Reply #10: I joined DU in June of 2004. In the past I used to write longish, detailed

[tblue37]

posts in response to OPs or other comments on an OP. My posts would get longish, detailed, thoughtful responses--some agrreeing, some disagreeing.

These days, when I write such a post it is never responded to. I think a lot of people just won't read a post longer than a few lines. Since I don't expect my more detailed posts to be read or responded to any longer, I seldom take the time to write them. I still post, but seldom at length.

I used to love reading detailed posts like those in the OP's linked thread. It was like a conversation with a group of intelligent, interesting people. Of course, I still find such posts here on DU, but not as many. Now I find many more short (and often nasty) drive-by posts than I recall encountering in the past.

Maybe that's a good thing. I find I since I am less tempted now to spend hours reading on DU, I get a bit more accomplished in my real life.