Viewpoint Hot take: Multi-paragraph posts are unproductive
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Grey
Dialectical Hermeticist
I love wordlbuilding, but I still keep my posts concise in order make the worldbuilding as organic as possible, and the prose commensurately (in my opinion) fluid. I keep it relevant to the events of the post in some way, while striving to evoke a sensory and emotional resonance.
So if anyone sees me creeping on their threads in the next week or so, I'm just curious as to what your worldbuilding looks like woven into posts.
So if anyone sees me creeping on their threads in the next week or so, I'm just curious as to what your worldbuilding looks like woven into posts.
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Sharp Bones
the cold.
I'm not here to be productive, I'm here to be a pretentious, theatrical bitch who rolls around in the extravagance and aesthetic of it all. If I wanted productive I'd be tackling my damn workload. Nah fam. If we're procrastinating, we're milking it for all it's worth.
Melpomene
Writer of Tragedy|Art by ROYTHEART|
You're a beautiful human being, never change.
Sharp Bones
the cold.
I came here to be semi-hysterical at one AM, in the way that you are at one am. I leave strangely complimented. Thank you.
Tulik
The Lone Athgari
People will always disagree, and fight their opinion to the death, even if it’s wrong. Not saying any opinion here is wrong, but it’s easy to see when people are over compensating. I can give some examples.
When Harry Potter goes into the forest for the first time, does he remark on the type of trees? How the leaves blot out the sun, or how each root of each tree looks like an evil claw reaching for him? No. Because it’s not necessary. The dark forest is explained easily, and throughly enough time captivate adults and children alike. Everything else in the book is the same way. The grain of wood in there every moving staircases isn’t explained, because it doesn’t matter. How many paintings? Who knows. We just know there is a lot. Details when they matter, and not when they don’t.
Imagine if every novel had the same type of writing that some people believe is “essential world building”. They would all be the size of dictionaries. If every times the wind blew the book spoke of how the grass swayed, hair was caught, leaves danced.
People aren’t experienced and expert writers just because they describe every pebble on the mountain side on the way up. Superfluous details don’t make you a good writer. Being a good writer makes you a good writer. And good writers don’t need to justify. Their work speaks for them.
PauciloquentPumpkin
Pumpkin Patch
Here's my two cents.
I look at myself, and what I do here, as a writer. I can't imagine any situation in which less than a single paragraph is ever acceptable, for me and the people I'm interested in writing with. The reason for this is because, even if you're involved in a back and forth, even if it's fighting, or dialogue that requires only a few words as a response, there's more you can add.
For example, someone's thoughts or movements as they speak. When was the last time you spoke to someone and neither of you moved at all? You can describe changes in the environment, like a passing breeze. Or perhaps thoughts during dialogue or actions, or possible changes in their body, like sweating, increased heart rate, etc. Even as I type this, I'm wiggling my leg back and forth and tensing and relaxing my toes. Why? Dunno, but I am. And, even if someone doesn't move, but stay still like a statue, that's an unnatural trait that could still be described to add to the character.
And even beyond this, I tend to average two paragraphs. One to respond to another post, and one to further things along. And these should also avoid over describing things, as that can just lead to long posts of boring reading. For example, when describing a character, I don't use face claims, but text descriptions, but I don't describe every aspect of them, just general things like their size, so other characters know whether to look up or down at them, and outstanding features, like a noticeable scar on their face. Describing their abs, calves, nostril hairs and such is a bit excessive, unless they have a reason to be described. Similar things for describing environment and body movements. But adding a little detail paints a clearer picture than just replying with the reply for dialogue, or a move in response to combat or an action scene.
This of course isn't factoring in describing new settings that people arrive in, or the start of an RP, as I feel those should be expected to be longer. But to write just a single sentence means you are leaving others with very little to go on for their reply post.
