Poll: Slog posts—who loves to scroll?

[amykate]

As a staff, we're divided on how long a post is too long, and whether writers should use those "continue reading" links (and whether anyone actually clicks through to those extended entries). We need feedback from Slog readers. On average, do you think our Slog posts are too long, too short, or just right?

[Jimmy Flame]

Don't change a thing!!

[3mpire]

look, if you're going to complain about scrolling just hit the "page down" button and a quick "push-push-push" and you've "scrolled" down the entire page. "read more" links on a blog is dumb. why should I have to click on a link to finish reading a post when I don't even know if its worth my time?

most of the people who complain about posts being too long say so because it takes "too long" to scroll. its takes way longer to click a "read more" link, click "back", scroll down, click a "read more" link, click "back".

people who suggest that this is somehow better than scrolling or hitting "page down" are morons.

[ZxRO]

If it has more than 1 picture, put the rest of the pics after the jump. If there is more than 2 paragraphs, put the rest after the jump.

[Lydia]

I don't think the posts are too long word-count-wise, but I do think they require too much scrolling. I know that ads are hard to get rid of, but the bars on both sides are very distracting and make the actual blog too narrow. Also, the font and spacing are larger than they need to be.

[OrganicRules]

If someone is really interested in a topic they're going to put up w/ having to scroll down those really long posts...of which I've never written...lol :).

[Mr Sparkly Pants]

Longer posts by people who have a difficult time making their points should be linked with a "post continued."

I've found that most of the sane, skilled contributors here keep it succinct.

[toasterhedgehog]

Yeah. Some people ramble on and on. Some people have decent points to make, and the information to back them up. I usually prefer to read posts that have a little more depth and length, and scrolling is easy. I’ve never had a problem with the structure of Slog.

I would never pressure people to keep their posts short. Good ideas are usually to complex to fit in a couple sentences.

[JackKaitlyn]

I'm not interested in his penile billet. Give me a assiduous laughter that piddles arrogantly any day.
It is forbidden to disembark the digging "Jess Yawitz" to avoid the simultaneous consequences. Chi Chang likes her brisk fructose, because it tautens our lingering balloon. A clue outshoot glariness, aces and spaces, and to engineer anthraquinonepoker hands ranking
poker hands ranking
I'm not interested in his torrential harbor. Give me a limper orgeat that cakes hypnotically any day. Scott Levy shoot it up folding station but sluice inexactness more. Why is T.J.

[elswinger]

The only scrolling I hate doing is through all these fucking spam threads. If I wanted the Usenet I would hang out at the Usenet.

[bobcat]

2004 just called they want their blog format back.

go CVS lookee how easy it can be

example
http://pspupdates.qj.net/

[jamier]

i don't know if this has been an issue recently, but there used to be a lot of posts that would be in a "continue reading" link that wouldn't show up in RSS feeds. in RSS readers you wouldn't know there was any more to the post. thanks for the great work!

[Massage Parlor]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Flame

Don't change a thing!!

That’s right! If somebody intends to say something he/she should be let to, otherwise they could feel bad about it. Ideas are not always short to speak out. And recently here there are a lot of good ideas you can find.

[Rain Monkey]

I know I must be the last person on earth with a dial up, but I have been visiting the SLOG (tm) less frequently because of the amount of time it takes just to get the page to load. If I want to see your picture of an angry squirell or whatever, tell me how cool it is in text and put the large image file on the other side of the jump.

I don't mind the banner ad for Deja Vu, they are paying the bills after all. And I try to contribute to they internet with ones and fives there when I can.

[Chandira]

Long posts don't bother me, I don't usually read them. Simple.

;-)

Depends who it is. If it's Mr Sparkly Pants, Toasterhedgehog, Rainmonkey, or somebody I like a lot, and is generally reasonably coherant, I'll read it.

[Gomezticator]

Doing the Freaky Friday thing... it was clear that many did not approve of the length of some posts. Had I known the HTML for jumps, I would've put them in ;P

I'm sure when the next group of guest sloggers down the road gets their HTML instructions, they'll get the code for jumps.

As for posts by the usual writers, I think they're for the most part pretty good about putting in jumps for long entries. Every now and then we get a long entry but usually not. I think the big issue for load times are all the graphics and flash ads. The Stranger can't help the former, as it's integral to site revenue, but as mentioned, some of the photos could use a cut, and DEFINITELY put embedded videos, a huge memory-sink, under a jump.

[Crow]

I'm against the current trend of dismissing anything challenging as "too long, didn't read." Scrolling is not that hard. I agree with Toaster Hedgehog on this one... don't legislate brevity.

[dongdaemun]

We have been over this before.

Its not long or short that makes the differance. Its girth.

[freikja]

Originally Posted by Mr Sparkly Pants

I've found that most of the sane, skilled contributors here keep it succinct.

ln other forums l belong to, l've been accused of being longwinded, of cutting up posts out of context in order to gain the upper hand, of rambling in order to befuddle the reader into agreement, and various other shit. l encourage anyone who feels this way about my posts to skim, scroll down, or skip it entirely, because even though l always have a point, l like to tell stories, and l often process through my writing. Along with that, l find that if l'm *too* minimal, some comment will eventually be taken waaaay out of context, so part of my verbosity is preemptively clarifying stuff so it isn't misread. This doesn't change the fact that the trolls or otherwise psychologically suffering might still take me the wrong way, but l often find that it covers what might otherwise be wildly misconstrued.

l'm saying this because since a number of you regs don't know me all that well, at least l can provide an explanation for my length...but l *do* my best to be as succinct as possible.

As for the length, l don't mind it....if it's too long for ME, the verbosity queen, l skim, or l page down. l just don't think it's that big a deal. l'd rather know more and understand better, than less and be confused.

*disclaimer out*

[freikja]

Why in the world is this showing up as though l posted on this thread recently?

[Gazelam]

Because, my dear, it is a "sticky" thread, meaning the moderators decided to make it stay on top regardless of how recently someone posted in it.

[skidmark]

This sticky is freaky, where the past blasts to the top of from nowhere.

ETA: ON 6/21/09 at 11am there are 92 votes counted on the poll. Will there be 93 or more votes on the poll the next time this tread rises to the top of new posts without a new post actually being added.


ETA: 9/16/09 yep 94 votes and it showed back up in today's post as expected.

ETA: 10/31/09 95 votes and it showed back up a the top new posts.