[Typo3] text content element is short?

[Jacob Floyd]

I've just been trying to insert content elements of various lengths
from one to many paragraphs, and I have a problem. When I copy from
the current website and paste into the content form and save the
element, I get:

102: These fields are not properly updated in database: (bodytext)
Probably value mismatch with fieldtype.

But it doesn't do that if I manually type it in.

Perhaps someone can help unbefuddle my mind, because it's really bugging me.

It seems to always cut it off at about 250 characters. But if I
manually type it in I can go well over 250. I'm thoroughly confused.

Help please.
Thanks,
Jacob Floyd