How about word maximum for OP?

[Lisa558]

We have a requirement that OPs have at least two sentences. How about a maximum of, say, seven or eight paragraphs? The OP could SUMMARIZE the content and then link to the full description rather than post an entire book chapter (that is copied and pasted.)

This one is an example of what I mean:

Thread 'The exec branch is at war with the judiciary.'

Mar 21, 2025

History is repeating itself as I write this. The exec branch is at war with the judiciary. The headlines are replete with how Trump is trying to undermine the judiciary who is simply trying to constrain his authoritarian maneuvers. The very fact that Trump is doing this, is further evidence that the judiciary is correct, that Trump is trying to usurp the independence of the judiciary to acquire absolute power.

The founders created three co-equal branches of government precisely to prevent one of the branches from dominating the country where, if that would happen, fascism (tyranny) would...

• Rumpole

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[JoeB131]

We have a requirement that OPs have at least two sentences. How about a maximum of, say, seven or eight paragraphs? The OP could SUMMARIZE the content and then link to the full description rather than post an entire book chapter (that is copied and pasted.)

This one is an example of what I mean:

Thread 'The exec branch is at war with the judiciary.'

Mar 21, 2025

History is repeating itself as I write this. The exec branch is at war with the judiciary. The headlines are replete with how Trump is trying to undermine the judiciary who is simply trying to constrain his authoritarian maneuvers. The very fact that Trump is doing this, is further evidence that the judiciary is correct, that Trump is trying to usurp the independence of the judiciary to acquire absolute power.

The founders created three co-equal branches of government precisely to prevent one of the branches from dominating the country where, if that would happen, fascism (tyranny) would...

• Rumpole

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• 
• 

No one is forcing you to read a long OP.

 

[justoffal]

We have a requirement that OPs have at least two sentences. How about a maximum of, say, seven or eight paragraphs? The OP could SUMMARIZE the content and then link to the full description rather than post an entire book chapter (that is copied and pasted.)

This one is an example of what I mean:

Thread 'The exec branch is at war with the judiciary.'

Mar 21, 2025

History is repeating itself as I write this. The exec branch is at war with the judiciary. The headlines are replete with how Trump is trying to undermine the judiciary who is simply trying to constrain his authoritarian maneuvers. The very fact that Trump is doing this, is further evidence that the judiciary is correct, that Trump is trying to usurp the independence of the judiciary to acquire absolute power.

The founders created three co-equal branches of government precisely to prevent one of the branches from dominating the country where, if that would happen, fascism (tyranny) would...

• Rumpole

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• 
• 

Yes! Absolutely this should be a standard!

 

[1srelluc]

I don't care about the number of paragraphs as long as they are paragraphs and not a Wall of Text.

 

[justoffal]

I don't care about the number of paragraphs as long as they are paragraphs and not a Wall of Text.

Anything over a thousand words is an abuse of the top posting privilege. Maybe it would be different if this was an online magazine where the posters aspired to catch a slot in the publication? Since it is an interactive online rap cage more or less...
Shorter and more concise offerings are definitely more applicable.

 

[hondo 50]

lmao

 

[Mr Natural]

Tl;dr

 

[justoffal]

Tl;dr

Bwahahaha

 

[Dogmaphobe]

........but what would our authoritarian leftists do without the ability to word bomb other people's radical opinions?

 

[MarathonMike]

Here's a common definition of a "message":

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled.

Messages should be brief and concise. This is the US MESSAGE Board.

 

[Captain Caveman]

No one is forcing you to read a long OP.

Yet some complain they have to watch a 1 minute and 26 second YouTube short

 

[deannalw]

That's already in the rules. Probably for copyright infringement along with annoyance.

 

[deannalw]

Yet some complain they have to watch a 1 minute and 26 second YouTube short

One minute 25 seconds is my limit.

 

[TemplarKormac]

We have a requirement that OPs have at least two sentences. How about a maximum of, say, seven or eight paragraphs? The OP could SUMMARIZE the content and then link to the full description rather than post an entire book chapter (that is copied and pasted.)

This one is an example of what I mean:

Thread 'The exec branch is at war with the judiciary.'

Mar 21, 2025

History is repeating itself as I write this. The exec branch is at war with the judiciary. The headlines are replete with how Trump is trying to undermine the judiciary who is simply trying to constrain his authoritarian maneuvers. The very fact that Trump is doing this, is further evidence that the judiciary is correct, that Trump is trying to usurp the independence of the judiciary to acquire absolute power.

The founders created three co-equal branches of government precisely to prevent one of the branches from dominating the country where, if that would happen, fascism (tyranny) would...

• Rumpole

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I respectfully disagree.

 

[Moonglow]

No one is forcing you to read a long OP.

(short attention span)

 

[Delldude]

Maybe use Morse code.

 

[JoeB131]

My own thought.

Sometimes, when I want to write a long essay, this format is pretty good and I enjoy it.

If I am just posting a link to someone else's work, then I just post a link and then maybe copy the most important paragraph.

 

[Foxfyre]

We have a requirement that OPs have at least two sentences. How about a maximum of, say, seven or eight paragraphs? The OP could SUMMARIZE the content and then link to the full description rather than post an entire book chapter (that is copied and pasted.)

This one is an example of what I mean:

Thread 'The exec branch is at war with the judiciary.'

Mar 21, 2025

History is repeating itself as I write this. The exec branch is at war with the judiciary. The headlines are replete with how Trump is trying to undermine the judiciary who is simply trying to constrain his authoritarian maneuvers. The very fact that Trump is doing this, is further evidence that the judiciary is correct, that Trump is trying to usurp the independence of the judiciary to acquire absolute power.

The founders created three co-equal branches of government precisely to prevent one of the branches from dominating the country where, if that would happen, fascism (tyranny) would...

• Rumpole

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• 
• 

I appreciate the sentiment but don't know how we can make it a rule that satisfies every situation.

If it's one large wall of text, I just don't read it. Most of those are just cut and paste without giving proper credit anyway.

If it's somebody who triggers my New Year's resolution, I generally don't even open the thread.

I usually do appreciate those who have linked an article behind a paywall of a credible source posting the content of that article if it is pertinent to the point they want to make. If it isn't pertinent to the point they are making, that in itself should be against forum rules, but there is a limit to how much we can expect from a volunteer mod staff who has enough to do just policing the trolls here.

 

[Foxfyre]

Here's a common definition of a "message":

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled.

Messages should be brief and concise. This is the US MESSAGE Board.

If I am brief and concise--admittedly that isn't easy for me who used to write for a living--every troll on the board accuses me of trolling.

But if I take the time to actually make an argument, then I am too wordy.

What's a girl to do?

 

[Zebra]

two sentences can be enough