Do you read
 

these massive debates that happen to pop up in this forum every now and then? Or do you skim them over, trying to look for some interesting thoughts? Or do you just ignore the big posts all together and just read the short ones?

Your thoughts on massive philosophy debates in this forum (and whether or not I am wasting energy)

(btw, this is a question about what you usually do, not when you are in certain rare, specific moods)

I tend to read everything, and I have sat down and read a single (long) thread for an hour. As a result, I have a pretty good idea of a lot of people around here, and what they think. For some reason, though, I tend to be a bit too lazy to post.

I mean, Christ, I've been around since March of 2003 and no one knows who I am.

You think I would post a response in a thread if I am willing to sit down and read every word, but... no.

Usually, I skim a thread to see what some other people are posting. Some comments stick out either due a quote being used or some text being written in all caps. In any case, I try to read the interesting stuff and, only if I need to reply to someone or something someone said, I'll make sure to look over the posts after it to make sure what I want to say hasn't already been said.

For me, it depends on the "debate" or thread topic: if it's something that I find particularly interesting, I'll usually read the entire thing, despite the fact that I don't reply to debates too often.
Sometimes, if I'm particularly lazy, I'll just skim the thread for avatars that I recognize and read the associated posts. I do read such threads most of the time, though. (Part of the reason that I don't generally reply to them is in the fact that I generally miss something; I don't read carefully enough.)

I figure if I'm going to try and give the person my help or opinion the least I could do is read through they'r whole post, so yes I make it a habit not to just skim through but sometimes, you know.

edit: crap I voted on the wrong option in the poll i think.

Well, the thing is, after you read a long thread most of the opinion seem to be expressed by someone else already. Some people just felt that it would be simply echoing opinion that's already there.


It really depending on the topic, actually, if I find the topic to be very interesting, I would read it. Although after a while, I have the tendencies to read certain people's post while skim over others. In the beginning I was reading every posts, but it just seem to be pointless after a while. Especially when they are going into this quoting wars, and analyze every aspect of each other's post. >.>

Usually I would read the original post, and then to the last couple of post and catch the direction of the current discussion to find interesting material, and then go back to read the details if I need to.

Although if there are subject that are fun and a lot of people are actually providing unique insights, I might read everything, but that's rarity now a days.

Certain topic is just jaded, we all have seem it before, so what's wrong with skim through it if there are simply no new angle to explore anymore?

I try to read everything in a particular thread, but if I get bored after about four pages, I'll start skimming. I guess it's usually due to me having a somewhat short attention span and things easily bore me. Chances are if the title is catchy and the first post is a winner, I'll read the whole thing from beginning to end.

Yeah, I'm a reader. I tend to stick to the fantasy genre. Wheel of Time, Anything Forgotten Realms, Dragon Lace, Sword of Truth... I've read the Lord of the Rings books, and the followups, (Hobbit, Silmarillion, etc..) Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia... At least an hour or two before I go to sleep. I don't do it cause I have to, I just love reading.


Edit: Oh shit, I didnt know this was about long threads >_> and readin that.. gj me :doh:

Guess that gives you my answer then

If I think the topic is interesting, I usually read most of the debate. I'm not much of a debater, but I like to read what other people think, and if I agree with it or not. Sometimes, sure, I'll just read the small posts, since I obviously can't waste all my time in front of the computer screen.

I don't like reading long sets of text on a computer screen. Something about it bothers me. If I had an LCD or tablet screen, I might be more inclined to read the long post in its entirety.

While a thread is still less than 5 pages, I'll skim over everything, and stopping to read the writings of some of the more established intelligent GFF members here. Any longer, and I'll skim the first page, and then read posts a few before the one I'm responding to in order to get a better idea of recent discussions. Straightforward enough.. but usually what happens is I read and end up not replying.

Usually, I skim the longer threads, but when one line catches my eye, I read the whole post. It is true, though, that after reading a thread for about fifteen minutes, I usually don't post in that thread. I'm not exactly sure why; I make long posts in threads that have one or two sentence posts, so why can't I post at all in a thread that has mostly long posts?

On the other hand, I can't post in a thread if I don't feel as if I "know" the thread. Sometimes I like to sit down with a thread, have a drink, and ask it personal questions. Most of the time, though, a skimming, albeit a thorough skimming, is sufficient to understand the thread's content, and reply as intelligently as possible.

SCOFFLAWS!!! THE LOT OF YOU; SKIMMING THESE MASTERFUL POSTS!


Don't ask me what a scofflaw is... I don't know

I used to be on these forums quite a bit, but never posted much. I would always read over interesting topics for about a half hour. I wouldn't find much of a reason to post because almost everytime there was a post I found interesting, someone replied with pretty much with what I was thinking and would say it much better than I could.

