How do you read GD threads?

[canetoad]

Do you:

Read everything in order?
Pick threads by favoured author?
Choose interesting titles?
Read threads with many recs?

I look first for locked threads, they are juicy. Second choice; threads with recs out of proportion to the number of replies.

[tabatha]

1. Titles that interest me.

[Ex Lurker]

11. ditto. if they have a lot of comments, that's a plus. I don't pay attention to recs. nt

[petronius]

2. Interesting titles first, followed by locked threads if someone alludes

to an amusing brouhaha. I pay zero attention to recs, and minimal attention to author...

[canetoad]

8. Yeppers

I just hate it when they dont give a LINK.

[LooseWilly]

3. Subject of the Title, maybe author... don't give a damn about recs.

Recs are just a quantitative measure of agreement, or disagreement, if you ask me.

Some authors are just plain right more often than not in their eye for topics. Others are almost always wrong, and require counter-arguments to be aired...

[Kaleva]

4. Subject matter, interesting title, locked threads.

Not in any particular order. I don't pay much attention to the number or recs or views.

[defendandprotect]

5. Titles that interest me -- and General, Latest -- Greatest --

Usually you'll find very interesting threads dropped and nice to kick them back up!

[tabatha]

6. How does one find locked threads?

[Toon Me Out]

7. there'll be a li'l "lock" icon in the far left column

[tabatha]

30. Thanks.

I normally don't go to the summary page - just the Latest Discussion Threads page, so I never noticed.

[canetoad]

10. Just scroll through

Pages 1, 2 and 3 of GD. Look for the little padlock on the left.

Locked threads sink quickly (unless they are epic) so check times too.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. I look for my favorite authors first...

Then topics...

And I always look at locked threads...

[canetoad]

12. I can't believe how many

of you twisted fuckers look for locked threads :rofl:

[underseasurveyor]

13. Title then author then high recs.

Some authors here, no matter the thread title, are worth checking out. For other author's I don't bother clicking on no matter how high the view count because they have histories of posting a lot of flame bait.

[canetoad]

14. Yep

I too, will not click on some authors unless I am stoned, drunk and feeling masochistic.

[underseasurveyor]

16. LOL

I should have added that myself.

[Blue_In_AK]

15. Titles that interest me,

Followed by authors I trust.

[Raine]

17. Absolutely the title and really not much else.

I really don't pay attention to recs, author or even whether it's locked. It's all in the title for me. :thumbsup:

edit: Ok just to be honest I will look at locked threads especially if the title is juicy, heh. :blush: :evilgrin:

[emilyg]

18. Titles that interest me.

[pacalo]

19. I don't go to the GD page unless I'm using it to find a particular thread quickly.

I scan the first few LD pages first, then the Greatest Page.

I click on the topics that interest me.

[TorchTheWitch]

20. subject matter and title

Don't care about authors or recs. I have enough trouble remembering my own name, I certainly can't be expected to recognize the names of others. People have favored authors??? That seems really weird to me.

Sometimes I'll read a locked thread just to see what the problem was, but for the most part hide them to get them out of the way... depends a lot on the subject matter and title. I'm not into rubber necking.

I hide absolutely everything about Palin, Beck, Rush, etc. because I don't give a crap about what ridiculous ranting people have to say especially when the only reason they are ranting ridiculously is to make a buck... I make it a point to not give attention to desperate attention seekers. Ditto for tea party nuttiness, freepers and general "OMG some GOP person said {blah, blah, blah}". I already know they're outrageously stupid and off the deep end and don't need perpetual finger pointing to remind me. I cut people like that out of my life in general so have no interest in oggling such freak shows here either. Perpetual outrage about such side shows is counter productive and tiresome... outrage should be channeled to the things that matter intead of time and energy wasting on petty nonsense that doesn't.

[canetoad]

22. Thank you for such an in-depth answer

We shallow pigs who enjoy the petty drama of the locked threads appreciate the higher motivations of folk who read DU for the information.

So, you tell me; what matters?

[TorchTheWitch]

28. Couldn't have said it better myself

If you need to ask what matters and what is petty nonsense, I can't help you. "Shallow pigs who enjoy the petty drama" are exactly what is wrong with political participation and discourse in this country and exactly why the people are losing so disastrously yet are oblivious.

[Codeine]

21. By title.

I pick stuff that looks like it might result in a brawl or a lot of sniping; threads where we all agree aren't really worth reading.

A few authors always get read -- some because they always have something interesting to say and others because I have a lot of fun arguing with them.

[canetoad]

23. I like it

"I pick stuff that looks like it might result in a brawl". Do you think that is broadcast in the title?

[Mojeoux]

24. I just read by the titles too, but I am loving the thread replies of this little.....

snippet.

[pinboy3niner]

25. LOCKED THREADS ONLY

Okay, that's not true. Titles first, then authors whom I know do good work even if they use the sucky title from the original content.

I guess I'm a slow learner, because it took me a while to discover the joys of locked threads. :)

[Cid_B]

26. Blatant Popcorn threads...

Military Threads...

Whatever catches my fancy...

[pinboy3niner]

27. Since you mention it, props to Unhappy Camper

It's only because of his diligence that we have the military coverage that we do. He does a hell of a job in culling that news to bring the most significant items here.

:patriot:

[elocs]

29. I don't. I read "Latest Discussion Threads" and only specifically go to The Lounge

or to the special interest DU groups.

[L. Coyote]

31. From left to right

[rustydog]

32. With my eyes, left to right.

[quinnox]

33. Provocative titles

Is the main factor. If the title sounds boring or dull, probably won't look at it.

If a thread is locked, I'm interested.

If a thread gets a lot of responses, it makes me more interested, but not necessarily something I'll read if it looks like a dull or uninteresting topic to me.