I Don't Understand This! - On Reading Comprehension And When To Say Nothing
By misskatonic
@misskatonic (3723)
United States
January 23, 2007 12:41pm CST
What, did you think I was going to go a whole day without a complaint of some sort? You know me better than that.
My pet peeve of the day: responses that say nothing more than 'I don't understand what you said' or 'I have nothing to say about this'. Those are both very valid expressions, I certainly don't contest that there are indeed people who do not understand my discussions. I use large words. I use a plethora of literary devices.I make jokes and obscure pop culture references. I write to my own standards, that is to say, I don't dumb anything down.
And it's quite alright if you don't have the faintest clue what I'm spewing forth from my keyboard. But here's the thing - taking the time to tell me, in one sentence or less, that you don't have anything to say about the discussion at hand? Not a very bright idea. It wastes our time. Yours in replying, mine in taking the time to read. It gets you a negative rating. You don't *really* want a negative rating, do you? Of course not, no one does.
The solution? So simple even a caveman could manage! Or have I just infringed copyright and angered our neanderthal friends here at Mylot? ;) But the solution! Read carefully. I'm going to use small words.
If you don't have anything worthwhile to say, don't say anything. Pass by that discussion for one you're well versed in! Go find something you do understand and reply to that.
So easy a...
Oh wait, I already went there. ;)
19 people like this
31 responses
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Hmmm, I don't know what to say about this.
Just kidding. This is possibly one of my biggest MyLot pet peeves. Many similar lines that will say, "I'm not __________ (fill in the blank) so I don't know." Then why in the world are you saying anything at all?
I think people who do this are just trying to boost their ranking and they don't understand that they're actually getting negative ratings and won't be paid for their responses.
Oh, another one that I've seen a lot lately is someone answering like this, "jfaljfeoijriru". And that's it. You might as well write, "Please delete my account."
2 people like this
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Ha! Don't worry, I got a kick out of that. :D
I just don't understand how so many people can seem to have no idea what they're doing around here. Ah well. They reply and lose points and I gain them. But still, it's irritating.
Ah, keyboard mashing...
2 people like this
@shmeedia (1044)
• Canada
24 Jan 07
lol....i have even seen the following scenario:
topic at hand clearly states GIRLS, i want to know what you think about (fill in the blank), so PLEASE only respond if you are a GIRL
the first 5 respondants write something to the effect of 'i am a man, so i don't know about (fill in the blank)'
what the...!?
all we can hope for is that these people, as well as the asdjhgdfj-effers will eventually be removed.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Oh I know I hate reading those posts. Especially the ones that say things like, "yeah...maybe" or "I don't know". The worst is "I have no opinion" then why bloody post? Just keep going on and leave us alone. If you have an opinion then post it and put what it is not just a one or two word agreement. If you don't understand it then state what part you don't understand. Ask some good questions back but don't just say "I don't understand." Well what part don't you? If you didn't understand any of it then move on to some other post and leave this one to ones who do.
Ok I feel better now after my rant. I hope you do as well misskatonic
2 people like this
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
24 Jan 07
You know I always enjoy it when you vent! :D
That's it exactly. I don't mind if people don't understand, but rather than just post 'I don't understand', they can ask for clarification. Which I'm more than happy to do.
2 people like this
@mom2chriskel (1060)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Oh I hear ya! There are so many people that say I don't know or I don't understand. One of my favorites is when they simply type yes. Most of the time when they type yes it isn't even a yes or no question.
I don't feel I have to type to every discussion and these I don't know responses are getting negatives from me.
2 people like this
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Oh, the 'yes' responses! I must agree that those get under my skin as well.
2 people like this
@wesderby (178)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Too true...I admit, I become discouraged when it comes to reading large discussions with lots of replies, because it seems so many of them are 1-liners like "I don't know", or "I Don't Get it", or "Good Post"...Unlike a sighted person who can skim the screen quickly with their eyes, as a blind person using a screenreader, I have to read line-by-line; skimming's not really an option, and the 1-liners and pointless posts are a waste of my time.
(Okay, I'll get off the soapbox now...)
It does make me think that there should be a function where the original topic starter can delete those types of comments and replies from his/her discussion. However, I suppose that could get dnagerous with people simply using that power to delete posts that aren't in line with their own views.
1 person likes this
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I can only begin to imagine what a hassle this website must be for you! With all the mangled English and inane replies taking up space.... I applaud you for not getting discouraged!
Yeah, that's the reason I'm against a deleting comments section. Too easy for those who are petty and spiteful to just delete anything that isn't a complete praise.
3 people like this
@wesderby (178)
• United States
24 Jan 07
Thanks. It's a LOT easier than some sites to navigate though...I admit though, I'm thankful I have the braille display here at work so that when JAWS really says smething off the wall, I can look at it in braille, and sometimes figure out what the person was trying to say...But yeah, some of the gramar and spelling on this site are so bad, I'm amazed when sighted OR blind users can decipher it. :-)
@slanderson52 (542)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I havent' been here very long and I am already seeing so much of this. For instance, I started a discussion the other day about do you remember your first day at shcool. You will not believe how many responding by saying "No I don't remember....duhhh. Don't respond!!!! Hope this will help some of them out, but they will probably just respond with "I don't understand?"
2 people like this
@arlene_27 (231)
• Philippines
24 Jan 07
Have read a lot of threads that validate your rant here. Some people want to be seen, and they do the one thing they know how to do: post. What they do not know is 1. it can be annoying, 2. they present themselves as silly, and 3. they waste a lot of time (as you have mentioned). Maybe we need an indicator in our topic titles. A message in parentheses, saying, "Stay away if you do not understand or have nothing to say other than "I have nothing to say" and "I don't understand."