I look at myself, and what I do here, as a writer. I can't imagine any situation in which less than a single paragraph is ever acceptable, for me and the people I'm interested in writing with. The reason for this is because, even if you're involved in a back and forth, even if it's fighting, or dialogue that requires only a few words as a response, there's more you can add.
For example, someone's thoughts or movements as they speak. When was the last time you spoke to someone and neither of you moved at all? You can describe changes in the environment, like a passing breeze. Or perhaps thoughts during dialogue or actions, or possible changes in their body, like sweating, increased heart rate, etc. Even as I type this, I'm wiggling my leg back and forth and tensing and relaxing my toes. Why? Dunno, but I am. And, even if someone doesn't move, but stay still like a statue, that's an unnatural trait that could still be described to add to the character.
And even beyond this, I tend to average two paragraphs. One to respond to another post, and one to further things along. And these should also avoid over describing things, as that can just lead to long posts of boring reading. For example, when describing a character, I don't use face claims, but text descriptions, but I don't describe every aspect of them, just general things like their size, so other characters know whether to look up or down at them, and outstanding features, like a noticeable scar on their face. Describing their abs, calves, nostril hairs and such is a bit excessive, unless they have a reason to be described. Similar things for describing environment and body movements. But adding a little detail paints a clearer picture than just replying with the reply for dialogue, or a move in response to combat or an action scene.
This of course isn't factoring in describing new settings that people arrive in, or the start of an RP, as I feel those should be expected to be longer. But to write just a single sentence means you are leaving others with very little to go on for their reply post.
Tulik
The Lone Athgari
When you talk with someone, or do anything, do you take note of things that are ordinary? If you have a conversation and someone is moving, are you paying attention? No. Because it’s not normal. You’re outside and a breeze blows by. It’s nice, but you don’t give it a second thought. The only time people would notice something is when it’s out of the ordinary. So why should roleplay be any different.
These characters we make, they aren’t super detail oriented. I’m willing to wager I can look at any characters personality sheet and it won’t say “I pay attention to the small stuff.” Because we don’t. It’s not something people do. Your example of willing your legs? You had to focus on you doing it, because you aren’t always aware that you’re doing it. Well maybe YOU are, but the guy sitting on the park bench isn’t. He doesn’t care.
I say what you write, treat your characters like they are real people, noticing real things. Do you know pays super close attention to body language of the ordinary citizen? Detectives. If you make a detective, it would make sense that they see that his arms are crossed and tucked tightly to his chest. That he looks around a lot. We aren’t thinking in the back of our minds “hey, he flexes his fingers when he talks.”
In my opinion, details are like a grocery isle when you are shopping. You are looking for a specific thing, and nothing else matters. You notice everything else, sure, but you aren’t hyper focused on it.
natsukashii
𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯
I'll keep my reply to this to the point.
When it comes to multiple paragraphs, they are necessary if you are describing the background and/or you need to get a certain point across but if you're simply doing conversational replies, sometimes only a few sentences is required. Of course, there's still a degree of quality one must maintain, so at least a paragraph might be preferable - at least in my opinion it is.
When it comes to multiple paragraphs, they are necessary if you are describing the background and/or you need to get a certain point across but if you're simply doing conversational replies, sometimes only a few sentences is required. Of course, there's still a degree of quality one must maintain, so at least a paragraph might be preferable - at least in my opinion it is.
Tulik
The Lone Athgari
I also don’t mean to come off as confrontational. I just enjoy discussion. I am also a firm believer in live the way that makes you happy as long as it hurts no one else. I don’t want anyone I’ve replied to to think that I think they are flat out objectively wrong. I just want to invoke a back and forth dialogue.
rae2nerdy
left site
And again I think we are coming across what might be the core point of dissension. You are writing your post as if it is your character observing everything mentioned. I am writing a post as I am a omniscient narrator describing the world. So I am not at all limited to the things that my character would observe as an individual. I am limited only to what I can perceive as occurring at any point in time.
