I never vote or answer unless I've read it all (and not just because people would slam me for it). If I start on a wall of text and know that I've little to offer, I do stop reading. But if it's something I have personal experience of, I keep reading and then try to say something useful.
I'll be honest, though, I give up on a greater proportion of posts than I used to. I don't think it's my fault. I think it's because they're so atrociously written that I lose patience with them, and I really am known for being patient. If it turns me away, it's got to be very bad indeed.
What gets me the most is when the stories lack paragraph breaks or worse... are seven paragraph run on sentences. I feel bad for ditching a poorly written story but when I do read them, my inner asshole wants to tell them that their problems stem from their improper communication skills or obvious lack of education. I know it's not always the case, hence, my clam.
The ones that bother me are the ones which start with a point and then sidle off into the dark woods of irrelevant information and diversion.
Like, if you're hurt because your boyfriend cheated on you, forcing people to read a dense paragraph about the colour of the wallpaper at his grandmother's summer house isn't going to inspire helpfulness in the people whose time you've just wasted with such extraneity.
If I made a question I would feel inclined to make it short, snappy, witty and punctual, because people will not care otherwise. Hell even writing comments I often don't send them because I deem them unworthy. Except this one of course. This one sucked.
It depends on how much time I have really. As others have mentioned, it also depends on how well they are written and whether or not I feel like I have anything meaningful to contribute.
I never vote or comment without reading the whole thing carefully due to the number ridiculous cock-ups I make whenever I don't and my comments make no sense =S I usually bother to read unless it's very dull or very long :P I still probably won't comment though, even then xD
I read the ones that have paragraph breaks and the OP uses good grammar where I can understand what they're saying.
If it's just one huge ass long paragraph and the person is typing like they have no clue how to spell, then I move on the the next post- I don't even vote.
I'll be honest, though, I give up on a greater proportion of posts than I used to. I don't think it's my fault. I think it's because they're so atrociously written that I lose patience with them, and I really am known for being patient. If it turns me away, it's got to be very bad indeed.
What gets me the most is when the stories lack paragraph breaks or worse... are seven paragraph run on sentences. I feel bad for ditching a poorly written story but when I do read them, my inner asshole wants to tell them that their problems stem from their improper communication skills or obvious lack of education. I know it's not always the case, hence, my clam.
Like, if you're hurt because your boyfriend cheated on you, forcing people to read a dense paragraph about the colour of the wallpaper at his grandmother's summer house isn't going to inspire helpfulness in the people whose time you've just wasted with such extraneity.
But I don't read long answeres unless they're incredebly intresting.
Like all things it hinges on circumstance.
If it's just one huge ass long paragraph and the person is typing like they have no clue how to spell, then I move on the the next post- I don't even vote.