JFJ Forums

What is the max allowable post length?

If it is a character count--how many characters are allowed?

If it's a word count--how many words are allowed?

Thanks!

I'm not a moderator, but I believe it's 150 words. There's more information in the Forum Rules.

What it should be, is at least 500 words or 4000 characters.  If it really needs to be regulated, they can always install one of those programs employers do to restrict work history or resume length into the system.

Once you post over the limit, a program clicks you that it is too long, and a set of markers show you where the post length breaches the barrier set by the program.   You then simply edit it down to meet the criteria.  

As for posting in parts: there are some occasions I have found it neccessary, as well.  But I try not to abuse it.  What I can't stand is when someone pastes and entire quote for no other reason than to rebuff one minor point.  It should be the particular -- be it a sentence or paragraph -- that is being addressed, and hence, quoted.

I have posted at length or in parts on occasion when the flow of the answer or the thought I was trying to develop seemed to demand it.  Sometimes there have been complaints about it by those I who disagreed with me anyway.  I tend not to read borderline spam simply because I do not have the time due to other studies and everyday duties.  When I do read borderline spam, it presents a myriad of points needing to be answered separately and so defeats the purpose of keeping posts short.  So, no answer by me is not necessarily disinterest or a lack of a response.  As a suggestion, organized study presentations should be identified as to what organization(s)/author(s) were most influential and should include references and links if available so that proper credit can be given or further study can be initiated without introducing distracting sidelines to the thread.

Economy of words in conveying a thought helps.  Not everyone is proficient at writing concise, effective communiques so some allowance must be made there.  Leaving out personal remarks and assessments and expressions of frustration may focus one better on writing better.

Overall, I appreciate the occasional study-type postings.  It gives the option of more lengthy concentration where it is desireable.  Perhaps some threads can be designated as such, while most threads should be understood to be for more concise give and take.

I prefer to post brochure-like posts with links and formatting.

But sometimes the extra characters required (that are unseen in the display of the post itself) cause some of my lengthy posts to be rejected by the forum program until I edit them down or cut them in two.
(Even though what is displayed is not as long as many others' routine posts.)

It would help me to preserve the flow of thought to know how many words/characters I have to work with so I can cut long, formatted posts in the best way to present the intended thought(s).

A linked, formatted posting can be cut 'n pasted into MS Word and then using: Tools, Word count--it can be determined how near it is to the max allowable length--If I knew what that was.

Moderator?



P.S. I have no doubt the current length limit improves my writing, after all:

"Brevity is the soul of wit"

William Shakespeare

I'll be discussing with other moderators what seems like a reasonable allowable maximum limit (and it will be more than 150 words). I would say be reasonable until that time, but what is reasonable to some users seems to be to continue to attempt to post incredibly lengthy, multiple-part articles.

Keep it as concise as possible ... write only what is neccessary to get the point across. If I have to keep scrolling and scrolling and scrollingto get to the bottom of your post, it's probably not going to be approved. It would also help if users would quote only the immediately pertinent section of a post they are replying to ... when a post submitted for approval contains quotes from numerous previous posts, it increases the length of the post and decreases the chances it will be approved.

As always, your patience is appreciated as steps are taken to try and improve the experience of these forums for everyone.

Please read the announcement regarding revised post length and frequency of posting.

Revised post length & Frequency


Owww--That's cutting back!

I did a quick word count on my last post #11 For out of Zion. . . it's 439 words including links and formatting. It's 4,350 characters including formatting (w/o spaces).

It's 441 words as displayed (I don't understand why the displayed word count is higher than the version with formatting visible).
It's 1,842 characters as displayed ( w/o spaces)--more than half off!

This was one of my smaller posts--it would not have made the new cut-off.

Moderators might want to think about revising the number up a little.
It is easy to raise objections with just a few words. It is difficult without full explanation and scriptural references to proclaim the truth. (It's easy to snipe missing details in shorter posts.)

In starting this thread, I wasn't complaining about the original post length--I was curious as to what it was because I have a Magnum Opus in the queue for 2wiseforthis concerning Hell and being out of the presence of God for eternity.

I started this thread because I was trying to figure out how to cut it in two to allow it to post.

It's 1,153 words w/ formatting and links--12,998 characters w/o spaces whew!

It's 1,159 words displayed? (Again, I don't understand the higher word count).
It's 5,389 characters displayed. (that's more like it--more than half off!)

This post is 299 words including formating 1,727 characters (w/o spaces).
It is 299 words as displayed, 1,422 characters (w/o spaces).

The new word count is an official increase to the forum standards.

I am sure your 'magnum opus' is well researched and thought out, but forums don't lend themselves to a treatise on a topic. Most forum readers won't read a longer post, so much of what you worked hard to write would be bypassed.

The limit of 400 words is usually enough to express an idea, and start a back and forth discussion to explain further.

One suggestion, use links for quoting scripture if you are going to use multiple verses.

Hooray!!!