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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say that if you can’t read a thread due to lack of paragraphs, just move on to a new thread

42 replies

NeedAHoliday2021 · 30/03/2022 15:55

I’ve seen a number of posts recently where the op is having a really tough time in a difficult situation and the first responses are criticising the lack of paragraphs.

There’s no rule book for mn that says we all have to have a certain level of education to post and many people who do use paragraphs can edit in paragraphs as they read. If you can’t, maybe it’s not the thread for you. Just move along.

I’ve never met anyone struggling with life who would benefit from further, unrelated criticism. Do those posters realise they come across as a total dicks?

Obviously, I’ve used paragraphs in order to reach my target audience.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 30/03/2022 15:57

If people are going to be arses, they can just repost the OP with paragraphs. That's actually helpful. I can't read without (ADHD brain) but you're right that it's a dick move if the OP is stuggling.

WhatNoRaisins · 30/03/2022 16:00

It's not really a grammar thing. I simply can't follow huge blocks of text without highlighting each line or say using a ruler if printed. Not that I'd be doing a post criticising or anything but it does genuinely stop a lot of people from being able to read.

Mangogogogo · 30/03/2022 16:02

It’s rare it’s about the op struggling though.. the ones with no paragraphs tend to be rants about their mother in law or about how outraged they are that someone told them they were a shit mam, whilst listing all the reasons why they are, in fact, a shit mam

ClemDanFango · 30/03/2022 16:03

I immediately click off a thread if it’s a wall of text. I don’t moan about it, just move on.

NippyWoowoo · 30/03/2022 16:04

@Mangogogogo

It’s rare it’s about the op struggling though.. the ones with no paragraphs tend to be rants about their mother in law or about how outraged they are that someone told them they were a shit mam, whilst listing all the reasons why they are, in fact, a shit mam
This.
MyBottleOfRibena · 30/03/2022 16:05

@MrsTerryPratchett

If people are going to be arses, they can just repost the OP with paragraphs. That's actually helpful. I can't read without (ADHD brain) but you're right that it's a dick move if the OP is stuggling.
But if I didn’t want to read something due to a lack of paragraphs, I’m not really going to be searching through the thread to see if someone has edited and
MyBottleOfRibena · 30/03/2022 16:06

Was meant to say edited and reposted with paragraphs

WhatNoRaisins · 30/03/2022 16:06

@Mangogogogo

It’s rare it’s about the op struggling though.. the ones with no paragraphs tend to be rants about their mother in law or about how outraged they are that someone told them they were a shit mam, whilst listing all the reasons why they are, in fact, a shit mam
Probably not fair bit I always assume in real life that they're the sort that just talks at you without needing any kind of response.
Cherropea · 30/03/2022 16:07

I don't think I have ever commented to mention lack of paragraphs but admit if I click on a thread and see it is just one huge block of text, I leave the thread immediately.

girlmom21 · 30/03/2022 16:08

I don't ever comment on the paragraphs thing but I understand why people do.

Most people will read as much as they can without getting annoyed or bored then skim the rest, if there are no paragraphs.
Then they'll give their opinion on half of the OP or miss out on important bits of information.

It's not necessarily a bad thing to highlight this to the OP and let them know that the way they've posted won't get them the most constructive advice.

They don't need to be told 45 times though.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 30/03/2022 16:09

@ClemDanFango

I immediately click off a thread if it’s a wall of text. I don’t moan about it, just move on.
Yes, likewise any OP that uses 'should of/would of/could of', or can't spell 'lose'.

What is it about the internet that has robbed people of the ability to correctly spell 'lose'? It's so frequent now that I'd actually believe you if you told me there is a deliberate policy of teaching children to misspell it in schools. It's completely baffling.

WomanStanleyWoman · 30/03/2022 16:11

I tend to just click the back button… but that said, if the thread is a bit short on replies, is it really that bad to suggest that this might be why?

I know it’s very trendy on MN to say it doesn’t matter as long as people can basically understand what you’re saying, but sometimes it’s actually really hard. I struggle when I read something littered with typos and grammar errors. Just as some people find SPAG very difficult, I find it comes to me naturally - and the downside of that is that I can struggle to interpret error-riddled or poorly laid out text. My brain is ‘expecting’ it to be correct.

