Reading all posts [Was:Re: Reply to question on HPforGrownups list]

[Beth]

Ginger wrote: Gah!  Debbie!  Do you mean I'm the only one out there 
who reads all the posts before I post myself?  I thought that was 
some sort of, um, I don't know, protocol, or something.

Shorty Elf replied:YES, YES, YES, Ginger.  Shorty says, "You keep 
right on with that 'protocol  or something' remark, and you broadcast 
it far and wide!"  <vbg> Truthfully, we *do* ask that of members -- 
sez so right in the posting rules ["*read the entire thread before 
posting, and don't merely repeat what's  already been said"] -- but 
not everyone does that, especially just post-release.

Now me (Beth): I thought this was the case, too, and when I joined, 
oh so many years ago, I took *weeks* reading through old posts so I 
wouldn't ask something that had already been asked or annoy someone 
by asking it wrong. (Which I'm sure I still do.)

Since then, I've probably only posted about once a *year* because: 1) 
I don't allow myself to read all the posts any more so I have no idea 
if a subject has been discussed to death unless the search function 
spills the details. 2) It quickly became clear that *many* other 
members didn't bother to read enough to determine if they were simply 
repeating in their eagerness to see their post online and I got tired 
of reading a few ideas over and over. (Bless you, elves! And btw, 
does anyone else find it ironic that the same people who can zip 
through a 700+ page book can't be fussed to read through posts?) 3) I 
usually don't have too much original to add anyway and when I do it 
seems to get lost in the shuffle without comment. 4) I still don't 
seem to understand proper posting format (so please don't get too 
annoyed that this probably doesn't follow it!).

Ginger: Does this mean that the posts sent out right after a book is 
released don't get read by more than a handful of people?  OK, the 
first several probably do, and then people read threads.

Shorty Elf: Heh. Yes, well, a handful at least, since the handful 
includes the ELVES -- at least, as a group we read 'em all!  [snip]

In all seriousness, I wonder how many listees *do* actually read them 
all. Do you think there are some?

Beth: I hope so. Something got lost, imo, between OotP and HBP and 
while I have no solutions, I do know the results made me feel less 
likely to participate and/or even pop in more than occasionally. 
There's still a lot that's great about this group, but it seems to me 
to be harder to find.

Beth, who is now going to duck and cover...