# A good rule of thumb when you haven't read the entire thread: **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 8, 2002, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537 "2002-09-08T14:05:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/1 "2002-09-08T14:05:59Z")
At least, I think it’s a pretty good guideline. As with most generally pretty good guidelines, there will be exceptions, but by and large, it’ll serve a person well. And that guideline is one that applies whenever a person posts something akin to, “I haven’t read this entire thread/I’ve read only the OP, so maybe this point has been made already…” When a thread is a debate, either of the civil or heated variety, the limit of the probability of your point(s) having been made already approaches 100% once the thread is on page 2. When it’s past page 4, that probability mysteriously climbs above one hundred percent and approaches infinity. (I don’t understand how that works, but I’m not a mathmetician.) You might have a really good turn of phrase in mind to express your points, and need to get it out there before your Muse escapes your scissors lock because of how sleek and flexible and oiled it is. That’s understandable. Using the above guideline, you can begin your post with something like, “I just wanted to amplify some good previous points…” Even if you haven’t read any of the thread, and have no idea what points have been made, you can still be assured that yours have been already. And those that made them before you can look at your new post and think, “Hey, X really liked my points! I actually got _noticed_!” You’ve boosted someone’s self-esteem, even using what is technically a lie. That is all. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/2 "2002-09-08T14:09:49Z")
It might also be a good idea if you go ahead and type 'Even though I don’t think what anyone else has to say is worht reading, you all should take the time to read my opinion . . ." The rest of us are seeing this line, you may as well see it to. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/3 "2002-09-08T14:34:36Z")
I’ve read only the OP, so I don’t know if Manda JO covered this But I think that people who don’t read the other posts but still post themselves are basically saying that no one else’s posts are worth reading, but theirs is. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/4 "2002-09-08T14:35:03Z")
Amen. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/5 "2002-09-08T14:38:18Z")
To the OP and first reply, that is. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/6 "2002-09-08T16:08:46Z")
I haven’t read most of this thread, but I’ll bet dollars to donuts a really stale joke will have been posted by at least comment 2. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/7 "2002-09-08T17:01:48Z")
Has anybody mentioned how lame the “doing what the OP complains about” gag is? I’m sure it’s in the thread somewhere, but I really can’t be bothered to look… ---
**Author:** ![Myrnalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@Myrnalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrnalene)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/8 "2002-09-08T19:21:02Z")
Yes, yes! And, good dopers, be not like **Myrnalene** , who **thinks** she is reading all the posts, but is in actuality only skimming them with the very surface of her brain, so as not to dislodge the brilliant reply taking up the majority of space there, with the result that after she proudly posts her show-stopping and brilliant piece of wisdom, she is forced to shreik, “Egads! Someone already posted that and now I am made an ass!” :smack: And if you preface your post with, “I haven’t read all the other posts in the thread, but…” then I’m just not gonna fucking read it. ---
**Author:** ![Sparc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Sparc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparc)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/9 "2002-09-08T19:45:27Z")
The absolute top level of irony is when what follows the disclaimer “I haven’t read…” is a question that has been answered. Thinking to be sly and obviating the exposure by leaving out the disclaimer and then doing that makes me possibly even more livid. ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/10 "2002-09-08T21:20:55Z")
Darn, I was hoping that the first line of the OP would be: Then don’t post! Oh well.I can’t claim I’ve never made a duplicate post, but I always read the entire thread before posting. So it’s a matter of reading comprehension, rather than opinionated conceit. The standard ‘do what they complain about’ joke is really really lame. Remind me to never tell **Lib** I’m allergic to something, should we ever meet. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/11 "2002-09-09T06:56:13Z")
I think some people will never care. They are like people who cut in line. ---
