Temp ban if you don't rtft

[ImAvingOops]

This isn't a TAAT, but it's a thread about lots of threads. Maybe I'm getting old and cranky and remembering the past through rose tinted specs, but were posters always so lazy when it comes to reading the thread?
If nothing else, people should read what the OP posts before jumping in with some half arsed comment that's either completely irrelevant, or has been addressed a million times already by the posters who did bother to read the thread!
I know threads can be long, but if you don't have time, just pick a shorter one to read.

AIBU to think that if posters don't rtft, and ask some fucking stupid question that they would already know the answer to if they'd bothered to read, they should get a two week posting ban?

See I thought two weeks was the light version. I was thinking six months but then realised that was a bit harsh

I know some poster think I'm micromanaging, but is it really? Asking people to at least read the OP is setting the bar pretty low!

I always read all of the OP's posts on a long thread, mainly because there are so many where the OP hasn't bothered to return but there are hundreds of posts from people all saying the same thing. I really don't get why people bother to comment on a thread that has hundreds of replies but none of them from the OP. People really like their own opinions I guess.

Also sometimes people may be writing a long reply and questions are asked/answered in the mean time. Sorry if this has already been said as I haven't RTFT.....

@SaintVitasShagulaitas
If you don't have time to read the thread, there's no need to post on it.

Yes you are attempting to micromanage and I'm 100% certain that MNHQ is going to ignore you.

Unless you volunteer yourself for moderator?

But you don't intend to actually give anything, just winge.

You must be so bored

Why would I read 50 other people's opinions before giving my own?

But why would you expect subsequent posters to read yours before they give their own? Or are you just posting for a bit of personal catharsis?

Also, if you've decided that it's 'too long' to read, then why are you posting anyway?

Because you have some advice to offer/knowledge to share?

But who is going to read it if you won't be reading anybody else's advice or knowledge? Indeed, how do you know that you aren't the 100th person with the same advice or knowledge?!

I find it ironic that MN is such a female-dominated forum, and yet so many posters act like the stereotypical man who will ignore everybody else who came before, come forward to delight one and all with his 'pearl of wisdom', and then assume that's the matter well and truly resolved.

Jumped to end as I did not RTFT, but quick question for OP who the hell put you in charge of MN? 😂

I can't see all OPs posts on the app but I would reverse the post and look at the last few to make sure the situation hasn't changed

It makes me laugh when people put " well, I have read the full thread but", like their opinion is so important that others should read it, but they don't have to bother.

I always assume it's a man.

@ImAvingOops

No it has NOT always been like this, not at all.

Years ago it was a MUCH different place. A much nicer, friendlier place where you could come for a good debate on a topic, intelligent debate. I miss those days & the familiarity of posters.

I always wonder what's going in when somebody resurrects a zombie thread - not to provide an update or add something quite different and interesting to it - but just to say the same basic obvious thing that 50 other people already said 10 months ago!

But who is going to read it if you won't be reading anybody else's advice or knowledge? Indeed, how do you know that you aren't the 100th person with the same advice or knowledge?!

You don't. Nor do the other people who read threads from latest posts first.

I can see that it must be infuriating for those of you with enough spare time to make RTFT of hundreds of comments a priority in your day.

Ah you see now we get to the nitty gritty

Some people don't like the way the site has grown, it's not a place where everyone knows your name.

They want the little clique back, where everyone agrees.

I disagree. This site is powerful. It contributes to national debates. The bigger and more diverse the contributors, the better.

Those who want a cosy get together can begin a new message board of their own.

I find value in most of the comments on here, even those where the poster obviously hasn't read the thread. At least they are sometimes funny.

At the extreme end, we've had threads that were originally started by an OP some time ago, who has sadly since died, and the thread is being continued/re-opened in tribute to them and to update those who may not know.

You still get so many people responding to the OP and saying things that, had they RTFT, they would realise are now highly inappropriate. They can't even have read the last half a dozen new posts either, otherwise you would assume they'd see all the people saying 'RIP' and 'what a remarkable person she WAS' and put 2 and 2 together before trying to give advice or comfort to an obviously-deceased person.

I can see that it must be infuriating for those of you with enough spare time to make RTFT of hundreds of comments a priority in your day.

So, when you post on a 'too-long' thread, are you specifically putting it there for those who DO have more time than you to read (or who prioritise the thread more than you) or are you not really expecting anybody to read it and just leaving it there for posterity? These are genuine questions; I'm curious as to people's motives!

This is probably the best reason for the argument, but surely in this case locking a thread where OP has died is most appropriate?

I think sometimes one doesn't notice the date of the OP, especially if it's in the same month but another year. I know I haven't always, but being the sort of person who does read whole threads because that's what I'm here for, the reading, I usually twig before I get to the end. Like "Oh look, there's so-and-so posting, haven't seen them since - ah, right". Or even "well that's a nicely expressed post, wonder who wrote that? Oh - I did, 3 years ago".

I’ve come to the that you can complain all you like about how people use MN but it will always be just a vent. The weekly moan thread. about quoting the OP’s post happened yesterday.

If I see a thread that’s already pages long I just assume it’s all been said anyway and don’t read it.

*conclusion

LookItsMeAgain

"The 'reading OP posts' function is only on the web browser though, it should be on the app as well

To view only the OP's posts if you're using the MN App, you go into the thread, swipe left on the OP's opening post and click "Filter".
Then you will only see the OP's posts/replies"*
*
Thank you so much for this, I always read OP's contributions on web browser but didn't know that this option existed in the app.

This is probably the best reason for the argument, but surely in this case locking a thread where OP has died is most appropriate?

I'm not sure I agree there - I think it can be very poignant and beautiful to see the progression from the start to the finish, framing all of the love and tributes at the end perfectly - as long as people don't just hop on at the end and get it all monumentally out of context.

This site is powerful. It contributes to national debates. The bigger and more diverse the contributors, the better.

Agree. But it would be so much better if people bothered to read the thread, so they could contribute information that is relevant to the OP or doesn't derail by arguing a point that other posters have already addressed.

I do think that my definition of micromanaging differs from @SuspiciousHedgehog - I don't think wanting posters to at least read the OP is a huge ask. As for being bored, well you are here too, so I guess we both are.

Anniegetyourgun

But how do you find the threads in the first place? Surely you don't scroll all the way through to Page 94 before finding something you want to comment on?!

YANBU. I often think it's a sign of arrogance when a poster drops in to say "didn't have time to RTFT but just had to say X". X is always something that's already been said 70 times on the thread, but the poster clearly believes they're so uniquely insightful that nobody else could have possibly thought of giving the same very obvious response.

Weirdly, I mind less if a poster is honest about not having read everybody's posts - sometimes people do have good advice, really don't have time to read the whole thing yet but want to help. They are different from the ones who almost wilfully ignore the information from the poster and just want to put the boot in.