Just wondering, but when sombody posts in reply to a thread, do they only read the replies that are directed at them? Or worse, maybe just answer the op, and never look back?
I read every post in a thread before I reply to the thread.
I think that would vary widely with almost 33,000 posters.
I think that would vary widely with almost 33,000 posters.
Oh wait…
I, personally, don’t post to a thread without reading all previous posts. I may decide on a certain response I want to make as soon as I read the OP, but if someone else has already made that point, then I don’t bother posting it (unless it’s the sort of thread where it might be helpful for someone to know if a mojority of people hold a certain position, etc.).
Good question.
If the thread title interests me somewhat but there are already 50 or more replies, I often won’t even open it because I am unwilling to read all the replies and think that just replying without reading all the replies might not be the right thing to do.
Occasionally I just throw in my 2¢ and it’s usually pretty lame and non-contoversial. In such a case I usually won’t check back too often.
I generally read all replies before posting. If some comment particularly incenses me or piques my interest, I’ll scan the other replies to see if it’s been addressed already.
I usually do not post over weekends, so I find that I miss quite a bit.
Often, a thread that has gone for a long time and I have not already responded to I will not respond to at all. If, however, it is of [articular interest to me or by a Doper friend, I will try (if I have the time) to read each post to make certain I do not repead another person’s post before I make my own reply.
At last! I’ve been trying to get this thread open for the past 10 minutes! damn lazy hamsters. making the boards work, but not the posts. arse.
In answer to the OP - It depends entirely on the nature of the thread.
I read every post to avoid looking like a dumbass.
Sometimes I read every post.
Sometimes I just post based on the OP; as Sock Munkey implies, this can sometimes result in dumbassery.
If its a ‘what about you’ or a ‘write something’ I might contribute without reading, but otherwise I generally read, since whatever I want to say has nromally already been said.
Depends on how long the thread is … who’d have the time/inclination to read through 15 pages of posts?