For the FR suggestion box: javascript auto-quoting

john in missouri | 6/20/02 | vanity

[john in missouri]

I like the "new" Free Republic, and especially like having the message-being-replied-to readable on the reply page. But here's a additional suggestion:

It would be quite feasible to add to this page a "Quote" button, which, when pressed by the user, would use javascript to automatically insert into the appropriate box:

<i>[message being replied to]</i><p>[plus maybe a couple of return characters]

The user could then simply cut out parts of the message he/she didn't want to quote. It would make it even easier & quicker for this forum to do what it does.

What do others think?

[Lazamataz]

I'd prefer if JohnRob also designed a Javascript message body creator. That is, the forum software would not only quote the message you are responding to, but compose the reply.

[KC Burke]

Like this?==>

I'd prefer if JohnRob also designed a Javascript message body creator. That is, the forum software would not only quote the message you are responding to, but compose the reply.

Statist, Libertopian, Atheistic, Theocratic, Rino, Anarchist, Modernist, Rationalist, Bushbot, Bush-Basher, Randian, Secularist, Papist and ideological balderdash.

[Lazamataz]

Statist, Libertopian, Atheistic, Theocratic, Rino, Anarchist, Modernist, Rationalist, Bushbot, Bush-Basher, Randian, Secularist, Papist and ideological balderdash.

Your support of what I abhore is reprehensible. If you had half-a-brain, you'd see my point of view prevails. You should wake up now before it is too late and the whole country goes to hell.

Reply produced by Focus Forum AutoResponse Feature (working name), Copyright 2000-2002

[jae471]

No. Like this:

Statist, Libertopian, Atheistic, Theocratic, Rino, Anarchist, Modernist, Rationalist, Bushbot, Bush-Basher, Randian, Secularist, Papist and ideological balderdash.

Islam is the Religon of Peace.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

Sounds like a good idea. Which brings me to one that I think is also useful: Put a checkbox next to each article, and have one button per page that says 'Mark for later reading'. This would essentially bookmark articles that interest you, but don't have time to read (like at work).

It's much quicker than opening each article and clicking 'bookmark', which has the disadvantage of letting the whole world see what articles interest you.

With the method I described, I could then, at home, read the articles that interested me without having to (a) remember what the heck they were, or (b) search for them manually.

What gave me the idea is that I'm leery of loading articles while at work that have words like 'porn' or 'sex' in the heading, even though they're serious issues, like the scandal with the Catholic Church.

[dwollmann]

javascript not needed. It would be simple to quote the text and insert it into the <textarea> before transmitting the markup. Personally, I'd find that feature annoying unless it were optional.

[john in missouri]

Personally, I'd find that feature annoying unless it were optional.

This is why I was thinking about a push-button...

To John R: Excellent job BTW on some of these new features!

[wheezer]

What do others think?

"Blink" tags...lots and lots of "blink" tags!

[KC Burke]

love it.....

Actually, the feature I'd most like is some sort of perl script change that only makes the "New Posts to You" pop up when others have posted to me and not when I have posted to others. As far as including the entire post being replyed to automatically, many trying to reply to me would have to wear out the delete key to get to the sentence they are commenting about.

[john in missouri]

Sounds like a good idea. Which brings me to one that I think is also useful: Put a checkbox next to each article, and have one button per page that says 'Mark for later reading'.

Cool idea.

[john in missouri]

Actually, the feature I'd most like is some sort of perl script change that only makes the "New Posts to You" pop up when others have posted to me and not when I have posted to others.

Ah yes. You know, I was thinking this same thing earlier!

[jae471]

How about colors

Maybe blinking colors?

[newgeezer]

The user could then simply cut out parts of the message he/she didn't want to quote.

Too many would skip that step, thread lengths would perhaps double, and FR resources would be unnecessarily wasted.

Frankly, when people are too lazy or HTML-challenged to include a quote, I just click the handy "To nn" link, and read what it was to which they replied.

[ThePythonicCow]

many trying to reply to me would have to wear out the delete key to get to the sentence they are commenting about.

Or they wouldn't ... and I would wear out the Page Down key scrolling down much longer threads containing copy upon nested copy of everything said before.

A goodly proportion of newcomers are reluctant to remove something that the computer has put there -- if they even see it at all. The default clearly should remain to make it easier not to quote than to quote, and easier to quote some than to quote all.

[socal_parrot]

I kind of pine for the days when tags were left open, and half a thread would be in bold or itallics.

[wheezer]

Love it! ;o)

[Poohbah]

And then we could say "Hey! That boldface is using extra electricity!" or "Italians begone!"

[Havisham]

One comment. Free Republic doesn't have the hottest headlines anymore. Same day threads are days few and dull. Also, I've found some real voids in the coverage. I think FR has sacrificed content for speed of operation. In any case, I think the monitors are too present for this to remain an exciting site.

[mrsmith]

NO JAVA, JAVASCRIPT- NOT NOW NOT EVER!!!!!