Do you ever ask yourself:
Did anyone really read that post before responding?
Did they read the article in its entirety before coming to a conclusion? Before commenting?
I do ask those questions, several times each day if I’m being completely honest. Sadly, it appears that the rapid onslaught of content has created such a compelling case of information overload that our skimming, rather than reading, has risen to higher and higher heights.
I often see industry articles that try so hard to hammer this idea home:
People don’t read on the Internet, they skim.
A blanket statement if there ever was one. If you want to take part in real and meaningful discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, in the comments section of a blog, anywhere online – you have to read and fully comprehend the topic, the idea, the story being shared. If someone’s talking about Twitter, no matter how carefully you craft your input on Google+ you’ll find your response out of place and, thus, likely to be ignored.
This isn’t something that only occurs amongst those interacting with longer forms of content. The skimming isn’t relegated to blogs, eBooks and white papers. I’m often a bit perplexed when I realize that followers aren’t reading and comprehending Facebook and Google+ posts. Rarely longer than a paragraph, with a direct call to action – yet, often the answers and replies have little to do with the question and/or call to action.
You spend a lot of time and energy ensuring everything you create showcases and shares your expertise. Take it one step farther and craft careful responses to questions and discussion topics. The first step? Read and comprehend before you start typing that response.
Guilty as charged.
I think everyone deals with this on social. I’ve had people argue a point at length when it’s obvious they didn’t read the original article.
It’s annoying, for sure. But sometimes I comment without reading just to get activity on a friend’s page. I’m sure I’m not the only one who does this. I wonder what percentage of the activity you’re describing comes with positive intentions?
Thanks for your great comment Katherine! I’ll let Mallie answer your question 🙂
I know I’m guilty as well – we all are. It’s hard to find time to read every word of every article. Honestly, I rarely comment on a blog post. I only do comment when I’ve read it and it had some sort of value to me or I found something particularly interesting.
I do always read blog posts before I comment. Social is where I sometimes slip up.
Whatever the initial intention, I don’t think responding without reading is ever a good idea. If you want to show support, hit +1 or “like”. But the idea of a comment is generally to further discussion. You can’t further discussion if you don’t really know what the discussion is all about.
I’m not talking about a read that would give you an A+ on a reading comprehension test. There’s a middle ground between the skim and the full digest.
It is annoying when I see a comment on my post or someone else’s and it’s obvious they are just paraphrasing the other comments and not really letting the content sink in – or even read it closely. Which is a good reminder to make one’s blogs exciting and remarkable, not the same old, same old stuff.
I agree with you Laurie! I will skim articles but I only comment on the ones I’ve actually read and found value from!
But have we hit the point of no return when people skim right over the rare bits of value and never even know it was there in front of them?
You do have a point Patrick. For me personally, time is the issue. Sometimes I just do not have time to pour over every word.
Sorry for slow reply, Laurie. That is, indeed, annoying. And it really detracts for the type of discussion that actually enhances engagement and actually leads to real sharing of ideas.
I am guilty of skimming an article’s content before sharing it but I avoid commenting until after I have actually read the content. That way I don’t say something out of place and off the wall.
I am right there with you Shannon!
It is impossible to read every word of all the great content
one encounters daily. Nevertheless, skimming does not necessarily imply a lack
of comprehension. Skimming for understanding is a skill that one can develop.
Good authors actually make it easy to skim their work and gain a solid
comprehension of the material without reading every word. Good authors get to the point in the first
paragraph, they use headings or the first sentences of the successive
paragraphs to outline their points and they summarize their points in the
concluding paragraph. If you invest time in the well-written work of trusted
authors, you can skim and gain a great deal of comprehension. Then, go deeper
if, and only if, it is necessary to your research or it is necessary to participate
intelligently in the discussion.
I didn’t say I read every word of all the great content I encounter each day. I did, however, say that I read every word of an article I choose to share or discuss.
That’s great! I certainly agree that one should have a solid comprehension of the
material that one shares or for the material on which one provides comments. I
do believe, however, that one can obtain a sufficient comprehension for sharing
and commenting in many cases (not all) through purposeful scanning (skimming).
You are very right Jeff. I will be the first to admit I skim articles, but if they are laid out the way you described, then you can get a basic understanding of the author’s point.