Get ready for a Rabrrrrrr-style rant.
Let's talk about the use of "nt", also known as "n/t". It means "no text" and serves as a note to the reader that the only text in the message is on the subject line. This can be useful in a large thread.
For example, in this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022689277
Notice post #56: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022689277#post56
Notice how GiveMeFreedom makes good use of the n/t: He places it at the end of the subject line, so that when you scan through the responses at the top, you see that his response has no text in the body of the post. It's all in the subject line. (And he's got this down with fewer than 1000 posts, too!)
Now, occasionally, I'll see DUers putting n/t at the end of their subject line when they're the ones starting the thread. For example, in http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002199364 PCIntern ends his subject line with n/t. (Actually, with N/T, because he thinks we can't hear him.) Now, this is a minor point, but really, this isn't necessary. If yours is the first post, then there's no need for the n/t. It's not like someone's gonna scroll down the thread and hit your post, only to find that you didn't have anything extra to add. If yours is the first post, then the reader will see that there is some or no text. Sometimes, you'll get DUers like Ptah, who make use of the n/t in a technically correct, but utterly disingenuous, way: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018126064 . (And Tuesday Afternoon, don't think we don't see your egregious misuse of eom in the first reply!)
But here's the pickle that really jams my vacuum cleaner: there is absolutely no purpose in putting n/t in the body of the message! By the time someone scrolls or clicks to your message, reads your subject line, and then looks at the body, only to find n/t, you've wasted precious seconds of their mortality! If you at least put the n/t in the subject line, then the reader knows that, upon completing the subject line, they've gleaned all of the meaning from your post--they don't need to click down to your post and see if you've anything to add. Even leaving n/t off of your subject line would be preferable! But putting it in the body of the post just makes you look like a doofus. Like that guy Shorty in the Scary Movie series. Yeah, he's funny, but he ain't the sharpest marble in the fireplace. And for the love of all that is pure and holy, don't put n/t in the text of a post if it's the first post in the frickin' thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018364200 . Note, I'm not using this example to embarrass taterguy; I'm just pointing out that he's a dumbass.
So, come on people; let's start paying attention to our use of n/t. We're* better than this!
[font size = 1]*Dallas Cowboys fans excluded.[/font]
= new reply since forum marked as read
I would never do THAT.
I do eom and sometimes eos but never nt!
D'oh. My sick humor is here already today.
Set tasers to stun.
Your concern is duly noted and I will give myself a spanking and start using it again!
<--- Me spanking myself!
