To despair...

[ShouldIStaySelfIsolated]

About the lack of comprehension/attention skills evident on this site, and what it might imply about wider society?

The amount of times this weekend I've seen people replying with a response to an opening post, despite it being 5 pages long, with several updates from the OP... its mind boggling.

See also, people not reading the OP, e.g. "my kids (ds4 and dd5)..."
"How old are your kids OP?"

Considering this is a site for adults (supposedly well educated, so the stereotype goes), it actually baffles me

People are in such a rush to make their mark on a thread, they don’t bother reading the opening post in full. It’s tedious.

Tbh I’m guilty. I read the original post but there are so many replies. I should look to see what the OP has replied to

Just filter the OP’s posts and at least read those 🤷‍♀️

I don't think its just on this site, although it is very noticeable here.

I think that technology does have some blame in this. Instead of reading all through a paragraph, it is easier for someone to type a question in the replies. This then marks their place on a thread. And then they still do not go ahead and read the full paragraph, but just answer on the info they received on their post. Then the "interaction" is there too.

It is very tiresome though.

I think back to when we were getting ready to write an exam at school. The first thing we were taught, was to read the question. Then read the question again. And then again once more.

I think then it just filters through into your everyday life if that was how you were taught to read, to understand. Now its a case of skim if you want.

Is it laziness, lack of ability, problem with the site layout?

Or just a general reflection of how we are as a society... wanting to have our say without really listening?

I think quite possibly, a bit of all of these.

Also, the need to be the first to reply, so that the next person that comes along might say "first post nailed it" 😂

You’re right, of course. And we’ve all done it a few times only to be picked up on only skim reading and missing an essential para somewhere. once you’ve been eviscerated by a few stalwart vipers, you tend to correct your ways, though.

Thing is, people are time poor, stressed, often just here to distract themselves from their own life problems, and sometimes slip up - so I just tend to roll eye and move along without comment. The threads I despair at are the ones that are now 30pp long, OP has updated multiple times [often a drip feed] and people are still coming on replying the that one, initial post that bears no relevance given new info/subsequent clarification. 🤦🏽‍♀️

I do worry about literacy and comprehension in schools and the work place. My DH is constantly tearing his hair out with multiple replies to emails where many people have not bothered to read/digest what was in the original opening email [or attachments].

I do notice it a lot on here, but I think it's everywhere now. People just don't pay attention. I had an email response from someone this morning that went as follows

Email heading - ABC123
Email body - hello, please see my document attached regarding ABC123

Reply - Hi, is this for ABC123 or something else?

I almost think it's rude to reply to something if you can't be bothered to actually give it any of your attention for 2 minutes. If you're in such a rush that you can't read someone's post properly and therefore reply something stupid/irrelevant that's already been answered then maybe you don't have time to be on mumsnet at all

People/the media tend to decry this as a young people problem, but it seems from the last few replies (and this site) that its more widespread than that

Probably a mix of all of the above, but certainly some posters take several updates to share details they could easily include in the initial thread. I think it’s a two way street.

It's not just here. I've lost count how many times on Facebook I've written something like "I've googled it and I'm getting different answers", "I've tried x" and been asked if I've googled it

I once wrote "I'm visiting here and I'm aware that x is shut. Please can I have a recommendation" to which someone went "are you aware that x is shut?" Isn't that what I just said?

I think the digital world, scrolling and AI for example means people just scan stuff rather than read and take in information. Quite worrying as for example in my job you have to read the full email before replying as it’s a waste of time and leads to massive email trails and I’m sure it’s the same in anything really.

You don't have to be well educated to use an internet forum. Surely it's the same in other similar places?

I know, but MN has a reputation for being a bit too skewed toward MC, well educated members... that doesn't seem to be reflected in posts

You can be well educated but not be arsed to read something or not take in certain information if you're not concentrating very hard. I think anyone is capable of that.

I completely agree, reading comprehension is terrible online in general, but your example "DS4 and DD5" actually means their fourth son and fifth daughter in old school Mumsnet shorthand.

My take from your post is that this deeply interests you on an anthropological level. If that's true, then the academic answer from research studies is what you seek. If instead by "baffled" you mean that you dislike it, that's altogether something different.

Exactly. It's the rush to get in first and impart your wisdom to the OP, or make a witty remark which has probably alreadty been made several times over. Particularly tedious if it's a very obvious piece of advice (ask her, cancel the cheque, answer the door) which will have been made several time.

People also extrapolate. Someone posts about s situation without giving every single detail and some posters rush to fill in the blanks, often making things up and totally changing the narrative.

It’s got nothing to do with education or reading comprehension. It’s simply that people are not really willing to spend the time reading everything.

Most people just come on here for some light entertainment while having a 10 minute sit down with a drink, and don’t think too deeply about what they’re saying and don’t think it necessary to read the whole thread.

Hopefully on the threads where people are experiencing genuine difficulties and need real advice it is different, but on the threads where it is minor personal dramas, or discussing social issues, I think it is reasonable to leave a response without reading everything.

Has anyone noticed the lack of comprehension skills on this site? People who read the full thread? 😜

Touché

Read the whole thread ???? You’ve just complained that people are posting drivel -so you think we should all sit for 15 mins reading through this - who has this much time?

It does annoy me, but I am genuinely interested as to why it might be. I've been here a while (despite the DD4 etc faux pas earlier) and don't remember it being this bad, even before we could filter the thread to just see the OP's posts

I’m even more amazed at the number of people who make up extra details that the OP hasn’t included in any of their posts.

@ShouldIStaySelfIsolated or people writing posts that are very poorly written and difficult to comprehend, with often important information missing, then having a go at people when they don't get the responses they want.

I also find it amusing when people draw the most bizarre conclusions from thin air.