When Woot overlords edit comments, it should be noted as such.
I had a comment edited by the Woot-folk, which is their prerogative and I don't think any more or less of them for doing so. As I've said before, it is Woot's sandbox and I play here at their pleasure. However, when they edit a comment of mine (a they recently did), I think they should mark it as "Edited by Woot" instead of "[edit]" which might make folks think that I had the caring hindsight to edit something horrible or tacky.
by
wootvan
asked 2 years ago
Harumph, harumph! Here, here! That would be nice. I don't think there's always an "edit" notation. The comment is simply altered, not that I mind it.
Sometimes the edits don't make a whole lot of sense. Some one got into a snit about a comment I had made. His ensuing lovely little sentiment got changed before I had a chance to read the original. Woot Editing gave me a bit of a pause as I didn't realize the comment had been edited. I just thought the commenter was a bit weird.
Here, Here! I remember when they edited one of my titles once, and I started getting questions about something on the deal, that I swear I mentioned in the title, and then it was not there. I thought I lost my mind.
@catbertthegreat:
Titles are edited to fit a form.
MFG, Name, Model#, blah blah blah.
We fix pricing and shipping if it has been neglected by the poster and if it is readily available on the landing page.
If the title does not fit that form...
"20% off sale at Kohls"
...we edit if our edit can improve the title.
We generally remove "commentary" from the title.
In all cases regarding titles, brevity is preferred.
Details can be included in the description.
@jumbowoot: When Woot began editing titles, a lot of this site's fun, for me, was lost. If I post "Mediocre but cheap headphones" it will surely get edited down to "Headphones" and, since community deals don't get any benefit of commentary until scrolled over or clicked on, someone shopping for a higher quality product might click through. Perhaps Community Deals might get a line of sub-commentary similar to that afforded Sponsored Deals adding back fun and practicality to deal posting.
@jumbowoot: I know the rules now, but it was the monkeys: http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/30c26471-1cb7-4586-a81c-80e8e6d73344/
You guys removed the minimum order bit from the title the first time around, looks like you changed it again too, and did not move it into the description, that is why we would like some notification, because then we get questions in our comments that we forgot something, when we did not.
not mention half of us use [edit] when we come back later before the five minutes is up at add extra thoughts. I do, usually if I am adding a link or more info, IF I remember to add [edit] I am trying to do that more often so that folks don't get confused if they are reading and wonder what the heck happened.
@jumbowoot: I usually try to put as much information in the title as possible. I remember seeing posts where people passed over deals if they didn't include shipping in the title. Maybe I misunderstood, and they wanted it in the description instead. I'll try to do that from now on. :)
@lavikinga: I can see where that would be confusing. I don't mod as much over here but on the other sites, I do leave a note if I have to edit the post for language or something in an otherwise good post. Something like [Mod: edited for language] or [Mod: fixed link].
I must say though, that I think I've only edited one post over here. Y'all are generally great people and are making this a great site with your posts and commentary.
On a completely different note, I thought I would pass this on. I'm not showing off because I only learned it myself about 6 hours ago when I looked it up. It's "hear, hear", not here. I had no idea. Heh.
@thunderthighs: I seldom correct grammar or spelling errors now. I see so much of it, that I've simply given up. The incorrect use of it's and its, your's, yours, there, they're, their, and (shudder) thier... and (drum roll please) my least favorite, the word "utilize" when "use" is what the speaker means.
Utilize: to make use of something, or find a practical or effective use for something.
There's simply no reason to use a foolish two dollar word, when a nice nickel one conveys the same information.
Ah, well. So it goes.
@shrdlu: As I said, I really didn't know until I looked it up today. I didn't know which was correct and I was seeing it used quite a bit lately. I found the history of the phrase interesting. Then again, I'm also reading a book on the history on nursery rhymes. I like weird stuff like that.
@thunderthighs: Oh, then here's a gift for you. It's a riddle.
Little Nanny Etticoat,
In a white petticoat,
And a red nose.
