AIBU to think this about AIBU

[carebearz]

So I've noticed this a few times and wondered if anyone else had. There's quite a long thread on here quite recently (I won't say which one as it seems to be dying down now) where one minute everyone is YABU and the next everyone disagrees.

It seems to come in waves, this particular thread had started off with everyone thinking the OP was being reasonable. Lots of supportive comments until someone else disagreed....YABU. The thread was then filled with YABU comments for a good few pages, some not nice comments at all. Until one disagreed and it was back to YANBU.

I appreciate long threads are a ball ache to read through and you tend to always read the last comment posted before yours but I can't help thinking of half the views are more just agreeing instead of your actual point of view on the topic.

That’s why a like button would be better, less posts about the same thing.
Maybe MN will get us one for Christmas 🎁🤔

If it's a ball ache to read, move onto another thread. No one needs an opinion that hasn't taken into account (at the very least) the OP's subsequent posts. MN has made it as east as possible why the 'see next/see all'

threads only go in waves because people are lazy & unhelpful.

I would hate a Like Button I think it would be terrible. Fortunately MNHQ haven't gone down that road as it’s MN ‘ Talk’ not the Daily Mail. 😄
The vote function kind of serves that purpose if that’s what you need.

That said if it’s a really long thread by the time I see it I don’t read or comment on it generally.

I agree that sometimes threads go in 'waves' of YABU / YANBU but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing? I'm sure some people are swayed by the previous replies, but overall it probably balances out. You do get some threads that are very strongly in agreement (over 90% think YABU or YANBU), so if it's one that is more mixed, surely it implies that this is an issue with no 'right' answer that everyone can agree on? Which is maybe a useful message for the OP. There's no need for nasty comments though - I agree with you there.

Sometimes someone posts a point of view that others haven't thought about, and that turns the tide of opinion.

Also, I've sometimes seen it where someone posts something that is factually incorrect, others agree with it, and that will sway other posters view as they assume the thing must be true.

There was a recent thread which was overwhelmingly YANBU but virtually every poster stated their reason for giving that opinion as something that actually wasn't true.

The other time it often happens is if it's about a woman complaining about her male partner/husband. I swear there is at least 50% of MN who will instantly side with the OP, regardless of the actual situation described. When posters actually point to facts in the OP, it often become more nuanced.