# "I haven't read the thread yet, but..." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 2, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985 "2010-03-02T13:53:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/101 "2010-03-09T16:53:51Z")
I haven’t read this thread yet, but I’m sure it’s pointless. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/102 "2010-03-09T17:14:30Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Jack - I’m sorry if I’m coming across as hostile, but I think you’re misunderstanding me. I’m not telling you to read every last word posted here. I’m asking why you would want to add something to a conversation that you’re not interested in participating in. If a thread seems interesting enough to post to, why isn’t it interesting enough to actually read? Because sometimes you want to address the OP. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/103 "2010-03-09T17:18:21Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Because sometimes you want to address the OP. Even if 16 people already have? And made the same point that you’re gonna make? No, doesn’t work for me. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/104 "2010-03-09T17:20:02Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Jack - I’m sorry if I’m coming across as hostile, but I think you’re misunderstanding me. I’m not telling you to read every last word posted here. I’m asking why you would want to add something to a conversation that you’re not interested in participating in. If a thread seems interesting enough to post to, why isn’t it interesting enough to actually read? I’m sorry for coming across as hostile too, but my point all along is that this site is a passtime for me, and a very limited one at that. I have a few chances to check things out in the AM and at lunch, and at home when I’m not doing other things. Sometimes there are threads that pique my interest, but I just don’t have the time to read 50 posts in the 5 minutes I have to fuck around here. So, sometimes I jump in and say stupid shit. I guarantee it isn’t the first time I’ve done that on this planet. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/105 "2010-03-09T17:42:52Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Even if 16 people already have? And made the same point that you’re gonna make? No, doesn’t work for me. Yeah, it doesn’t work for you, but so what? I mean, I’m not saying that to be rude, I am genuinely asking, what’s the big deal? Think of it like a party. People may drop into the conversation and say something that was said 8 pages back (or 20 minutes ago). You can ignore that poster if you like, but it is simply delusional to tell yourself that everyone is going to do that. They aren’t. They aren’t going to all bond together and say, “Let’s punish that poster for not keeping the rules! Their ADD addled and arrogant minds are ruining our party. Let’s all together ignore them!” And I have actually seen that! I have seen posters say, “You didn’t read the thread? Well none of us here cares what you think!”. Do you know how dumb that sounds when about 6 posters come right behind that and start engaging the poster in conversation? Just don’t try so hard to control a messageboarding experience. Let it kind of free flow. If someone just busts in and says, “I KNOW NO ONE HAS MENTIONED STAR WARS, SO…STAR WARS!” then, ok…get rankled. But if someone says, “I haven’t read the thread, but I think the OP is wrong about this and that” then just give me a break. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/106 "2010-03-09T18:12:19Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Think of it like a party. People may drop into the conversation and say something that was said 8 pages back (or 20 minutes ago). You can ignore that poster if you like, but it is simply delusional to tell yourself that everyone is going to do that. They aren’t. Actually, I do. If I’m in the middle of a conversation with someone, and a third person butts in because they heard one word that piqued their interest and they blurt something out totally out of context that has most likely been covered (20 minutes ago), people get annoyed. I rarely see anyone respond to someone blurting something out in that situation. If anything, the third party will ask for a recap so as to become involved - which I’d equate to going back and reading the thread, not rehashing it out all over again. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/107 "2010-03-09T18:52:57Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I guarantee it isn’t the first time I’ve done that on this planet. I’m glad you qualified it because, jeez, what you did on Mars was WAY beyond the pale 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/108 "2010-03-09T19:01:36Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Actually, I do. Yeah, I’m sure lots of people do. Just like lots of people have ignore lists, so of course they couldn’t possibly be reading every post in a thread. But my point is, most posters just carry on with the conversation, and if the non-thread-reading poster adds something interesting to a discussion, plenty of posters are just going to go ahead and respond to them. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/109 "2010-03-09T19:24:01Z")
But then I have to waste _my_ time reading something that was already posted and addressed upthread (and I usually do read posts even if they start with, “I haven’t read the thread but…” in case they’re adding something of value to the thread). It’s sort of a social contract thing - I won’t waste your time repeating things that have already been said, and you won’t waste my time with it. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/110 "2010-03-09T19:31:36Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > (and I usually do read posts even if they start with, “I haven’t read the thread but…” Good! Cause if you skip _those_ posts, it wouldn’t be right for you to post again, because you haven’t read every post, and then things will start to get very…meta. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/111 "2010-03-10T00:21:35Z")
I haven’t read this thread yet, so maybe this has been said, but I do this a lot. Sometimes I have a response in mind & want to get it down, & I don’t always read the thread before submitting it (in fact I don’t always have time). ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/112 "2010-03-10T00:23:25Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Good! Cause if you skip _those_ posts, it wouldn’t be right for you to post again, because you haven’t read every post, and then things will start to get very…meta. I think this thread got meta around Post #5. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/113 "2010-03-10T00:28:25Z")
Well, I haven’t read the thread, but I think the OP may be just a _weee_ bit hypersensitive. Apologies if this’s already been mentioned. And a separate apology in the likely effect that this gag has already been done. Numerous times. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/114 "2010-03-10T10:03:17Z")
It hasn’t, you’re the first. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/115 "2010-03-10T18:31:59Z")
Yes, and it was funny every. Goddamned. time. Really. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/116 "2010-03-10T18:48:27Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Yes, and it was funny every. Goddamned. time. Really. Not ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/117 "2010-03-10T21:36:57Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I think this thread got meta around Post #5. 😃 I wouldn’t know, because…I CAN’T COUNT ☹ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/118 "2010-03-10T22:07:32Z")
I haven’t even read the OP - can somebody summarise what I’ve missed? Maybe give me the numbers of the more amusing posts? Oh, fuck off then! I’ll find another thread not to read. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/119 "2010-03-16T22:10:04Z")
While I haven’t yet finished reading the OP, I just wanted to pop in and announce that I celebrated Steak and BJ day this past Sunday. But not with **Starving Artist**. I hope this hasn’t been mentioned upthread…can someone get back to me and let me know if it has? ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985/120 "2010-03-17T02:48:16Z")
I only read the last bit of this thread, but I think I actually did get all the way through the thread in which Nzinga spoke of her stance as a big dick aficionado. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-read-the-thread-yet-but/530985.md?page=7)