The longer she stands,
The shorter she grows.
What is it?
I'll come back later, and see if you've guessed it (it hails from about the 1500-1600 era).
@shrdlu: Teacher, Teacher, I know the answer! (catbert raises his hand as high as he can in the air)
@shrdlu: I cheated.
No tiene piernas y es manca,
cuanto más horas trabaja de estatura se rebaja,
tiene la nariz roja y la falda blanca....
¿Qué es?
@bsalusa: No habla Espanol. In addition, cheaters never prosper.
@catbertthegreat: Fine. Email me. Don't spoil the fun for our nice friend, Ms Thunderthighs (one expects that it is Ms, please correct me if I am wrong).
@shrdlu: Gah. I HATE RIDDLES! I cheated too. First thought was whipped cream with a cherry on top because I just had a hot fudge sundae at Braums. But the century didn't work. Never would have gotten though because I don't think of "that" as red but more orange.
@shrdlu: Yes, Ms. Oh, and I cheated. I always get frustrated with riddles. Sigh.
@thunderthighs: The Horrible Homonym monster strikes again! You are correct about the proper usage of "hear, hear." Serves me right for trying to type and carry on a conversation at the same time.
While not quite the same thing, but equally aggravating is the proper pronunciation of everyday words. I've had this bookmarked for years: http://www.yourdictionary.com/library/mispron.html
I like Grammar Girl as well: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/top-ten-grammar-myths.aspx "Where are you at" drives me insane.
@shrdlu: "Orientated." My sainted librarian Grandmother despised hearing this.
@thunderthighs: No need to be frustrated. Actually, as simple as that one is, it fools many people. We live in a different world than those innocents in the middle renaissance, and there aren't many who light their house with candles in this day. Candles made with modern things actually burn with a different flame, too. Those made from rendered animal fat burned with a redder flame (or sometimes an interesting blue).
There once were two cats of Kilkenny
Each thought there was one cat too many.
So they fought and they fit,
And they scratched and they bit,
'Til instead of two cats, there weren't any.
Better? You know I just want you to be happy.
@lavikinga: I adore your sainted Grandmother.
Another little known on is that "forte" (when used as someone's strong point) is pronounced "fort" not "for-TAY."
FROM THE WEB: The word is spelled "forte" but the [e] is pronounced only when speaking of music, as a "forte passage." The words for a strong point and a stronghold are pronounced the same: [fort].
@lavikinga: Egads, I'm not that good. In my past life as a tech writer, I LOVED my editor. LOL. I think some of the pronunciations can be cultural. Some of them seemed just fine to me. Heh.
@shrdlu: I did remember that riddle and it brought back some fond memories. Thank you for that. I think the old fashioned nursery rhymes and riddles for children are now giving way to Dora the Explorer and Disney Princesses books. That makes me sad. I grew up reading my Gran's "Cassell's Annual" with tales of TipTite & the Tinker's Lad, and my Dad's "Snipp, Snapp, & Snurr" and "Just So" books.
edit-- I miss her every day. She died just a few years ago, 4 months shy of her 101st birthday, & was sharp as a tack. And even then always had more than 3 or 4 books "going" at a time.
@shrdlu: Oooooh, I remember that about flames from science classes!
And yes, that makes me happier. XD
@wootvan: Ok, that's cool. just read the entry on dictionary (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/forte). They have nice note on the pronunciation. Thanks for sharing!
@lavikinga: I like your links. I have more reading to do. In college I had the take a course on Business Communications. The professor was only an MS. She had been there a long time. She only accepted the first spelling of a word in the dictionary. I had read the forward of the dictionary. There it clearly stated that the order of spelling had no precedence.
Earlier, in High School I took a make-up English course. I was verbally castigated by the teacher during class. I wrote properly punctuated compound and complex sentences as a normal part of my writing. I saw the world as shades of gray. He wanted me to write in black and white.
