# Things that make you immediately stop reading something **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2019, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270 "2019-02-10T04:20:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/1 "2019-02-10T04:20:13Z")
So you start reading a book, article, essay, poem, whatever, and you’re thinking, “this will enrich my life in some way.” And then you get to some word, phrase, sentence, or idea that makes you go, “Nope! This is actually not worth my time.” What flips that switch for you\*? For me: “Flyover country.” Use this phrase unironically, and I’m done with you. Also, as a resident of “flyover country” I will use my influence to stop our next shipment of food to you. “Virtue signaling.” I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a person or written piece that used this phrase (unironically) that was worth further interaction. I accept that some people are hypocrites or poseurs, and they deserve criticism for that. But the phrase “virtue signaling” is just a shibboleth for douchebags. Quoting _The Art of War_. This may just be peculiar to my field, information security. But when I start reading an article in a security publication, and the writer quotes the _Art of War_, I know it’s a shit article. “As Sun Tzu said, ‘Know your enemy’!” Well, as Winston Churchill said, “Good day, sir!” OK, what makes you say, “Yeah, actually, fuck this.” \*NOTE: The rules are, you begin reading with reason to believe the work will be useful, or at least entertaining, but something in it makes you change your mind. So, please no answers like “It appears in publication XYZ” or “It was written by so-and-so”. Presumably those factors would prevent you from even starting to read it. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/2 "2019-02-10T04:44:38Z")
The use of the word “illegal” as a noun. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/3 "2019-02-10T04:49:49Z")
“The gay agenda.” ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/4 "2019-02-10T04:50:31Z")
Anything with “check your privilege” used in a non-ironic manner. I know this is mostly my problem, not others’ use of the term. But fuck them too. I hate it still. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/5 "2019-02-10T05:49:10Z")
Using ‘First they came for the Jews…’ Maybe you’ve got something interesting to say, but I’m not sticking around to find out. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/6 "2019-02-10T05:53:10Z")
Anything written in textese. The word is spelled “you”, not “u”. “Liberal” used as a blanket pejorative. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/7 "2019-02-10T07:20:59Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > “Flyover country.” Use this phrase unironically, and I’m done with you. I didn’t know it was ever used seriously. ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/8 "2019-02-10T07:39:06Z")
If I’m reading a blog post or comment and I see the word “leftist” or “printing”. With “printing” I mean if it is used in relation with the FED or some other government agency. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/9 "2019-02-10T09:49:36Z")
Anytime that starts off with a warning that’s basically IF YOU DON’T AGREE WITH THIS THAN FUCK YOU/YOU’RE STUPID. Or any article that obviously starts off very defensively for no real reason except because the author is so completely full of themselves they have to put a warning because they’re so right. Also whenever somebody brings up “I know I’m a white guy talking about a non-white viewpoint” more than once. First time it’s understandable because you’re acknowledging the elephant in the room, but anything more seems like pandering. I once listened to a podcast talk about moviecasting and race and the 3 white hosts brought up the fact they were 3 white guys literally four times in 40 minutes, and they weren’t doing it in a joking manner. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/10 "2019-02-10T10:48:41Z")
I find that very few things that use the word “unpack” seriously are worth reading. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/11 "2019-02-10T11:45:53Z")
Any article about art or literature that uses the word “subvert”. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/12 "2019-02-10T12:11:08Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > I didn’t know it was ever used seriously. Yeah, I don’t think I’ve seen it used except as a description of how the writer thinks people on the coasts think, not what the people on the coasts or the writer actually think. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/13 "2019-02-10T12:35:28Z")
Any opinion piece with the name “Trump” in it. I am sick of the man and I am sick of the squalling from both his detractors and his defenders. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/14 "2019-02-10T12:46:28Z")
If there’s an initialized name or department, ( ABC ), WITHOUT following the common publishing protocol of spelling it out fully, upon first use, and ever thereafter abbreviated. You can’t be arsed to be clear to your readers? I got better things to do than look up something that you’re trying to use in your discussion. Be clear or be gone! ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/15 "2019-02-10T13:41:35Z")
Any incorrect uses of apostrophes stop me in my tracks. If it’s just once I might give them a chance that it was a typo (but then why didn’t the editor catch it?) but not twice. There are a few other grammar issues I have (alot is one) but the apostrophes are the kiss of death. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/16 "2019-02-10T13:48:48Z")
“I know most of you won’t bother to read this . . .” Fuck you. Passive aggressive bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/17 "2019-02-10T13:50:22Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Anything written in textese. The word is spelled “you”, not “u”. Yep - this makes me stabby!!! ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/18 "2019-02-10T14:25:49Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Any opinion piece with the name “Trump” in it. I am sick of the man and I am sick of the squalling from both his detractors and his defenders. Same here, but the keyword/subject is “Brexit”. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/19 "2019-02-10T14:27:51Z")
I’d say when the word “teleological”\* makes its first appearance. - And such. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270/20 "2019-02-10T14:33:36Z")
Using “democrat” as an adjective. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-immediately-stop-reading-something/829270.md?page=2)