Mylot...Reading is a requirement!
By relundad
@relundad (2310)
United States
July 20, 2008 5:06pm CST
I really enjoy discussions here and mostly get good feedback from people with a genuine interest in putting their two cents in.
But sometimes when I have started a discussion or reading some responses from other discussions, I often ask myself what are they talking about? Based on the answers or responses that some people give, I wonder what discussion they THOUGHT they were responding to because it sure as hell hisn't this one!
Do people not know that you have to read more than the subject line? Do they not know that you can't really participate in the discussion if you don't know the authors point of view or question?
Those of use that use this forum for the purpose that it was created, need intelligent answers to the questions that we ask or the discussions that we start. Not just some mumbojumbo that doesn't relate so that you make your quota!
Hopefully if you have made it to this point of my post then you understand the question...Did you know that you have read the discussion in order to effectively respond?
11 people like this
27 responses
@beccasthoughts (303)
• United States
20 Jul 08
Yes, I know that I have to read the discussion in order to respond. I read all of the discussions I reply to because 1) it is polite to do and 2) gives me an idea of what the author is asking and/or feeling. To not to take the time to read but reply can only considered foolish.
I have seen posts in discussions that were so far in left field that I just had to stop and reread the respond. I can understand if someone read and misunderstood the topic, but to see posts with links to whatever site they are promoting? To me, that is not only spam but completely unfair to those of us who take the time to answer in a honest, intellectual manner.
4 people like this
@kerriannc (4279)
• Jamaica
20 Jul 08
In the MYLOT don'ts it say one should not read the responses before placing yours. Yes it is true that person will differs but one should understand that some person attention span is small and because of this they will differs. You the discussions writers should not be insulting and disrespectful. If someone write in your discussions and it is differs all you can do is to move on. You should also remember there is a panel that says BEST RESPONSES.
Please be considerate to those who take time out to read and respond to your discussions remember that it is not everyone who is fluent in the English Language and this is a must here in MYLOT. So the little knowledge that they have will maybe mumbo jumbo to you because you is fluent but still be appreciative towards the effort.
Kerry
3 people like this
@latoyahall (835)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Very true! When I am in a discussion about trading referrals or online opportunities, I always ask the person to pm me so I can send them a link. This is a very good site for all kinds of networking, but we all have to do it the right way.
Sometimes, I will read a discussions and see that some of the tags are way off subject too!
@jerzgirl (9233)
• United States
20 Jul 08
I know what you mean - I posted a discussion titled "there is a lurker among us". Granted, it turned out to be far less nefarious a situation than it originally looked, but one person apparently only really paid attention to the title (which is how we get people to open our discussions to read them, right?) and went theological on me telling me about the "lurker" we need to guard ourselves against, etc. I just sat there a bit stunned because there was NOTHING in my discussion related to religion or Satan or anything. But, that was the only thing this person was focused on. Either all they read was the title or they have extreme tunnel vision and can only relate to theological topics (which can be done, but confuses the bejeebers out of most people!) I told them I understood what they meant, but I was referring to something entirely different - so they came back with a more detailed theological response. I gave up at that point.
3 people like this
@CharRay7 (1549)
• United States
20 Jul 08
Hi my friend 
I totally understand that a person needs to read the discussion in full before responding. I get some weird respones to some of the discussions I start that I don't understand. You can definately tell they didn't read the post in the first place.
Have a good evening,
Char
I totally understand that a person needs to read the discussion in full before responding. I get some weird respones to some of the discussions I start that I don't understand. You can definately tell they didn't read the post in the first place.
Have a good evening,
Char
2 people like this
@lihuijuan (1)
• China
21 Jul 08
I can't agree with you!I think people should look at other poeple's post seriously before they responsing.Just so ,they can learn a lot from others.Thanks your words very much ,your words makes my attitudes toward mylot more steable and more confident.Thank you!
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
21 Jul 08
i have had a few discussions of mine where i would get oddball answers that either dont match my discussion or they will be basing off an example i put out there to better explain my discussion which doesnt have anything to do with my actual discussion but thought it would help my point and they argue that and not what i posted about.. i figure we all human and we all have prob done it and i wont hold it against the person UNLESS they do it over and over in all of my discussions (this has happened with one person).. that irritates me!
3 people like this
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
20 Jul 08
It does help to read the whole discussion before answering
Sometimes though, in the comments to comments to comments, the discussion changes for whatever reason, but even that can be good.
Those that post just to make their quota are rather silly, especially when they haven't read the original topic.
Sometimes though, in the comments to comments to comments, the discussion changes for whatever reason, but even that can be good.
Those that post just to make their quota are rather silly, especially when they haven't read the original topic.3 people like this
@mscott (1923)
• United States
20 Jul 08
I really enjoy carrots myself. Nah, just messing with you.
I think a good number of people are just trying to rack up their post count so they just respond where then think they can. I understand this but you are right, they should at least be able to stay on topic. 
I think a good number of people are just trying to rack up their post count so they just respond where then think they can. I understand this but you are right, they should at least be able to stay on topic. 
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Sometimes, I just scale through it or glance at it. I admit that I should read the discussions more carefully before I answer anything.
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
21 Jul 08
A person should read more than the title on a discussion. The title just calls attention to the discussion. How in the world can you answer a discussion if you don't know what it is about. I always read the entire discussion before I respond. That is the only way to give a intelligent answer.
