Vanity Question: What's the deal with all the (parenthesis)?

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[jra]

Who's adding the parenthesis to all the headers? Mods?

Has some decision been made to start doing this?

I assume it's being done to help, but they are VERY distracting.

I'd like to think that most--if not all--FR readers are knowlegeable and don't need to be told that Sarah Palin is a governor.

In some cases, I can see where the help might be needed, but if opinions count here, my opinion is that it's being overdone.

[JSteff]

Another great LOL post. This is like 6 (in the last two days.)

Oh, and is it supposed to to before a paren (the punctuation), or after (the punctuation that is.) I always get it so confused )the placement that is.(.

[jla]

They are included to demarcate the actual headline with the poster's own remarks.

[P.O.E.]

[ken in texas]

Oh, and is it supposed to to before a paren (the punctuation), or after (the punctuation that is.) I always get it so confused )the placement that is.(.

Don't get technical on us... most of us don't know what to do if they shut off our free analog TV!! /sarc

[xmission]

I bet it’s that green guy from Ghostbusters

[jra]

“It is supposed to to...”

What exactly does to to mean mean?

[Mad Dawgg]

"This is (sirius)"

This is Hugh:

[jra]

That’s what the comments area is for.

I have a brain, so I can draw my own conclusions.

[jra]

Yours actually does add something. Most don’t.

[An Old Man]

Yeah sure, you just want to stifle creativity!

Anybody can cut/past a title from a newspaper article. Only the truly talented can make them stand above the crowd of mundane everyday headlines. To insure there efforts are noticed they use parenthesis.

Would you prefer they use ( ), { } or [ ]? After all, this is still a free countyr, isn't it?

[P.O.E.]

Comments don’t belong there, IMO

But seriously, I think it started with barf alerts - although I don't know how those started (I mean, if we don't put them before every Helen Thomas picture, what's the point?)

I've also seen parenthesis usefully used in attempts to avoid double posts. For example, different publications might use different headlines for the same syndicated article.

Your point is well taken in regard to placement of comments, but it's a fine line in some cases.

[jla]

That’s what the comments area is for... I have a brain, so I can draw my own conclusions.

Well then I'm sure all Freepers will now resist the temptation to use parentheses in headers just to placate you.

[Dallas59]

Look at my parenthesis...(?)

Look at them!

[jra]

So I take it you need help to digest most of the stuff posted here?

Sad.

[tbpiper]

If it’s a problem having a pareinthesis, would a single enthesis do? Your choice, an inny, ), or an outee, (.

[azishot]

I think they’re kind of cute. Like little dangling earrings.

[xmission]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6cxNR9ML8k

[An Old Man]

jra & jla

Are you two married?

[duckman]

Arggg, my head is exploding.