As for the grocery isle example here's how I see it. Not all grocery stores are the same. And the different ones say a lot about their community and the people who shop there. I live in a relatively small town whose one point of pride as compared to other small towns in the area is our walmart super center. If you are from a more urban area you are probably thinking, "what walmart, really?" but the towns I'm surrounded by (keeping in mind our own town is kinda of tiny) have only mom and pop groceries. They have to travel fifteen to twenty minutes to get to our walmart.
So in that case the exact description of the grocery store becomes important. Maybe not as something the character themselves would notice. But something the narrator can use to flesh out the town and the relative social status of the person doing the shopping. And if the world is more fleshed out and lived in than the other partner can then narrate their own posts accordingly. Whether they do that from the direct character point of view or from a more narrative point of view is up to them. But I have provided them with details beyond just the bare bones "Character A does action X. Your move."
Now does that mean that every reply has to be fifty paragraphs long? No. But it also doesn't mean that just because characters are talking you have to bring your post down to only a few sentences either.
Dov
People Eater
Okay, let's bounce this around: We have established that because of our styles, we define quality and importance differently. When somebody sets up an rp, does an interest check, whatever, we put rules in place to help ensure the presence of quality and importance (as we define them).
Would it be beneficial in an interest check to explain one's values as a writer? I imagine many rpers, especially people who are a little more new to it, go in to find a partner or group and see these standards as something to live up to. There are rules to obtain this writing, therefore it must be good and one should work up their writing to attain that standard. Then they start learning by trying to imitate. They see paragraphs full of details that are not relevant to the story line and go 'it must be correct to mention every detail, this is quality'.
Alternately, they join with somebody like me and see short, plot and character oriented whatnot, only loosely established settings, etc. I had my own rules in place, they now assume that this is quality and they should be trying to attain it.
Obviously we place completely different value on the content of literature and rp. If I were to read something you wrote, I'd probably find it so deadly boring I'd get mad. If somebody started copying you, I'd feel it were a shame. You'd likely have some form of negative reaction reading one of my rps.
So, do you think it would benefit new writers who haven't established a style to see our personal values as writers laid out first thing? Do you think it would matter to them? Do you think it would influence them? Maybe moreso than rules about post lengths?
Would it be beneficial in an interest check to explain one's values as a writer? I imagine many rpers, especially people who are a little more new to it, go in to find a partner or group and see these standards as something to live up to. There are rules to obtain this writing, therefore it must be good and one should work up their writing to attain that standard. Then they start learning by trying to imitate. They see paragraphs full of details that are not relevant to the story line and go 'it must be correct to mention every detail, this is quality'.
Alternately, they join with somebody like me and see short, plot and character oriented whatnot, only loosely established settings, etc. I had my own rules in place, they now assume that this is quality and they should be trying to attain it.
Obviously we place completely different value on the content of literature and rp. If I were to read something you wrote, I'd probably find it so deadly boring I'd get mad. If somebody started copying you, I'd feel it were a shame. You'd likely have some form of negative reaction reading one of my rps.
So, do you think it would benefit new writers who haven't established a style to see our personal values as writers laid out first thing? Do you think it would matter to them? Do you think it would influence them? Maybe moreso than rules about post lengths?
PauciloquentPumpkin
Pumpkin Patch
OK, so, I'll use an example. Keep in mind I'm no master writer. So, let's set the scene first. A socially awkward boy is being asked a question by a pretty girl. The question isn't really important, so let's say the question is something along the lines of asking for directions.
Now let's compare a simple dialogue answer of:
"Um, i-it's over there."
to:
A voice calls out, asking for directions. Boy turns around to be met by a stunning beauty. He's not used to people speaking to him, let alone a girl. His hands start to grow clammy and his heart starts to race. He tries to process the question as tunnel vision starts to set in. "Um, i-it's over there," stammers Boy, pointing a hand that shakes ever so slightly. He berates himself for acting strangely, though it seems to do the trick. The girl thanks him and gracefully turns to continue about her business. Boy wipes his hands on his pants to dry some of the sweat that has gathered. His mind, like his heart, races, trying to figure out how he could have done things differently.
