People who don't RTFT - what's the point?

[BobDear]

I don't know why, but this week, I've been on more threads than ever where multiple posters have replied to the OP without RTFT or even filtering to read the OP updates. And then disappear never to be seen again.

What's the point? Do you do this? Can you explain?

Do some people just go into Active Posts, read the OPs, give an opinion on the opening post and then move on to the next one? Do you consider that to be helpful? I get that you can't always read 200 posts -but filter the OPs posts for a gist of current state of play or important updates SURELY? It's not a poll.

I've been on MN for 15 years and it's always happened but never this much. Driving me mad.

Please stop.

Thank you.
As you were.

I've just started reading one about the electric bill, it states in OP it's an all electric house, I think first response was do you use gas central heating? Well duh , no because it's an all electric house.

Then a few replies later, same query re gas. Blows my mind that some people read or speed read and miss out completely relevant info.

Because it's not Reddit. It's a moving/evolving conversation.

Amazing that MN is both just a trivial place to waste time but also many of the people who view it that way are so busy and important that they can't take any time to check whether anybody else has already said the blindingly obvious thing that came into their mind on reading the OP.

I think the business of not reading what's in the OP is very like present-buying.

A: What do you want for Christmas?
B: Anything except a red scarf, I've already got one of those.
[A few days later, A is at the shops.]
A to self: What did B say about a present? Was it a scarf? I think she said a red one. That one there will do.

If you mention a few specific things and people aren't paying close attention, all they remember is that you mentioned those things, not why. Happens all the time when people ask for meal suggestions.

OP: Looking for suggestions for something quick, easy, cheap and tasty for a large crowd. Not chilli or curry, I can't eat spicy food. No meat.

Reply 1: What about coq au vin?
Reply 2: Big pot of chilli always goes down well!
Reply 3: I rear my own pigs and I always ask the slaughterhouse to keep the blood for me so I can make blood pudding, I do a very peppery one. Takes ages and of course it's not cheap, but so good. You could always lay on something else for anybody fussy.