Does anyone actually read other people's posts?

So, let's be honest, when you are responding to a thread, do you just read the first one and then respond, do you skim them all, or do you actually read what other people are saying?

I know most of the time people read each other's responses, or at least it seems like it, but then occasionally three people in a row say the exact same thing, or people respond with something that doesn't make sense if you've actually read the previous posts, or the topic has totally moved on and someone goes back to the original one out of nowhere.

I'm sure I'm guilty of it too sometimes, I just thought I would survey you all and see what gives, or if anyone else had noticed this. Or is everyone on each other's ignore lists and we're all just talking into space ?

Is there a pattern to when this happens that you've noticed, like the beginning/ending of pages, etc?

Just wonderin

YES!! I've noticed this a lot too and I find it a little annoying. I take the time to read the other posts because that's the point of the thread - the conversation turns and moves on from the original post.

It depends...the Radio questions I usually don't read all the posts I just skim through..... I try to read all of the posts if at all possible

It's making me particularly weird today because at least three times someone has posted exactly what I said, like there is no way they could have even skimmed it. It just makes me feel like there's no point in saying anything if nobody's going to read it and someone else will just repeat the same thing. Maybe it's hormonal that it's bothering me, or just the coincidence of so many times in one day. Hmmmmm....

I know not everyone reads the games or trivia ones all the way through, that would be impossible, I'm talking about regular posts.

Sometimes people are posting at approximately the same time, in response to a particular post, and thus their reactions may be very similar. I sometimes start to post, get distracted, come back a half hour later to complete the post, and find that others have posted in the meantime, and I've missed their responses.
I suspect that there are members who don't read anything but the original post, though.

I understand what your saying...but if I have ever duplicated what someone has said...its b/c at work sometimes I read the first post and try to read all of them, but I can't have the window up the whole time. I work in between reading posts. I am sorry if I have been one of these people Maybe it's just that us "Cat" people are a like

I try and read everyone's responses.

Originally Posted by Alaynna

It depends...the Radio questions I usually don't read all the posts I just skim through..... I try to read all of the posts if at all possible

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I don't usually read all the posts in threads like that, but in others, I usually try to read every post.

To be honest, no I don't read what everyone else writes on the forums. When I want to respond to something directly, I will quote it, as to not offend anyone else.

Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

Or is everyone on each other's ignore lists and we're all just talking into space

?

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Hah hah, I'm guilty of it sometimes (like right now!) for lots of reasons - in this case, it is because I wanted to a) answer the specific questions asked by you in the OP and b) I wanted to tell you how funny the above line is (and that I was wondering something similar myself earlier today!)

Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

Is there a pattern to when this happens that you've noticed, like the beginning/ending of pages, etc?

Just wonderin

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I've noticed that people do tend to / seem to be more likely to only read the beginning or end.

If a thread is old and long but has been reserrected, I usually read the OP to understand the situation, then read the last 40 or so posts to get an idea of the updates and others advice/thoughts before attempting to respond.

If a thread is under 80 posts (two pages or less for me) I will usually read the whole thing. (Not always, especialy if it seems urgent or I am feeling rushed). I do post as I read though, rather than wait til the very end to post, as I will usually respond to a particular idea or post, so it's not unusual for me to have three posts in a row to different people.

Sometimes I feel like people don't read each others' posts generally, and sometimes I feel like nobody has read mine This only bothers me if I think I have been particularly witty or insightful though, and nobody seems to have noticed (ego, I know )

It depends on how long the thread is. If the thread is long I don't always have time to read all posts (I'll read the first few and the last page), but if I see something that I think I can help with or want to comment on I'll do so - I don't always check to see if anyone else has said the same thing. Besides, if something is said more than once it just adds weight to that point! Also, if I'm at work I'm viewing on a minimised screen and trying not to let anyone else see that I'm on here and not working! That sometimes makes it difficult to read every sentence of every post.

Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

It's making me particularly weird today because at least three times someone has posted exactly what I said, like there is no way they could have even skimmed it. It just makes me feel like there's no point in saying anything if nobody's going to read it and someone else will just repeat the same thing. Maybe it's hormonal that it's bothering me, or just the coincidence of so many times in one day. Hmmmmm....

I know not everyone reads the games or trivia ones all the way through, that would be impossible, I'm talking about regular posts.

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In health or behaviour I would post anyway, even if my post is virtually identical to posts made by others, because I imagine that it is easier to (for example) make up your mind to go to the vet if 10 people say that you should rather than if 1 person does - strenght in numbers and all that. That doesn't mean I haven't read them - in fact I usually have.

I think others probably feel the same way about reinforcing certain types of advice - to show the unsure for example that a particular piece of advice is the best one or most mainstream rather than the voice of one lone crazy cat person.

Originally Posted by urbantigers

Also, if I'm at work I'm viewing on a minimised screen and trying not to let anyone else see that I'm on here and not working! That sometimes makes it difficult to read every sentence of every post.

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I have mine in the bottom left corner and its a very small window...just in case someone walks by!

Originally Posted by lookingglass

When I want to respond to something directly, I will quote it, as to not offend anyone else.

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I quote a lot (possibly more than most members). However, I think that this makes everything so much clearer if you responding to a particular post or idea in a post.

Originally Posted by Alaynna

I have mine in the bottom left corner and its a very small window...just in case someone walks by!

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It doesn't help that I have the water cooler right behind me so people are walking behind me all the time!

I read every post before replying. It bothers me when the OP says something to the effect that their neutered male cat has been spraying and several posts later someone asks if the cat is neutered. Duh - didn't the OP just say that!

I also don't post just for the sake of posting. If I don't have anything positive or different to suggest, then I don't post and that would be difficult to decide if I hadn't read the other posts.

If, as someone above said, the message is extremely important to get the kitty to the vet, then I will reiterate what others have said as I too believe in reinforcing something that important and numbers count in that case even if the message is the same.

I also have noticed that by the time I've typed a reply and submitted it, that 2 or sometimes more folks have posted in the meantime.

Generally I read the original post...if it's here in the lounge and some one is having situational problems but if it's like the radio question of the day or something like that same deal...first page and then respond.

Now if it's an ongoing thread...I read the newest post if I've already read the beginning unless there is something said and it's on a different page then I go back...does that make sense?

Originally Posted by Yosemite

It bothers me when the OP says something to the effect that their neutered male cat has been spraying and several posts later someone asks if the cat is neutered.

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It is sometimes easy to miss details like that (or just forget them if there are a lot of posts and the point was made in the first one), especially if you're looking at the screen between a pair of kitty ears, as I often am!

I do try to read everyones...or at least skim them. But yea, I'll say something then 3 posts later someone will say the exact same thing...and they get quoted!!!

I almost always read all of the posts, but maybe that's partly because I'm a mod and have to.

I will agree with you, especially in IMO. Sometimes it seems like people are in such a hurry to get their opinion out that they don't read the other posts. It doesn't always happen, but it does happen.