Here's my major problem with (some) DUers.

[Cyrano]

IMO, there are too many DUer's who read only headlines (and perhaps too quickly scan the post) before replying.

It's happened to me and I'm sure it's happened to you.

Although I occassionally respond to postings that are obvious non-sequitors, I most often ignore them.

So here's a request and a plea. Please read an entire post before responding. And even then, take a moment and reply with thoughtfulness rather than your initial impression of what you believe you had just read.

This is not meant to put anyone down. Rather it is nothing more than a suggestion of how to make DU a more interesting site for the exchange of intelligent ideas. And when we disagree, please let's do so with respect.

[Skinner]

1. I am guilty of this sometimes.

Your advice is good.

But, I think there is some responsibility on the part of the headline-writer as well. If your headline is not an accurate reflection of the content of your post, there will be misunderstandings. Some headlines are so incredibly dumb that it seems like a waste of time to read the entire contents of the post.

Not saying it's right. But it happens.

[Subdivisions]

2. There's so much to read that I myself am guilty of

responding out of context, but luckily not often. And, I agree Skinner, headlines can be misleading or out-of-context with the body of the post or the final point of the poster.

I have taken to refraining from posting at all if I haven't already read the post. Safer that way.

[Cyrano]

3. Yep. I've written some headlines over which I still lose sleep.

[orleans]

5. some might be incredibly dumb--but at least we're not *this* stupid:

DRAVECKY TO LOSE ARM THE BULLS PULL IT OFF
http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/91q3/bulloff.html

Al Queda Interested In Ferries
Apartment Owners Whipping Boys
Arson Suspect Is Held In Massachusetts Fire
Enfield Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
Man Shoots Neighbor With Machete
Police Discover Crack In Australia
Police Kill Man With Tuturner
Workers Accused Of Selling Stamps To Be Burned
Youth Steals Funds For Charity
http://www.fedtrek.com/Dumb_Headlines-page-crime.html

8 U. S. Soldiers Die In Grenada: Idaho Delegation Pleased
Air Force Considers Dropping Some New Weapons
Farmer Bill Dies In House
French Offer Terrorist Reward
House Passes Gas Tax On To Senate
Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
New Law Says Clowns, Politians Must Be Treated Equaly
Safety Experts Say School Bus Passengers Should Be Belted
U.S. Approves Right To Vote For Released Texas Felons
War Dims Hope For Peace
http://www.fedtrek.com/Dumb_Headlines-page-goverment.html

2 Sisters Reunited After 18 Years At Checkout Counter
Alcohol Ads Promote Drinking
Asonomers See Colorfull Gas Clouds Bubble Out Of Uranus
Auto Killing 110 A Day, Let's Resolve To Do Better
Babies Are What The Mother Eats
Bible Church's Focus Is The Bible
Blind Woman Gets New Kidney From Dad She Hasn't Seen In Years
Buildings Sway From San Francisco To L.A.
Cause Of AIDS Found - Scientists
Chef Throws His Heart Into Helping Feed Needy
Child's Stool Great For Us In Garden
Cold Wave Linked To Temperatures
Crowds Rush To See Pope Trample Man To Death
Dealers Will Hear Car Talk At Noon
Death Causes Loneliness, Feeling Of Isolation
Dirty-Air Cities Far Deadlier Than Clean Ones, Study Shows
Don't Go Overboard On Funerals
Exploding Commode Floods Poland
Eye Drops Off Shelves
Fish Lurk In Streams
Fried Chicken In Microwave Wins Trip
Housing For Death Seniors Advances
Humans Are Joining Native Trout's Fight To Survive In Nearby Stream
Hunter Dies; Dear Count Holds Steady
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Lack Of Brains Hinders Research
Large Church Plans Collapse
Local High School Dropouts Cut In Half
Malls Try To Attrack Shoppers
Man Survived 17 Days Adrift On Flying Fish
Milk Drinkers Are Turning To Powder
Miners Refuse To Work After Death
More Dogs Bring Complaints
Neanderthals Make Big Splash In Gene Pool
Offical: Only Rain Will Cure Drought
Plane Too Close To Ground, Crash Proble Told
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge
Research Fans Hope For Spinal Injuries
Reason For More Bear Siteings: More Bears
Something Went Wrong In Jet Crash, Experts Say
Survivor Of Simese Twins Joins Parents
Teacher Strikes Idle Kids
Two Solviet Ships Collide, One Dies
Typhoon Rips Through Cementery; Hundreds Dead
Westinghouse Gives Robot Rights To Firm
http://www.fedtrek.com/Dumb_Headlines-page-misc.html

[TheMadMonk]

11. "Police Discover Crack In Australia" That would be plumbers crack.

