"I didn't want to read and run"

[saraclara]

Seriously, don't do this. What's the point? What does it even say to anyone? It adds nothing to what follows. How does it help the OP, who is generally posting about something distressing?

The ridiculous thing is that almost always, people who start with this phrase then make a perfectly average length post below it, just like everyone else.

Aaaaargh. It infuriates me. AIBU? (hint: I'm not)

It's not like it's ALL they say. They follow it up with the same sort of thing that everyone else has said. So why preface it with "I didn't want to read and run"? I have never once seen "I didn't want to read and run" as the entirety of the post. So why not leave it out?

We've obviously seen different threads. I have only ever seen people say, 'I didn't want to read and run OP. I'm sure someone will be along who can give advice soon' Or similar.

@newfacesamelife

But yeah they could easily say "just here to support" or something

That is what they are saying. That is what the phrase means.

I know but was trying to find an alternative that OP would like 😂

It comes from a good place, that's all.

It’s not as bad as just “.”

“.” Is such an epic arsehole thing to do. “I want to follow this post but not contribute anything whatsoever and I’m too stupid to find the follow button”

Yay! It's finally 50/50. I clearly can't hope to clearly win this one, so having read, I'm going to run to Waitrose.

See you later, alligators.

(And yes, I clearly didn't need to say that, but I'm empathising in advance with those who will post "I see that OP isn't coming back")

Another day, another bitchy thread on MN. All because people express themselves differently.

I'm going to run to Waitrose

Stealth boast OP?

I must be naive, I never read it like it's being nosey 🤷🏼‍♀️ I take it as trying to be nice.

Out of curiousity op, how old are you?
It’s a phrase that has its origins in older forum conventions.

I think there is perhaps a little too much emphasis on the words used here. It’s a phrase that I have only ever seen here. It’s just a ‘norm’ that has developed and might mean different things to different people. We can’t possibly know the true intentions of the poster. Empathy. Place marking. Virtue signalling. Alleviating guilt. Bumping. Hand holding. Connecting. Letting us know how busy they are… There are so many possibles.

I think there are all sorts of phrases we use regularly out of habit. Different ones in different settings. Fine to be irritated but I can’t join you in your irritation about this or the damning of people that use the phrase.

@newfacesamelife

I'm going to run to Waitrose

Stealth boast OP?

I was aiming for peak mumsnet!

@deeplyrooted

Out of curiousity op, how old are you? It’s a phrase that has its origins in older forum conventions.

Old. Really old. But I got banned from Gransnet.

I always take it as a bump and to say that someone has read it and understands the OP is upset.

It's better than people who just post a single '.' in a thread to place mark, especially when it's a thread of a very sensitive or distressing nature.

Thems should be guillotined. 🪓

@Butchyrestingface

I posted the same as you upthread! At least “didn’t want to read and run” shows a level of support!

It's better than people who just post a single '.' in a thread to place mark, especially when it's a thread of a very sensitive or distressing nature.

Thems should be guillotined. 🪓

And people who, for no reason, resurrect 7 year old threads