Responding to a thread without reading other responses.

[Jex]

In short, this board doesn't require it, so I will let each topic I read to determine how much I will read and at what point I decide to respond.

I disagree that it is tantamount to interrupting. There are a number of times, where posters were actually posting at the same time. The titanic thread comes to mind. I did read all the responses and then 3 of us posted at just about the same time where we did not see each others post and we all said about the same thing.

that is understandable, not really what I am talking about.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So you don't have enough time to hear someone, but expect them to listen to you?

When I solicit opinions, I would like a variety of responses. I don't require (in my own threads) that folks wait to see what others have to say. It has nothing to do with courtesy.

If an OP wasn't clear in their OP and has had to clarify numerous times within the thread, one can ask why they just don't update/correct their original post to avoid confusion? Especially since this board doesn't have that rule that the entire thread must be read and that no repeating is permitted.

 

[handinpocket]

Just an example of someone trying to find something to be offended over. JMO, YMMV.

 

[Acklander]

I usually read through first before responding - but find it really entertaining when a thread has been completely hijacked with the occasional "answering the OP" post thrown in for good measure. I also find it entertaining when a thread has been bumped up from years ago, and people will go on to answer the OP as if it just happened. Obviously it takes very little to entertain me.

 

[shortbun]

So you don't have enough time to hear someone, but expect them to listen to you?

I guess that's the way you choose to see it. I don't expect them to give me any more consideration than I gave them. I don't take myself that seriously. I operate under a few themes. the first: take what you need and leave the rest-in other words, if you don't need what I offer then skip it. Two: I try not to let my expectations become my disappointments -people don't disappoint Me, i allow myself to be disappointed and I believe that many people set themselves up to be disappointed. Three: one day at a time- projection can be deadly damaging to the spirit.

I usually offer a response based on how *I* would handle things and NOT based on other's take on it.

and now, because cookies are waiting to be baked and iced, presents are waiting to be wrapped and my kitchen needs cleaning-I'm going to proceed with life. Thanks for reading my post!

 

[SandrA9810]

It's fun reading responses to updated topics. Like something happened months ago, OP finally got a resolution to the problem, posts an update. A few people give their congrats or what have you on the problem being resolved, then some one else interjects with a response to the first post.

If something has gotten to 4 pages really really fast, which has been happening recently, I'll read the first post, then select "find more posts by user", so I can see where the topic has gone with the OP.
If there's 4 pages of posts, and nothing but the original post by the OP, I sometimes don't even bother, but it usually means the topic is still in the same direction.

 

[Mermaid02]

Why do people do this? I have a few therioes, but am curious as to others thoughts. I mean whenever someone post "I didn't read the other responses but my thought/opinion is blah blah blah" it has usually already been said.

I haven't read all the posts- but I think it's because sometimes you just want to give your opinion and then move on. Does it matter what 40 other folks opinions are to the other posters? Not usually, it usually only matter to the OP.

And I couldn't resist posting like that.....

 

[Carly_Roach]

Why do people do this? I have a few therioes, but am curious as to others thoughts. I mean whenever someone post "I didn't read the other responses but my thought/opinion is blah blah blah" it has usually already been said.

Without reading all the other responses I do this when I want to give a clear opinion without being biased by other posts. This means that the OP had better "bring it" in their first post without having to fill in more details later that they'd somehow forgotten until someone posted an unfavorable reaction and now the OP wants to justify their behavior; trying to get validation for why the OP is right and the (relative, friend, co-worker, customer service agent, etc) is wrong.

Does that answer your question?

 

[Planogirl]

I give my opinion to the OP if it's that kind of thread. What others have to say is their own opinions and rarely have any influence over mine. It is interesting to read what others have to say so I try to read all of it though.

 

[FergieTCat]

Why do people do this? I have a few therioes, but am curious as to others thoughts. I mean whenever someone post "I didn't read the other responses but my thought/opinion is blah blah blah" it has usually already been said.

If the OP asked a question, sometimes I just answer the question without reading the rest of the responses.

FWIW, if someone asks for my opinion, I give my opinion without reading anyone else's opinion. Why should it matter if I have the same opinion as someone who posted earlier? Maybe I'm justifying an earlier opinion.

Other times I'm in a cranky mood. Right now, I have a headache and probably shouldn't be responding in the first place.

(And no, I didn't read the other responses in this thread ...)

 

[5lilfish]

Why do people do this? I have a few therioes, but am curious as to others thoughts. I mean whenever someone post "I didn't read the other responses but my thought/opinion is blah blah blah" it has usually already been said.

Well...you asked, why do people respond to a thread without reading other responses. My answer.....why do I have to read what everyone else writes in order to answer your question? They gave their answer and I will give my answer...reading their responses will not change my answer.

Jess

 

[Magic Mom]

If the OP asked a question, sometimes I just answer the question without reading the rest of the responses.

FWIW, if someone asks for my opinion, I give my opinion without reading anyone else's opinion. Why should it matter if I have the same opinion as someone who posted earlier? Maybe I'm justifying an earlier opinion.

Other times I'm in a cranky mood. Right now, I have a headache and probably shouldn't be responding in the first place.

(And no, I didn't read the other responses in this thread ...)

I agree. And I only read the OP and this post...nothing in between.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Well, good. Maybe I'm not as socially innept as I was starting to think I was. Seems a lot of people see posting the same way I do.

 

[C.Ann]

If the OP asked a question, sometimes I just answer the question without reading the rest of the responses.

FWIW, if someone asks for my opinion, I give my opinion without reading anyone else's opinion. Why should it matter if I have the same opinion as someone who posted earlier? Maybe I'm justifying an earlier opinion.

