# I just thought it was interesting how many posts could not follow the simple instructions of the OP at all
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [October 20, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843 "2021-10-20T16:48:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/1 "2021-10-20T16:48:41Z")
> [@Are there still any video rental stores in business in your area?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-still-any-video-rental-stores-in-business-in-your-area/952789/1):
>
> Just to be clear, I’m talking about a business that rents dvds or blurays or even VHS tapes. **I’m not talking about Redboxes** or public libraries. And I’m not talking about stores that sell dvds or blurays. **And I’m not talking out memories of video stores that have closed.**
(Bolding is mine), I just thought it was interesting how many posts could not follow the simple instructions of the OP at all:
> [@Are there still any video rental stores in business in your area?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-still-any-video-rental-stores-in-business-in-your-area/952789/3):
>
> There was up until less than a year ago, when [Family Video closed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-video-appears-to-be-shutting-down/929738).
> [@Are there still any video rental stores in business in your area?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-still-any-video-rental-stores-in-business-in-your-area/952789/6):
>
> I’m another “family video was it” person. It closed and now there is nothing.
> [@Are there still any video rental stores in business in your area?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-still-any-video-rental-stores-in-business-in-your-area/952789/7):
>
> Looking at Google Maps, there’s no traditional video rental place near me (near western suburbs of Chicago) anymore. I can only find a few Redbox kiosks, an adult video store, and a Disc Replay (which buys and sells used videos and games, but I don’t believe that they do rentals).
> [@Are there still any video rental stores in business in your area?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-still-any-video-rental-stores-in-business-in-your-area/952789/10):
>
> Just the Family Video which has closed recently. They had tried having a BBQ company takeout place in it, which seemed like a stop-gap measure before closing.
> [@Are there still any video rental stores in business in your area?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-still-any-video-rental-stores-in-business-in-your-area/952789/11):
>
> Same, family video was the last option for in person rental near me.
> [@Are there still any video rental stores in business in your area?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-still-any-video-rental-stores-in-business-in-your-area/952789/22):
>
> You can still rent DVDs from the “Redboxes” at supermarkets and convenience stores, but I think you’re talking about non-automated sitres.
---
### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/2 "2021-10-20T17:05:41Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#):
>
> (Bolding is mine), I just thought it was interesting how many posts could not follow the simple instructions of the OP at all:
Hey, now. I _did_, in fact, reply with “there’s no traditional video rental place near me (near western suburbs of Chicago) anymore;” I did then further expound on my reply with what I _did_ find, which, you’re right, was not what the OP was asking about.
---
### Author:  [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/3 "2021-10-20T17:22:06Z")
I certainly complied - I have no **memories** of the Family Video that closed, since I’ve never been in the place. I just noticed it was closed when I drove by yesterday; your question was a week too late! Your indulgence is appreciated.
---
### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/4 "2021-10-20T17:34:58Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#):
>
> I just thought it was interesting how many posts could not follow the simple instructions of the OP at all
The thread title asks a yes-or-no question. I was just elaborating on my “no.”
---
### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/5 "2021-10-20T18:23:50Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#):
>
> (Bolding is mine), I just thought it was interesting how many posts could not follow the simple instructions of the OP at all:
What? I just said there isn’t one and family video was the last. What are you talking about? We can’t elaborate?
🤷♂️
---
### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/6 "2021-10-20T18:30:16Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#):
>
> What? I just said there isn’t one and family video was the last. What are you talking about? We can’t elaborate?
As did I – and I answered the question.
---
### Author:  [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/7 "2021-10-20T19:13:18Z")
I love the outrage all the perpetrators of failure to read the first three sentences of the OP are expressing. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/8 "2021-10-20T19:14:05Z")
I Googled my city and video rental. The only non-redbox listed is the nastiest, metal Quonset hut of an “adult” store. It’s in the worst part town, next to the railroad tracks in an industrial area. They apparently rent DVD’s but I’m not going to verify that myself.
---
### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/9 "2021-10-20T19:15:13Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#):
>
> I just thought it was interesting how many posts could not follow the simple instructions of the OP at all:
I was thinking the same.
I knew that given the state of the video store business, closed stores vastly outnumber stores still in business. So I figured closed video stores could become the default topic of the thread unless I made some effort to keep things focused.
