I have always admired people who can speak their mind in profound ways and in as few words as possible.

I think the "no one liner rule" was fine as it was and this move is unnecessary. You are always going to get people breaking or bending the rules. You will never get everyone to be your idea of perfect. It's nothing to loose sleep over anyway.

My advice is stop sweating over the small stuff. You will be happier and live longer.

And in the end, I will go along with whatever you end up doing. If I have to start baffling people with long winded posts rather than dazzling them with my profound brilliance, so be it.

IMHO

Edited to see if it works...ha...ha!

[edit on 12/4/09 by John Matrix]

I have a question?
How many here are using Firefox?
I've noticed many of the screens look like Firefox. I'm wondering if there is a compatibility issue with one of Firefox's browser extensions?

Just a thought

This is not a good idea

mainly because it is easily circumvented...

i guess its okay......

may as well use 175 'spacebar' characters

has about the same level of depth and meaning as many posts here anyway

Originally posted by SLAYER69
I have a question?
How many here are using Firefox?
I've noticed many of the screens look like Firefox. I'm wondering if there is a compatibility issue with one of Firefox's browser extensions?

Just a thought

I'm using firefox but I've also tried IE and had the exact same problem so I tend to think the problem is in ATS' coding and has nothing to do with the browser.

As of the current conditions of this new rule, it is in no way condusive to creative writing forums.

It took several weeks for me to realize that a long, thought out post should be first fine tuned in a word program then copied and pasted. I had spent a long time making my thoughts coherent and well thought out only to have some glitch happen, my cat walk across the keyboard, or other many situations and lose of all of my work.

And this was before I joined the collaborative writing forum.

To have a good quality contribution, I simply must do it in word. Least of all to spend the amount of time I have chose to dedicate to the Space Opera, I'd be beyond ticked to lose all that information only using the ATS posting box.

This new rule obviously needs tweeked. If not, well it was a creative, organic experience while it lasted.

This will ruffle some feathers but, it's just my opinion. This ATSer would be willing to PAY for a special acess to an area of ATS that is not confined to so many rules and regulations. And where hopefully adults would behave as such and not need rules that make us feel like we've reverted back to grade school. I, for one, have found many poignant two line posts.



[edit on 4/12/2009 by Whisper67]

I've been thinking about this new rule since it was posted.

The reasons behind it are valid and so are many the reasons against it.

So this is how I'm going to chose to approach it ...

I will post as I have always posted and will neither try to circumvent the system nor will I go out of my way to adhere to it.

If what comes naturally is too short for the character limit, well, I just won't post it and that will be fine by me.

I personally just don't want to express myself around an arbitrary character number.

It's really not that big a deal.

All this came to me as I was trying to figure out how to say: "resistance is futile" in over 200 characters.

Is it just my paranoia or are management continually introducing ever more restrictive and sillier rules. I understand there is a business to run, and we have no concept of what that means from this side of the fence, but I'm starting to feel like I'm back at school! You know, like those nightmares you have in your forties about showing up naked in assembly unprepared for the latin exam?

I can't say I've ever been part of a thread where one line posts detract from the enjoyment of reading or participating. Often, it's the one-liners that make me laugh and keep the thread alive and vibrant, and the longer posts that switch me off.

100% agreement with the members that have commented that sometimes one line is the most powerful and appropriate way to contribute.

As for the 'don't try our patience' comment - well, errm, ok I got it, you're the ultimate boss, but please remember what side the bread is buttered on. Without active, long standing, loyal and commited members, ATS would be what?

So that's just one rather minorly-contributive and unimportant member's opinion

Best
R

PS. gotta say I'm getting a bit nervous about clicking on that red U2U button. it feels like one day the message will read 'from today, members will be warned or banned for humor or spontanaiety' !!

it occurs to me that a space is a character

so is the blank nothing between the words just as important as the words and the meaning

punctuation is a character

huh!!!!!!!

do many punctuation marks make the meaning more important???????????

how arbitrary this decision is

Righty-o.

Got the memo, and more than happy to compy.

Wonderful idea SO! Personally, I was finding the "one liners" and "me too'ers" distracting from the meat of the discussion. This is also a great way to get threads back on track in regards to a bit of care and effort on the part of not only the thread starters, but also the participants.

I applaud this move HIGHLY!

long posts seem to violate the spirit of the internet

people will click out faster if presented with large blocks of dense text

twitter has imposed the opposite restriction

because thats the way people are