# Posting to a thread to say that you don't want to post to the thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 3, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863 "2006-03-03T03:15:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/1 "2006-03-03T03:15:17Z")
I’ve seen this happen way too many times on the SDMB, and I’m just sort of struggling to find a valid reason for it. I’m not going to search for examples in earlier threads, so I do (sort of) apologize to these posters for singling them out since they are far from the only offenders, but readers of the MPSIMS thread [Family Secrets That Ain’t No Surprise](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=361255) have thus far been treated to the following utterly fucking useless posts: > [@LiveOnAPlane](#): > > No comment. Not being shy, I just don’t this board has enough disk space for me to post a true and full account of everyting we got goin’ on. > [@fetus](#): > > My family secrets are a little too secret to toss about on the Internet. Sorry. I suppose I have some of those too, as do thousands of other Dopers. Maybe that’s why we didn’t post anything in that thread. :rolleyes: I know this is a relatively minor subject for a Pit thread, but seriously, what is the point of posts like this? ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/2 "2006-03-03T03:17:10Z")
> [@neutron star](#): > > I’ve seen this happen way too many times on the SDMB, and I’m just sort of struggling to find a valid reason for it. > > I’m not going to search for examples in earlier threads, so I do (sort of) apologize to these posters for singling them out since they are far from the only offenders, but readers of the MPSIMS thread [Family Secrets That Ain’t No Surprise](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=361255) have thus far been treated to the following utterly fucking useless posts: > I suppose I have some of those too, as do thousands of other Dopers. Maybe that’s why we didn’t post anything in that thread. :rolleyes: > > I know this is a relatively minor subject for a Pit thread, but seriously, what is the point of posts like this? I was thinking the same thing you were. If you don’t want to tell then don’t say anything at all. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/3 "2006-03-03T03:19:04Z")
I have a strong opinion about the OP, but I’d prefer not to share it. ---
**Author:** ![Amaranta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Amaranta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amaranta)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/4 "2006-03-03T03:53:33Z")
Nope. No way. Not going to touch this one. Just kidding. It’s funny you should mention this; this usually bugs me, but those posts in particular annoyed me enough that I was composing a post in the “Annoyances” thread to address it. Is this some attention-getting trick to make us ask you over and over what your terrible dark family secret is? Or do these posters just really, really need to get the post count up? It’s much more annoying than “OMFG SPITS COKE ON KEYBOARD!!!11” posts; I suppose those are intended as a compliment to the funnyman (or woman), but the “I’m posting to say I can’t post a real reply” posts are stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/5 "2006-03-03T04:29:15Z")
> [@Amaranta](#): > > Just kidding. It’s funny you should mention this; this usually bugs me, but those posts in particular annoyed me enough that I was composing a post in the “Annoyances” thread to address it. Is this some attention-getting trick to make us ask you over and over what your terrible dark family secret is? That’s how I read it. I just don’t see any other reason - why else would anyone _possibly_ bother to post just to say they don’t want to post. > [@](#): > > It’s much more annoying than “OMFG SPITS COKE ON KEYBOARD!!!11” posts; You owe me a new keyboard! LOLLERZZZ!! Now, now, let’s not minimize that. You’ll make people think it’s okay. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/6 "2006-03-03T04:39:00Z")
Well, I’ve got lots to share, but on second thought, better not. At least not here. \ ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/7 "2006-03-03T06:10:52Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Well, I’ve got lots to share, but on second thought, better not. > > At least not here. I guess the Pit tradition of rewording a joke that’s already been made twice in the space of four posts in the same thread is a subject for another rant. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/8 "2006-03-03T06:22:33Z")
As an Arrogant Engineer (Ret.) I don’t want to waste my time with you guys. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/9 "2006-03-03T06:26:30Z")
> [@Amaranta](#): > > Is this some attention-getting trick to make us ask you over and over what your terrible dark family secret is? Or do these posters just really, really need to get the post count up?. I had actually wrote almost that same paragraph in my OP (though I chose the more acerbic term “attention-whoring”), but then deleted it before posting. I do tend to think that one of these is the case, and the more I think about it, the more annoying it seems. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/10 "2006-03-03T07:35:52Z")
[voice]Napolean Dynamite[/voice] OK. Bye. [/voice] ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/11 "2006-03-03T08:29:56Z")
1. The conversational tone of the message board encourages useless posts, or Mindless Pointless Mundanity That Must Be Shared. 2. The author could have been noting that the list of family secrets in the thread would be neither comprehensive nor representative. Those who know don’t tell and all that. Sort of obvious really. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/12 "2006-03-03T16:46:14Z")
> [@neutron star](#): > > I guess the Pit tradition of rewording a joke that’s already been made twice in the space of four posts in the same thread is a subject for another rant. Feel free, hunor being subjective and all. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/13 "2006-03-03T16:48:24Z")
Or huMor. Whichever. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/14 "2006-03-03T16:53:57Z")
Keee-rist I find discussions like this boring. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/15 "2006-03-03T16:57:42Z")
> [@neutron star](#): > > I guess the Pit tradition of rewording a joke that’s already been made twice in the space of four posts in the same thread is a subject for another rant. Not to mention, the same damn joke is made at least twice in **every** pit thread about posting habits. Seriously people, it’s not witty to do exactly what the OP complains about in every thread. That joke got old years ago. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/16 "2006-03-03T17:22:06Z")
Some people just feel the need to leave little droplets of their shit in every possible thread. I almost started a Pit thread about the same exact examples started in the OP. The board gets bogged down enough as it is without that crap. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/17 "2006-03-03T17:32:24Z")
It’s MPSIMS. Who cares? If they were doing this in GD: I’d share my views on nuclear disarmament but they’re much too complicated. Or CS: Homer Simpson is…nah, never mind. Or even the Pit!: I’d say what i really feel about the OP, but I don’t feel like it. Then I’d be with you. And I am with you in all those cases. But I give MPSIMS a lot more leeway. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/18 "2006-03-03T17:36:25Z")
I just remembered another example. There was an interesting thread asking if anyone personally knew any Olympic medalists. One out of four posts were something like “not me but my aunt knew a guy” or “not the Olympics but I knew a guy who won a marathon.” Keep on topic or get a fucking live jounal. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/19 "2006-03-03T17:44:50Z")
> [@Measure for Measure](#): > > 1. The author could have been noting that the list of family secrets in the thread would be neither comprehensive nor representative. Those who know don’t tell and all that. Sort of obvious really. This is about the only explanation that I can find that might have merit. Sort of a “hey, you know this is a pretty taboo topic - some people might have trouble sharing”. I still wouldn’t do it, but that’s all I got. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863/20 "2006-03-03T17:51:19Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Not to mention, the same damn joke is made at least twice in **every** pit thread about posting habits. Seriously people, it’s not witty to do exactly what the OP complains about in every thread. That joke got old years ago. I could comment on this, but I won’t, since it would just be a lame attempt at humor. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-to-a-thread-to-say-that-you-dont-want-to-post-to-the-thread/346863.md?page=2)