# How Do You Dope? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 7, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290 "2016-09-07T19:30:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/21 "2016-09-08T00:05:45Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Okay, but apparently every time you hit ‘‘new posts’’ you are performing a search. I’ve got the ‘‘Wait 120 seconds’’ message at least twice now. ☹ 🙂 That’s why you open 10 tabs. By the time you’ve checked them all out, you can click on New Posts again. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/22 "2016-09-08T00:25:19Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > User CP to see if any threads I’ve posted in have seen action. > > Then new posts to see what’s hot. > > Then back to the User Cp. > > Then back to new posts. > Etc. > > If nothing new pops up in either, I go down the forums to see if there’s new threads since my last visit that just haven’t seen action in the last 20 minutes. Me, too. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/23 "2016-09-08T01:03:43Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > 🙂 That’s why you open 10 tabs. By the time you’ve checked them all out, you can click on New Posts again. We need a ‘‘lightbulb’’ smiley. This little guy will have to stand in. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/24 "2016-09-08T01:53:34Z")
I will right click on what I think is an interesting thread to open it in a new tab, and keep going until I’ve right-clicked all the one that interest me. Then I read through them, post if I have something to contribute, close it, and move on to the next. I will subscribe sometimes to threads that I start, just so I have an e-mail notice that I’ve gotten a response. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/25 "2016-09-08T01:54:03Z")
I automatically subscribe to every thread I post in, but I’ve never used the New Posts feature. Maybe I’ll start testing it out. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/26 "2016-09-08T02:40:40Z")
New Posts, then I check a few specific forums that don’t always make the front page (like ATMB). Then I’ll check a few threads that looked interesting on previous occasions, usually by searching my posts to find the thread again. Rinse and repeat. I think we all need to know what **Running Coach** ’s technique is. He is always to threads first… ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/27 "2016-09-08T13:26:49Z")
Start with GQ. Middle mouse button to open a bunch of tabs for chosen threads. Read those threads. On to the next forum. Etc. Been using tabs here a looong time since Opera has had them since early on. So I’m always puzzled by people who, for example, have troubles with the back button. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/28 "2016-09-08T13:31:45Z")
I use New Posts almost exclusively. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/29 "2016-09-08T13:41:01Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > I use New Posts almost exclusively. Me too ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/30 "2016-09-08T13:50:51Z")
I auto-subscribe to threads I post in, and occasionally subscribe to other threads that look interesting enough to keep up with. When I go on the Dope, the first thing I do is click **User CP** to see if there’s anything new in my subscribed threads. After that, if I still have time, I’ll either click **New Posts** , or I’ll go to the main pages of a few different fora. (I used to do the latter; nowadays it’s more often the former.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/31 "2016-09-08T14:04:52Z")
I never use New Posts or subscribe to any threads. I read forum by forum, page by page. I can click through the cycle quite quickly on down times. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/32 "2016-09-08T14:39:23Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I never use New Posts or subscribe to any threads. I read forum by forum, page by page. I can click through the cycle quite quickly on down times. Same here. It’s never occurred to me to do it any other way. I don’t in fact know what the “new posts” function _is_ 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/33 "2016-09-08T15:33:12Z")
I first search for all threads to which I have posted over the preceding 3-4 days and check the progress. Once I have gone through those, I start my “forum crawl” - opening a forum and going down the thread list, perusing any that interest me (one at a time, for I’m easily confused). I almost always go in this order: [ul][li]ATMB[/li][li]IMHO[/li][li]MPSIMS[/li][li]BBQ Pit[/li][li]GQ[/li][/ul] Occasionally I will stumble in to Café Society, but rarely if ever go to any other forums. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/34 "2016-09-08T16:14:23Z")
If I’m on PC, I click on ATMB and open New Posts in a new tab. ATMB is the only forum I purposely seek out because I find people complaining about the board entertaining. When I’m done with ATMB, I switch to the New Posts tab, and I open the first handful of interesting thread titles in new tabs, read those threads and then go back to the already open New Posts tab and open another handful of threads in new tabs. Doing it this way, I never know which forum I’m in unless I specifically seek that information. If I’m on Tapatalk, I click on Unread, which is much like the New Posts function on the PC, and I just scroll down finding interesting thread titles. Again, I don’t know which forum I’m in unless I look for it. Tapatalk also has a Participated tab that I use to view threads that I’ve posted in, and it has a Subscribed tab. I don’t subscribe to that many threads, so it doesn’t get used all that much. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/35 "2016-09-08T16:20:50Z")
Set up my account to subscribe to any thread I post to. Bookmarked my “subscribed threads” page so it’s what opens after I sign in. I check out my subscribed threads, then click on “New Posts.” ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/36 "2016-09-08T16:27:44Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Set up my account to subscribe to any thread I post to. > > Bookmarked my “subscribed threads” page so it’s what opens after I sign in. > > I check out my subscribed threads, then click on “New Posts.” So this is the new method I’ve been trying. So far, so good! ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/37 "2016-09-08T16:59:57Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I log in every day. Not sure why I have to. It only takes a second. > > To the OP, I hit “new posts” and scan the topics. > > If I’ve been gone awhile, I’ll hit my name, hit “see all posts by Procrustus,” and then see if there’s been any action since my last brilliant post. I guess subscribing would be easier, but I don’t use the email account I joined with anymore. This is how I’ll browse, too. The difference is that I just stay logged-in most of the time. If I’ve scanned the “New Posts” list a few times through the morning and nothing hits me, I’ll browse forums. Usually GQ, MPSIMS, or IMHO. I rarely cruise for posts in The Pit or GD, but if they show-up in “New Posts”, then I’ll often open them. Another thing I’ll do is to click on the “go to last post” button instead of the title, so I can cruise it without _commitment_. I’ll go back and click the title if I’m interested in it. That way the title is “highlighted” in subsequent lists and it’s easier to find. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/38 "2016-09-08T18:14:29Z")
First stop is always **User CP** to see if any threads I’m tracking have new posts (I don’t get/want email notifications), then I go forum-to-forum in this order: Cafe Society, IMHO, and MPSIMS. If I’m truly bored I’ll hit GQ, seriously bored I’ll hit ATMB, and ridiculously bored I’ll hit the Pit. I never, ever go into Great Debates (I won’t allow myself). I’ve also never ventured into the election or game forums. I’ve been a member here for 12 years and I have never clicked **New Posts**. I don’t think I even noticed it until this thread. :smack: The only link in the header bar I’ve ever clicked is User CP. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/39 "2016-09-08T18:26:28Z")
If you post in a thread, you are by default subscribed to it. If you click on the **User CP** on the far left of the menu ribbon, it will take you to a list of all your subscribed threads, listed in order of ones with the most recent activity. This way I can check conversations that I am engaged in. After that, I check the forums for other new threads or the New Posts link for latest activity threads from all forums, to see if there are any that I have interest in looking at. Rinse, repeat. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290/40 "2016-09-08T18:30:02Z")
As mentioned above, I am a **New Posts** addict. But, I thought that it was new posts since my visit. How cool would that be? But, probably expensive for this meager board. I will scan all the threads. If on the computer, I can put the pointer on the thread title, and it will give me the first few lines of the thread. If it sparks my interest, I will click on it. If I don’t see replies to a thread that I started, I will click on my username, look up threads that I have started. If no replies, I will move on. Just never got into the User CP click. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-dope/765290.md?page=3)