General Discussion

For example, elleng kindly took the time to write a clear informative paragraph explaining the TV show background of which I was not aware and I did not thank her. I have seen about 5 minutes of West Wing, thought it was very well done, but had no idea.

Consider this, though. On a discussion board where reading and writing dominate, as a poster it is a social skill to think of the reader.

So I see a thread title from a writer I like titled

and I think Ah, there's likely to be an interesting perspective for us going forward, and we very much need fresh perspectives and analysis in these trying times. I open it up to read and see


nothing. Like click bait.

So the thread title poses a question, which I answer acerbicly to express my disappointment. But then I am told I should not have opened it for reading when there is no way to know that without opening it for reading. I am stonkered (2) by the illogic. Unfortunately there are too many like that; intriguing titles but turn out to have no context and no meaningful content and then the reader is castigated for having the temerity to object.

I get that this discussion board is large and active, so it serves many purposes. Among them I use it as a news aggregator (hat tip to BumRushDaShow) which was probably not uppermost in the minds of the founders at the time. There are many threads in General Discussion which are pleas for sympathy, and I understand that. They are almost always clear from the title what they are about and, though I am sympathetic, I am easily able to pass them by. There are threads from some who are muddled but I recognize the posters as ones habitually in need of support that I am unable to provide so I pass them by (I try to offer support when I have insight). There are other threads like ones titled just quote marks """ and contain simply a single rage emoticon. I clicked on it out of idle curiosity and fine, given the title that is on me, no problem.

I get that everyone here is hurt and aggrieved by the anus in the oval, me included. Venting is to be expected and tolerated and actually serves a bit of a therapeutic purpose. This thread was not that.