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HOW TO Know Whether To Blog Or Discuss (Forum)

An opinion of what is a blog and what are discussions in the Forum is the purpose of this HOW TO. It is just an opinion, but there are some subtle differences in the two.

Blogs

Many members use blogs to tell a story or give a record of their fishing trip. Blogs are generally informational, like a speech or short story article. Others then comment (if allowed) about what the blogger had to say. The link below will open and take you to the type of blog I’m talking about. Click it and see what I mean, then click the back button and you’ll be back here.

http://bigbluegill.com/profiles/blogs/bluegill-observations

The comments are generally of appreciation for the information, relating their own similar info, or seeking clarification on a point made in the blog.

Comment boxes allow some formatting and addition of pictures inside them, but they are a onetime shot. When you click add, there is no opportunity for revision of the glaring mistake you now see. You can copy what is in the box, paste it in a new blank comment, and delete the original with the boo-boo. Then fix the boo-boo in the new box before you click add. Comments are stacked in time of posting order with the newest up top, oldest at the bottom or previous page.

Discussions

(Forum)

Discussions are mostly used to ask for information, and recieve replies with the answers. Here is a link to an example. It will open like the one above did. Notice the lively back and forth, the staggering of the boxes sometimes, and the stacking order is reversed with oldest up, newest at the bottom. (USUALLY) Here it is, take a look, then come back.

http://bigbluegill.com/forum/topics/if-he-pees-on-you-are-you-in

In reply boxes, similar to blogs comment boxes, answers or info is given about the discussions topic. While replies are similar to comments, there are some useful differences. Below is a picture with highlights and A/B, both saying reply to this.

The A highlight is a reply box for the general discussion question asked by the original poster. The reply when added will move to the bottom of all replies.

The B highlight allows you to reply to the reply box it is in. It will NOT go to the bottom of all replies but will appear offset and directly below the reply it is about. You can ask a specific question about a reply rather than about the original question. This is very useful because it keeps things together that belong together. A year later, you can go to this discussion and reply to the general discussion, or reply to a specific reply and your reply will show up where it makes the most sense to.

Another, BIG difference in replies and comment boxes, is after you click add for a reply, it's not too late to change it. You have 15 minutes in a reply box to click on it, and edit it. Fix typos, add or subtract words, insert or delete pictures. Remember, comment boxes in blogs, reply boxes in discussions.

Discussions generally have in depth replies while blogs generally have brief, complimentary comments. The key here is GENERALLY. Sometimes questions get asked in the format of a blog, and sometimes stories get told in the format of a discussion. It's not the end of the world either way. This HOW TO is just the poster's opinion of the difference in the two. Let none of this stop you from jumping in anywhere on here with your two cents worth, I sure won't.