i often need to look at other responses when posting a reply on a thread. The only way i know to post a reply is to select the reply button on either the original post or one of the subsequent replies. The forum software only shows that one response and i often open up the same thread in another window to see the other responses in the thread while editing my own.
I do this to avoid repetition as well as to emphasis what others have said.
Other non-model railroading forums often show all the responses shows last 15 responses in the original thread when editing a new reply and sometimes allow quotes from multiple responses. Why can’t this forum do the same?
I often have this problem too. What I do is open the thread a second time in a second tab, window, or even a second copy of the browser. That way I can browse and cut and past from the whole thread while I am in “edit” composing a reply.
Of course that is why many of my posts seem to be a bit late since that takes a while. On a “hot” thread 2-3 people could have posted in the mean time.
I agree with Texas Zepher, if I need to see a number of replies to a thread, I open a second window and see them there. I would not want to see all replies for every one of my replies, it would be too long. For popular threads which go to a few or many pages, how would all the content be shown?
A thread w/ numerous replies may need you to scroll or go to many other pages. Just showing a few of the last replies may not always work for a proper response. So I do as others and open a second window. Easy enough.
15 replies may not be enough, but hopefully you’re replying to something recently posted.
I said this originally But you would only see the original post if you’re replying to the original post or you’ve opened up another tab with the entire thread.