I rarely read a thread over a page long unless I’m really interested in a topic. Almost never will I read one over three even if I am really interested. I don’t usually post to threads unless I’m on the first page. These aren’t hard and fast rules or anything, just tendencies.
Sometimes a thread turns into a punfest or twangs off in a whole different direction for 4 more pages. Usually, though, anything over 3 pages has already said what I might have added, and/or has degraded into a pissing match.
So, over two full pages is my trigger. 150 posts of hissing and growling? No thanks.
It looks like my limit is about average - three pages if it’s a topic I’m really interested in, no more than two if I have a slight interest. And even with Sampiro’s threads, I’ll really only read the first two pages; I search subsequent pages for his name to find his additions to the story while skipping over everyone else’s posts.
Hmm. I thought I had a low tolerance, but it seems I’m about the same as every else.
Unless I have laundry to do.
I’m kind of surprised by the people who say they won’t READ anything over some small size, because no one will see their own input to the thread.
Do you really just read threads with the idea of posting to them? I probably read 20+ threads for every one that I even thing about posting to.
With that said, if it’s over 3 pages, I’ll read the first page, see if anything interesting is happening, and move on if nothing catches my fancy.
I read threads mostly to read them, not to add my input, although it’s nice be one of the first to post. I open every thread that looks interesting, regardless of how many pages it involves. If the posts get repetitive or boring, I’ll stop reading. There’s no set limit for me.
Two pages (100 posts) is generally my limit, for most of the reasons above. If I am moved to reply to a post on the first page, though, I’ll read the entire thread, no matter how long. Charging in with a clever ripost on page 6 when somebody has already done better on the 51st post would be a waste of time (even though reading 6 pages is likely to be anyway). But it’s not only foolish, but rude, to answer post 5 with post 300 after several others have already done so.
I think I’m in the minority: unless it’s a topic I’m particularly interested in, a question to which I know I know the answer, or a thread I myself started, I prefer to only open threads that are at least two pages.