At this point, a second paragraph could be used to describe the boy's next action, which would allow someone to reply to them, rather than standing there doing nothing. And if you wanted to allow a back and forth, you could simply take out the part about the girl thanking and leaving, or even have the boy call out for whatever reason. Either way, the details aren't for the characters, whether they notice it or not, it's for the readers, to enhance their experience. Though adding details that other character "could" pick up on.
And yes, I do notice details in real life. When someone tenses and might feel uncomfortable during a conversation when I mention certain things, or if they're cool and confident. If they fidget around, if they even want to talk, or would rather be left alone. And even details beyond what I would notice can be used to enhance my connection to characters in a book. If books were written in such a simple manner, they would be grossly shortened, but I've never read a book that was written in such a manner.
Yes, we aren't writing books, we're role playing, but details can still enhance the experience. Not everyone's the same, and some may prefer short, simple replies to allow for quick progression, but as for me, and I assume a great many other people, details enhance things. The way I see it, it's like water in a video game. Sure, you can just add a blue layer that people will recognize, but adding water physics, reflection, and so on just enhance the game, even if it achieves nothing gameplay wise.
Dov
People Eater
This isn't appropriate for every character though. Not all characters are so much in their own head. A character who isn't introspective isn't likely to have a very informative inner monologue. If a conversation is between people who are comfortable with each other, neither of them are likely to have any physical reaction of note. It makes sense to describe the actions of somebody's who especially fidgety, or has some very overt reaction. It's just not always appropriate to describe the inner thoughts or outer reactions to things.
rae2nerdy
left site
I think we all learn through experience. No one starts out writing descriptively, most of us start out writing maybe a paragraph to a few sentences and build as we go. So I see nothing wrong with people growing through roleplay.
Nor do I think giving a long speech about our values as a writer is necessary. It would have the exact same reaction as a simple word requirement at the end of the day. People would misunderstand. The more insecure would be intimidated away. The ones who just have a different style would leave and find someone else.
I don’t consider this a quality competition either. I am not making any statement on the relative quality of my posts, my partners posts, or people I don’t roleplay with posts.
At the end of the day I’m not your boss. You don’t have to justify the time spent on your hobby to me. I don’t care how much you write and I’m assuming you don’t care how much I write.
So just go out and search for people you enjoy hanging out with that make you excited to roleplay. And if a problem comes up don’t overthink it. Just think about meeting in the middle so you can all have fun.
Idea
The Pun Tyrant
To be fair here, novels and roleplay are not really a fair comparison. In a novel, a skilled writer can both include all the detail, worldbuilding etc... they want, AND keep everything concise to the plot and characters. This is because in a novel one person has total creative control, they can man the story in such a way as to always make what they want to focus on relevant. You don't have that kind of room for maneuver in a roleplay. Furthermore, novels are read "all at once" (you can stop in the middle of course, but the rest is there). In roleplays, on the other hand, by their very nature they constaantly being interrupted. You can never establish a full line of what's ahead, as at any moment your partner could put something in their post that ruins your plans or completely changes what is or isn't narratively and organically convenient.
I summary of that paragraph: The question of "detailed posts" vs "concise posts" is not one that is really put when it comes to novels, because there is no necessary contradiction there. And I want to clarify that within the context in which I am using these words no you can't be "concise" AND use "detailed posts" , because the sense in which I am using detail necessarily involves including details which are not always relevant to the concise post.
"People aren’t experienced and expert writers just because they describe every pebble on the mountain side on the way up", yes, however nobody is claiming that to be the case. All we're claiming is that the opposite isn't true either. It's not that experienced and expert writers don't describe every pebble, it's that an experienced and expert writer has a purpose to describing the pebbles and knows how to do it well for the right audience. Some audiences wouldn't want to read writing like that nomatter how well written. Some audiences will be bored of lengthy writing that has a focus on external elements to the narrative as well as the narrative itself. Maybe even the majority of the audiences. But there is skilled writing that does include that because there are audiences which are able to appreciate those external elements.
