The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsPlease remember a bunch of us get our news from DU.
Not all of us can peruse news all day, or even get much US news.
Subject lines with no text are incomprehensible sometimes.
Recently I ask what a DU was talking about and I was dismissively told to turn on the news.
Well, ya know, sometimes that just cant happen.
Thanks for future consideration.
AndyS
(14,559 posts)MiHale
(9,713 posts)Scrivener7
(50,941 posts)content-free posts. It's kind of obnoxious.
Amaryllis
(9,524 posts)surprised at how many people when they write something are incapable of putting themselves in the place of someone who doesn't know what they know. In other words, seeing from another's perspective.
And it's not just subject lines; many times the post itself assumes we are all watching news all day and doesn't let the reader know what the poster is talking about.
Random Boomer
(4,168 posts)She had a habit of making comments that assumed significant prior knowledge of either specific political events or events in her life. Somehow, other people seemed to immediately know what she was talking about, but even after scanning her posts for the prior week or two, I saw no clues that would help me make sense of what she was referencing.
Providing just a scrap of context would have been very welcome. I finally just stopped following her. Even though we shared liberal political sensibilities, I just don't have time for untangling puzzles.
Firestorm49
(4,031 posts)and dont add text. Since it is a cause of great consternation, I will mend my ways and slow down a bit, or yes, add the nt.
Thanks for pointing it out.
hlthe2b
(102,214 posts)SYFROYH
(34,165 posts)No context whatsoever.
DBoon
(22,354 posts)Why not just post a snippet of the published story with a link? How many times have a seen a post with a title "amazing news" or something equally useless, then find the referenced tweet is a Washington Post article.
BTW, asking someone to click on an arbitrary link is a very very bad security practice. DU should discourage references to links without context.
question everything
(47,465 posts)question everything
(47,465 posts)Not that anyone would care, but as a matter of principle I do not click on any twit, unless it is from Dan Rather.
And, yes, headlines like: the best twit (or is it tweet?) This! Amazing! Not just for news, but for opinions.
When I first joined DU in 2004, in the middle of that year primaries, I thought that I had to read every single post. Certainly the titles were intriguing. And, of course, it was impossible.
Now. Well, as I mentioned above, who cares?
chia
(2,244 posts)Escurumbele
(3,386 posts)LOL...Only kidding.
IcyPeas
(21,857 posts).... by tweet. and I will continue to post tweets if I think they are of interest.
😜🙄 and I'll post stupid emoji's too.
chia
(2,244 posts)The problem of how someone formats a post or whether they post a tweet or whatever sure seems like a first world problem.
question everything
(47,465 posts)But I refuse - and no one should care - to click on it.
Similarly I refuse to click on the story when a link is the only thing in the posts.
The least posters can do is copy a few paragraphs and let us choose reading the rest.
But, again, thats my opinion.
question everything
(47,465 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)The tweet of the second
The tweet of the hour
The tweet of the day
Celerity
(43,299 posts)llmart
(15,536 posts)If I wanted to frequent Twitter I'd have an account, but I don't. Yet many DU'ers decried how the former jackass used Twitter to further his hate filled agenda and then they'd post his every tweet on DU.
Don't get me started on how within a specific post of someone's tweet it appears mulitiple times and you have to wade through reading it three or four times.
soldierant
(6,846 posts)I don't have a Twitter account for multiple reasons, but I deeply appreciate people who share the good stuff so I don't need to have an accont and wade through all of it
orleans
(34,048 posts)um...
since when GD has to be news?
ShazzieB
(16,357 posts)If you're not interested, you can just not click on them. You know, like you do now?
If you did read them, you might find out how interesting, insightful, and funny some of them are. But the nice thing is, nobody's going to make you read them if you don't want to, and the rest of us can just keep on enjoying them. Kind of neat how that works out, eh?
summer_in_TX
(2,731 posts)Since I follow a large number of journalists and thinkers there, I have found that the pieces they post and link there are generally good quality. I check news sources before I post.
