About font-type and color in posts - Writers Forum

WriterDude · 11-14-2007, 03:39 AM

Why can't we all agree on a standard format for our posts? It would make it a lot easier to read each other's posts, and honestly, does changing anything from the standard font really accomplish that much?

Take for instance a post I just tried to read about what story to choose. I wanted to help, but the font was so small I had a hard time reading it. My eyes are perfectly fine, but I'm on a small laptop (15" screen). In the end, I gave up reading it even if it was a short post. This isn't a one-time thing, either. I've seen several people do this, even for long posts. Even worse, it's not your OS, internet browser or anything either, as I've seen several posts that starts with the standard font (like this one) for the description of the story, and then switches to a really small font for the story itself. As a tip, I don't generally read long posts unless they catch my interest in the description (and some don't even have a description) or I like the author already. Writing a long post in a really small font is a big no-no in my book.

The same goes for oversizing your font. As an example, a guy's signature said "I am built for speed AND comfort." That's all it said, so why were each letter the size of his avatar? And in a red font, as well? To stand out from the crowd? It sure did, but not exactly the way he thought. I tried reading his posts anyway, but even if I asked him nicely to reduce the font-size several times, nothing happened. I gave up reading his posts after a short while as the signature was so annoying.

So again, can't we agree on a standard font and color? Unless you have something important to say, what does changing the font size and color accomplish anyway?

JohnN · 11-14-2007, 05:22 AM

times new roman and black seems to work well.

WriterDude · 11-14-2007, 06:04 AM

I agree, and the standard size if easy to read as well. So why change it to make it annoying and hard to read? That's what I wonder about.

lisajane · 11-14-2007, 09:27 PM

If the font is too small to read but you're wanting to read it anyway, there's a very easy thing to do - copy and paste to Word and make the font bigger. Ta-da!

And with signatures, who are you to say what the signatures should look like? Most people used signatures to make themselves stand out - it appears to work. Do you carry on like this if there's a graphic as the signature? And if we're sticking with standard font type, maybe you should un-bold your signature.

wmd · 11-14-2007, 09:35 PM

I do not really care about sigs... but I totally agree with the body of posts. It is hard enough to read some peoples "forum grammer and spelling", and we should not have to waste our time to copy and paste.

It happens at work all the time too... an email will go out in some goofy font and wierd size, and it would be just fine in the defaults... it is kind of hard to take a memo seriously when it is written in Comic Sans or something.

Foxee · 11-14-2007, 09:35 PM

1. That would be pretty boring. Though for long blocks of text, yes, 12 pt of whatever the default is or Times is the most readable. Not against colors occasionally when it's fitting, though.

2. Sometimes font discrepancies are board issues that happen when someone posts. Unless they edit the post that's the way it stays.

3. I don't like my sig to outshout my posts. It's there if you want to read it, not to slap you in the face. Therefore it's usually smaller and/or in a grey or semi-neutral color. (The lines I have now deserved some color)

WriterDude · 11-15-2007, 04:09 AM

The problem is there are a lot of people in these forums with a lot of things to say. This means I prefer to read smaller posts that go straight to the point rather than long, boring posts I don't even know what is about in the first place. One example of the last is first making a topic like "Is this good?" (random example), and then write a looooong story starting with Chapter 1, Prologue or something. Why should I read the whole thing if the author doesn't even let me know what he or she is writing about? I'm sure it could be great and all, but with so many people with so many stories, I stick to the genres I like. Sci-fi, fantasy, horror, comedy, that sort. Why should I sit fifteen minutes reading a story I don't even know what is about if it turns out to be, say, a romance story? I don't like romance stories, so thanks for wasting my time.

Think about it. There are already too many posts for one person to read and give critics to, so why should I be forced to open my word processor, copy and paste the story and then change the font size manually just because I can't read it in the forum from where I found it? If I can't read it right away and know what it's about, I simply ignore it. I would be surprised if I'm the only one, as well.

