Should you read an entire thread before responding?

[Spc. Scott]

I voted yes as well for the same reasons that have been stated.
The only exception to this is a greetings thread I think.

As far as how it makes me feel...
Well I don't get upset by a poster not reading a whole thread. Generally if a thread has been active for a fair bit it is pretty easy to spot when someone hasn't read the whole thread like Monkey@Arms said.
I guess being active on a few different forums I'm pretty desensitized to it.

[davedove]

1. You may say something that someone has already said.
2. It's respectful to not only the thread starter but to everyone that has contributed to the thread.
3. Threads has a huge tendency to dramatically change as time goes on, and the thread may have started one topic, but have grown into an entirely different genre. If you only read the first post, your comment may have nothing to do with what the thread is about anymore.

Posting in those circumstances may give readers the unfortunate impression that the poster is more interested in voicing their own opinion, then in considering the view of others, or engaging in a dialogue.

Jake

I have to pretty much agree with both Ayin's and Jake's thoughts here. Often, when I am reading a thread, there is a comment I want to make, only to not post it because someone has said the same thing later in the thread.

Now, you don't necessarily have to read every word, but you should at least skim through to make sure your response is still valid.

[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.

[Colin]

Posting in those circumstances may give readers the unfortunate impression that the poster is more interested in voicing their own opinion, then in considering the view of others, or engaging in a dialogue. JMHO.

Best regards,

Jake

That's a good rule. It's always nice to listen to what someone is saying rather than blocking them out by thinking of your response and missing half of their comment.

It's also nice to feel like someone has really been listening rather than thinking of what they want to say and missing the point.

Man, do I sound married.........

[Ayin McFye]

Man, do I sound married.........

Like I said... Old Timer

J/K, you're only 2 years older than me.

[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.

[Nighthawk]

I somehow get the feeling that I in some way contributed to this thread being created. That being said I have read this entire thread before responding.

Me too!! I know I am fairly often guilty of not reading all the way through, posting, and then reading, and being forced to go back and edit the heck out of my initial post in order to avoid looking like a moron.

[Arlen]

As has been said various times in this thread, it's respectful and sensible to read the whole thing.
Lord knows I've revived old posts because I didn't notice the date on them .
It's just good manners and I like to think that we here on Xmarks are pretty good at being mannerly!

[Navyguy]

I usualy only reply if I have something new to say after reading most of the post. That is probably why I am not a top poster. I read a lot of post and reply little. Just like real life, I am a man of few words.