Normally my response to this would be as above - but there was a situation a couple of weeks ago where it was "implied" that I was being less than truthful - when someone took the time to track down a similar thread of mine from five years ago (on the topic that was being discussed) and asked if that was what I was referring to.. I didn't bother to respond - because if the poster took the time to look back several pages she would have seen that I had already posted that I was not talking about the same situation (and I'm really not interested in people looking for untruths where there aren't any).. I've honestly never understood this whole "playing amateur detective" concept.. Seems to be an awful lot of trouble to go through - unless for some reason you have a personal dislike for someone and want to create a bunch of drama where none exists..

Now I suppose it could have been an honest mistake, but when I say something happened a "few" years back, I don't mean five years ago.. LOL.. (It was a really "odd" format of that older post as well - doesn't look like it came from the DIS.. I never posted about it anywhere else, so I don't know where this person copied and pasted that thread/post from..)

Anyhow - point being - since a number of posters were going back and forth, asking additional questions, etc., in that case I could see the importance of reading the entire thread.. (And it would have saved "someone" a lot of time - LOL..)

Recently though it seems that most every thread - no matter how benign - is turning nasty quite quickly.. Don't know if it's the added holiday stress or what, but I'd rather not be a part of it.. So if it's a question I can help answer, I just read the OP's question and hit respond right away.. If it's someone needing support, hugs, prayers, or congrats - no reason to read beyond the opening post - so I go straight to "post a reply"..

The ones asking for opinions? Those have gotten so bad lately that I just give my opinion (if the topic is of interest to me and I have an opinion) and don't even bother to go back.. There's really no point as it seems that some posters are interested in nothing more than telling other people how wrong their opinion is and how right they think the opinion is that they're posting, keep it going back and forth, back and forth, and it gets very ugly and all goes downhill from there..

I'm in a great mood and I would like to keep it that way.. For the most part, I'm extremely optimistic about the holidays and the coming new year.. I'm not here to argue and fuss over issues (most of which) turn out to be very, very insignificant matters, so I'll answer a question, give a hug, offer a prayer, post my opinion, and then move along to the fun "fluff" threads..

So the "short" version is - sometimes a thread comes along where it's necessary to read the entire all of the posts - but 99% of the time? Not unless you're looking to get involved in a bunch of drama, arguing, and bickering endlessly for pages and pages and pages..

 

[JessicaR]

I know some threads get long but not reading the whole thing is like not keeping up with the conversation. I personally don't post to threads I don't read entirely, but I know many do.

 

[Tiger926]

I agree, and it bothers me too. As an English teacher, I teach my students to read and process what they read. I also teach them how to properly take part in conversations or discussions.

Discussions or conversations should be shared amongst participants; therefore, if I have an opinion, I can state it, and then I should respect that the other participants will also have opinions to share, so I need to listen to them as well. Most people I know don`t come into discussions, state their opinion and just leave.

Expressing opinions is one thing, but when people don`t read through the entire thread, and continually answer the question, or, ask the same question that has already been answered, this just clutters the thread for the rest of us who are actually keeping up with the conversation.

This way of discussing here on the DIS is rude, IMHO. If you don`t have time to read the entire thread, then you shouldn`t post to it. It`s not respectful to the rest of us who are actively participating in the discussion. Taking part in a discussion by reading through all entries, is not so that others will change your opinion, but it`s part of common courtesy and the rules of conversation.

Tiger

 

[Sweettears]

Why do people do this? I have a few therioes, but am curious as to others thoughts. I mean whenever someone post "I didn't read the other responses but my thought/opinion is blah blah blah" it has usually already been said.

Quite often by the time there has been a page or two of responses the original topic/question has been lost, ignored or forgotten. So reading every response does not add much to the discussion. (my apologies if this has been said before but I didn't read the thread before responding. )

 

[ajk912]

Usually because I don't want to waste time. I don't get the argument that it's been said before. When I start a post I like to see all answers, regardless of if they've been mentioned before. For many things it helps to guage importance/popularity/etc of an answer.

For instance, on the morning sickness thread, if one person mentioned ginger, I might try it if I were pregnant and sick, but if ten people mentioned it, I'd most definitely try it.

I didn't read all the responses but I am stopping here because I agree. I do understand the irony.

Also sometimes I respond before reading the whole thread because I have my opinion and don't want to be dissuaded if I don't have the popular opinion. I am afraid of chickening out- so I say it while I am thinking it.

 

[Magic Mom]

I agree, and it bothers me too. As an English teacher, I teach my students to read and process what they read. I also teach them how to properly take part in conversations or discussions.

Discussions or conversations should be shared amongst participants; therefore, if I have an opinion, I can state it, and then I should respect that the other participants will also have opinions to share, so I need to listen to them as well.

Most people I know don`t come into discussions, state their opinion and just leave. This way of discussing here on the DIS is rude, IMHO. If you don`t have time to read the entire thread, then you shouldn`t post to it. It`s not respectful to the others who are also part of the discussion. Taking part in a discussion is not so that others will change your opinion, it`s part of common courtesy and the rules of conversation.

Tiger

That is different from the OP's concern. She wondered about people posting before reading everything, not about posting and then never coming back. I can't speak for anyone else, but although I don't always read a whole thread before I post (since I am usually just responding to the OP,) I almost always check in to read posts after I post.

If we are comparing to real conversations, then I see it as walking up to a conversation already in progress. If I have something to add, then I add even though I didn't hear every single comment before mine.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Why do people do this? I have a few therioes, but am curious as to others thoughts. I mean whenever someone post "I didn't read the other responses but my thought/opinion is blah blah blah" it has usually already been said.

It is a message board and people are giving their opinion on the original topic.

I did not read the other responses.

Now I will go back and see what others have said.

Frankly if you are having a heated thread put an update in the title esp if it is LONG.