@bsalusa: Have you logged time with Samuel Pepys' Diary? http://www.pepysdiary.com/
After reading some of the entries, I came to the realization the English language is declining and devolving into something deplorably tuneless and harsh upon the ears. American English is rapidly becoming nothing more than slang, acronyms & text speak.
@shrudlu, in another thread, recommended reading Chaucer's Canterbury Tales as they were originally written. I shook my head at that when I considered today's teenager can barely cobble together a cogent translation of a Shakespearean passage, let alone read Middle or Old English. And good grief, I can't remember when they were written. Off to look it up.
@lavikinga: I read Pepys' diaries in college!!!! well bits anyway. Man I am such a nerd. I also loved looking at Hogarth pictures as they depicted the 18th century in a way that no other artist did with such amazing satire.
@lavikinga: I was about to recommend a book to you, and have discovered that it is now a rare book, for which I express my regret. It is always a sad thing to see a book go quickly from accessible, to collectible. Books are meant to be READ.
Sigh.
Thank goodness, if used, it is a mere fraction of that price.
It is "A Browser's Dictionary" by the ever elegant John Ciardi (my favorite translator for Dante). This wonder can be picked up, and opened at any page, for a true delight in the meaning and wonder of words.
It is subtitled "A Compendium of Curious Expressions & Intriguing Facts" which is an accurate description. I got lost in it just now, while attempting to describe it.
@shrdlu: Man! Something's wrong with me. I didn't bat an eye at the price for the new version. I'm adding it to my wishlist.
One of my grandmother's most treasured books was (ARGH! I'm pulling up a blank on the title!!!) The Reader's Encyclopedia. Maybe by Benet? She lived by that thing and it's chock full of little slips of paper with notes to herself (and to me).
Lucky me, I inherited almost all of her books and bookshelves. I so enjoy opening a book that once belonged to her and find an old letter, Christmas card, list, etc., that she had grabbed to mark her place or make more notes.
STILL trying to get through "The Tontine" by Thomas Costain which she always wanted me to read. Two volumes. Still plowing through the first. It refuses to get up and go! But to be fair, I've only been reading at it...for 2 years. Shameful.
@shrdlu: You left out then / than. My personal favorite.
@jumbowoot: There are simply too many to list, of course. When I know that the average Elizabethan peasant had a vocubulary of around 50,000 words, and an average person of, say, twenty years of age, has less than 15,000, my heart grows heavy. I love the richness of words, and the careful turn of phrase is a delight. Even when I text, it is in complete sentences, with correct spelling.
Alas, I often do not see an error in typing here on Deals until it is committed to the vast database of Simple. Each and every one of them weighs heavily upon my soul, dragging me down.
Life goes on, of course.
@lavikinga: Don't buy a new copy. Buy a used, so that you can have it now. Most of the vendors that were on the used list had very good ratings.
@bsalusa: "I wrote properly punctuated compound and complex sentences as a normal part of my writing. I saw the world as shades of gray. He wanted me to write in black and white."
Your prose is quite colorful, but your meaning a bit opaque (to me). Did you mean he wanted you to write simpler sentences?
My personal style is a mixed bag. Having worked in a professional setting before, I've found that there is often a pressing need to be quick and to the point. So, to tie it back to the originating theme of this thread, I think the attempts of staffers to standardize titles is a (generally) beneficial thing. I've also done coding, in which standardization can be pure rapture when something goes wrong.
@lavikinga: I do have to disagree with Grammar Girl on point 3, as I don't find "I'm good" a satisfactory response to "How are you?" The issue isn't so much that it's an adjective, but that none of the definitions of good really seem appropriate. (http://tinyurl.com/goodef)
(cont)
@shrdlu: Puh-leeze - you know that you just go out and dig around in the garden some more and feel just spiffy. Y'all need to find your pink cloud and not worry about the vocabulary count. Or the typos - at least we can all mostly spell.
