I'm happy with the current format, and agree with TRTL that it is the text itself that should do the talking. To me, the enduring challenge on OLO is to read the text carefully and to interpret it accurately. I do agree though that Italics or Bold would be useful for emphasis. But, please, no colour, pictures or emoticons!

I am wondering if it is possible that the available editing software is only available in a "all bells and whistles" format.

Maybe a minimalist editor is simply not 'out there' for easy installation.

I regard the current OLO situation as being so basic as to be less than minimalist and bordering on stingy.

However, I am prepared to stay with the status quo, because I do agree that Boazycarp allowed free reign with emoticons would not only be a sin but a crime against humanity.

Dear Fractelle,

I too would like to have access to things
that are available to me on "Word."

Whether it would help with my ability to
communicate however, I'm not so sure.

I find that I have to really think about
the subject of a thread before jumping in
and replying, and even so, I often don't
get it right.

What I really dislike though, is vitriolic
personal attacks. I feel that they should not
be allowed in a Forum that deals with social
and political issues.

It lowers the standard, brings out the worst
in people, and hurts.

I don't know if technology could help in this
matter. It would be great if it could.

Foxy

I know which thread to which you are referring. Your comments were apt and warranted. I am not going to give it more attention than it deserves, however, I think this is clearly a case where OLO should be 'hands on' as it has degenerated into one of the worst threads I have witnessed on OLO.

The type of software to monitor posts that are little more than scathing personal attacks would have to be 'intelligent' and I don't think we are quite there yet with self-learning software, besides I really prefer the human touch even if it does belong to Graham. He would probably still be a favourable choice to a computer program, although... no, I'm not going there...

Cheers

In my view the discipline imposed by the lack of "features" here is in itself a positive.

Spelling errors are themselves a means of communication.

I myself have been known to misplace the odd apostrophe on occasion, which (I hope) adds a little character to an otherwise dry presentation.

But seriously, the effort needed to make a salient point without resorting to bold, italics or emoticons forces an extra, valuable few moments of thought.

I shudder to think how the quality of posts might deteriorate if these facilities were provided - just take a look at the contents of the average blog that allows them.

It's like putting on a baseball cap, backwards. Instant loss of thirty IQ points.

All salient points, Pericles - especially the baseball cap.

The only issue I really have is when I have quoted directly from a source, provided the source and the quote is taken as if I had written it myself. Other posters are confused by research I have done with yours truly.

I would probably settle with the current format rather than anything that is likely to abused/misused by the over zealous.