Do you read really long answers?

I do the same thing. Some of the people who post really long answers seem like they just like to hear themselves talk to me.

I post long answers. I frequently get good answer ratings. Maybe it depends on the content of the post/attention span/mental facilities of the reader.

Sub question: Which is worse, diarrhea of the mouth or better things to do?

It depends. I almost always read long answers if the topic is interesting to me. Dalepetri comes to mind. Since his long answers usually have to do with politics, and he knows his stuff, I read them.

I read dalepetrie’s walls of text. I also read other people, unless they are preachy and repetitive. I can confidently say that I ALWAYS learn something new when I read dalepetrie’s posts.

darnit, augustlan is a fan of the same person, lol!

I am always inclined to skip the long answers unless it is a topic I am interested in or a contributor who is consistently, intriguing, well spoken and enlightening – or if the poster is a relative.

I’ve posted long and short, depending on the question. I do try to be concise, but sometimes you just have a whole lot to say! I figure the more interest in the subject, the more likelyhood of reading the whole thing. That’s how it works with me, at least. However, I wouldn’t hold it against anyone who skipped my longer ones due to their length. Especially now that I have an iPhone, the long ones seem to take up too much space there. I’ve gotten GA’d on a couple long ones, so someone’s reading them.

Sometimes it’s “TLDR”, but generally I do read long answers, yes – especially if the first paragraph or two is insightful or informative.

I always read the full text of an answer I’m going to respond to, even if I’m just responding to a small part of it, so that I know I’m responding appropriately.

I’m probably more patient than the norm about reading full answers. But I figure, I’m here to “tap the collective”, not “tap the collective’s soundbites”. :) Even so, any attempt at conciseness is much appreciated.

And for the acronymally challenged?

Oh, sorry: TLDR is shorthand for “too long, didn’t read”. :)

@Scamp; “diarrhea of the mouth” is called “Logorrhea” (means “loquacity.)

@Marina; recent asker, as you might have guessed, is moi, three weeks ago and question pleaded for breaks in the long texts

I respond to clarity and economy of writing as well as good data. But sometimes I am overwhelmed.

I don’t read them.

Thanks gail. wiki says this: The spoken form of logorrhoea (in the non-medical sense) is a kind of verbosity which uses superfluous (or fancy) words to disguise an otherwise useless message as useful or intellectual, and is commonly known as “verbal diarrhea” or “diarrhea of the mouth”.

@Scamp; Too true, but I (as everyone knows) am a firm believer in using one word instead of two.

(or four)

@Marina; SOS. Check email

Depends on various factors.
In order of (usual) importance:
– Who’s writing it.
– What it’s about.
– My attention span at the moment.

I don’t typically read really long answers. I am also not a big fan of umpteen links in a post. I don’t want to read dissertations on Fluther. I don’t have the time or interest.

@Snoopy; what about umpteen answers from the same person? And do you mean (how I struggle with our language) dissertations about Fluther itself on Fluther, or thesis-length answers that appear here?

Sorry that I wasn’t clear, gail. I mean I could do w/out the thesis length answers that appear on Fluther….whether or not the topic is Fluther.

I am not sure what you mean about umpteen answers from the same person…? As in they answer alot of Qs fine by me? Or they keep posting the same mantra on similar questions can get annoying?

I would read anything of any length written by dalepetrie or lovelocke. But I swoon
over people like johnpowell who nail everything with two lines.

I read Dale’s. He’s been a great source this election. In fact, I often log on to fluther thinking, “I wonder what dalepetrie has to say about this.”

It depends on what the topic is and who’s answering. (I’m in a foul mood today and am so tempted to name a few people whose most sincere answers are still a complete joke to me.) For the most part, if someone takes the time to write a detailed answer, I’ll at least try to read the whole thing.

@Snoopy; Speaking of being unclear, I meant umpteen answers from the same person on one question..

I hate to get back to the point of the question, but…............depends on the question.

@gailcalled Ah. In that instance: annoying.

have I reached my personal limit for this Q? :)

It varies according to the content of the answer, the skill of the writer, and my interest level in the topic. Often, no.

usually i’m either at home, and tired, and wanting to get on with my free time, or i’m at work and not wanting to spend too much time on fluther. before, today, i had posted a question and shilolo answered it, really long answer. i responded to one part of the answer and he accused me of picking out the part that suited me. in my response to his response, i explained that i was at work, and not wanting to spend too much time on it, but it was not intentionally malicious or chosen to suit my needs.

sometimes i’m detailed with my answers, sometimes i’m brief. i’m a good typist, so it’s easy to be detailed if i have the time and i am interested in topic.

Most of the time I do not. It really depends more on my mood than the question itself. I will admit that there are certain users whose really long posts I just refuse to read; frankly, my eyes have been sore due to all the rolling.

Also, on a related note, do you read really long questions?
I’m a repeat offender myself. I can’t help it sometimes! Ack.

@Nimis If it is toooo long, then no. Particularly if there are a bunch of links in the question for me to read before I can give an answer.

i almost never click on the links.

when people post long answers, i don’t read them, but i do appreciate the time and thought they put into writing them.

Me too jca.

GA to you, TF.

@jca I only click on links if it’s my question or I need to know the answer to the question too, so I can see if it helps me any.

The longest answer I’d read is about 1.5 – 2 paragraphs.

Wow, my ears must have been burning. I’m glad to hear I’m appreciated!

I will also echo Lovelocke’s comments…I write very long answers, but I get me lots of lurve (I’ve wracked up all this lurve you see in about 2 months, been told by one of the mods that’s unprecedented). So, I know some won’t read my posts, but I must be doing something right to have people complimenting me when I’m not even here!

Thanks again for the ego boost!

Please define, “really long”.

If a response is long enough that I can see the text without seeing the poster’s avatar at the top or name at the bottom – I will only read it if it’s a question I’m very interested in or posted myself. Otherwise, I read the first and last paragraph.

Book Reco: Made to Stick

One thought or idea has greater power in communication than 3 or 12.

I do when…

I’m responding to what the person wrote I’ll read the whole post and usually the whole thread.
It’s a topic I’m interested in.
It’s a poster whose writing and opinions I enjoy reading. I also look forward to reading dalepetrie. Let your ears burn, dale. :^>
...and often I’ll read long posts just because.

I have skimmed on occasion, but that’s rare.

I appreciate brief, succinct responses.

Verbose stream-of-consciousness ramblings indicate a flailing attempt to distill a coherent statement from one’s personal cognitive dissonance, rather than the desired result.

I will skip that first draft every time.

I only read it if It’s for me. I will rarely read another person’s lecture unless I am really interested in the topic.

IDRT

IDRT MEANS I DONT READ THEM

@greeny: Remove pinky from “shift” key, please.