In reading the posts on all nurses over a decade since I've been a member I've noticed that there are distinct styles. Some have posts or questions which are short, sweet, and to the point. These types of posters use paragraphs with a cadence which is easily read. Others will type long run on sentences using no commas paragraphs or other types of pauses and it's almost like what we in psych call push of speech where an extremely long statement is made in one breath like they're hyperverbal and loquacious and I guess it's because they're trying to type as fast as they have thoughts but I really don't know I can only surmise which means guess you know? Some posters find it necessary (and I am guilty of the same thing) of using parentheses instead of adjectives to (aforementionly) describe the thing (or situation or person or whatever). I can understand the use of parentheses (sometimes), however I believe (and this is only MHO) parentheses should be used sparingly like the first time I type Wrongway Regional Medical Center, I will thereafter just type (WRMC) without the parentheses except right after I type Wrongway Regional Medical Center (WRMC) < like that. Speaking of parentheses (and I know this is a long post, so please excuse me), sometimes posters will give a nurse or a patient or a nurse, doctor, ect. (not electroconvulsive therapy but Latin for "and so on") and then say right after they give the name (not their real name) like we're some sort of HIPAA Head Hunters and we're going to track down that patient, nurse or doctor ect. and say, "This member who's name I really don't know, but goes by Davey Do said your name on a post and I think that that's a HIPAA violation so I think he should get in trouble, don't you?" And what's this thing about asking questions? Why can't members just answer the OP on the information given instead of being like some sort of interrogator and drill (or grill, I get those two mixed up, like the Aztec's and the Inca's) them for the answers. It's like their not expecting some sort of Spanish Inquisition (I know- no one expects a Spanish Inquisition) and being run over by a bus, or thrown under a bus like some of my coworkers have done to me! And I'm not being a victim here even though everyone bullies me and I try my best not to wear my Little Lamb Perfume Scent #5 when I go to work on the Pack of Wolves unit (that's what we call the unit where all the older nurses work). Does anybody else have this problem?
I'll give 15 seconds of my time reading. If it doesn't grab my attention, get to the point or is remotely interesting, I move on. I got to the 3rd sentence.... LOL
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Many posts start off on the wrong foot and end up being attacked at their Achilles tendon, the poster falls down, and the pecking party begins.
Often, the opening line sets the tone for the entire post. If we approach a topic with great temerity, I.e. charge in with a highly debatable subject, we will end up getting a lot of negative attention.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
One of the first things we need to do when stating a thread is to acknowledge our audience and give them respect. Much in the same way a performer does at the beginning of his act.
This performer acknowledges his audience with or nods of his head, in a manner of doffing his hat, as a show of respect.
And of course the audience responds favorably, one reason being that they were given respect during the introduction.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
2 hours ago, Davey Do said:
One of the first things we need to do when stating a thread is to acknowledge our audience and give them respect. Much in the same way a performer does at the beginning of his act.
This performer acknowledges his audience with or nods of his head, in a manner of doffing his hat, as a show of respect.
How often have we been following an interesting thread from its beginning, only to have a new participant to the thread submit a post over a point which has been previously discussed. Another kind member will respond with, "That point was already made two pages back".
Invariably the new participant will follow up with, "Oh, I didn't read all the posts".
I think of that new participant to the thread as the character Donny from the movie The Big Lebowski. Donny interrupts a conversation between Walter and The Dude to ask a question. Walter becomes upset with Donny and says, "You're just like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie..."
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
1 hour ago, Davey Do said:
"You're just like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie..."
Having that new participant to the thread, who is most likely responding only after reading the OP, and makes a point which has been previously discussed, interrupts the natural flow of the discussion.
It can be irritating to have to stop and explain the progression of events to the current status. Negativity is felt, and a first impression is made of the new participant.
Will Rogers said, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”.
If we read the OP's submission and find it interesting enough on which to comment, we can skim over other members' post and get a gist of the discussion.
If we skim read before making our submission, then we can be better prepared to join in the natural flow of the discussion and other members are likely to be more receptive to us and our position.
Alternatively, we may read the OP's submission, find the subject to be interesting, but the ensuing discussion does not hold our interest, or repulses us, and makes us feel as though we'd much rather gag ourselves with a spoon.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
13 hours ago, cynical-RN said:
Thanks for tickling my funny bones!
Now, see ? This is the sort of reply that derails threads. This is a nursing website and we need to communicate with others in a professional manner.
"Please allow me to express my gratitude for abstractly and absurdly appealing to the location at the back of the elbow where the ulnar nerve rests against a prominence of the humerus. "
To the admins, I do understand the "clean and professional" look, but damn, I really miss the days when you could pick your font, it's size, and it's color! Any other old-timers remember the blue and the green large Comic Sans??? The nutty emoticon that whacked itself on the head over and over?
Gosh I can't believe I forgot all about that. Especially since it drove me a little batty. Unless it was a response I just had to read trying to get through a post with light pink tiny text in a cartoon font on a white background was more work than it was worth. Some of the members you could recognize right away just by their chosen font, color and size but some were just too darn hard to read!
thEre Was alSO a meMber tHat wouLd tYpe likE thIs aLl The tiMe... I can't remember who that was but I remember it driving me bananas. I do remember liking that members content well enough to wade through the strange formatting though.
ETA: I saw after I posted this Joe addressed it in another response. Yes, I agree you made the right decision, thank you!!
Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.
On 1/27/2021 at 11:36 PM, nursel56 said:
To the admins, I do understand the "clean and professional" look, but damn, I really miss the days when you could pick your font, it's size, and it's color! Any other old-timers remember the blue and the green large Comic Sans??? The nutty emoticon that whacked itself on the head over and over?
Oh yes! When you could eyeball the posts to pick out that distinctive red italic or green Comic Sans and know who it was. And decorative siggy lines. I loved those.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
On 1/27/2021 at 10:36 PM, nursel56 said:
To the admins, I do understand the "clean and professional" look, but damn, I really miss the days when you could pick your font, it's size, and it's color!
2 hours ago, Hannahbanana said:
Oh yes! When you could eyeball the posts to pick out that distinctive red italic or green Comic Sans and know who it was. And decorative siggy lines. I loved those.
MountainGoatRN, BSN
50 Posts
I'll give 15 seconds of my time reading. If it doesn't grab my attention, get to the point or is remotely interesting, I move on. I got to the 3rd sentence.... LOL