Replying to threads

[che]

When replying to threads, do you read the first post and then reply based on that? I rarely see anyone here reply to previous posts, unless it's in ID. It seems like everyone just answers the question or shares their opinion about the OP and hits the reply button and that's it.

[Victoria]

I actually read all the posts. But then again I've been here a long time.

[SeleneHime]

I tend to read all of the posts, unless the thread is boarding on 50 pages long. Then I read about ten from each direction to get a scope before replying.

[Treize]

I usually read all of the posts too. But if I don't have the time, I'll just skim through the other posts. I don't think I've ever just posted by reading the opening post and not reading the other ones if there are more.

[Meigumi]

I read about 5-10 posts (or more, if I'm really interested in the thread), then I just go to the first post and type my reply in the Quick Reply box.

And I just did that~

[Unknown Entity]

I read the first and all of the following posts too. Sometimes I quote them, sometimes I don't - just because I didn't, doesn't mean I didn't read them.

It gets done more in ID because of the discussions at hand and who's posting.

[Imposter]

I'll read everyone's posts if it is feasible but I don't always answer to the person before me. I mean I answer to the thread starter first and then see what I can say to everyone else. It depends because I don't want to tick off someone because I disagree with the post before mine and seemingly bait them in anyway.

[Tiffany]

I read. Too many times by the time I get to the end of the responses the entire topic has changed.

[che]

I read. Too many times by the time I get to the end of the responses the entire topic has changed.

Do you not like that? That's how my conversations irl go!

[Tiffany]

Do you not like that? That's how my conversations irl go!

Doesn't bother me in the slightest! What does bother me though is when the entire mood/posts have changed in the thread then you get the random poster who posts only in regard to the original post... not the actual convo in the thread.

THAT is what I dislike.

[Victoria]

At least that person is following the rules and posting on topic of the original topic.

[Polk]

I usually just read the OP and make some sort of stupid joke.

[Josh_R]

I kind of do both. It just depends on the topic. Sometimes I may just wanna post based on the OP, but other times I read others posts. Most of the time I wanna get in, and get out kind of like now.

[rJ floW]

I'll read if the thread isn't too long or the replies aren't too long winded. It's when people think they need to write 10 paragraphs to get across a few points that I skip and just hit the reply button.

[LocoColt04]

If the thread is long and I have yet to participate, I'll often do both things -- respond with something related to the original topic while also throwing in a segment related to the current direction the thread has turned.

[Tiffany]

At least that person is following the rules and posting on topic of the original topic.

If everyone adhered to that rule, TFF would be an incredibly boring place to post. Almost all topics go off the original intent as people have minds, someone mentions something that another finds interesting, they give their 2.5 cents on the matter and then it spawns from there.

Granted, its irritating when people do that and its an argument... but I've read/learned some really interesting things from people going against that particular rule here.

We're doing it right now, actually. Mwhahahahahahahah.

[DragonHeart]

I read all of the posts in a thread probably 95% of the time. Kind of defeats the point of a discussion when you only read the OP.

As far as the rules go, only responding to the OP and not to the flow of the discussion makes for a very inorganic conversation.

I'm pretty sure most of us aren't robots.

~DragonHeart~

[Furore]

I generally read all posts as I only log on during boring work shifts or when I get an email telling me I have a PM or something.

That said, my coherence and the quality of my posts seems all over the place as half the time I'm intoxicated, or overworked, or haven't slept in a few days or whatever else and even without that crap my brain's a little odd. If I'm suffering a couple of those listed factors, don't expect the kind of thing you'd get from an IRL convo.

[Taco-Calamitous]

I'm pretty sure most of us aren't robots.

Are you discriminating against robots? My brother happens to be one, and I take exception to that comment!

Like others, I will read an entire thread most of the time, when it's still pretty short and there aren't twenty essays in there already. If there are fifty posts by T.G. Oskar and Zargabaath, I won't read them all, haha (<3 you two, seriously.) I'll just skim through the posts to see if someone has already said what I wanted to say, or seems to have said something intriguing/that's pissed me off that I want to address. Other times I will read the first and last page of the thread, and maybe go back if it seems like I missed something important.

My favorite people are the ones who ignore everything that's been said except for the first post. They have the most intelligent, not redundant things to add to the thread! Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

[Clint]

I never learned to read, so I just randomly press buttons on my keyboard and hope that something legible appears.

My brother happens to be one, and I take exception to that comment!

Oh snap!

[loaf]

Depends on the thread! Sometimes I read through it all and reply, other it's just the first few posts till I come up with a reply lol.

When I'm in class I do read a lot more posts though.

[Robbo]

I Usually just read the first page and the last page providing that the last page makes sense on it's own if not then i'll read back to when it does.

[Freya]

That depends on my mood.
If I'm in good mood, I read every post - and then decide NOT to reply to the topic, because most of the times everything I would have to say has been said already. So there wouldn't be a need for me to reply to it anymore.
When I'm in bad mood, I read a few posts and try to say something different. Sometimes I even quote posts. (But that doesn't happen often, to be honest ^^")
When I'm totally lazy, I just read the first post. But then, I also decide not to reply. When I'm lazy, I don't want to write something either.
It also depends on WHERE the thread was posted.
I certainly WON'T read every single post in a word game thread.

Oh and I of course read every post if I'm interested in the topic of the thread. Sometimes reading all the posts can be pretty interesting. :>

[Dark-Knight Luna]

I Usually just read the first page and the last page providing that the last page makes sense on it's own if not then i'll read back to when it does.

^^^

[GameMasterGuy]

I always read the first post, then the most recent page.

[Kurt Zisa]

I'll read through all the posts if there's like three or less pages. i try to link to whats already been said but more often ill just say what i want then go. (kinda like now)

It doesnt help that what i have to say has already been said before so when i come up with something clever it usualy gets shunned by the person who came up with it orginally XP

[SOLDIER #819]

Everyone ends up saying the same thing so I skim or rage quit out of boredom. Sometimes I'll add to the monotony of it all with a quick, mindless post that is likewise ignored in the mass of chatter. I'd quote people directly, but I have no clue what to say to, "It varies depending on the situation," or "I own/like ______" or "I read all the posts."

[Merlin]

Exactly... I typically stay away from topics in which people are mindlessly posting responses to the original question and not progressing the topic in some meaningful way. I always do an actual "reply" to something someone posted, rather than just answer a question in the first post.

I try to weight a topic and its posts based on numerous factors to determine how much of it I actually read. Something that is related to forum issues I will read all the way through. Topics like this? I just skim through it. I won't go into all the details of how I calculate your Post Worth as it is a complicated algorithm I do on-the-fly. /sarcasm.

[JuzamDjinn]

I usually stear clear of threads in which people are mindlessly posting responses to the original question and not progressing the topic in any meaningful way. I always do an actual "reply" to something someone posted, rather than just answer a question in the first post. This is worst in 'who is your favorite...." thread.

One of my pet peaves of forums is people who post lists without explaining anything.

[Rocky]

I read the OP, skim the rest, and post my biz 90% of the time. If its the other 10% where the thread is decent/interesting, I may read more or elaborate, but thats about it.

PS this thread falls under the 90% category.