---
### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/10 "2021-10-20T19:23:02Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#):
>
> I love the outrage all the perpetrators of failure to read the first three sentences of the OP are expressing.
All of us who replied to you stated variations of “Dude, we _did_ answer the OP, and then expanded on what we _do_ still have in the area.”
If you want to be a junior mod about the OP, please start flagging posts instead.
---
### Author:  [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/11 "2021-10-20T19:25:53Z")
> [@Are there still any video rental stores in business in your area?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-still-any-video-rental-stores-in-business-in-your-area/952789/35):
>
> > [@Martin\_Hyde](#):
> >
> > I love the outrage all the perpetrators of failure to read the first three sentences of the OP are expressing.
>
> All of us who replied to you stated variations of “Dude, we _did_ answer the OP, and then expanded on what we _do_ still have in the area.”
>
> If you want to be a junior mod about the OP, please start flagging posts instead.
I’m not junior modding, I just have noticed this phenomenon happens in almost **every** poll type thread. OP will post a question, then clarify some specific things they ARE NOT looking for as responses, invariably people respond with exactly that. For example, OP here said “I’m not looking for stories about closed stores”, and…a bunch of you just couldn’t help but…share stories about closed stores.
---
### Author:  [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/12 "2021-10-20T19:44:45Z")
Well, but, we’re largely here on a fun or elective basis. Does adding something the OP didn’t request demonstrate an inability to follow instructions? Or does it merely fit with our motivations in having this grand online conversation? The latter, I think. After all, OPs can hardly prohibit things.
---
### Author:  [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/13 "2021-10-20T19:45:24Z")
This conversation had run its natural course in the original thread and I will not participate in this one as there was nothing further to discuss about what was a simple aside and 5-6 people crying about it.
---
### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/14 "2021-10-20T20:45:58Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> The thread title asks a yes-or-no question. I was just elaborating on my “no.”
> [@Mahaloth](#):
>
> What? I just said there isn’t one and family video was the last. What are you talking about? We can’t elaborate?
That’s right! Original OP asked a simple Yes-or-No question, and only single-word “Yes” or “No” posts may be permitted for the rest of that thread! (Plus a few random punctuation marks because of the 5-character minimum.) Anything more than that in a post will be subject to Junior Modding or maybe even Senior Modding! We must always follow OP’s instructions to the letter lest this wonderful message board degrade into meaningless word salad! Especially in MPSIMS!
Obligatory /s here.
(ETA: Word salad should be confined to Cafe Society.)
---
### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/15 "2021-10-20T20:50:33Z")
And there was that other thread in which the OP asks for “Story Songs”, specifically and explicitly excluding Alice’s Restaurant. Need it be said that the first reply mentioned Alice’s Restaurant? Ban him! Burn him! Send him to the Group W bench!
---
### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/16 "2021-10-20T20:56:41Z")
That is sad, but I’ve done it myself. Especially when I’m reading and replying by phone.
* * *
Hey, I just checked, that one was clearly done as a joke.
> [@Story-songs (other than Alice's Restaurant)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/2):
>
> Weird Al-[Albuquerque](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE37e1eK2mY) Weird Al- [The Biggest Ball Of Twine In Minnesota](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcw326PJuDw) Oh, and [Alice’s Restaurant](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m57gzA2JCcM).
---
### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/17 "2021-10-20T20:56:47Z")
I believe most people on this board are interested in having conversations and not just giving clinical or binary answers to the OP.
Otherwise the only responses necessary to the thread would have just been a bunch of “yes’s” and “No’s”.
How boring is that?
---
### Author:  [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/18 "2021-10-20T20:57:45Z")
I remember when I used to go to Blockbuster Video, but they’re closed now.
---
### Author:  [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/19 "2021-10-20T21:00:03Z")
Agree. Threads should be treated like jazz rather than classical; they should be freeflowing and welcome improvisation. They should not be rigid.
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843/20 "2021-10-20T21:00:20Z")
So, you’re saying that on a discussion board, people discuss?
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-thought-it-was-interesting-how-many-posts-could-not-follow-the-simple-instructions-of-the-op-at-all/952843.md?page=2)