RTFT

[DavidTheDog]

Sometimes people not RTFT is irritating, but sometimes it's downright cruel or offensive. So, I suggest the following treatment.

• first time offence, banned for 1 day.
• second offence, banned for 2 days.
• third offence, banned for... I've changed my mind actually, three strikes and you're out.

[LilyMumsnet]

Hello!

Thanks so much for your thoughts.

This is an internet-wide issue that happens all across the web - so it isn't isolated to Mumsnet alone.

We don't tend to ban people for not RTFT because it's usually not done with the intention to cause upset. That being said, if it's something that is being done without the best of intentions, we would of course step in.

We do find that once aware, people are quite sorry for not RTFT and post to say as much - which we think is quite nice, when appropriate.

As ever, it's dealt with on a case-by-case basis so if you have any concerns, please do report the post to us using the report button and we'll take a look.

[DavidTheDog]

Thank you for replying to my rather flippant and ridiculous post. It’s something I have never experienced on other forums, albeit I no longer use many.

It just drives me crazy. And deleted posts may cause more distress (unless you could put something like, “this fool hadn’t RTFT”).

What did you think to the recent idea of using a different colour for Zombie threads?

[LotsOfFunToday]

@DavidTheDog

Thank you for replying to my rather flippant and ridiculous post. It’s something I have never experienced on other forums, albeit I no longer use many.

It just drives me crazy. And deleted posts may cause more distress (unless you could put something like, “this fool hadn’t RTFT”).

What did you think to the recent idea of using a different colour for Zombie threads?

The problem is, MNHQ @LilyMumsnet no longer allow you to have 1000 posts per page. There’s no way I can be bothered to wait for up to 10 pages to load while reading, so sometimes it’s easy to post after a couple.

[DavidTheDog]

I appreciate that it's easier for you, but what effects do you think it might have on everyone else?

[OffRampHilton]

OP, have you thought of maybe some kind of a third strikes and you’re out rule?

[GCAcademic]

You don’t have to load 10 pages, though. You can just select the OP’s posts, read those, and make sure you’re not putting your foot in it before posting.

[DavidTheDog]

Ha! @OffRampHilton

[GreatBigBird]

@GCAcademic

You don’t have to load 10 pages, though. You can just select the OP’s posts, read those, and make sure you’re not putting your foot in it before posting.

That’s hardly RTFT and much of the detail is in the replies.

[HumunaHey]

@GCAcademic

You don’t have to load 10 pages, though. You can just select the OP’s posts, read those, and make sure you’re not putting your foot in it before posting.

Exactly. Read all of OP's posts and the last page of replies and you will get a good idea of the convo.

Also, if a thread is multiple pages deep and someone can't be bother to rtft/all of OPs posts, why do they bother to get involved? It's a bit pointless imo.

[Blue4YOU]

A lot of the time the first few pages are all people saying the same thing. OP comes back, in-fighting happens etc. One might well have something to say but life is limited

[Aria999]

@GCAcademic

You don’t have to load 10 pages, though. You can just select the OP’s posts, read those, and make sure you’re not putting your foot in it before posting.

You can't do that in the app though right?

[DavidTheDog]

Also, if a thread is multiple pages deep and someone can't be bother to rtft/all of OPs posts, why do they bother to get involved? It's a bit pointless imo.

Hubris? Arrogance? Narcissism?

[GreatBigBird]

Doesn’t 'getting the gist of a thread' go totally against RTFT??

[GreatBigBird]

@GreatBigBird

Doesn’t 'getting the gist of a thread' go totally against RTFT??

Sorry, that should say 'getting a good idea of the convo' goes, totally against RTFT

[QuillBill]

There’s no way I can be bothered to wait for up to 10 pages to load while reading, so sometimes it’s easy to post after a couple.
This has blown my mind!

I honestly had always thought it was because people were thick as two short planks when they just posted the exact same thing as everyone else hours later.

[iklboo]

@Aria999 - you can, yes. I use it all the time on long threads.

[MustardRose]

It isn't always easy to RTFT anyway, especially on fast-moving threads. You can read the entire thing, decide to post something and while you are writing it or looking back through the thread to check something or quote someone, loads of other people reply or the OP comes back and your post crosses with all of those. It is easy to look like a twit in that situation.

[SpindleWhorl]

I bet MNHQ don't come on and give you a response, OP. You'll be waiting a long time.

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

@DavidTheDog so you're asking MN to ban people who don't have time to trawl through pages and pages of often repetitive posts? To turn MN into a place where you're only welcome to comment if you have hours and hours of spare time?
Shame, as you'll lose a lot of valuable input from professional people. You'll alienate people who could really benefit from interaction with others but don't have the time because they are single parents. Or nursing sick relatives. Or can't concentrate for long enough to read so much. Or just have other things to do.
You've not really thought this through have you?

Now if you were talking about people who haven't even read the OP, I might be more inclined to agree.

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

@SpindleWhorl

I bet MNHQ don't come on and give you a response, OP. You'll be waiting a long time.

Very funny

[Haffdonga]

I so agree. I've seen some terrible examples recently.

e.g. Poster not sure what to do about an unplanned pregnancy. She decides to keep the baby but later had a miscarriage. Posters who haven't RTFT repeatedly telling her to keep the baby many days after she loses it
e.g. Poster complained about nasty husband. Everyone tells her to LTB. She did LTB. People still tell her to LTB. She gets divorced posting regular updates on her shitty ex's behaviour along the way. People who haven't RTFT still tell her to LTB. She meets a lovely new man and is happy. People still tell het to LTB.

Not RTFT is SO rude, lazy and selfish. If you can't be bothered to at least read the OP's posts then why on earth post bullshit yourself?

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

@Haffdonga yes those examples are awful. But there's a big difference between reading all the OPs posts (which for the reasons you mention is important) and reading every single thread which is what the OP is asking for .

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

*every single post in a thread that should have said

[TyneTeas]

You can quite often get the gist of what some of the replies have been by just reading the OP's posts though, so for example if they gave explained that the cheque has already been cashed, you might not feel the need to advise to cancel it.

I sometimes View All posts, then use Find in page to search for a key word or two on the rare occasion I think I might have something original to post several pages in.

[DavidTheDog]

reading every single thread which is what the OP is asking for

Where have I asked that? As previously explained, read the OP’s posts and the last page or so to tune in to the conversation before wading in.