How to be Polite on Instructables(Or Any Site Like It)

This Instructable is going to show you how to be a good member on any site like Instructables. Some of you will be able to just scan through this because you already practice the etiquette, but others, well... You get what I mean. This should be pretty self explanatory as to what its about, so the intro is kept short. Please remember that I am guilty as with most of you!

P.S. This 'Ible is a collaboration! PM me about it!

Step 1: Politeness in the Comments

It is beneficial to the user community of Instructables if you use at least some proper grammar and spellings in your comments.

Examples:

how muc dose a 555timer cos?

I see so many of these types of comments... It diminishes in the quality of the site.

Better version:

How much would a 555 Timer IC cost and where could I buy one?

DYLEGO

Notice the proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Putting your name at the end of a comment really adds to the effect, and makes you look just a little bit smarter.

Taking it a little bit too far:

I really like your Instructable, but I need help understanding part of it. My question is about the 555 Timer IC. Where would I buy one of these? I would like not to have to spend more than $10.00.

Sincerely,
DYLEGO


Now, that is great, but this IS a website. You don't HAVE to go that far. It isn't like you're writing letters...

Comments

[hishealer]

What drives me nuts is the endless runon sentence with no end in sight.  A couple of periods really helps!  Not to mention it is usually a rambling about what the commenter had for lunch last year or something.

[stranoster]

Awesome. Well written, and an entertaining and informative read on someone else's point of view. I would have to agree with CameronSS though, as the name is clearly listed above the comments.

[DYLEGO]

Yes, but as I said to CameronSS, if you were to write a letter or note of some sort, you would put your name at the beginning to introduce yourself and at the end to say goodbye. DYLEGO

[kelseymh]

Comments, by design and by usage, are not "letters." They are snippets of conversation, which can be engaged asynchronously. When you speak to your friends face to face, do you end every sentence with "... DYLEGO. Over"?

[DYLEGO]

If you send an email, do you put your name at the end? Yes. DYLEGO

[fwjs28]

not necessarily, FWJS28

[kelseymh]

Are you deliberately trying to give the impression of misunderstanding, or do you actually not comprehend anything that any of us are saying here? Your answer will determine how the rest of us respond subsequently to this or other suggestions of yours.

[DYLEGO]

What? Because I still put my name at the end of comments? No, I will keep putting my name in, thanks. DYLEGO

[kelseymh]

What you do personally is your business. What you advocate that others "should" do is not just your business, especially when you (a) don't have a logically consistent explanation, and (b) ignore any attempt by anyone else to discuss the issue with you.

[DYLEGO]

How am I "ignoring attempts?" I'm responding to most every comment on here! Just because I give another reason why I think putting your name at the end is better, doesn't mean I'm not discussing it. I am giving more reasons, that's all. DYLEGO

[kelseymh]

Except you don't give other reasons. You don't even acknowledge what your respondents say. You just repost essentially the same thing over and over:

if you were to write a letter or note of some sort, you would put your name at the beginning to introduce yourself and at the end to say goodbye.

If you send an email, do you put your name at the end? Yes.

if you were to write a letter or a note, you would put your name at both the beginning and end.

f you were to write a formal letter or note, would you forget to put your name at the end even though it is at the beginning?

I'm really talking about if you were to send someone a note, a letter was just another example.

[DYLEGO]

I really hate getting into heated arguments like this, especially on my own Instructables. You are saying that I don't even acknowledge that someone has given their opinion. Then, tell me, what do I have to do to show you that I do? What more can I do but give my own opinion? If I post a reply, obviously I acknowledge that somebody's opinion was posted, but I'm not just going to say "OK, I won't put my name in anymore." just to show you I see their point of view. I recognize and accept every opinion on here, but that doesn't mean I agree. I never said you "should" put your name in, only that it added to the effect and made you look a little bit smarter. You, sir, are an egotistical self-centered nut who thinks thinks his opinion is the only one out there. Don"t post anymore, because this argument is over. DYLEGO

[Lithium Rain]

DYLEGO, You, sir, are an egotistical self-centered nut who thinks thinks his opinion is the only one out there.

How was that, by any stretch of the imagination, Polite on Instructables? Physician, heal thyself.

[DYLEGO]

Polite didn't mean nice, it meant good grammar and spelling, etc. Plus, he is, so it was only fitting to tell him. DYLEGO

[Lithium Rain]

Polite, adj.

"Marked by or showing consideration for others, tact, and observance of accepted social usage."

Polite is not defined as good grammar and spelling. A polite person shows tact and consideration for others - something name calling does not, by any stretch of the imagination, do.

Also, I disagree with you. I do not think kelseymh is an egotistical self-centered nut who thinks his opinion is the only one out there. (Politeness restrains me from telling you what you are.)

