Why is Markdown Cheatsheet used as the forum markup tool?

Hi Don,

Are you thinking WYSIWYG-editors and BBCode as the better standardized forum tools? (If not, please let me know which) I don't think they compare (and I certainly don't think they're better) all too well. Markdown is simply a great, light and logical markup language. Compared to WYSIWYG, I don't have to use my mouse to click on a button, to make my text bold. Compared to BBCode, I don't have to surround my text with [b]-tags. I just do it (adding the asterisks). It's much faster, and much more pleasant.

And, Markdown is already being used in a lot of places across the internet, which makes it a great tool to use, seeing as a lot of people will already be comfortable using it, or, when they get comfortable, they will enjoy using it elsewhere as well.

Once you feel that special love for Markdown, you never want to let it go again.

You could read this post on Markdown: http://brettterpstra.com/2011/08/31/why-markdown-a-two-minute-explanation/

Personally, I think BBCode and other variations are used extensively in many forums, so it is pretty universal. I read the Markdown instructions and could not understand half of what they were saying, or how to use it. So for me, it is just trying to reinvent the wheel. I suppose it is a matter of preference. I simply don't like it. I try to avoid these forums, because of Markdown.

I doubt I will ever feel that special love for it, but I do have a special dislike for it.

I have been on a lot of forums and this is the first I have heard of it, maybe it is more of a blogger thing.

It is a matter of preference, I suppose

I avoid the above mentioned forums for much of the same reasons, it would not be my first choice. I will re-look at it's tutorial. Again, I find it very lacking in options for forum use. Just my opinion.