There are always people who complain nomatter how good a writer one is. We aren't going out of our way to justify our style of writing unprompted, we are simply trying to give viable response to the criticism raised.
Personally, my writing style is done from a in-character perspective, this is I write from my own character's head/point of view. However, what I want to communicate in my writing is not just their conscious focus, but also their environment and outlook. Granted, I do probably go a bit further than the character's realistic point of view to be able to take some narrative liberties- these do, however, tend to be more focused on narrative necessities than any "extra detail".
Regardless, to give an example, I may focus on the couple at the back of the restaurant in my description not because my character is specifically thinking about that couple but because describing that couple helps me set the tone and environment of the scene. Describing the way the shadows are in the man's expensive jacket can help show what kind of establishment I want my partner to imagine, I want to set the scene not just factually claim "hey, they are in this place now". Showing how an environment evolves even despite the character's influence also helps bring the scene further to life and propagate the image I was trying to build.
Moreover, my descriptions tend to have a huge focus on showing how the character looks at things. Even if it's just a passing glance, my character may have a visceral or bodily reaction to it. If a breeze passes, the character may shiver or feel refreshed. It's not because the breeze was particularly important, but it does communicate the internal world of the character. On things I do choose to focus more heavily on, showing how the character thinks about it specifically helps structure the character in face of their environment and in their own mindset.
Two of the big reasons short posts tend to feel so boring and bland to me is because they often feel like the character's are in the void, and the post is too factual and cut-and-dry, not really having any personality to how they are written. It's like reading some general won a war in a place you didn't even know existed or knew the name of, from an encyclopedia. It's informational to be sure, you might even be able to comment on it, but it's not something which really feels lived.
Again I state- we detailed roleplayers want to feel immersed in the experience. We want the why and the how of things, more than just the what.
People often don't understand requirements even with something as clear cut as a length minimum (one of the biggest advantages it has as a tool is it's simplicity, it's pretty easy to understand and apply, but still there are people who either ignore it or don't grasp it enough to understand whether they can keep up with it). As such, adding such a thing would probably just not work at all- especially considering that many writers prefer a given writing style without really knowing why they prefer it.
Kinda answered this above, but just to add- I think a new writer should begin by experimenting with various styles, start with simple and gradually try more things until they have a grasp of how they think as a writer, what's fun or interesting to them? Once they have that answer, it's usually pretty clear cut what route they should go down.
An issue with many writers is that they tend to think in terms of "if it's good I have to like it", so anything that fits within a general perception of a good thing they think "therefore I want this in roleplay". For example, take "love at first sight" type romances. Everyone goes out of their way to say they don't like this, even without being specifically prompted about romance, but especially when they are. Yet is such a trope really that unpopular, or are some people just trying to put up appearances, and possibly deceiving themselves that way?
If you're someone who doesn't give a crap about plot or characters and just wants to have fun with one liners deep inside, if that is the writing style best suited to you, then I would say "go for it", but many would be afraid of being seen as lesser for it, and often trick themselves into thinking they want something else when that is not what they really enjoy.
So, my answer is write, write, experiment, keep an open mind, and try to look into yourself and your experiences to see what actually brings you joy, and why. Once you know that, you're ready to identify what writing style gives you that.
I myself underwent such a journey. When I first joined RPN I was primarily a simple roleplayer, writing maybe three lines a post. As I grew to understand myself better as a roleplayer though, I understood better what kind of writing I really wanted to give and receive.
I think you are seriously underestimating your own head and body language.
I'll tell you a secret: You, right now, are in your own head. You are also in your own head the rest of the day. And when you're sleeping. You're always in your own head.
