to wonder why some posters even bother posting?

[WriterofDreams]

Idle musings of a bored pregnant lady.

I am addicted to mumsnet and spend a long time every day flicking through threads, replying to some, just reading others. I often wonder, why do some people post pointless things on threads? For example (and yes I know I'm referring to another thread, kick me if you need to) there is a thread about sex in chat just asking questions about how often people do it and where etc. A harmless thread that you can ignore if you like. And yet, a few posters have posted saying "Why do you need to know" and suchlike. Surely if they're not interested then they should just get lost and not bother posting on the thread? Equally it annoys me when someone comes onto a long thread, admits they haven't read much or any of it, and then proceeds to ask the same questions or make the same accusations that have been made 15 times already in the thread. Now if someone does this with the intent of giving friendly advice and just doesn't have time to read the thread then I don't think it's too bad, but if they're out to admonish the OP about something, surely they should read the thread first to be sure their point of view hasn't already been addressed?

AIBU? Or do pointless posters get on your nerves too?

You could equally say that about this thread tbh.

The ones that make me wonder are those that ask pointless questions such as "what was your favourite food as a child"? I do wonder what the point of responding is as I cannot actually believe that anyone reads the responses and cares what my favourite food as a child was. Don't have a problem with them though.

Best not to think too deeply about internet forums, just take what you like and forget the rest.

And yes as Wordsonascreen says, this thread is a bit pointless.

I'm not talking about pointless threads, as it is entirely subjective as to what is pointless and what's not. What I'm talking about are posts like the wordsonascreen wrote, one that contributes nothing to the thread and is not actually answering the question (not meant as a dig at you, words, just as an example). I mean if you opened this thread and thought "boring, pointless" why not just move on rather than wasting your time posting something that doesn't contribute?

most posts are pointless.

Just like most conversation is pointless.

It's just interaction. It meets no life or death need and we can well do without it. All we really need is to co-operate to get our needs met. Anything beyond that is pointless - other that being something you enjoy.

It is annoying when people "haven't read the thread but..." and then go into something totally stupid because they haven't read the thread so don't get it! But they just make themselves look like tits, so what do I care?

And going on a thread to post yawn or or is just plain rude. But again - they are only making themselves look like nasty spiteful cunts, so what do I care?

It's amazing how little in life matters at all, when you think about it.

Don't overanalyse people chatting. It's supposed to be pointless fun.

Kettle? Black?

But 'idle musings of a bored pregnant lady' did make me :).

Because it is like a conversation, why post anything ever?

Wordsonascreen did contribute to the thread, now we know that she/he thinks it is pointless.

Why do you care at all? I am typing right now because I need to get up and go to bed but I just can't be arsed. Nothing I write at this point in time is going to be terribly profound.

Ok people stop giving me ammunition and read the OP!! I said pointless POSTS not pointless THREADS. I'll explain one more time. Lots of the threads on mumsnet are pointless in the sense they're for fun or written out of curiosity or as a joke. What I'm wondering is why people post on these threads with pointless comments such as "How boring" or "why do want to know." Shouldn't they move on and post on a thread that they don't find boring?

I aggree with OP. Thats all i have to say lol

Perhaps we should have a very earnest thread discussing existential nihilism.

But what would be the point.

[deep sigh]

Ha words. I like silly threads by the way. I don't want constant serious chat. Again I'm not on about pointless threads, just pointless posts.

erm. I think I posted quite clearly about pointless posts - how about some acknowledgement of that instead of saying we're all talking about pointless threads?

What is the difference between a pointless thread and a pointless post in terms of your irritation?

Well, I sometimes do it because I have raging PMT and it's better to be a narky cah on the internet to people who don't give a fuck than to take it out on my nearest and dearest. Although I'm never nasty or vindictive.

I personally need to have a bit of pointlessness in my day. Life would be very stressful without pointlessness. Is pointlessness even a word?

You have made it one, santas

Aah now I was one of the people on the thread you refer to who said 'why do you want to know?'.

But if you read the rest of the thread, I clarified that I didn't think that a straw poll of other people's relationships would help solve problems in your own. Which I would argue is a valid point.

You can't tell people to get lost and not bother posting. It's a public forum and sometimes the random and pointless comments are quite useful/funny/misunderstood.

If a woman is struggling and unhappy with her sex life, if her dh isn't listening to her, if she's feeling low, isn't 'why does it matter what other people do?' a valid question? It wasn't a joke thread or a straw poll, it was a woman who was having problems with her sex life.

But I am adding under your column on my spreadsheet 'MN Police, Does Not Speak Irish Gaelic'.

Quite true Hec, your post was completely relevant.

Morloth, I suppose the difference is that most people start threads (even silly ones) in the hope of getting interesting or helpful or funny replies. So no thread is annoying to me as if I'm not interested I'll just move on without posting. What annoys me is when someone is basically rude to the OP by suggesting that what they have asked or talked about in the OP is not worthy of a serious response. Why bother doing that? It strikes me as just a bit mean really.

For example chickens gave a funny response that acknowledges my OP and actually answers my question. It's a nice and friendly thing to do. And you Morloth have asked me a question (albeit a tongue in cheek one) about what I said. I'm not saying every reply has to be hugely earnest or worthy just that if you're going to bother to reply to an OP it seems basic manners to put some thought into the reply and not bother posting pointless comments about how "this thread has been done before" (so what??? is there limited space on mumsnet) or "it doesn't really matter does it?" Well, yes, actually it does matter otherwise I wouldn't have posted about it. It might not be life or death but I'm interested even if you aren't.

I totally agree with OP: quite funny how about 3 people immediately jumped in (not having read her original post properly) and did exactly what she was complaining about!

People who come on just to post biscuits wind me up. I think it is meant to mean, 'I'm so busy and important I won't lower myself to respond...'

Except they have responded. And in a not very clever way. Why fucking bother?

The thing about Mumsnet and any popular open furum is that all human life is here! I feel safe in my PN club and have had some wonderful advice and words but the alpha females scare me off AIBU and Chat for the most part.

forum

The biscuit thing is weird though because it serves no other purpose, iyswim. It just means 'no comment', yet requires effort.

YANBU.
I often think it takes far more energy to reply with
[fbear]

If the thread bores you that much, hide it.
(and as Hecate says, you come across as being a tossed if you do that anyway, so why bother?)