Generally, I read as many posts as possible. However, in threads that are like 10+ pages long, I don't read every single post. In my opinion, it's enough the read the first post and the last couple of posts to be informed about what the thread's about.

NEXT THREAD PLEASE

(Yeah I didn't even read this thread. Usually I scroll for pictures, or at least italics, bold-type, and bastardized use of capitals.)

Hahaha usually I skim through threads until there is one that I can respond to without sounding like an idiot XD

I love to read. I read the first four Harry Potter books when I was in second grade. I'm currently reading the Charlie Bone series.

So, in other words, your answer to the original poster's question would, in fact, be a resounding no.

Depending on the length of the first post, i'll just skim. If it's really long i'll pribably just go onto another topic though because i'm too lazy to read through a massive post that i may or may not be interested in. If i am interested however, in a slightly shorter post, i will then skim through the rest of the topic and make a response after reading that

Often I tend to skim long threads, but if I do then I won't usually reply. If it seems interesting I'll go back and read it properly some other time and then maybe contribute a post. If a thread is more than about 3 pages long though I probably won't read it at all unless I've been following it since it started; I don't want too much to read at once.

If it's a really long post I'll just read the important parts.

I just read a few sentences of each post, heh.

Of course if I can relate to the topic myself (hmm, for example something to do with Japan, or discussion about martial arts, computers, games, girls) then I read as much as I am bothered too.

Topics like these which dont really relate to my whole lot I just read a bit of each (or some) posts... and that as they say is that. Or maybe not, who knows?

(That line in italics is actually a quote from a video game, someone guess correct and you'll get an e-Cookie)

I give every thread the benefit of the doubt, but the more I stay here, the more I cynical I become, and this in turn results in excellent extrapolation of spam.
If a person's first post in the thread is offtopic, unfunny or boorish, I'll start skipping their posts and the subsequent replies they recieve.

I've voted yes, but I've yet to see a thread 100% on topic.

I use to read every post I saw, until I noticed that people were just saying the same things over and over and over. At this point, there are really only a handful of people here that I respect and listen to.

Normally I'll sit down and read the whole thing, unless the thread itself is massive or the subject just doesn't interest me in the least. If the thread's huge (around five pages), I start skimming for the main points of everything unless I kept up with the thread from the beginning. Then that's a bit of a different story.

I read, but not cause I have nothing better to do! I only read what I am interested in though (i.e. courses im taking, greek mythology, ENDERS GAME!)

No way, I only read the really long things if the topic REALLY interests me. Other than that I'll just skip it or maybe skim through it.

I dislike reading long posts. There can only be so many topics about homosexuality and creationism, and most people who write extremely long posts are not organized enough to consolidate their thoughts into a succinct summary. They usually end up saying the same thing thirty different ways.

Usually, the insight brought up on those topics aren't anything particularly innovative, and if they are, the next twenty people quote and attack them. Those are fun to read.

I skim and when I find something interesting, I tend to go back and read the whole post from the beginning.

Depending on whether it strikes my interest or not determines whether I will not only respond, or even read it in the first place. I usually am at least half interested to read some of it.

Yes, I tend to read long posts if they're formatted and written coherently.

On the other hand, I personally like to keep my posts short and to the point. Like this one.

If the topic seems interesting, I only read the first few posts from each person debating. After that, it tends to get repetitive and tedious.

I like my posts like my milk. Skim.

I usually try to read every post in a thread if I haven't read it before. I only skip posts that write a few hundred words without pressing the 'enter' key, since that's really just a pain.

Usually what will happen is that I'll see an interesting post on the most recent page that makes we want to read the rest of the thread to find out what happened to lead up to that post. And sometimes it's worth it to read insanely long posts, like Seris' long bitchy post last year, which was pretty amusing. And reading up to the post, the person who it was aimed at didn't really even deserve it. :p

Heh. Heh. Heh.

I try and read every post in a thread, but sometimes it gets difficult. Really difficult. See, I have this problem where I can't read and comprehend well unless something is written in proper English. I have trouble comprehending the underlying point. Unfortunately, due to this, I have to skip over a lot of posts sometimes - or I misunderstand them and respond poorly.

But yea, sometimes, GFFers have interesting things to say. I try and read everything carefully. But when it comes to philosophical debates and/or any other general opinion, I tend to not read entire essays unless I'm actually engaged in the debate myself.

I read...everything
if its massive..i think its well worth my time

I read every post unless it' gotten to the point that a particular person has said the exact same thing 4 or more times in a row and then I just start skimming their posts if they're more than 5 paragraphs long.