Read the thread!

[Floatlikeafeather2]

AIBU to suggest there should be a law against people commenting on threads when they have not read beyond the OP? There is a very long thread currently running that is a prime example of this. It's a very divisive thread and, without exception, the people on one side are those who have not read the thread, and often even start off by saying "I have to admit I haven't read the whole thread but...." and their responses are mainly knee jerks, while the people on the other side have and their comments tend to be much more considered. If you can't be bothered to find out the facts, you're in no position to comment. You could, in fact, be doing harm.

I have no idea why you think elephants will help the situation

I get what you’re saying but I also think OP’s could be fully transparent and give all the detail in their first post, without drip feeding info every 15 or 20 posts later. Then people wouldn’t need to to sift through 23 pages and could respond to the original post.

Surely it is up to the original poster to put all the info on the first post as opposed to drip feeding? Also not everyone has the time to sit and read every thread the whole way through especially when at work.

But it's not compulsory to comment on every thread!! if you haven't got time to read the thread, don't bother commenting on it.

Oh get an actual grip for.goodness sakes!

You have hit the nail on the head, I think some people have way to much time on their hands.

It might be annoying but it’s the internet. You have to accept when you post that anyone can comment - including people who haven’t read all the background, people who don’t understand all the background, people who are lying about having the qualifications or experience they say they do which they’re using to give you advice, people who are actively malicious and want to give bad advice etc. Sifting through it all is the price you pay for getting some genuine nuggets of good advice which is free rather than speaking with a solicitor / Citizen’s Advice / any other professional. If a thread is so long and busy that it’s run into pages and pages of posts that some commenters can’t be bothered to read, there’s almost certainly going to be enough good advice in there to cancel out the irrelevant posts.

Sometimes it's not a "drip feed". It's a situation taking place over a few days and by the time someone barrels in on page 17 saying the same thing as everyone else the OP has already cancelled the metaphorical cheque.

Totally agree with this the ops first post should be enough to comment on anything after that is a drip feed

If I'm particularly intrigued by a thread but it's 10 pages long and I don't have time to go right through, I just read the OPs posts. They usually comment or update and it saves me from suggesting something that they've already tried. It doesn't of course stop me suggesting the same thing as 14 other people, but sometimes a thread is just too much to get through.

It baffles me, the arrogance displayed by some posters. The whole ‘I haven’t read the whole thread’ is such a facile argument.

If you haven’t read it, why do you think you’re qualified to comment? Worse, it can be hugely insensitive if/when the thread moves on. There was one, some time ago now, where the OP’s issue resulted in a death. Yet people still kept piling on to ‘answer’ the OP’s post. About a person who was already dead.

If you haven’t got time to read a whole thread, at least read the OP’s posts, which MNHQ very helpfully colour code for you, and which you can filter the thread by.

😂

And what about the people who post on completely the wrong thread. I’ll be happily reading about OPs problem with Janice on the group chat for banjo players and all the supportive posts telling OP that Janice had never really been her friend, when some numpty posts a recipe for coq au vin.So thoughtless and careless.

I’m not sure how a law against that would work but they should definitely have their broadband taken away.

You can change your settings so more posts are on one page. I have it set to ‘everything’ but I think the most you can do now is maybe 500 posts, so only two pages. Then click ‘see all OPs posts’ and it’s laid out very very clearly for you.

If you can’t be bothered to do that then you have to take all the criticism on the chin really.

My grips are fine, thank you

You're complete arrogance at posting on a thread just so that your opinion is there when you haven't even read the thread or even the OP's posts is incredibly rude.

It's a you problem don't try make it to me problem

It clearly can be an issue, but some of these threads run to 20+ pages, do people really have time to read every single post before they comment, I’d admit I generally read through the first page or two, then skip to the last page on very long posts so doubtless do miss some pertinent points, does that mean I’m not allowed to comment at all

I have threads flipped by default so it's usually obvious if a long thread has moved on from the OP. I'll go back and read from the beginning if the thread looks interesting and I might want to contribute.

I think you have to allow for inexperience - there will be people on here who aren't used to forums, or to the format of Mumsnet which is different from Reddit, for example.

I agree that 'haven't read the full thread' is irritating.

But you can just read the OP 's posts! You don't have to read all the replies.

Meh…I know what you mean but honestly I sometimes work 12 hour days. I don’t have time to read several 18 page threads a day on top of my job and my family.

What are you going to do? Force people to provide thread ID?

Posters are pretty good at self policing and tend to call out dickish and ill informed posts. I would leave people to manage as they see fit.

When a thread has hundreds of posts, I have not got the time or patience to read all that.

Sometimes people comment without even reading the OP.
Or they misunderstand some crucial and obvious point which was stated in the OP: 'Oh I didn't realise OP was married, or had the pet elephant, etc.'

If I come upon a thread that already has 300+ comments, I don't have the time or the concentration to read every single post

I had to re read the OP after the first reply, wondering how I’d missed the elephant and I’m still giggling at my own dopeyness.

😂 Daft.

But funny! 😆

😆 I did that too!