"A picture paints a thousand words" they say, and that is what is going on here. Albeit you are in your own head, you don't hear yourself describe things because you don't need to describe them: You can see, and hear, and smell and touch etc... without needing a single word of input. You can feel things without having to think in words "I am feeling this", but your very realization that you feel something, or the image you see, those are all by nature thoughts. Every image you ever saw, everything you ever heard, all of it is all thoughts, it's all in your head. That's the principle behind, say, animation: your brain interprets still pictures as moving, and you see a moving image.
To say that "only a character that is very introspective" would be so much in their own head is to really reduce the scope of what thoughts are.
As for body language, again, just because you don't necessarily realize you are moving, or gesturing or anything of the sort doesn't mean you aren't. And I can guarantee you have a lot more body language than you seem to realize.
Tulik
The Lone Athgari
I won’t go on to belabor this point to much further, but the argument that because we sense everything and don’t need to think it is a moot one. We don’t think about the things we do and interact with because they are mundane. When I’m walking, I’m not thinking about walking. When I’m picking up a mug of coffee, I’m not thinking about that cup UNLESS it burns me, which is out of the ordinary. People just don’t pay attention to things like ordinary circumstances because if you did, your brain would overload. You don’t look at every speck on the wall, or you don’t not the feeling of carpet under your feet. You’ve felt it a thousand times, so why would you focus on it. You are most certainly not thinking about everything all the time. That’s absurd. All images are still images to your eyes, because that’s how the eyes work. You don’t have to actively think to get movement, your brain does that subconsciously for you. That’s pretty much the crux of an argument like that. The brain does things subconsciously, without your input, and then does things consciously, requiring your input. I guarantee that almost every thing you do in a day is taken in subconsciously. The brain as a computer does all the work so you can focus on the important stuff. It’s only when something is strange and out of place that we draw note from it. My coffee is cold. Weird. The carpet feels wet. Strange.
Now if you want to describe things in detailed manners that perfectly fine. But it isn’t by natural design in the brain that that is happening. You are actively choosing to do so. Which again isn’t really a problem.
Crayons
Iconoclast
Tulik
OK, so suppose character A, lets call him Charlie, invites character B, lets call her Rachel, to his house. Charlie has walked on that carpet many times before, he doesn't even notice it. It's background noise to him. However, Rachel has never been to Charlie's house. Rachel is going to notice everything. (Oh, Charlie has a complete collection of Stephen King novels. Oh, Charlie hasn't dusted in months. Oh, he collects fancy thimbles... there's a red flag.) How is Rachel going to notice anything, unless Charlie's player describes those things to her player? Charlie might not notice the cobwebs, the pattern on the carpet, the smell of brocolli, but Rachel sure as heck will. What's your solution? Would you have Rachel coming into the house and describing whatever she wants to about Charlie's house since Charlie hasn't bothered to do so? Should Rachel's player ask Charlie's player about Charlie's house OOC and then describe what Charlie's player says is there, which frankly is a waste of time and kind of ass-backward?
Charlie's player sometimes has to describe things that Charlie doesn't notice, because they are under his control, and because Rachel will notice them.
Idea
The Pun Tyrant
See the issue here is that you are reducing thought to conscious thought (thinks you think or note to yourself). Now, that is fine, we do typically refer to conscious thought as thought. But inner monologue as narrative incorporates both conscious and unconscious thought, and to say that there isn't enough material with thought for inner monologue disregards this fact.
Just to clarify, my point with this is not that you have to use this subconscious thought, just that it is there within a character's "inner world" so to speak- so one can consistently make descriptions of things the characters aren't necessarily paying attention to at the moment while remaining in the in-character perspective, and while such details probably woudn't be retained as noteworthy for the character they are, in fact, perceived.
rae2nerdy
left site
OK, so suppose character A, lets call him Charlie, invites character B, lets call her Rachel, to his house. Charlie has walked on that carpet many times before, he doesn't even notice it. It's background noise to him. However, Rachel has never been to Charlie's house. Rachel is going to notice everything. (Oh, Charlie has a complete collection of Stephen King novels. Oh, Charlie hasn't dusted in months. Oh, he collects fancy thimbles... there's a red flag.) How is Rachel going to notice anything, unless Charlie's player describes those things to her player? Charlie might not notice the cobwebs, the pattern on the carpet, the smell of brocolli, but Rachel sure as heck will. What's your solution? Would you have Rachel coming into the house and describing whatever she wants to about Charlie's house since Charlie hasn't bothered to do so? Should Rachel's player ask Charlie's player about Charlie's house OOC and then describe what Charlie's player says is there, which frankly is a waste of time and kind of ass-backward?
