>> And then I go over these and I use the shift/alt+keys to reorder the
>> ideas up and down and eventually I would like to do this:
>>
>> ```
>> * Some important topic
>>   - idea 1, some notes
>>   ** TODO idea 2, another note
>>   - idea 3, a third note
>> ```
>
> What is that? Is "** TODO idea 2, another note" a headline, in which
> case it should be at column 0?

Yes sorry, bad indent.

> Headlines are different from plain lists. You can use C-c * on second
> item to turn it into a headline.

Yes, I know about that one - but I would prefer not having to change to
another set of keys :)

I can do shift arrow left/rigt/up/down for the list item *until* I hit 
the top heading.

> You can also move to the beginning of line (C-a), kill word (M-d) and
> insert the two stars. It is a longer but maybe more natural, since 
> those
> are standard text editing keys.

this is what I do know - just more tedious if shift + arrows could ask 
instead of blocking.

>> I know I can press a short cut to make it a top item, but why can't
>> I just use the normal standard tree editing keys ?
>
> I'm not sure to understand what "standard tree editing keys" you're
> talking about.

shift arrows up/down/left/righit.

> AFAIU, you want to turn a structure (a list) into another one (a
> headline). There's a command for that, but I don't consider the action
> to be a standard editing one.

Yes, but it would be so convenient it would not just block edit and 
require
shifting to completely different keys IMO.

>> Is there a way to have org-mode ask what kind of thing it should do
>> when I move the lists "out-of-bounds" instead
>> of just error out on me ?
>
> IMO, you may be mis-using the tool.

Might be - but seems it fits very naturally to be able to at least allow 
to move list items outside its parent.

Don't get me wrong - I  like it defaults to stopping, but would prefer 
it would ask or let me do shift + left + left to override or something 
similar.


/max
http://about.me/maxandersen