Should you read an entire thread before responding?

[Kilted in Maine]

Welcome Buckeye...lol



Wow!!!

Good illustration!

(I assume the "Hector" referenced is the Iliad's Hector and not our beloved Hospitaller aka "Just call me Hector - Tantum Dico Mihi Hector")

[Ayin McFye]

Wow Jaime. I think you have displayed the PERFECT example as to why you should read a thread before posting. It's nice to know that people were still welcoming that individual LONG after he wasn't welcome anymore.

Another good example would be something like this:

Kilted 1: Hey everyone, I'm drawing a complete blank right now, what is the national symbol for Ireland?

Kilted 2: No problem, it's the Harp.

Kilted 1: Duh, thanks, sorry I was completely spacing it there.

Kilted 3: It's the Harp.

Kilted 4: Harp

Kilted 5: I think it's the Harp.

etc. etc. etc.

I think this is a good thread/poll to have started to help stimulate awareness.

Slainte!

[Galb]

It's the harp.

[Panache]

I offered up one example why it is good idea to read before posting.

Ayin gave another good one about repeating the same information over and over again.

Colin mentioned dates and responding to something that is years old.

Other's have brought up consideration/respect to the thread's author.

Here are my personal rules about posting on threads:

Rule #1

Read the entire thread if possible before posting.

Rule #2

If a thread is exceptionally long (15+ pages) then read the intial post and first few pages thoroughly, skim some of the middle ones, and then read the last few pages closely before posting.

Pour1Malts' "Kilt Do's and Don'ts" thread is a perfect example of a thread you really don't need to read all of to contribute to. By its very nature it was intended to be an ongoing thing. My own "Best of the Best" photo thread is another such one. Please note that these kinds of threads tend to be the exception to the rule.

Cheers

Jamie

[Nervous Jock]

It's the harp.

sharp..................

[The Wizard of BC]

Welcome Jamie, I hope you like us here.

[Mike1]

It's interesting to see how the moderators have voted in this poll.

[Big Mikey]

This is what I use as a guideline:

If a thread asks for OPINIONS, I'll read the entire thing to see if someone else has replied similarily to how I feel. If so, then I usually will forgo posting to avoid repetition.

If a thread asks for advice AND I have the knowledge AND no one else has posted a suitable answer, I'll reply.

If I think a thread may benefit from an injection of my "off-kilter" sense of humour, then I'll reply. I enjoy nothing better than bringing smiles into our forum.

I try to remember that reading requires less brain power than forming thoughts and then writing them out. If I'm going to strain my mental capacities, the result should be of value.

I'm going for a nap now.

[Phil]

There seems no point in posting unless you have read all the previous posts. I sometimes wonder if some people are just trying to boost their rankings but it is frustrating to read a post that seems completely irrelevant because someone just wants to go off on their own particular tangent.

[Standard]

I usually try to read all the postings before responding to a thread. However I do admit to having responded to a thread after only the first or second page of a multiple page thread only to find out that someone has posted a similar comment further along the thread. It is nice to see the differing views of our members, and the way that a thread progresses and evolves, sometimes taking a turn well away from the original post.