I got a question for everyone how many people post as if it's one stream of thought and how many think about what there typing and reread and what not?

I always reread everything I type and make changes many times over. So much so, that a lot of times I find myself spending a lot of time on one comment and editing it so much, that it doesn't explain the point I originally wanted to get across so I'll end up just not commenting. I'm quite the perfectionist. Too much so at times.

More often than not I'm self-critical to the point I end up deleting everything I've written. Surprised this reply made the cut #meta

I jump back and forth. If its a long post I always proof read it more than once, and usually after each paragraph. The shorter ones I will sometimes read before posting but not always.

Not proof reading tends to result in me going back and editing. I also proof read the post when it comes to spelling. Hate when I have spelling errors.

This post I read 5 times.

Re-wrote the 3rd sentence.

Corrected the spelling of 4 words.

Re-read after posting.

Edited twice.

Lol

When posting, try to think about the person READING your post.

I find it troubling when people do not take the time to do a simple spell-check. There will be hundreds, if not thousands, of people reading your post. Spending a few extra moments to improve the readability allows for much more effective communication instead of simply vomiting thoughts out of your mind into the forum..... unless of course those thoughts are inspired.... but that's rare.

10 Steps to a Successful Post:
1. Spend a few minutes alone to formulate the idea you wish to convey.
2. Type it out.
3. Read it.
3. Edit.
4. Re-edit.
5. Hit preview.
6. Read.
7. Edit again.
8. Post.
9. Read again.
10. Edit once more to fix that typo you missed.

Done.

A large amount of the comments I post end up getting canceled because I'm too picky with how I word things. My grammar isn't always the best so I end up retyping and redoing a lot of what I type. Also applies to when I start a topic as well, over half of what I think would be a good topic starter end up getting canned at the last minute.

I’m new to forums in general (well actually posting in them at least), how naive of me to think I am over thinking some situations and that other people’s ideas flow like water!

I was thinking there is just something wrong with me and I’m "being too hard on myself" "let it flow naturally and others will understand" but now I’m beginning to see that that is selfish and everyone has these problems! Thanks for this thread my friend I won’t be so self-conscience now of my over analyzing...BIG relief! Or is it?


Knowing this, I don’t think it will get my posts up any quicker as now more scrutiny than ever will ensue… But it’s ok because now I know I’m not alone and the people that are going to read them here deserve only my best work, as I am most likely reading theirs!

Even my text messages need decent grammar. I'm old fashioned like that, and do some writing for a living, so I do feel that a certain standard is necessary.

People will take you less seriously if your language is faulty.

My phone thinks that "tge" is a word, and it will often autocorrect "the" and turn it into "tge". So, at bare minimum, I need to go through and fix all the tges. In the process I'll usually find other things that will need improvement. After posting I'll always re-read right away to see if there's anything else.

In the midst of all this, there's plenty of room for free flowing thought. You just want to go back through to make sure it reads clearly. After all, the whole point is to communicate effectively.

A1pha's guidelines are a solid place to start.

I almost always post things that I write... But there are those cases where, after going through the whole process, I realize that my post is irrelevant. Swallow pride, cancel. It happens.

True. And to add, if you are going to reply in a discussion, there's this thing that pops up first which you want to post immediately. Especially in a fun or humor context, or some other discussion.

But if you wait with that idea in mind, most of the time something even better will rise to the surface.
If there are doubts, go back to the first thing that came to mind.

haha! I do alot of that as well. I'm not exactly a perfectionist, but a revisionist for sure!