) It can be a very slow process, so don't frustrated when people don't respond right away.

[Stewbert]

If you start a thread, try to research it as much as you can

Books are full of facts. I only care about the truth. lol

[Jack]

I know I've posted this before, but this thread is the perfect place to repeat it;

Forums are a textual environment. It distracts from the point you're trying to make if your post has a lot of mis-spellings, typos, run-on sentences and no paragraphs. The harder I have to work to figure out what I'm reading, the more likely I am to give up and move on to another thread.

Keep paragraphs to a few sentences and a single thought. When you introduce another point, make a new paragraph.

By breaking up a post into bite-sized chunks and watching the spelling and grammar, the rest of us are far more likely to quickly grasp what you're trying to say without a lot of needless effort.

I suspect this thread will be revived frequently as we see fresh examples of poor style. I won't be mentioning names, though. That would make it seem that only that person is at fault. Instead I'd prefer to reference the problem and let those who believe it applies to them take heed.

[bishop]

yeah, being able to keep posts concise and well structured (paragraphs for new thoughts, etc.), is the biggest item imo.. if the post's look isn't appealing, i usually won't bother reading it. and if the post is a bunch of rambling, pointless, nonsense, the debate will go nowhere real fast.

i'm not huge on punctuation, although i almost always check to see if i've spelled my words correctly.. grammar doesn't matter too much to me either - so long as i can understand what i'm reading, and if i can discern some intellectual value. i think my posts are usually more of a stream of consciousness, rather than some grammar exercise. (i just type how i think.) imo, getting hung up on punctuation/grammar is to be unable to see the forest for the trees. it's the points that matter most.

and, i like to see some links in threads where applicable - i just don't want to see a post with 5+ links tossed all over the place.

[gr8fuldaniel]

Quote by: bishop i'm not huge on punctuation

And you are a bigger fan of Capitalism than you are of Capitalization.

edit to add:
btw, I am ok with it. its kinda like a little freckle on your style

[bishop]

heh.. true.

what's the point of capitalization anyway? i know it's all proper and stuff, but really... i can get more mileage out of my fingers before carpal tunnel sets in by avoiding that shift key.

when i'm working most of my emails are typed without caps too. unless it's some important note sent to executives or people i don't know..

[Jack]

Huummph. I get it. We're not important enough to warrant capitalization, eh?

At least using all lower case is easier on the eyes than the few who have tried posting in all caps, or an un-named member who thought it cool (?) to post with every word in a sentence capitalized. That kind of thing makes me nutz.

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: Isherwood ... an un-named member who thought it cool (?) to post with every word in a sentence capitalized. That kind of thing makes me nutz.

Yeah, that generated some heat, huh? Nobody liked that putz.

[bishop]

i have a friend who sends me all her crap in allcaps.. girl's head is full of mud.

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: Isherwood Huummph. I get it. We're not important enough to warrant capitalization, eh?

You have been found out bishop.

[bishop]

heh... nobody gets caps out of me.. not the wife, my family, coworkers, or you mofos.

[Kamehameha34]

Quote by: bishop heh... nobody gets caps out of me.. not the wife, my family, coworkers, or you mofos.

But.. what about Jesus?

[Jack]

Yeah, bishop. As Jesus was known to ride a donkey, you really should cap his ass, dude. :eek:

[Stewbert]

heh... nobody gets caps out of me.. not the wife, my family, coworkers, or you mofos.

unless it's some important note sent to executives or people i don't know..

except them of course

[bishop]

well, there's career/money concerns there.. i'll go all out and capitalize for money. heh, what a sellout i can be.

[Clarence]

Don't insult people's religion...

but if you do make sure it's real funny

heh... nobody gets caps out of me.. not the wife, my family, coworkers, or you mofos

But.. what about Jesus?

Yeah, bishop. As Jesus was known to ride a donkey, you really should cap his ass, dude.