I like the visual element of posts and the summaries are often pointed and funny. So I'd encourage you and others who don't enjoy them to skip them. There's so much good content.
Scrivener7
(50,941 posts)Tell us what it says, and if we are interested then we can click further through to get there.
Copying the tweet into the post would be ideal.
DBoon
(22,354 posts)Why do people post about tweets? Because thats how Ted Lieu, Marc Elias, Eric Swalwell, Preet Bharara, Rachel, and hundreds + of thought leaders are directly communicating. Dont like it, dont click it. Earth will keep revolving.
I better go tell somebody who worries about this.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Escurumbele
(3,386 posts)Only in Florida...DeSantis paradise...
DENVERPOPS
(8,806 posts)he should simply ask the "Supreme Knower of All Things Scientific": AKA Donald Trump.........
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,988 posts)stopdiggin
(11,292 posts)Are you trying to inform (even if it's in the form of a personal take or opinion) -- or not?
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,988 posts)Amaryllis
(9,524 posts)writer know, and it is surprising how many cannot do that. I know from my many years as a writing teacher. It requires being able to see from another's perspective.
It also requires caring...
littlemissmartypants
(22,631 posts)Consisting of one liners. Total click bait wastes of time. I find myself using the Block Mail, Full Ignore and Trash this thread functions more and more. My content has improved immensely as a result.
There is so much redundancy in the posts here you can block something three times and still have a fourth iteration pop up. So don't worry about DU FOMO. You'll most likely see the same content a few minutes later.
Thoughtful writers write for their readers & not their egos, so they take time to give context.
Words to live by.
❤
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)Wish I could rec your post.
CanonRay
(14,097 posts)Hekate
(90,634 posts)LeftInTX
(25,224 posts)But, I think GOAT was also used in conjunction with Trump here on DU..LOL
Rhiannon12866
(205,161 posts)NewHendoLib
(60,013 posts)Kali
(55,007 posts)or open GD and scan the other subject lines (sometimes dupes are actually useful LOL). I can usually figure it out. or I just ask WTF. I am sure I have done it myself, especially watching a hearing or speech...
LeftInTX
(25,224 posts)Harker
(14,012 posts)and I don't have television service.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)And a lot of context and back history too! This place keeps me going!
Rhiannon12866
(205,161 posts)And not everyone has cable - or even TV. That's why I started posting videos (in the V&M Forum) to share what I thought was important or others might have missed.
Harker
(14,012 posts)Aside from the occasional oldie on YouTube, your posts are about the only tv I see.
Rhiannon12866
(205,161 posts)I know that there are DUers who don't have cable - or even TV - and that's why I like to post the videos. Articles are fine, but it's nice to actually see whatever happened that's actually making the news. And I've always appreciated the videos, thought it was pretty cool when they got their own forum, V&M and LBN are my favorites.
ancianita
(36,017 posts)Rhiannon12866
(205,161 posts)And then I picked up The Daily Show and Seth Meyers since those are the ones I watch. And my buddy TexasTowelie started posting Jimmy Kimmel who has become equally political and he's also very funny! And even though we got rid of the former guy, there's still enough going on that we still could use the humor.
ancianita
(36,017 posts)Humor is woke.
MerryHolidays
(7,715 posts)No need for there to be Saturday Night Live, as I get the best stuff from your posts!
Thank you for taking the time!
Rhiannon12866
(205,161 posts)When I see an OP discussing some news event, I try to add the actual video to it for those who hadn't seen what everyone's talking about!
littlemissmartypants
(22,631 posts)Rhiannon12866
(205,161 posts)I try to keep up and I know that most people don't have the time to sit and watch TV all day - or even have cable or TV, so I try to post the important stuff - especially if it includes some humor which we've really needed in recent years.
littlemissmartypants
(22,631 posts)quaint
(2,561 posts)Your efforts are appreciated.
chia
(2,244 posts)Stating the obvious here I know, but we are all unique - and I suppose many post conversationally, not journalistically or professorially. Let them communicate how they're most comfortable, this is a big tent still.
euphorb
(279 posts). . . and therefore worth looking further into. Too often, I've done just that--taken the time to do a search and found that it's just wasted time, something that could have been saved if the OP had just added a little context.