Charlie's player sometimes has to describe things that Charlie doesn't notice, because they are under his control, and because Rachel will notice them.
Exactly. The extra details are about building out the world. It isn't about the characters it's about the players. You are writing details so that your partner can react to them in some way. And for the people who enjoy reading details it's a large part of what makes roleplaying enjoyable to them.
I think a lot of this frustration I see with long replies comes from people who do not intuitively care about details trying to add them in for word count. If this conversation has shown nothing else it's that some people find it really easy and intuitive to know where to add details and some people don't. For some people adding in those extra details is always going to feel like a chore because they just don't care.
They don't care what Charlie's house looks like. They aren't going to have Rachel react to Charlie's house. And they find the entire scene in the House to be overly long and taking away from whatever conversation Charlie and Rachel were having.
And that is absolutely fine. But that is not a situation that arises because Charlie's player added "unnecessary" detail about Charlie's house. That is a situation where Rachel's player has a very different writing style than Charlie's player. And as much as it might seem unfair it would probably be better for Rachel's player to know that from jump than to get to the writing stage and realize they aren't interested in the way Charlie's player writes.
Which is where post requirements come in. They are an easy way for Charlie's player to signal to other people who probably like to write the same way they do. Or at least don't mind the style of writing they do.
Tulik
The Lone Athgari
All these comments are good examples of building a world, but I think you’re forgetting the context of the thread. If the details you’ve given are creating in L post are four pages long, no one is going to care about the smell of broccoli, or cobwebs. Or the desolate feeling that the man thinks Steven king is a good writer (jk jk). You can create detail. Four paragraphs. Five. Six. But when it becomes so large that it’s a strain to actually read your post because of magnitude of the details, you’ve added too much.
Tulik
The Lone Athgari
No one is saying details are bad. The thread discussion is about posts that are so long that you’ll have to scroll for five minutes just to learn about a persons house.
rae2nerdy
left site
See my post above. That isn't so much an indication that details are bad. It is an indication that the person writing the post has not mastered where to put those details. It's the same problem that comes up with one-liners. It isn't that writing less words is automatically bad. It is that the person hasn't managed to do so in a way that balances brevity and information sharing.
Edited
Further this thread has shown that most people who are asking for a minimum post aren't doing out of a desire to force you to write fifty paragraphs about someone's house. They are doing so because they find reading about the world to be enjoyable.
So I think that you are perhaps missing the point of the thread. It about explaining the difference of philosophy that is at the core of "detailed vs. brevity" writing. Because that is far more helpful than just saying -"Making someone write twelve paragraphs about the color of their shoes is stupid."
Tulik
The Lone Athgari
I agree. There are extremes on each side of the spectrum, and I personally would like to believes that’s what we are talking about, not the person who puts out a handful of paragraphs. A sentence explains nothing. An essay explains too much.
rae2nerdy
left site
I don't think we are though. I think what OP was ultimately getting at (what they sort of realized through the course of this thread itself) is that there are very different philosophies when it comes to writing. Some people prefer brevity and some prefer detail.
I also think that linking post requirements with people who write unnecessary detail is just confusing. Because what is unnecessary detail really is going to come down to individual interpretation. And most people who are asking for "one - to - two paragraph minimum" aren't out here asking you to write a five page essay on someone's house. And if nothing else perhaps this thread has shaken that assumption form a few people's heads.
