When you respond to a discussion...
By doryvien
@doryvien (2284)
United States
February 14, 2010 6:33pm CST
...Do you respond based on the title alone or do you care to read the whole discussion first before hitting the respond button?
When I was new here I was guilty of answering some discussions by just reading the title, without going through the whole narrative specially those that have long descriptions. I only realized that my answers were a bit far off the topic after receiving the starter's comments - well, in fairness, most of them were polite, but two actually told me that I didn't read the discussion at all, a little rudely, I should say. I don't blame them, it is hard enough to get responses to a started discussion, and getting a 'misplaced' answer will understandably make them unhappy.
I've learned my lesson, and since then I take the time to read up to the last sentence first, no matter how long the story is, before typing my response. What's your take on this?
3 people like this
12 responses
@warmweatherwoman (2233)
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
15 Feb 10
I have always made it a point to read a persons entire discussion before adding my opinion on the subject. I guess I do that because I'm a reader at heart....and love to read everything..so that carries over even to mylot.
@lovelyn_medrano (3070)
• Philippines
15 Feb 10
hi doryvien! I always read the whole discussion before responding to the topic. I have actually read some discussions by other mylotters complaining about others who don't dare to read their topic and just based their response through the title... It is good that you have learned your lesson. I can't blame those members when they are irritated to receive some off the topic responses... Of course, I myself doesn't want others not to read my whole discussion too, so I never do that.
Well, yes I sometimes receive some off the topic responses too, but I was never rude in telling the responders... Well maybe they aren't in the mood when they read your response...
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
16 Feb 10
Hi Lovely,
Yes, I've learned my lesson the hard way, so to speak. And I never blamed those who called my attention for responding without reading the topic thoroughly, I felt the same way when I got off topic responses to my own discussions. I actually felt a bit ashamed of myself for doing that, it made feel like an i@!ot. Maybe you're right, those who started the discussion could be just having a bad day when they read my response, but I don't fault them. I definitely appreciate people telling me of my mistakes, but of course it's better if they're said in a polite or not-so-rude manner. It was nice commenting on your response.
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
15 Feb 10
it is stated in the guidelines, that we read all the responses before giving our response. of course, how could you respond to the discussion if you don't even read the whole discussion before giving out your response. how could you relate to the situation or how could you give a good advise. put yourself in the original poster's situation. how would you feel if you asked for a good noontime show and they will give you an answer about politics? 
1 person likes this
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
15 Feb 10
Hi Neil,
Okay, Okay, Neil, guilty as charged
. As I've said, I was new here and through time I've learned my lesson. I've opened up this discussion because I've seen another myLotter commit the same mistake, with the hope of enlightening him, through my own experience. Thanks for responding
. As I've said, I was new here and through time I've learned my lesson. I've opened up this discussion because I've seen another myLotter commit the same mistake, with the hope of enlightening him, through my own experience. Thanks for responding 
@Java09 (3075)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I usually read the discussion first.The title usually can give the wrong idea of what the discussion is about.so I take my time to read what the person is discussion is about.That way I won't feel foolish saying something that has nothing to do with the discussion.
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
16 Feb 10
Hi Java,
Very well said. I actually felt that way (foolish) after reading the comment of the person who started the discussion. From then on I give myself time to read the whole discussion first and not respond in haste, as I didn't want to commit the same mistake again. Thanks for dropping by.
@sushie93 (1355)
• France
15 Feb 10
Humm, sometimes i'm too lazy to read the whole discussion so i read it quickly in diagonal ^^'. But when a discussion is very interestant for me, i read it entierely ^^. But i try to read a minimum the discussion before posting an answer.
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
16 Feb 10
Hi Sushie,
Read the whole discussion, and understand it before hitting the respond button, that's the lesson I've learned from this whole experience. Admittedly, some are too long, but now when I can't read the whole topic I dare not respond. Thank you for sharing.
@sincere4frdship (2228)
• India
15 Feb 10
Well, I always get attract from title of the discussion , but if I have to respond then I read all the content ...
By the way .. I didn't do that in your case , because I understood the topic ...
Thanks
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
16 Feb 10
Hi sincere,
I remember reading someone's comment in another discussion about myLot, it says, you have to have a catchy title, and indeed some titles are really catchy. Of course we should read the discussion to understand the topic. Well when I did it I was in one of my moments of doing things in haste, and didn't read the whole thing because it was too long. Needless to say, that was wrong indeed. Have a good day!
@beatrizguiselle (1118)
• Spain
15 Feb 10
I read the whole thing, based on the title, if it interest me then i read the whole thing and then respond. If its something that makes no sense or just non of my interest then I don´t even care to read anything at all.
@warvial (1146)
• Singapore
15 Feb 10
The title of the discussion is what attracts me to reading the content of the questions. Although most of the time, if the content does not interest me, I will just not answer the discussion topic, but there are times where I got to admit that I only read through briefly and looked at the questions that are asked and then answered it without really knowing the starter's situation.
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
16 Feb 10
Hi warvial,
More like what I did in this situation that I mentioned. The title was in a form of a question, and I headed on to answer. Later on I realized the question was just to catch attention, but the topic actually meant something else. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
@dreamnishu (1247)
• China
15 Feb 10
at first i see the title. Then i open discussion. After read the discussion i hit the response button. Other wise i don't get the point for writing. That's why i need to read the discussion before hit the button.
Have a good day!
@dhonitea (157)
• Indonesia
15 Feb 10
Of course i look to the discussion before answer. By looking the discussion we will know about the topic, issue or everything. If your respond only look the title alone, i think you make mistake to answering the discussion.
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
16 Feb 10
Hi Dhonitea,
I agree with you, just like what happened to me, my answer was far off because I didn't read the whole topic. And another (new) member did it again. I got a "spanking" from the started of the topic that I responded to, and this new member got reprimanded (rather rudely) by the discussion-starter. I learned my lesson, I hope he did too.
