DaveT

While going through posts here today i realised something really useful to me and wanted to share It applies globally i guess ( moderators forgive me if im posting in the wrong place ! ) I have decided to read the initial post and then without reading all the replies first , and if im able to based on my experience , reply with any advice or help i can offer. I found by reading all or some of the replies i found myself wanting to answer those posts too ! Its really helping me to remain focussed on the original post and not be drawn into debate , just share my experience in relation to the original post . Hope this may be of some use to someone , the ONLY thing i have is my experience so what others post is really of no consequence to my reply , thats their experience ! ( Im sure im posting this in the wrong place Im new here so moderators forgive me and I will learn where it goes when you correct me ! )

hypochondriac

I think that's a good idea Dave. Sometimes if I read other people's posts I tend to repeat what they say, or I just say something else to be different! Sometimes though the thread moves on from the original post though and the poster has started to ask other questions... I don't think you can post wrong here though

DaveT

I never thought of that .... Now i wonder if i can scan for quick reposts without stopping to read others ! LoL !

DG0409

Sometimes threads do move on...

For example, somebody starts a thread on day 1 and then continue posting there. They may be on week 2 and somebody will come along that hasn't read the other replies and say "Congrats on Day 1".

So, for that reason, I read the other replies before posting. Plus, I often find useful information in reading the other replies.

I dunno... maybe consider writing your reply after just reading the original post, but not posting it until you've read all of them.

Riel

Remember that people will find these threads through Google searches for years to come.

Bottom line - if you have something helpful to say just say it. Don't worry overmuch about forum protocol and etiquette.

Dee74

I like the idea of focus on the OP

I think it's always a good idea to read through the entirety of the thread though - if nothing else I find that sometimes I don't need to post at all because someone else has said what I was going to say and usually better.

I look at threads like conversations - you speak to the conversation starter, and you join in at a certain point or context.

D