LOL

A skimmer button would certainly apply to the person skimming, but what do you call the yo-yo's who keep pointing out that shortcoming of other members?

Monsieur troll,It works well, if you do it well. Unfortunately, very few sock puppets are qualified for the position.


Paul

Of course many of us read this forum. I've read a tremendous amount, even back
in early 2000s - my join date does not reflect my history with Mr. Says.

It's cool if you do not see any contention with it. We obviously differ in our opinions.

In my view, it is not only the types of posts you and Martin loathe. There are plenty
of serious posts made here that I would love to see nuked, the people making them
nuked, etc.


Ken

I don't think that highlighting the (in my opinion) main reason that people don't make money - they don't pay attention - is totally irrelevant.

As you so rightly say, this is a forum that is open for discussion of ideas. My suggestion is just that. That you disagree with my premise is fine - you are perfectly entitled to your view.

Martin

You are free to start your own forum you know. Just sayin'.

While several people are having a good chuckle over this issue, it is really
quite exasperating.

This morning I got an email from somebody who said he expected something
different from what he got in my product. Had he actually read the entire
copy (not just the testimonials) he would have known exactly what he was
getting because it was spelled out in a list that was put in bold to boot.

People don't read and it drives me nuts. And then they blame you because
of their laziness.

I agree with Martin 100%. If people don't read posts in their entirety and
then toss around comments based on a few words here and there, they
should be called out on it...especially if their comments end up starting
a freaking war (which they many times do)

Anyway, that's my 2 cents on the subject. And yes Martin, I read every
single word of your OP.

Also, there are some pretty emotional "hot button" type topics that trigger almost automatic responses in some people, and you see that phenomenon occurring a lot in those threads, where the posters feel so strongly about a certain subject that they immediately denounce everything to the contrary, without even stopping to read what the opposition is saying.

I am one of those people who have been on the forefront of this discussion for several weeks -- some will suggest that I have overplayed that hand.




1. When I started participating more regular in the forum, I kept noticing some really awesome threads being deleted.

Paul Myers said in a post that when the mods start noticing a lot of people saying things like, "I did not want to read all of the responses, but here is what I think...", then the mods would lock or delete the thread!!

Then I really started noticing how many awesome threads were just being outright deleted, because those commenting were willing to admit that they were unwilling to read the thread before adding their own comments.

In several specific cases, the OP would say something silly. Then others would walk him/her through the intellectual process to show them the other side of the equation.

If that thread would have been allowed to survive, the information had been laid out in such a way to show many more people how to change their thinking in a way that might benefit their business.

But the late-comers would always pop their heads into the thread on page 4 or 5, just to tell the OP what an idiot he or she was or to agree with the OP's original premise.

Mods would respond to this behavior by deleting the thread.

To me that is like Dale Carnegie sitting down to write, "How To Win Friends and Influence People" in 1936, but because Adolph Hitler was perverting the intention of the book, by using it to manipulate the German people, then some power-broker decided that the book should be pulled out of print.

In essence, if we did not read the book when it came out in 1936, then that will be our own tough luck. Because we were not in the right place at the right place, the lessons taught in that book are lost to us as individuals forever!!


2. I want to better understand what I, as a writer, can do to get more people to read enough of the words I write to understand the ideas I am attempting to communicate to them.

I want to learn how to become a better communicator.

The forum has shown itself to be a very fertile ground for testing ideas in this regard.

I can try various approaches and see in real time the outcome of my experiments.

I really want to understand what people read and what they skim. And I want to know how I can change my writing style to better communicate my message to my target audience.

If I can better understand how to put the words on the page, more people will read my writing and take from it the ideas that I am trying to communicate to them.

If only 20% of readers are reading the words as I put them on the page, and taking from those words the idea I want to communicate to them, then I have a valid starting point from which to improve.

If I can increase the number of readers who take from my words the ideas that I am trying to communicate to them, and I can increase that number from 20% to 40%, then I can double my sales conversions.



In the end, I want the mods to lock threads instead of deleting them, to ensure that information can always be available to those people who have not yet found it.

And I want to learn how to become a better communicator, because in the end, that will help me grow my business in ways that I never before could imagine.

Now that thar is funny!!

Especially since many of the people just skimming through are choosing rude over informed.

In fact, many will admit that with words such as, "I did not want to read everyone's comments, but here is what I think..."

I totally agree with this. I made a comment a few days ago. Although I unfortunately admit I "skimmed" the ANSWERS to the post (which I WON'T make that mistake again), I thoroughly READ the OP's post. However, I realize I looked like an "idiot" later because I did NOT understand the topic apparently. I am still NEW to internet marketing. I have a master's in counseling, not internet marketing. Many things on here is NEW to me. So, I made a comment that unfortunately was totally IRRELEVANT but I thought it was relevant at the time. My bad.

Off with their heads!

Part of my communication class was about ensuring the reader gets the message you are trying to convey. If you are constantly being skimmed, perhaps the fault lies with your writing?

On another note, if you regard me as a skimmer, fool or idiot, then maybe you don't need me as a potential customer.

We don't need a button to show us who skimmed the thread.

You did it just now, and there is no such button to tell me that you did.

^^Priceless^^.

BTW, another addition to the WF, one I've been advocating it since I started noticing these dismal posts increase over time... The "shakes head in disbelief" smiley. :p

just skimmin' ?

I can't work out if you are a prime example of what this thread is about, or if you are just taking the piss.

LOL George way to go with the humor Always a pleasure to read your posts
thanks for the laugh
-Will

Funny. Back in the 90s I had about 8 salt water tanks going in my
apt. The biggest was a 75 gal reef tank, right next to my bed. It was
great to look at, very relaxing.

Yes, I had protein skimmers, water polishers, etc.. etc. Water quality
is everything.


Ken