**Author:** ![PosterChild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e274bd/32.png) [@PosterChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PosterChild)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/12 "2002-09-09T07:19:26Z")
Of course, just wanted to amplify some good previous points about reading all previous posts before posting. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/13 "2002-09-09T07:24:12Z")
I for one think; If you have an opinion, haven’t read the entire thread, by all means post to it. What’s the damage? None, to anyone except you to risk backing up others…regardless, no big fucking deal. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/14 "2002-09-09T11:42:07Z")
Yeah, **techchick**! I admit it. Three hours after this thread began, but before I’d read this thread, I made such a post. You know what? Sue me. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I make that disclaimer for politeness’ sake. I acknowledge the fact that I might be redundant, so what’s the harm? I don’t have time to read every flippin’ post in every flippin’ thread. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/15 "2002-09-09T11:46:56Z")
If time is such a factor, then don’t _post_ to every flippin’ thread either. How hard is that? Seems like common courtesy to me. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/16 "2002-09-09T12:05:29Z")
_“If you have an opinion, haven’t read the entire thread, by all means post to it.”_ An opinion…like in IMHO, f’rinstance…yeah. No harm, no foul. It’s just an opinion, doesn’t involve anything BUT the OP. A comment, question, or argument? FUCK you. If the thread’s not important enough to read the whole thing, then it’s not important enough to post in. _“I don’t have time to read every flippin’ post in every flippin’ thread.”_ But you have PLENTY of time to write down a response or question, which may already have been given or answered. No. If the thread’s not important enough to read (relatively speaking…we’re not curing cancer here), it **must** not be important enough to post to. And no, I’ve never done this…even when it’s meant actually remembering the thread I was reading and coming back and reading the rest later in the day or week. If what I have to say is that bloodydamned important now, it will still be AS important later on. And if someone else asks “your” question or makes “your” argument first? _shrug_ Suck it up. It’s not a contest. Or, rather, it shouldn’t be. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/17 "2002-09-09T12:13:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hamadryad \* > If the thread’s not important enough to read (relatively speaking…we’re not curing cancer here), it **must** not be important enough to post to. This is faulty logic; one certainly does not imply the other. A person can certainly have an opinion on the OP (even if the thread isn’t in IMHO). Whether other people have stated that opinion isn’t really relevant, unless the poster is saying so in the exact same words (or only a few words). On the other hand, if the poster reads the OP and gives a lengthy, _unique_ opinion on it, there’s no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/18 "2002-09-09T12:55:55Z")
"_This is faulty logic; one certainly does not imply the other. A person can certainly have an opinion on the OP (even if the thread isn’t in IMHO)."_ Why not? If it’s important enough that you have to put your two cents’ worth in, isn’t it important enough to read the whole thing and make sure that you’re not being redundant, repetitive, or just wholly asinine with your response? Just seems wholly presumptuous - to me - to think that what you have to say is SO DAMNED IMPORTANT that you can’t be bothered to read the whole thread in the screaming urgency you have to post your thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/19 "2002-09-09T13:01:42Z")
All hail **Hama** , for she speaks the truth. No harm posting an inflammatory argument that was hashed out and settled 2 pages ago after 3 pages of bitter incrimination and flame, thus re-igniting the whole sorry mess and so preventing any chance of ever reaching a resolution? Well, no harm throwing that concrete block onto the train track either. What could possibly go wrong? pan ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537/20 "2002-09-09T13:02:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hamadryad \* > \*\* > > Why not? If it’s important enough that you have to put your two cents’ worth in, isn’t it important enough to read the whole thing and make sure that you’re not being redundant, repetitive, or just wholly asinine with your response? > > Just seems wholly presumptuous - to me - to think that what you have to say is SO DAMNED IMPORTANT that you can’t be bothered to read the whole thread in the screaming urgency you have to post your thoughts. \*\* Because it’s possible to repeat the general theme someone else has espoused and still have a unique viewpoint. Also, it can take a lot less time to compose the message and get your thoughts down than it can to wade through a few pages of posts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-rule-of-thumb-when-you-havent-read-the-entire-thread/127537.md?page=2)