[SpamCop-List] Re: big problem, attn deputies

[Mike Easter]

Joris Van Damme wrote:
> Instead, when one top-quotes, one start with trimming and selecting
> those parts one wishes to answer. Next, in a logical, chronological
> order, one writes the answer below, and the answer quote naturally
> becomes a real answer that relates to the question. It quite simply
> works.

The very words, exactly, precisely, to which the reply is being made are
sitting there right before one's eyes.

In addition, the very process of 'precisely' trimming, so that the
trimmed quote accurately and exactly reflects what it is that is being
answered or commented on 'forces' the trimmer to be rereading those
words.  Also, that trimming process creates a transient 'separation'
between the feelings and thoughts which were being generated while the
respondent was first reading.

The sequence becomes that the respondent is reading a message, the
'reaction' or reflex comes along to respond to the thoughts which arise
during the reading.  So then, the reply button is hit.  But, the
respondent doesn't just get to 'blurt out' what s/he was thinking.
Instead, there is a delay while the previous post is being 'edited' by
the accurate trimming process.

This allows the thoughts to 'simmer' in the 'glow' of the process of the
trimming;  which necessitates re-reading the words - the exact words -
which are going to be replied to.  This results in the thoughts which
are now going to be converted into the words of the response being
'better' -- they are better words because they've simmered and because
they are applied to the exact words which preceded.

And, they are better words for the next reader, because now the next
reader can see the exact and precise context to which it belongs;  not
some context as the next reader remembers.  People don't remember
perfectly.  They remember approximately, in the ballpark.  And some
people don't even remember in the correct ballpark -- because they were
thinking about soccer instead of baseball.

As opposed to the poster who topposts reflexly, like a knee jerk.  They
are reading, a thought jumps into their head, they hit reply and blurt
out what they are thinking -- the context isn't even there.  So very
many times they fail to properly 'consider' what it was that they are
'attempting' to respond to -- they regularly 'miss the point' -- as if
they weren't paying attention properly to what they are responding.
Which they weren't when compared to how the trimming contextualizer is
paying attention.  The trimming contextualizer is not only paying better
attention to what s/he is answering, but s/he is helping the reader pay
better attention to what was said and what is being replied in precise
context and precise responsiveness.

-- 
Mike Easter
kibitzer, not SC admin