(cont)
This is ultimately what the "How good are you?" retort gets at (God's wounds, a preposition at the end of this sentence). "I am well" seems to perfectly address the condition that a person is in. Plus, if you're like me and tend not to pay much attention to the form of these civilities, the short response "well" works as a response to both "How are you?" and "How are you doing?" (or "How ya' doin'?").
@arguendo: Don't forget "whaz zup?"
@sand4me: Word. I guess the safest reply is to always respond with a question, like: "Hi, how are you?", "What up, G?", "What do you think?" or "You talkin' to me?" Then we can avoid the hassle of answering the question altogether.
@lavikinga: piggybacking off @shrdlu if you buy books check out betterworldbooks.com it is a great book store to buy used books online all the money goes to back to fund libraries or literacy programs, it is like buying at a library book sale basically.
@lavikinga: I read "The Tontine" years ago and loved it. Thanks for reminding me of it. Sounds like my aunt and your grandmother had similar taste in reading.
@shrdlu: But one of my favorite pleasures is opening a brand spanking new book that never been opened before. There is something about the crackle of its spine, the feel of its pristine pages waiting to be turned, the promise of diving into another world. Nerd much?
Definitely will settle for used as the new version is out of my price range right now. Too many other projects around the house that need funding. @debbiedunlap has me interested in square foot gardening again.
@arguendo: "I'm good" in response to "How are you?" sounds odd to me. I usually respond with "I'm fine and you?" or "I'm doing well."
I believe my punctuation skills in this comment are severely lacking. It looks flat out wrong. I'm blaming it on itchy eyes and not enough coffee. Please feel free to break out the red pen and correct at will.
@lavikinga: Perhaps it looks wrong to you because you are following the CORRECT method of placing a punctuation mark inside its encompassing double quotes? As in, no matter what the purpose of the "comment is for," the punctuation should fall within the double quote, and "not outside it", thusly. shudder It pains me to do that.
Coffee. Need more.
@shrdlu: I will admit the inside/outside the quotation mark rule tends to get fuzzy these days, as I KNOW there are instances where it falls outside. At least I seem to recall there are these occasions. Yes, off for more coffee and to search for my HS grammar book.
@shrdlu: BOOKMARKED! Thank you. You haven't read "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Lynne Truss, have you? I haven't gotten to it yet, but it's on my summer reading quick list.
@lavikinga: I have not read "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" and admit that there will not be enough time in my life to read everything that I'd like to. There will not be enough time for those things that I should read, either.
I can say (with some pride) that the proof readers and copy editors at work usually did not review my proposals, reports, and white papers, since it proved to be a poor use of their time. They did love me, though, since I could be trusted to not permit those working for me to submit without having run the submissions through grammar checkers, spell checkers, and me. Spell checkers have made me lazy, over the years. Deals is good for me, since I know that I have to LOOK at what I am typing, rather than expect a spell checker to note when I've left out a letter, or used the wrong one (magid instead of magic, for example).
I do wish there would always be more time, though. I don't want to live forever, but I'd like a few hundred years, thanks.
@lavikinga: Heh. Funny that I looked that up in my Strunk & White's last week. I needed to know since I do some of the Quality Posts on the other sites and I want them right. The way I understand it is that if the punctuation is associated to the phrase you are quoting, e.g. "Do I know you?", it goes in the quotes. If it's not associated with it, e.g. Does anyone know if there's a "witching hour"?, it does not.
@thunderthighs: Please note the link I posted for @lavikinga. In the U.S. the punctuation ALWAYS goes inside the double quotes. Don't make me get out my style guides and references.
I do appreciate your attention to detail, however. Every person who makes the effort to be literate in their written (and spoken) communication provides an example, and an encouragement, for others to emulate.
From what you say, it sounds as though you are retaining dual responsibilities, both on Deals, and on the Woot forums. Do they let you go home and sleep, or do you just have a sad little cot in the cubicle farm?
[Edit] My favorite quote from E.B. White, is "Be brief, be brief, be brief."
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