As for signatures, I don't mind big, flash ones if they have something to say. My sig is in bold as it's a story I'm writing right here on this forum from start to finish, just so people can read it for free. I will not publish it, I will not edit it (much, at least), I will not even ask for your opinion about it. The number of views are enough for me. So far I've gotten quite a few hits (and even positive feedback), so I know a lot of people like it. Adding it to my sig is a great way to get even more people to find it. It's up to you if you want to read it or not.

Pictures in sig's? Fine, go nuts. Add a big, flashing pac-man if you want to, complete with animation. All I'm asking is that the sig is stays a minor part of your post, that's all. I didn't come here to read people's sig's. I came here to read people's ideas, give critics, get critics on my own, meet friends and so on. It's just seems some people know they have nothing to say, so they'll say just about anything to be heard. Like that old saying: The empty barrel scrambles the most (or something like that). All I'm asking is that if you have nothing to say, please just shut up or go into politics.

(that's a general rule I live by and isn't exclusive to this forum.)

Foxee · 11-15-2007, 06:07 AM

Not every post will be to your taste. Skip those ones. You can even stop reading in the middle.

If someone's posts don't get responses on a regular basis they'll either get the point or someone may tell them when they post a whine thread.

Quote:

The problem is there are a lot of people in these forums with a lot of things to say.

Which is why the forum is here.

Quote:

This means I prefer to read smaller posts that go straight to the point rather than long, boring posts I don't even know what is about in the first place.

Personally, I think your post length (501 words) is stretching this assertion a wee bit for only making, what, three points?

Faustling · 11-15-2007, 07:08 AM

How 'bout this?

WriterDude · 11-15-2007, 08:35 AM

Three points, perhaps, but I think it matters a lot. Besides, post length isn't really about number or words, but what they contain. There's a difference between a "Please critic this" and writing a long story where we have to guess what it's about, and a suggestion post like this. You already know what I was going to say before you even clicked the title, so you were already interested before you started reading.

Even more, you could simply have hold your cursor over the post before you clicked it and get the first few lines in a preview. If you had done so, you would have known I asked why we can't have a standard format and so on. Three points? Sure, but good ones. You're still here, ain't you?

And Faustling, when reading your three words, I got: "... this?" I can't even read the first two words, so an entire post like that? No way.

And as for formating manually, is it really so hard to click Ctrl + A to select everything and format it? I shouldn't think so. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to blame anyone for anything. I am only trying to help. If you really want to make your post stand out from the crowd, you often only end up making it unreadable for everyone. A good title and a short, easy to read post that gets to the point is often much better than a giantic signature or small letters in the actual post. I am only trying to help. If you want me to read your post, make me want to read it. For that matter, why not write your comments in Italic and the rest normally? This would make it clear what's a comment and what's the actual post and still make it easier to read. Just a tip.

Faustling · 11-15-2007, 08:52 AM

It says "How 'bout this?"

(Wee... playing with fonts and colors is fuuuun)

Foxee · 11-15-2007, 09:13 AM

Sorry, WriterDude, I'm in a grumpy mood. Overall I agree with you. Just not entirely.

smilinghelps · 11-15-2007, 10:15 AM

I know what you mean, Writer Dude. However, I know when I copy/paste something (like my LM judging post) from Word, the font is changed. When I paste into Quick Reply or PM, it looks fine--but once I click Post Quick Reply or Send Message, the font size changes. If I see it when I post something, I Edit it and fix the font size--in the situation for the LM, I didn't know how it went to Valeca and she posted it the way she received it (probably thinking I was purposely sending it in annoyingly small font, which isn't true.)

So, I think what we need to do is--if we notice that our posting comes through in a super small font--for our reader's sake--edit it and fix the font--if we don't, then don't be surprised if it doesn't get a lot of reads. It's the courteous thing to do.

WriterDude · 11-15-2007, 12:22 PM

See? I was right all along.

Short posts that's easy to read and get to the point quickly is better for everyone including yourself. I wasn't aware of the copy and paste "bug", but isn't that why we have the Edit button?

smilinghelps · 11-15-2007, 12:43 PM

Yes it is.

That and to take back something you shouldn't have written. (I never do that)