I dont know if this happens to other people but its been bugging me for some time and i have to get it off my chest.

When posting in threads, i have found that on multiple occasions i have repeated the views and observations of somone who has posted a page or two before. Coupled with the fact that my posts are generally inferior, it looks like i am an idiot making a cringeworthy attempt to copy the previous poster!

In fact, it wouldnt surprise me if a thread like this has been done before and im making things worse for myself.

But i must protest my innocence!

I have never (knowingly) done this on purpose. I have noticed that my little habit is worse on long threads but i cant accuse myself of not reading every post beforehand - because i do. I make a point of it.

Admittedly, if a post in a thread is long, has huge paragraphs and has not been submitted by somebody with a colourful avatar, then i tend to skim over it a bit. I do try and take in the gist of it though.

I need to make the point that i am not intentionally copying anyone - it is more a case of 'Great minds thinking alike'. Honest!

I have also posted something, and then upon reading an older thread, have found that someone has already said the same thing, often to horrifyingly high degree of similarity. It must look awful if anybody reads one and then the other. I have noticed it myself in other members posts.

Am i absorbing the information from other people subconciously as im skipping across the boards, for me to then spew it out as though i have had some inspirational thought of my own?

I dont know, i dont think so, i hope.

No need for apologies.

I've read a few of your replies, and you dont' give off the "I'm just gonna agree with what that guy said".

Most people just say that if they want to echo somebody's post.

My opinion? Try to add a little extra to every post, like I'm doing right now lol.

It's not about the lenght or the number of times a specific idea is echoed, it's about the meaning and quality of the thought.

~Keeper

I think we all do that to some extent. What i do is just read the OP then i’ll post on that before reading what others have to say. If its a long thread i might put something like “sorry if this has already been said”.

Originally posted by tothetenthpower
No need for apologies.

I've read a few of your replies, and you dont' give off the "I'm just gonna agree with what that guy said".

Most people just say that if they want to echo somebody's post.

My opinion? Try to add a little extra to every post, like I'm doing right now lol.

It's not about the lenght or the number of times a specific idea is echoed, it's about the meaning and quality of the thought.

~Keeper

I'm just going to agree with what that guy said. He seems like a genuine person. As for you Sir. you have defiled my postings for the last time. I challenge you to pistols at 5 thousand yards.

seriously though with the amount of people and posts on here and half the time the search either not working or to complicated to use. Everyone has probably done this. So no worries. As for you sounding less intelligent, it takes a good man to realise his mistakes, but a greater man to admit them publicly. It is not up to us to judge the intelligence of each other, just the worthiness to call someone great.

Originally posted by anubis9311
As for you sounding less intelligent, it takes a good man to realise his mistakes

That's made me feel better!!

Gosh!

I thought i had posted this on BTS, I didnt realize it appeared on ATS too.

I feel a bit exposed.

That would be why I had mentioned the part of admitting the mistake publicly when I responded

Originally posted by Silver Star


Admittedly, if a post in a thread is long, has huge paragraphs and has not been submitted by somebody with a colourful avatar, then i tend to skim over it a bit. I do try and take in the gist of it though.

There are wonderful topics on ATS, and I have learned though, that if it is already pages, upon pages long, not to even bother replying unless I read it all. I have trained myself to do this, rather than throw something out there that somebody else has already said.

Why? Because every post should matter, and personally I think it's extremely rude to the originator of the thread, and to the other people that have replied not to read all the posts before doing so.

You can claim being innocent all ya want, but you just admitted to skimming.

I have found that some of the most well thought out replies are in the middle of a thread, and a lot of times get ignored.

You're not the only one that does this. There are always lot's of stars at the beginning, and then again at the end of a lot of posts, with none in the middle!

edit typo

[edit on 11-7-2010 by Blanca Rose]