Selly's now has a product for that. "Plumber's crack spackle" Guaranteed to fill the deepest of unsightly cracks.

And seriously, how hard is it to stop and formulate an alternative meaning to a headline if the initial reading results in a WTF moment.

I just ran through about half that list, before I got sick of it, and managed to pick out both the intended and nonsensical meanings virtually simultaneously for the whole damned lot of them.


One of the most insidious problems I find when posting pretty much anywhere, on a subject that might be/is touchy, is that given a choice between possible meanings, far too many respondents will consciously choose the one that lets them give vent to their pet prejudices.

Try to explain why a person might do something which is abhorrent and it's a sucker's bet that at least one individual (often someone you might have built up a great deal of respect for) will lay into you and accuse you of attempting to excuse the inexcusable.


Try to understand the other blokes POV. You don't have to agree with it, just try to figure out how he came to hold an opinion that gets your blood boiling. Then you will have the ammunition with which to formulate a cogent, well thought out reply that might stand a small chance of swaying his opinion your way. Certainly a better one, than you'll have pouring mindless vitriol on his head.

And if the other person really is a mindless idiot, content yourself with a cutting (but pertinent) remark and walk away. Else he drags you down to his level (of idiocy) and beats you with experience.

[MADem]

12. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ !!!!!!!!!!!!!! /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[TheDoorbellRang]

17. "Humans Are Joining Native Trout's Fight To Survive In Nearby Stream "

So * was right when he said people and fish could coexist peacefully? Good to know he got one right in eight years. :rofl:

Those are hysterically funny. Thanks for posting.

[Stand and Fight]

18. Good times.... lol n/t

[Warpy]

6. I've had to restrain myself by getting up and walking away

before I reply with "RTDP!" I haven't done that yet, but it's probably coming at some point.

(READ THE DAMNED POST!)

Sometimes I just scan a linked article and miss some germane fact, but I have to plead poor eyesight for that one.

At least I have an excuse. I do try not to overuse it.

When someone makes a boneheaded and insulting reply because they've read the topic and not the post, I just let that person announce s/he is prone to making boneheaded replies without reading the whole post.

[Skittles]

19. your advice applies to EMAIL SUBJECT LINES TOO!!!

yes INDEED!!!!!!!

[Arkansas Granny]

4. You've made a good point. I would also like to see posters

provide a link to articles or quotes that they mention.

[timtom]

7. Hear! Hear!

Especially that part about respect. Oh, and the intelligent discourse, too.

[applegrove]

8. Guilty. I didn't even read this whole post! LOL

[question everything]

9. Oh, is that why I sometimes have to ask a respondent to "please read the post?" (nt)

[Kajsa]

10. Good point, Cyrano!

this would make for better exchange of ideas and fewer misunderstands.

:thumbsup:

[Kurovski]

13. There are NO major problems with my hair!

K&R

[Lone_Star_Dem]

14. Excellent post

I try not to judge by headline and react, and yet I'm as guilty of it as anyone I'm sure.

What I wish we could do is learn to disagree agreeably. A skill that is sorely lacking these days.

[Ishoutandscream2]

15. You're right! I hate the electoral college as well

And I'm with you on the whole "dogs versus cats" debate. Give me a dog anyday!

Great post, Angry Amish. And recommended!

[treestar]

16. Trying to police DU is a hopeless cause

Such posts are part of its charm.

Really long posts amaze me, too. That the poster expects people to read the whole thing.

[EFerrari]

20. This is a great reminder.

I sure have been guilty of bad reading of good posts myself.

It goes both ways, though. Sometimes I wish we had a 1 paragraph minimum for posting so we wouldn't have those "Did you hear that?" OPs. But, that may just be my control freakishness.