User:SmokeyJoe/Talk page indentation with colons and asterisks

Some talk page indendation "rules" can be found here: Help:Talk_pages. Anywhere else? User:Andrewa has several times commented on my indenting. I have my own preferences, see below:

Use a level two heading to briefly but precisely introduce the thread
If the post is to be lengthy, provide a separate signed preamble, so that others can quickly determine the author of the opening post. Compartmentalize the verbosity indented below. This preamble should be unindented. --SmokeyJoe (talk) 00:46, 16 October 2018 (UTC)


 * The first response should be made with a single asterisk ("*"). I prefer a space after the asterisk for readability and spell checking in the edit window.  This space has no impact on the result.
 * The asterisk ("*") generated typographic bullet is broadly understood to represent a single statement. A single statement should be signed only once.  A single statement should bot be replied to internally.
 * The single statement, marked by the single bullet, may however be made more readable by paragraphing. Paragraphing may be generated by    or   html codes.  The   codes appears to not be needed, but some editors get upset with you when you use  without  .  Maybe it breaks the output in some browsers?
 * Alternatively, paragraphing can be done, within the single bullet, by using colons. The biggest advantage of this method is readability of paragraphing in the edit window.


 * A white line between colon-paragraphs produces a slightly increased output white space between the paragraphs. I don't know if this is browser specific, deliberate, or subject to change.


 * After making a multitude of paragraphs within a single bullet, I prefer the signature to be on its own line. This clarifies the level of the entire post, and makes it very easy to read the author, regardless of post styling added later below.  It also matches standard paper letter signing.


 * --SmokeyJoe (talk) 00:46, 16 October 2018 (UTC)


 * To respond to a asterisk-colons formatted post, I like to add one asterisk to the number of colons used in the post I am responding to.
 * Subsequent paragraphs are done with an additional colon.
 * --SmokeyJoe (talk) 00:55, 16 October 2018 (UTC)
 * A third level post is begun with two colons and one asterisk. --SmokeyJoe (talk) 00:55, 16 October 2018 (UTC)