ShazzieB
(16,357 posts)When that happens, I just roll my eyes, shake my head, and move on. And wonder why anyone bothers posting stuff like that.
Like seriously, how is that even any fun?
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)Some posts seem to indicate we are all watching the news, at the same time, etc.
I especially hate posts such as "Oh my god! What Rachel just said !"
And then no context.
LeftInTX
(25,224 posts)DU isn't FB or Twitter.
On twitter or FB, all I have to do is click the "Share" button.
wcast
(595 posts)I see many good stories and discussion not get upvoted. How can there be 50 replies and 3 recs? Unless my thinking is wrong but I thought recs made threads more visible.
Kali
(55,007 posts)in the individual forums, replies keep topics to the top of the first page
quickesst
(6,280 posts)I can't count how many times I have run across OPs that take something completely out of context simply for the opportunity to demonize someone just because they don't like them. They get away with it because not many take the time for due diligence. I do. If I see it, I will call it out. So far every time I have done so all I get back is crickets.
LymphocyteLover
(5,641 posts)and little detail in the main post
littlemissmartypants
(22,631 posts)Like we have a four paragraph maximum. I know it's copyright rules for the maximum but the minimum would help things suck less. I will not be holding my breath over this, however.
❤
LymphocyteLover
(5,641 posts)Warpy
(111,237 posts)from DU 2018-2020. My pet peeve was "Turn on (news channel) right now," the poster rarely realizing the end of the segment coincided with their hitting "send" on that kind of post.
There have been a few blind links, a subject line, a link, and no text. Nuh-uh, not going to click those, sorry.
As for US news, DU is biased left of center, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. For more centrist news, I have an electronic subscription to the Washington Post, something that is definitely worth the money. BBC actually has a good US news section online.
I gave up on broadcast news in 2004 and prefer my news online.
Hekate
(90,634 posts)I think theyd been gone a decade or something, but it was a little weird.
Warpy
(111,237 posts)One hopes they found more congenial homes on Farcebook.
The lively debates on the early DU were suppressed, but they're the ones who suppressed them.
crud
(617 posts)When you post something from a local news source or when you post your own comments about things local, don't assume everyone knows what state you are in. Many times I have gone to the OP's profile to find out to no avail, or google maps, or even the link provided requires detective work to find out what valley the valley news is reporting about or where channel CW10 is. Many websites don't have the state on their home pages, you have to dig down on the "about" page, but that's another rant.
freaking local news websites that don't mention the STATE they are in and sometimes not even the city
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)SWBTATTReg
(22,104 posts)KG
(28,751 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,631 posts)Ka-Dinh Oy
(11,686 posts)If the news is some of the subjects I am particularly interested in I will also go to the news. Most of the time DU tends to attach the news on their posts.
I rarely see unreliable sources posted and when I do it turns out to be one of the trolls.
I thank those who post the news because discussing it with all of you helps me understand the news better.
I especially thank those who braved the last 4 years being the ones who listen to the orange dripping piece of shit for us.
NullTuples
(6,017 posts)Alternatively or additionally, people could politely post a comment requesting the author not do that.
calimary
(81,198 posts)stopdiggin
(11,292 posts)I know this is a discussion board -- but I'll keep on insisting it is not Facebook!
Generic Brad
(14,274 posts)I cant count the number of times I have seen this. On days when we are bombarded with information overload, we shouldnt have to learn a post is satire through the responses.
cinematicdiversions
(1,969 posts)I mean it is a blessing honestly but still.
Harker
(14,012 posts)OMFG TRMS RFN! isn't much of a post.
relayerbob
(6,544 posts)And double that on the "watch the news" comment. That's just rude.
euphorb
(279 posts)Too often if I ask a poster what is meant by something obscure in the OP, I get responses such as "Google is your friend." Well, suppose 2000 users want to know what is being talked about and all have to Google it--that is perhaps 4000 collective minutes out of peoples lives (over 66 hours), when the original poster could have spent a mere minute adding the necessary context, thereby saving all those hours wasted by other people.
