WHAT's Next?

[elleng]

[Deuxcents]

1. Love Lawrence O 💙

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. What's next? Yet more time-wasting pointless threads without context. . . nt

[elleng]

3. Then don't read them.

'What's next' is the signature line for President Josiah Bartlett of The West Wing, starred in by Martin Sheen.

Josiah Bartlett was an American Founding Father, physician, statesman, a delegate to the Continental Congress for New Hampshire, and a signatory to the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation. He was a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of the United States in 1787

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. It is ridiculous to say "don't read them" because you have to read the OP to know. I read because I like you

Am I stupid to open your threads?

[Irish_Dem]

5. I like you Bernardo, you have a keen intellect and astute comments.

But with all due respect, your social skills and manners could use some polishing up.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Thank you and I take on board your advice

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

WHAT's Next?

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.

[Irish_Dem]

9. Comments

Even if a post makes us uncomfortable or frustrates us, it is not an excuse to be rude or ill mannered.

I do not mind being frustrated with cryptic, enigmatic posts.
It is a cognitive challenge, a puzzle to solve.

I also like hearing all kinds of thoughts, opinions, viewpoints.
And I do not need to be hand or spoon fed.

Yes you are right, we are all wound tight right now.
And it doesn't take much to push us over the edge.

Thank you for listening to my feedback.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Thank you for explaining that it is actually a quote and giving cultural and historical background. . . . nt

[elleng]

8. You're welcome.