Does anyone even read the replies before responding??

Haha - That is asking quite a bit Cyn. How can we expect people to read all the responses when 99% of the time people don't even read the entire original discussion topic. I highly doubt most people read past the title. At least that is my experience.

If a discussion has 80 responses then no, I won't read them all but I try to read the first 2 pages or so at least. On discussions with fewer responses, yes I take the time to read what was said. I don't want to just repeat the same ting 10 other people have said plus I want to read how the original poster has commented since they may have added new information or clarified an issue. Also, just like the case you mentioned, I want to make sure I really do know what type of discussion I'm responding to.

Cyn, I am guilty of not reading untill after I post because like right now I am answering through my email. After I post I then read, and will amend my comment accordingly. I do not always answer through email, but I lose conversations I wanted to post in if I do not sometimes. But I know exactly what you are saying here. I do think alot of mylotters just read part of the post, then respond and off they go to the next one not giving, the last one a single thought. As i said I do try and amend my post or at least acknowledge that I did not read the entire discussion before I posted.

Absolutely! The point of responding for me, is to bring something new to the table. If the first responders covered everything, I don't respond by repeating what they already posted. By reading responses to a post I also noticed that some don't answer the discussion starter's questions because they possibly didn't read the whole thing before answering.

I usually read the replies unless I'm responding from the e-mail notification, which my friend Oreo already pointed out that she does the same thing. Sometimes I don't read through every single word of every response but I try to read most of them. I've had experiences where I'm sure some responders read little more than the title or even just a word or two in the title. I read their response and I'm like - "HUH?"...lol Annie

There are times when I do read the responses. I mean if the discussion is not too long then I'll read it but if it's too long then I will just read the first two pages or less. But there are times when I just respond.

Hello Cyntrow, Great question!!! I'm heartened to learn that others do read, at least some of, the other respondent's contributions. I also appreciate the honesty of those who admit that they don't. I tend to stay out of discussions that have gobs of responses -- with only one notable exception, because that member responds to every single response! I don't know how he doesn't get bored to tears doing so, though I deeply respect his commitment! I recently posted a discussion that was corrected in the news a couple of hours after the original story aired. I posted the correction to each respondent on the first page, and the first respondent on the second page, thinking that that would suffice. Boy, was I wrong! I ended up posting the correction in all but a few of the later responses. The exceptions were where folks were nice enough to let me know that they had already read the correction. I will admit that I was surprised that so few people read the other respondent's comments. I find that there are great jewels in the rough among the plethora of varying perspective! So, I consider that input as a dessert to be savored. Well, most of the time, anyway (chuckle, chuckle). In the case of that discussion, the e-mail notification can be pretty much ruled out, as many of the respondents were not on my Friend's List. I only choose one to maybe four discussions to participate in daily. Notice that I didn't say 'respond to'? That's because I very much value discussion. Opining has it's place, though my take is that there is a much greater opportunity to learn from our fellow MyLotters if discussion is fostered. I also recognize that some folks are here to make some money. That is their goal, and I do not begrudge them. Though, my goal is, as I said, discussion. As such, I more appreciate the smaller discussions, populated by respondents who I know also share a knowledge goal. And, I consider it a very great treat when respondent's discuss among themselves. To me, that is the greatest bonus in a discussion! I guess it's a pretty safe bet that I will never post a discussion asking: "What's your favorite color?", eh?

Well cyn honey I have to say I very rarely read the other responses before responding myself as i uaually reply direct from notification. I know some people don't like that but I find it easier and also know I am giving MY answer and not just echoing other peoples ideas. I do read the responses AFTER I have added my 2 cents worth though! xxx

Most of the time I won't read the replies before responding to the discussions. As I am afraid it will have an effect on my views. I want to respond by my own thoughts and don't want to involve and mix with other ideas. I love China

no, not me atleast i get notification at my hotmail i just open it, reply to post as per my views and then if needed i read responses of others Take care

Argh! Now I'm torn! How to reply? Should I respond to someone else's post to show that I've read it? Or should I wait to the end to show I've read all the posts but if I just post at the end will you thing that I've just skipped straight there and ignored everything everyone else has said??!! Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! Oh yeah, I try and read what others say. Also, I may be every so slightly sleep deprived, sorry for the insanity!

cyntrow I often do not read the replies before responding as I want my reply to be from my own thoughts not someone else's thoughts . we are cautioned by mylot not to repeat exactly others replies and anyway I like to use myown judgementwhen I reply to something. How was I to know this was an urban legend as I was probably one who thought it was real. A lot of others here do not read all the replies for the same reason, we do not want to ape what everyone else has said. Instead of worrying so much about us not reading all the replies should not the poster be darned sure that what he or she is posting is real fact?

I dont think anyone here as the time to read through all responses in every discussion that they respond to. I certainly dont and more so as I respond many times straight from my email. In fact as I responded to that discussion in one of the manner you referred to I should also point out that I received your response to my comment in my email and responded to you from there as well. I cant spend full time on here and so have to keep up in this manner. So overall my answer is no. I dont always read before I respond.

No I will honestly admit to not reading the responses sometimes, if I have something to say il say it no matter what anyone else might have written

i don't read every single responds from other users before responding... especially if there are heaps of responds... it will take me ages to read all of them... but i do read some of them and i make sure that i won't repeat the same response that i had read before...

I have to admit that I normally don't read the replies before I respond. Are you talking about the woman who was lead to the scene by the little girl? If so, I am one of the ones that responded. I've never heard of it as an urban legend.

I read the whole beginning discussion and at least one or two pages of replies.

No. I know we should and I really know I should but time is short here. I all too often will respond and then go back thru the replies. I will often find in the replies answers to questions I have asked or realize the person has not explained himself right in the original post and had I read, I would have known this. Knowing all that, I still am guilty as sin.

I'd normally read the first 2 or 3 pages, then skim the other responses when it's a long and interesting enough discussion. But there are times when I just want to immediately respond without reading the other responses.

I dont always read the responses but if I do, I might just read the first page. I will read the responses after if I didnt read them before as if I read them before their views are still in my head and that might sway my way of thinking and what I want to put down. I dont think many people do read the responses as more than often, a few people say more or less the same thing!!