To think that people need to read the thread before they comment

[Mehitabel6]

I have been on a lot of threads recently where it is quite clear that people have read OP, but nothing else, not even the last post, before they comment.
Has it not occurred to them that things have moved on in 3 days?
It is especially annoying when OP has already apologised and admitted they were wrong- and yet they still get attacked.
It looks very silly when everyone has worked out it was a spoof, been saying so for the last 100 posts and someone pops up and answers it seriously!

I admit to not always reading every post, but I do get a good flavour and read the last page before commenting. If it is very long and has been rumbling in for days then I don't bother reading or commenting.

AIBU is the most usual place that this happens. Probably people are keen to make their point, but not keen to hear other views.

Having read the first six pages, and then taking the advice of some posters, I've jumped straight to the last page. Nothing of note to add, but I do know whose posts I'll be avoiding in the future. So it's all good.

Sparkling

I think if it is a thread where the OP needs support, advice or opinions on a situation then you should at least skim read the OP's posts.

An OP often starts such a thread because they're upset or stressed about something and some updates change the original advice that may be given.

Some of the examples given on here where the OP has lost a baby/pet since their thread was started prove that point.

It's not about being the thread police it's about showing sensitivity in a potential sensitive situation.

Mehitabel6

I'd like you to refer me to a post I've made that is irrelevant to the direction the thread has gone in and I will apologise for my comment whole heartedly.

As I said up thread I don't think you are unreasonable to think it but I object to any member of a forum trying to dictate to others how they should use the forum. That really ought to be down to MNHQ but there has, for as long as I can't remember, been a clique of long standing members who, to put it bluntly, behave like they own the board.

This thread in itself is very much of that tone with any poster disagreeing with you and your pals being degraded and labelled an 'Arse'. I find the arrogance of it quite distasteful.

It has also been the case that threads in AIBU have rarely been a discussion, more like a series of stated opinions on the OP even from posters who are apparently reading as it progresses. IMO Any debates/discussions between posters tend to be more banshee-esque and off topic than the ones coming in without RTFT.

CainInThePunting Sun 21-Jun-15 23:15:38
I didn't realise Mumsnet HQ had appointed the Thread Police.
YANBU to think it but starting a thread to inform posters how YOU expect them to use Mumsnet?
Wind your neck in Dear.

Cain this is what you posted upthread. You were in effect telling the OP that they were being unreasonable to start a thread and to wind their neck in. You were being the thread/MN police yourself. OP can start a thread about whatever they like surely?

It infuriates me that some posters are desperate to put the boot in and they don't RTFT, it's certainly put me off making threads now even if I have remained civil to those posters.

A thread about a thread effectively. IMO OP was reasonable to think it, unreasonable for her and her pals to start a thread to belittle other posters.

Mine was a very much on-topic comment and I had RTFT.
No apology forthcoming I'm afraid.

It's up to individual posters whether or not they read the thread. Not you.

"It's just a ticket to my "ignore" list TBH, a quick way to find out who the lazy, often stroppy, posters are that I don't want to read in the future!!"

This.

Only one person can start a thread AFAIK. I really can't see what you are getting at cain but you seem cross.

I've never come across mehitabel before, we're not mates (although I'm sure she's perfectly nice ), but I completely agree with her, and it's fine for her to state her opinion.

'wind your neck in dear' , and you accuse others of behaving arrogantly towards posters? . .

It's fine for people to have an opinion, it's fine for you to ignore it. When people post rubbish due to not having RTFT, I will think they're twats. That's OK too.

Less cross Sparking, more tired of it. A thread about a thread, especially one that is bullying others, is very bad form.

Why not put this is site stuff. And then it can become part of the guidelines if people feel strongly about it. I just get annoyed when individuals try and tell me what I should and shouldn't be doing.

I just told somebody what to do.

Uh oh.

So we now have the Thread Police Police.

That's all very... meta.

Vivienne can have extra marks for being the Self-Policing Thread Police Police.

It's a thread about many threads, not a TAAT.

But very amusing to watch all the people rushing on to say " You're talking about ME! How very dare etc etc"

Er, well, we weren't. But we are now.

Bullying? Where?

I have RT entire FT.

I wonder if it would be helpful if you could only add comments from the last page - so one would at least have to view the first and last before posting. Lots of times you read "oops, I didn't realise there were n pages when I posted". If a long thread didn't give you the option of adding to it on the first page, that would be a start.

What I would really love though is a fraction more customisation so that threads run oldest-to-newest unless you access them from TIW/TIS/TIO, when they automatically flip.

On some forums threads automatically bookmark (cookies) so you will always start again from the oldest post since your last visit. So user-friendly. So much better than flipping.

It's up to individual posters whether or not they read the thread. Not you.

You forgot to add "Ner Ner" and stick your tongue out.....

Oh, and for the record, I don't know the OP from Adam - either here, in RL or on any other form of social media!

But I can agree with someone surely, without being their pal?

I'd be great at being The Thread Police.
I'd have a uniform, epaulets and a clip board. I'd be able to distribute 'you post like a cunt' tickets.

Nobody is being 'told what to do'. I am baffled at how some posters here are getting so defensive and angry, as though this is a personal attack.
It can be insensitive to recent updates and it can be pretty draining for other posters and the OP to constantly repeat the same answers to the same questions like the sandwich thread. I also remember one recently where a poster referred to AF - then other posters kept asking 'who's AF?' with the other half replying 'AnyFucker'. This went round in circles for several pages because the later posters to ask the question couldn't be arsed to scroll up a few posts.
If time is so precious that people can't read even parts of a thread then why the need to post at all? By posting and not reading anything but the OP you are largely wasting your own time, especially if a thread has several pages already.

This thread in itself is very much of that tone with any poster disagreeing with you and your pals being degraded and labelled an 'Arse'. I find the arrogance of it quite distasteful.

I find it unappealingly arrogant when people feel their need to broadcast an opinion is more important than the ongoing conversation they're broadcasting their opinion in, whether online or at the pub. It's a courtesy thing - if people haven't made even a mild attempt to find out what the conversation is about at that point in time, it's weird. 'You were talking about the colour red on Thursday! I have to tell you my views about red!' 'Actually, we've been talking about stripes for a while, there was some background to the red thing.' 'I DON'T CARE YOU NEED TO HEAR WHAT I THINK ABOUT RED.'

I also find it quite a curious approach when people imply that posters only agree with the OP in a thread because they're pals, rather than individuals capable of formulating their own strong views.

For the record, I agree with the OP's views about half of the time. I was on completely the opposite side of the recent birthday cake thread, for example.