Cannedlaughter · 30/03/2022 16:13

When I reply to a thread I put in paragraphs however when it is posted the paragraphs have disappeared. I use an android phone , not sure if that's the reason. Also some people struggle with grammar, spelling and sentence structure for many reasons. Why call them out? Of what benefit is that ? It's unnecessary and bullish. Absolutely click off if you can't read it. Your difficulty in reading it is no different or more important than someone who can't write as well as some.

LakieLady · 30/03/2022 16:17

I'm a pedant for spelling and grammar, and am constantly having to stop myself from being picky about it, but there was a post earlier today that I simply couldn't read. Not only did it lack paragraphs, but the sentences were very long, and there were no commas or anything, so it was just like a stream of consciousness. I couldn't work out wtf was actually going on.

I don't generally have a problem taking in written material (my job involves interpreting some pretty complex legislation and checking/proofreading other people's work), but I really struggled with it and gave up in the end.

I wouldn't dream of publicly shaming someone for it, that's just unkind. But it does make me wonder what's been taught in schools since I left in 1972.

PAFMO · 30/03/2022 16:18

@NeedAHoliday2021

I’ve seen a number of posts recently where the op is having a really tough time in a difficult situation and the first responses are criticising the lack of paragraphs.

There’s no rule book for mn that says we all have to have a certain level of education to post and many people who do use paragraphs can edit in paragraphs as they read. If you can’t, maybe it’s not the thread for you. Just move along.

I’ve never met anyone struggling with life who would benefit from further, unrelated criticism. Do those posters realise they come across as a total dicks?

Obviously, I’ve used paragraphs in order to reach my target audience.

Quite. Likewise, those who claim they can't understand what a poster means if they write "of" instead of "have". You have trouble working out that the poster means "should have"? It's really really not them with the problem.

It is hard to be bothered to read a wall of text, I agree. And I don't feel the need to read every thread ever posted on MN, so if I open one like that, I tend to move on. I'd be extremely concerned though about my own literacy if I found I were suddenly unable to understand a non-paragraphed post.

PAFMO · 30/03/2022 16:20

@Cannedlaughter

When I reply to a thread I put in paragraphs however when it is posted the paragraphs have disappeared. I use an android phone , not sure if that's the reason. Also some people struggle with grammar, spelling and sentence structure for many reasons. Why call them out? Of what benefit is that ? It's unnecessary and bullish. Absolutely click off if you can't read it. Your difficulty in reading it is no different or more important than someone who can't write as well as some.
That's also true. My phone keeps my formatting, but I know some don't. Likewise, some web interfaces remove formatting (Etsy is one) so you have to start again (if you notice it)
IwaswhoIam · 30/03/2022 16:26

I agree . If I see a badly written thread or I struggle to understand, I just skip it . I wish I had more patience but I’m too sleep deprived for that 😆

dfendyr · 30/03/2022 16:34

how hard is it to hit the enter key a few times though

SoupDragon · 30/03/2022 16:40

@dfendyr

how hard is it to hit the enter key a few times though
Probably just as hard as it is to read the text without.
emuloc · 30/03/2022 16:40

If I click on a post that is really long, with no paragraphs, I will not read it.

WhenDovesFly · 30/03/2022 16:43

I click off the thread too if it's one big block. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing for the OP to be told it's hard to read though, providing it's done politely. That way when they post in future, hopefully they'll use paragraphs and get many more people reading and responding.

WhenDovesFly · 30/03/2022 16:45

Also, it's not really the posts with no paragraphs that are difficult, it's the ones where it's a HUGE block of text and there isn't a single comma or full stop.

WhatNoRaisins · 30/03/2022 16:49

The way I see this myself is that I'm under no illusion that I'm especially engaging or interesting so the least I owe people I wish to read what I've written is to try and write something easy to read.

amicissimma · 30/03/2022 16:50

Well I do.

Punctuation is considered to be a courtesy from the writer to the reader (I can't find who originally said that, but Lynne Truss quotes it). So lack of helpful punctuation says something about the writer. Which may, or may not, influence the reader's perception of him or her.

VainAbigail · 30/03/2022 16:55

@emuloc

If I click on a post that is really long, with no paragraphs, I will not read it.
Yes same here.