2 people like this
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
21 Jul 08
our earnings depend on our comment being shared to any discussions posted by different mylotters. i always read the discussions before i post my comment so that i will eliminate the idea that are far from the thoughts of the post. if your post or comments is not related to the discussions you earn less and sometimes you earn nothing.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
21 Jul 08
relundad hi yes I have had this happen to me, I would read
a response, and scratch myhead, what the heck is he or she talking about, for example one of my discussions was on being home alone and hearing strange noises , does it upset you?
but the response was something about ghosts and apparitions and had nothing to do with the discussion so he had not read my discussion only the title which was things that go bump in the'
night, now that would only have been misleading had he not read the discussion as my question was not about ghosts or such stuff but simply the strange creaks and groans around any house at night when you are alone, not about ghosts at all. I told the responder to go back and read my discussion again.
2 people like this
@paid2write (5201)
•
21 Jul 08
I spend as much time reading as I do responding.
MyLot pays for participation and for quality.
off-topic responses can be given a negative rating. That's what the [-] rate is for. 
Generally someone who does not read and write about the topic of discussion will not do well at myLot. They will not make friends or get a good star rating. They won't get many responses to their own discussions and will probably make very little money from their posts. 
Generally someone who does not read and write about the topic of discussion will not do well at myLot. They will not make friends or get a good star rating. They won't get many responses to their own discussions and will probably make very little money from their posts. 1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 Jul 08
Well the person who did not read is the loser and not any one else. I have also come across people like that whose replies are out of context and my only reaction is "what is this person talking about, is he responding to me?" Well, better not respond to out-of context reaction to make the person feel what he wrote was not appreciated.
1 person likes this
@successlog (3172)
• China
21 Jul 08
hello friend,yes, i understand your meaning.some people don't read or understand one discussion but to respond will result in a trick indeed.I think maybe they only want to make some money with response or maybe they don't want to read a long discussions to waste their time.lol.I hope all mylotters can be responsible to other people.thus, we will make our community better and better
@patgalca (18181)
• Orangeville, Ontario
21 Jul 08
When I first started here on myLot there were a lot of responses that had nothing to do with the discussion. They were usually responses promoting their own business or website. These always got deleted as it is against myLot guidelines (which says READ THE DISCUSSIONS) and soon they realized that they weren't going to get anywhere that way and those types of responses stopped. Occasionally the odd one still pops up. I saw one the other day where someone was asking about writing. A person jumped in and offered their "services" giving a link to their website. It was considered spam and I assume it got deleted.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Yes, I did know that!
And often I take time to read as many responses
from the original discussion as possible just in
case my initial thoughts on the discussion are fuzzy.
And that's in addition to the original discussion.
Sometimes, I find that the real discussion is not so
interesting after reading all the follow up responses.
Sometimes it's more interesting!
Other times, after I've read a discussion and find no way
to respond, I find that it's more interesting to respond
to one of the people who commented on the post.
Just depends on the mood I'm in.
But, yes, I do always read the entire post.
And I appreciate when others return the favor for my discussions!
I hate ignorant assumptions and the people who make them!
Thanks for the lovely topic!
Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@dizzblnd (3073)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Yes I do know that in order to respond (semi)intelligently to ANY discussion you should read the entire discussion. It drive me crazy as well when I get a one word "answer" that doesn't completely answer the question. I read others' responses as well, so when someone doesn't answer that discussion entirely, I won't accept a friend request if they ask.
Discussions here are much like face to face discussions.. one doesn't cut of someone else to give an answer without first hearing the full side to the speakers point of view. If they do cut someone off.. that is just plain rude.
Now, there ARE times when I have read the whole discussion but will get so carried away to my response.. I sometimes forget it was a 2 or 3 part question.. in which case I usually go back to it and answer the rest of it
@skbh12 (2946)
• Philippines
21 Jul 08
yes i have read and understood what you are trying to tell us mylotters. well as for me i do read first what the writer is talking about whether it may be a problem needing help or questions asking for some clarifications because in my part it would be embarassing if i give out answers here that is not related to the topic that has been posted. another thing, it is not only i who reads someone elses discussions but all over the world.
reading is indeed a requirement for us to be able to help otheres who needed one or share our own thoughts and opinions to a certain discussion.
@RhythmWalker1 (825)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Your title "respond to this discussion" is very important in this issue
we are discussing. Can we all, always catch the authors point of view or
will we? Discussion boards are usually about the reader relating their
experience to what the author has said, or often are. If it's just a question and answer thing, it becomes a problem for me and I admit that. For some
reason I hate to give a direct answer to any question.
And so, I responded to your title with my jumbled up answer.
Yes, I "see what you are saying"
Do you see what I just did? insert example
@shintongs23 (537)
• Philippines
21 Jul 08
I totally agree with you, relundad! 
A respondent should first read the primary post and have it's message fully grasped before posting a response. And if I feel that I have something to share, if not help, about the topic, then that is the time that I post my response. The discussions here in myLot are for exchanging views or oipinions about a main topic, not exchanging different topics. Happy posting!
A respondent should first read the primary post and have it's message fully grasped before posting a response. And if I feel that I have something to share, if not help, about the topic, then that is the time that I post my response. The discussions here in myLot are for exchanging views or oipinions about a main topic, not exchanging different topics. Happy posting! 