LakeArenal
(28,814 posts)Usually I cant wait that long to see what it is.
JohnnyRingo
(18,624 posts)Don't assume anyone knows what the hell you're talking about.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,105 posts)LakeArenal
(28,814 posts)Got home and Im on the front page.
Thanks. For sharing my peeve.
leighbythesea2
(1,200 posts)Work too many hours, and rely on DU often, so far, into 2021.
StClone
(11,683 posts)Often it is not in a particular FORUM group to reference and not specifically noted in the text.
Rhiannon12866
(205,161 posts)I often see cities or counties mentioned and there's no clue in the text. We have DUers here from every state and numerous countries, so we may not be familiar with whatever place being discussed. And we do have the state forums, so local news can also be discussed there for those who are immediately affected.
BobTheSubgenius
(11,562 posts)I spend an inordinate amount of time here.
Martin68
(22,787 posts)difficult. Listen to NPR, subscribe to the Washington Post (or their online version). It's not that hard. DU is not a news site. It is focused on interpretation of the news and political opinion. That's what I'm here for. Sometimes I do find new or breaking news on DU, but it is usually the interpretation of news and the discussion of that which brings me to DU. Finding one or two reliable sources and consulting them on a regular basis is essential to understanding and engaging in the post on DU.
LakeArenal
(28,814 posts)Not necessarily easy to do.
I wish I could access sound news.
I get Fox and CNN International. Neither get any good til late afternoon.
And I have to pay for them.
Martin68
(22,787 posts)LakeArenal
(28,814 posts)I live in a foreign country. I have limited sources of US. I dont have time to spend hours a day on the internet catching all the news.
There are no English papers. No US regular station. Internet here is iffy at best. Calling up linkscan take minutes not seconds
200 people have asked that folks don't be so dismissive and put some context into their threads.
You find fault with them because you have the luxury of time and resources.
Thats fine. But some of dont. They have spelled it out 200+ times on this thread
I guess you arent listening.
Martin68
(22,787 posts)the Miami Herald, which was available in a Latin American edition, and thoroughly covered affairs south of the US border. I listened to BBC News and Voice of America on a short wave radio. Where exactly do you live with such a paucity of resources at your disposal?
LakeArenal
(28,814 posts)But heck, good for you and your parents.
Martin68
(22,787 posts)LakeArenal
(28,814 posts)You have a real nice evening.
iemanja
(53,029 posts)Like you I don't have time to watch TV all day. Context is important.
mrsadm
(1,198 posts)I usually read the cover of NY Times and Washington Post, and a few articles, most days. I subscribe to both. But I still don't know everything going on in the world, and (ever since I joined DU years ago) don't like the posts that assume you already know of a news item, or know about a subject that clearly many of us do not (I'd call them "low-information" posts.) This will probably never go away but I do wish it would!
Nuffer
(40 posts)Thanks for saying that!
llashram
(6,265 posts)is one of my go-to's. Some can't seem to find the respect to treat others with simple courtesy. I learned in sales to never take it personally unless it is personal. My day usually went better. Peace.
mahina
(17,640 posts)Jimvanhise
(301 posts)Other sites provide primary news. DU has additional information. It is not a breaking news site like CNN and Raw Story. Reading over DU right now they don't even have the story of the 45 people killed in a stampede at an Israeli religious festival which just happened early today. DU is about the fourth place I look at for breaking news.
LakeArenal
(28,814 posts)Lucky you. However, as you can read, its not like that for lots of people.
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)I travel a lot but always can find news.
LakeArenal
(28,814 posts)Edit: why does my personal situation matter to you?
There are 70+ other people expressing the same problems I have. Why are you so concerned for my individual situation?
trof
(54,256 posts)Screw 'em.