I don't know if any of these have previously been mentioned, but here goes.

[anotheoldgit]

A spell checker that works in the Question box.

A quick method of selecting one's past posts in one's profile, perhaps a date selection, anything that is quicker than having to go through them 20 at a time.

Symbols, that show that a question or answer is either 'tongue in the cheek' or 'sarcastic', because some sometimes try and get out of an awkward situation by later saying "it was only tongue in the cheek" or " I was being sarcastic".

[B00]

I like those AOG :-)

(and no, I wasn't being sarcastic, or tongue in cheek ;-) )

[emmie]

don't know how the last part of your post would work, half the time i don't know whether someone is joking, stupid or plain rude. Putting a sticker on it won't make a lot of difference.

[factor-fiction]

The spell checker works for me in that misspelt words are underlined in red

[ummmm]

Use the spell check on your browser.

I agree either way.

[dotty.]

maybe we should have a 'mock the week' type sub-category in news, i think i am in an AB spinoff on FB that is similar

[ChuckFickens]

A spell checker in the question box is very hard to implement. most people just use the spell checker built into their browsers, and with the upcoming release of internet explorer 10 including a spell checker all the main browsers will (finally) have one... as such there is no real point to putting one on the site.

No comment on the selecting past posts other than it would be nice to be able to order them by different criteria (such as recently answered) and not just date posted.

And gawd no.... please no symbols, smilies or the like... they just get overused... a :-) or similar should be plenty good enough.

[AB Editor]

"A spell checker that works in the Question box."

We could do this - but most members use a built in spellchecker in their browser.

"A quick method of selecting one's past posts in one's profile, perhaps a date selection, anything that is quicker than having to go through them 20 at a time."

I like this.

"Symbols, that show that a question or answer is either 'tongue in the cheek' or 'sarcastic', because some sometimes try and get out of an awkward situation by later saying "it was only tongue in the cheek" or " I was being sarcastic"."

This sounds like emoticons to me - and unless the tide of public opinion has turned then they're pretty much the work of the devil. I understand what you want for your purposes but you end up with people spamming like this:




Especially after they've had a glass of sherry

[2sp_]

I've stated writing JOKE or SARCASM on posts where needed.

Sometimes hard to understand the spirit that something is written in.

[AB Editor]

The sort criteria would be interesting to play with.

[ummmm]

A like button would be good. Save us having to type 'lol'

[dotty.]

no emails to reply to ed?

[ummmm]

Maybe he doesn't want you to be a mod :-)

[dotty.]

i didn't mean those emails, i meant the one about the article that was marked as 'to return to' or something

[Bazile]

Surely Sarcasm works because it is up to the reader to try and work out if what he/she is reading is indeed sarcasm , if he/she suspects so .

If you are going to telegraph that what you have written is sarcasm , then it loses it's impact .

Equally if you say something sarcastic - you dont usually then follow it up by stating ' by the way i'm being sarcastic '

[ChuckFickens]

Have you considered installing one of these at AB towers, Ed?
http://i46.tinypic.com/nybg3n.jpg

[dotty.]

I still have a london number for AB. I rang it once and a young lady answered and said she was in the office. it was about 6 years ago and so i bet she's left now,

[B00]

God I hope so Dotty, she must be bloody starving!

[Bazile]

A bit off the question , i know , but -

How would you explain sarcasm to someone from a culture , where it doesn't exist ?

[2sp_]

Bazile, I've been bitten on the bum by my own sarcasm more than once on here. By making it obvious that I have been sarcastic, there is less chance of someone being offended and me ending up on the naughty step. Again.

Also, sometimes even when it is painfully obvious I've been sarcastic some may choose to think I'm serious. If for no other reason than to be outraged.

[Ann]

I really like ummmm's suggestion of a "like" or maybe called "Agree" symbol to click on.