Minimum number of chars

[RhinoBull]

Not sure if this was asked (would asume it was) but I figured I ask: why the heck there is minimum of 4 chars allowed in reply ??????????????????????????
What's wrong with simple "NO" or "YES" when someone needs only confirmation ???????????????????????

[brad jones]

Because 4 is better than the default minimum of 10 characters. This minimum helps avoid smilie face answers and other such non-helpful responses.

Brad!

[RhinoBull]

Still doesn't make any sense: it's simple enough to check for a spesific string and if reply text contains only any of those smilies abort posting ...

[RhinoBull]

[RhinoBull]

As you can see, Brad, all I did was replied with a single smilie which has 5 chars ...
"LOL" smilie (and perhaps some others) would have similar effect.

[Merri]

I don't see much point on making this a big issue. There is always a way getting out of it: just reply Yes. and with no you could have a smilie included so you'd seem friendlier.

I think I've never made a message shorter than, say, 20-30 chars.

[brad jones]

As you can see, Brad, all I did was replied with a single smilie which has 5 chars ...
"LOL" smilie (and perhaps some others) would have similar effect.

You are correct. I need to put it back to the default of 10 characters....


Right now the minimum is a value that can be set in a form. Changing this to do a more logical check (such as verifying it isn't just smilies) would require a hack to the code that really wouldn't be worth the investment of time it would take.

When people are writing a post that is less than four characters, they should probably consider whether their is any true value in their response. (I understand that "yes" and "no" responses may be of value, but adding a little more detail would be of even greater value).

And no, I'm not going to increase the minimum from 4.

Brad!

[RhinoBull]

I don't see much point on making this a big issue. There is always a way getting out of it: just reply Yes. and with no you could have a smilie included so you'd seem friendlier.

I think I've never made a message shorter than, say, 20-30 chars.

I don't make it as a "big issue". However I don't think that it's the right way to validate any post - that's all.
And yes - someone needs to write a novel when "YES" or "NO" is all that's needed.

Cheers

[Valleysboy1978]

There is always a way getting out of it

As Merri metions there is always a way around these kind of things. You could put loads of smilie faces after your "Yes" and it would be accepted, so why worry about it