@sunrisekn (1466)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I love your discussions. I think I already said that some time back. I do have one question though.....what does plethora mean? lol Just kidding, keep 'em coming, complaints and all I just love them.
1 person likes this
@floramwaters (1595)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I will amite(sp) that I have once or twice stated that "I did no understand", but I add more like "what was the question" or I don't understand what ________ is. I have never said I have nothen to say. Like you said what is the point of even of repling it is a waste of the discussion starters and ever one else that would add to the discussion.
1 person likes this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
24 Jan 07
How 'bout when someone just posts something like "here" or "la" or "......."? I saw the last one in one of my friend's post. They don't even bother to make a complete sentence!
1 person likes this
@greengal (4286)
• United States
24 Jan 07
Hehe..well said. Such responses frustrate me to no end too. It simply doesn't make sense to let us know what we wrote wasn't understood. I sure hope a lot many read this...we sure can do without such one sentence responses. There are so many discussions I don't understand myself, one, because the English is so bad and two, it simply isn't a discussion!! I just ignore them and go on to find some interesting discussions like yours:)
1 person likes this
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I have found that oftentimes it's our foreign members who tend to misunderstand the original discussion. I started one discussion about maternity leave and how soon did one have to return to work--suddenly it became a small spate of people telling me to go back to work WHICH IT SAID IN THE DISCUSSION!!! I swear, if you don't understand the initial discussion, then you shouldn't respond! I agree with you and you posted some excellent points. It's frustrating--I can understand our regional differences (soda vs. pop comes to mind here), but once we start on the culture differences, we're being forced to wade through pages of inane discussions that mean NOTHING!
@Mecboy (1050)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I feel bad, when some guy from scotland said,
"OMFGZO HACZK0R HacFZk0R OMGZO DUDE WTFZO GTOSH".
That i would say, that is not scottish, from What I see is that is just weird words in E.T Alien Langugage, I don't think that
is on earth whatsoever. Dear God In Heaven.
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
24 Jan 07
I share your annoyance. I can't stand when people reply just to say "I have nothing to say." Why in the world would you do that?
I don't like "I don't understand" replies unless they're asking for clarification of a specific thing. If someone asks me for the definition of a word I used, then I don't mind giving it. Though, of course, they could use a dictionary, unless it's just a "slang" thing. Come to think of it, though, I don't use all that much slang.
It's also annoying when people reply just to say they don't like my topic. If you don't like the topic, don't bother with it. If you disagree with me, at least explain why or expound on your feelings rather than just saying "I don't like this".
1 person likes this
@jokerinthepack (116)
• Sweden
24 Jan 07
I agree! Replying with a "I have nothing to say about this." is the same as not replying at all, so what's the point in replying? Oh yes, I forgot, it will give them one extra count in the post amount. But it won't make any difference in the earnings if a negative rating was done. So, basically, I just rambled about the same things you just had summed up. How clever of me. Apologies. But! My point is, I agree and I appreciate this topic.
1 person likes this
@smuggeridge (2148)
•
23 Jan 07
You have a point, but have you thought that the person stating that they do not understand are simply asking for further information or explanation as they wish to contribute to the discussion but English is not their first language so it can be difficult. I do however agree with the writing of "I have nothing to say", what do i care if you have nothing to say? oh well Cest la Vie! what can we do but to ignore, enjoy your day sorry to waste your time on this as i don't really have anything to say on this matter
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
24 Jan 07
The thing is, I don't mind if someone needs clarification. Posting something like 'I don't get this, what did you mean by [insert point/word/sentence here]' I don't care and offer an explanation. But if they just slap up three words, I get irritated.
1 person likes this
@forfein (2507)
•
24 Jan 07
Hi
I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the Neanderthal Man !!!!
Because that is what they are when they have the usual....
QUOTE
"I dont know what you are talking about"
"I have nothing to say on this subject"
UNQUOTE
Hey Guys.........................
Then sod off !!!!
But.............
You know, and I know, the reason why they do it!!!
It is so that they get a couple of lines into each post, and this way they think they are being extrememly clever, and that the mylot.com team are gonna give them a few cents for typing exactly NOTHING!!
Well, as you and I both know, it dont work that way!!!
They will find this out too sooner or later.
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
24 Jan 07
Thank you for the chuckle. Sometimes we need a good laugh. We all get the "I don't knows" and the "I agrees". When money is involved the smell of it warps their senses and their ability to answer in an intelligent manner.
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
24 Jan 07
You're more than welcome, and I live to entertain! :D
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
24 Jan 07
You totally rock! I don't think anyone has said it better then that and that's including myself. If i don't have a thought about a topic i keep it moving on to one that i can post to. and those who answer my post with stupid response get a big fat -. I say keep using your a plethora of words keep the folks with nothing worth while out of post they don't understand
@maru_047in (1007)
• India
24 Jan 07
ya you are right if the discussion doesnot depends on your interest or if the discussion does not relate then their is not point in discussing any things they need to leave that if they does that also then they ll b negetive marked so that they are the loosers and v are not they need to realize that.
@moonmage (148)
• United States
24 Jan 07
If nothing else, opinions are like... well, I'm sure you know the saying, everyone's got an opinion even if they aren't particularly well-versed in a subject. Seriously, though. There are topic areas for every hobby or life interest imaginable, why wouldn't someone be able to find something they can reply to with some intelligence? Oh, nevermind, I forgot what sort of people you were discussing. I had a milelong list of pet peeves before I joined mylot and now I'm discovering new ones. Yay! I can write about this stuff in my stress journal for psychology.
