What annoys me more is when you post something, get ignored, and then someone else posts the exact same thing and...
Do you actually read people's posts?
- Thread starter F. King Daniel
- Start date
What annoys me more is when you post something, get ignored, and then someone else posts the exact same thing and...
That's an excellent point, Canadave. I've noticed that too.
I try to read everything in a thread before I post. Like several others have said upthread, when the posts get too long, I skim. There's a particular point at which the two people having the argument lose track of what they've originally butted heads over, and just start going off on each other.
That's either when it gets very entertaining, or very, very tedious.
Being ignored doesn't bother me so much--I just internalize it and say that whatever I thought was such a brilliant contribution probably wasn't.
What bugs me is when people respond to posts where I'm joking around with deadly seriousness. This has happened in the Future of Trek forum a few times now.
That's either when it gets very entertaining, or very, very tedious.
Being ignored doesn't bother me so much--I just internalize it and say that whatever I thought was such a brilliant contribution probably wasn't.
What bugs me is when people respond to posts where I'm joking around with deadly seriousness. This has happened in the Future of Trek forum a few times now.
I usually put this down to mere miscommunication. It's hard to read joking/sarcasm in mere words sometimes. Kinda shows just how important face-to-face communication really is, what with facial expression and audible intonation adding information for the listener.
Agreed. We really do rely heavily on body language and tone.
If I open a topic, I generally read most of it, unless it is exceptionally tedious. I am more picky about which topics I click to begin with. I do frequently leave a lot of threads completely unopened if I am not fond of the OP, or I am not familiar with them at all. Getting used to newbies always takes me some time. Plus the general buzz from other posters is never very good when a newbie opens a topic. I guess most are as unmoved as I am, unless there is a blisteringly exciting and unique thread title of course.
So yeah, I read posts, and I'd go so far as to say I know the general habits and opinions of most regular posters.
So yeah, I read posts, and I'd go so far as to say I know the general habits and opinions of most regular posters.
No, no, no.
The correct response is to rationalise it away as being so brilliant that no mere humdrum mind could understand it, let alone respond.
Essential activity for me regarding TNZ is to avoid it altogether.
If it's a thread that has already gone on for several pages, I'll start at the most recent post and then work my way backwards from there, seeing what posts and issues others have decided were the most important ones to respond to, while keeping a lookout for others that made a good point but were not addressed.
So the longer a thread has been in play the more likely it is that I'll miss the early posts, which if others do the same would explain why so many people feel that their earlier posts saying the same thing as later posts go unacknowledged. It's not that you're being intentionally ignored, it's just that some people are reading the thread in reverse.
Also, there are times where I might agree with a post or think it's funny, but I just can't think of anything funny or intelligent to contribute in response. I'm not a big fan of saying "+1," "This," "FTW," etc. unless I mean it ironically, and I rarely even just say "I agree" unless it's something really important. So it's not necessarily that you're being purposely ignored or overlooked, I just might not have anything worth making a new post to add.
So the longer a thread has been in play the more likely it is that I'll miss the early posts, which if others do the same would explain why so many people feel that their earlier posts saying the same thing as later posts go unacknowledged. It's not that you're being intentionally ignored, it's just that some people are reading the thread in reverse.
Also, there are times where I might agree with a post or think it's funny, but I just can't think of anything funny or intelligent to contribute in response. I'm not a big fan of saying "+1," "This," "FTW," etc. unless I mean it ironically, and I rarely even just say "I agree" unless it's something really important. So it's not necessarily that you're being purposely ignored or overlooked, I just might not have anything worth making a new post to add.
I read most posts in the fora I mod; I kinda have to. 
Seriously, though, some threads I skim, and reading every post in every game thread in every lounge would burn me out on the lounges pretty quickly. It really isn't practical to read every post in a forum, even for mods. "Serious" matters aren't often missed and if they are, we know a poster will hit the notify button and let us know about it.
Elsewhere, if it's a thread I find interesting I'll read everyone's posts. If it's a thread I don't find interesting I find I'll start skimming posts and quickly move on to another thread, or I won't open the thread in the first place. Some posters seem to always start threads I enjoy; others start threads I invariably find to be tedious, narcissistic, blatant attention whoring or otherwise uninteresting, so I don't open them.
I've gotten into a bad habit of reading a thread, thinking of a response to one or more posts, and simply not getting around to posting the response.
I really need to work on fixing that. So perhaps that's another reason some people feel they're being overlooked. Posters who feel that way really shouldn't let it bother them; it's unlikely to be anything personal.
Seriously, though, some threads I skim, and reading every post in every game thread in every lounge would burn me out on the lounges pretty quickly. It really isn't practical to read every post in a forum, even for mods. "Serious" matters aren't often missed and if they are, we know a poster will hit the notify button and let us know about it.Elsewhere, if it's a thread I find interesting I'll read everyone's posts. If it's a thread I don't find interesting I find I'll start skimming posts and quickly move on to another thread, or I won't open the thread in the first place. Some posters seem to always start threads I enjoy; others start threads I invariably find to be tedious, narcissistic, blatant attention whoring or otherwise uninteresting, so I don't open them.
I've gotten into a bad habit of reading a thread, thinking of a response to one or more posts, and simply not getting around to posting the response.
I really need to work on fixing that. So perhaps that's another reason some people feel they're being overlooked. Posters who feel that way really shouldn't let it bother them; it's unlikely to be anything personal. At this point I'd say everyone bar the newest newbie is aware of your views on that forum. Why do you keep making this sort of remark?
I do that all the time. I'll even start typing up the response and then change my mind. Most of the time it's in response to people who have said something incredibly offensive or wrong factually, but a post explaining why would be a complete waste of time because they won't care and will continue right on with the same incorrect belief regardless of any contradictory evidence. And judging by the number of people here who have said they just tune out any kind of debate or post longer than a few paragraphs regardless of whether it's valid or impassioned, it seems like a waste of time (in Miscellaneous at least) in that sense as well.
Nardpuncher
Rear Admiral
One thing I've noticed is that my eyes will gravitate to the text that is before a smiley. I simply must read those words so I know why that smiley was used. Bum nuggets are delicious
Clearly, he's concerned we didn't actually read the posts the first time...
One thing I've noticed is that my eyes will gravitate to the text that is before a smiley. I simply must read those words so I know why that smiley was used. Bum nuggets are delicious
I curse you and your psychological manipulation.
Yeah, I read other people's posts. I may not comment on them because either someone in the thread has already said what I wanted to say and I didn't want to just echo somebody else like a parrot, with nothing else to add...
I usually skim them, but there are some I pass entirely. If a post is really long and uses the quote feature quite a bit (There's a thread in the Voyager Forum I haven't posted too but it's gotten so long winded I pass most of those posts) than I'll probably pass it. Posting on here shouldn't be like writing a ten page essay or something.
Different people post on boards for different reasons.
Personally, I just come here to shoot the breeze, throw out a couple of gags, and basically pass an idle 10 minutes or so here and there.
Others genuinely seem to enjoy debating/arguing and/or discussing stuff in a lot of detail or to build deeper friendships with others here. I don't really do that, but I guess it must be irritating to these groups of folks that people like me basically just skim the topics and posts unless something grabs the eye.
Different ways of using the medium, really.
Nardpuncher
Rear Admiral
You and me both. I see the TrekkBBS as something that can bring fans together, let you find out things you never knew about Trek (among other things) and have fun.
I must also say that I've seen some pretty tame topics turn quite bloody with many posts back and forth that would rival Tolstoy.
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