[DYLEGO]

You are just twisting the facts around now. I did not say that that was the dictionary definition, rather that it was what I meant by it. You are in no way restraining yourself, read your first comment. DYLEGO

[kelseymh]

I don't like getting into arguments either, especially with someone who launches an ad hominem attack. You ask, "Then, tell me, what do I have to do to show you that I do? What more can I do but give my own opinion?" Here's a concrete example. I said something like, "A thread of comments is designed to be a conversation, not an exchange of formal letters." All you needed to do was to say, "Yes it is more like a conversation, but I prefer to include my name anyways." That's not what you did, as I showed in my examples. You ignored what we were writing and simply repeated your own statement (almost word for word) every time. This is not meant to be an argument. You asked a question above, and I have just answered it.

[DYLEGO]

But a discussion is not meant to be "I don't like your idea." and "OK but I do." It is meant to be a way for people to give their opinion and support it. I wouldn't have had to say the same thing multiple times if people would read the comments before posting. DYLEGO

[DYLEGO]

And the (removed by community request) below was actually me, not the community. I removed it and reposted. DYLEGO

[DYLEGO]

(removed by author or community request)

[The Jamalam]

Hello, Just a thought. What is the point in signing a comment? you can see who posted it by looking at the name above it.

[killerjackalope]

I always get a bit miffed with something in these, usually it's because it's a skewed opinion of what's decent etiquette, apart from the name point this seems alright. As said a wee reminder tend to help a bit, not to mention expose some more members that are here to annoy... One good thing is you'll find plenty of other 'iblers will have leapt upon a pointless or offensive comment before you get to your comments box, more than once I've had a comment from someone that's been removed before I read it. I do leave my name at the end of PMs to members I know, more like an email or letter, such as cheers, Adam.

[DYLEGO]

Exactly. Some of the other commenters here need to see your reasoning. DYLEGO

[JakeTobak]

this ible suks *****

[CameronSS]

I disagree that you should put your name at the end of comments, given that it's in big bright orange letters at the beginning. It just clutters things up.
_^CameronSS

[DYLEGO]

Yes, your name is displayed at the beginning, but if you were to write a letter or a note, you would put your name at both the beginning and end. DYLEGO

[gmjhowe]

Agreed.
_{^{HAHAHA LMFAO AT YOUR SMALL TYPE!}}

[DYLEGO]

Yes, but if you were to write a formal letter or note, would you forget to put your name at the end even though it is at the beginning? DYLEGO

[gmjhowe]

Im not writing a letter, I'm writing a comment. When Writing a comment, it is normal that your name precedes the body of text. So that when people read the comments they start off by seeing your name. Also, the nature of a comment is conversational, in placing your name at the end, its like a closure, ending said conversation. On top of that, putting your name at the end can be seen to be rather insulting.

[DYLEGO]

I'm really talking about if you were to send someone a note, a letter was just another example. I know your name is at the beginning, too, but putting it at the end is a regular practice for some users and I believe it makes them look like they have more of a purpose. It makes them look alittle bit smarter, and that always helps. DYLEGO

[gmjhowe]

did you even read my reply? I was saying its not like a note or letter, its like a conversation, a script perhaps. Each comment begins with 'gmjhowe says:' Different things..

[gmjhowe]

Also, looking at your comments, some are actually rather blunt and rude, and most do not have your name...

[killerjackalope]

I dunno maybe he's a hive mind. Look for other names at the bottom to confirm. One must know when the greater good is to be served by we.

[gmjhowe]

How polite you are..

[DYLEGO]

Yes, well, I used to be just like the rest. I wouldn't use grammar, or put in my name, but now most of the time I do. And that guy obviously didn't come up with it himself, and I'm not going to say "It's fake. Sincerely, DYLEGO." Who would do that. I have "seen the light."

[DYLEGO]

See, sometimes I forget my name. DYLEGO

[gmjhowe]

That comment was one of you most recent one.. of your 'you' page. That guy could easily of come up with himself... you seemed very quick to put him down. I think you need to get a bit close to the light. Btw, good grammar has nothing to do with politeness, or 'being like the rest' And i hate it when people point out bad grammar as such a bad negative.

[killerjackalope]

Grammar is trickier than other stuff... I think making a little effort to put a capital at the start and have the odd full stop is nice though... Granted by technical terms my grammar are awful.

[gmjhowe]

Indeed, even i manage to captilize me sentance. most of the time that is.

[DYLEGO]

I don't just go and point bad grammar out to people, I never have. I don't see it as "such a bad negative," But I do see it as a "negative." Besides, what harm does it do to have the Ibles community look just a little bit more civilized than most websites? DYLEGO