Please remember a bunch of us get our news from DU.

[LakeArenal]

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 can’t happen.

Thanks for future consideration.

[AndyS]

1. YES! nt

[MiHale]

2. Amen! nt

[Scrivener7]

3. This! This point has been made umpteen times here. And yet people keep making these

content-free posts. It's kind of obnoxious.

[Amaryllis]

4. +1000. Posted several threads on it myself. I was a writing teacher for many years and you'd be

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]

29. Reminds me of a certain Facebook friend of mine

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]

90. I'm one of the guilty, and now stand corrected. I sometimes find the need to move on rapidly,

and don’t 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]

5. +1

[SYFROYH]

6. I like the DUers who are yelling at their TV, but via a DU OP.

No context whatsoever.

[DBoon]

93. Often the tweet is just a reference to a published story elsewhere

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]

102. Bingo!

[question everything]

7. And, stop with the twits? Since when news are provided by twits?

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]

17. Surely you know it's "tweet," not "twit?"

[Escurumbele]

22. He/she is talking about the twits who post tweets

LOL...Only kidding.

[IcyPeas]

56. I guess I am guilty of posting tweets. believe it or not a lot of breaking news is reported by twee

.... 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]

57. Yes, a lot of breaking news is first seen via tweet. I hope you do keep posting tweets of interest!

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]

101. I don't have problems when the twits are part of the 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, that’s my opinion.

[question everything]

52. Really? Did not know. Cannot differentiate

[left-of-center2012]

27. I especially hate tweets such as ...

The tweet of the second
The tweet of the hour
The tweet of the day

[Celerity]

82. Lol at tweet of the second. Now you have given someone an idea!

[llmart]

43. +1000

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]

68. Gee, and I'm just the opposite

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]

73. "Since when news are provided by twits?"

um...
since when GD has to be news?

[ShazzieB]

81. Speak for yourself. I enjoy the tweets.

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]

84. I too enjoy tweets.

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]

92. I don't mind the tweets, but I don't like when it's just the link to the tweet.

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]

94. You might also find they contain a link that exploits your browser

[mahina]

95. Same.

Why do people post about tweets? Because that’s how Ted Lieu, Marc Elias, Eric Swalwell, Preet Bharara, Rachel, and hundreds + of thought leaders are directly communicating. Don’t like it, don’t click it. Earth will keep revolving.

I better go tell somebody who worries about this.

[chia]

108. +1,000

[Major Nikon]

8. If you get your news from The Lounge, you are in deep trouble

[Escurumbele]

25. This seems to be a true story, the guy did kidnap a scientist, and he didn't go to jail

Only in Florida...DeSantis paradise...

[DENVERPOPS]

55. Next time

he should simply ask the "Supreme Knower of All Things Scientific": AKA Donald Trump.........

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. Thoughtful writers write for their readers & not their egos, so they take time to give context. nt

[stopdiggin]

40. Oh, I like that distinction.

Are you trying to inform (even if it's in the form of a personal take or opinion) -- or not?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

65. I wish to stimulate and increase thoughtfulness. . . . nt

[Amaryllis]

62. That requires being able to put one's self in the position of someone who doesn't know what the

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]

63. Yesterday one poster, posted more than a half dozen OP's

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]

110. I can think of three off the top of my head who do that frequently.

Wish I could rec your post.

[CanonRay]

10. Good point

[Hekate]

11. Amen. And what's a GOAT?

[LeftInTX]

18. urban Dictionary: Greatest Of All Time

But, I think GOAT was also used in conjunction with Trump here on DU..LOL

[Rhiannon12866]

78. Thank you, I didn't know, either.

[NewHendoLib]

12. THIS!!!

[Kali]

13. when things are exciting I don't blame people and usually either go look at the LBN

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]

19. Turn on MSNBC right now!

[Kali]

36. LOL

[Harker]

47. I can't! It's two and a half hours later...

and I don't have television service.

[lunatica]

14. I get my news from DU also

And a lot of context and back history too! This place keeps me going!

[Rhiannon12866]

15. And not all DUers are at home ( they're at work) or awake at certain hours

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]

48. Please accept my thanks.

Aside from the occasional oldie on YouTube, your posts are about the only tv I see.

[Rhiannon12866]

74. Awww, thanks!

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]

50. Same here.

[Rhiannon12866]

109. I actually started posting Colbert in 2017 since at the time I figured we needed the humor!

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]

114. Awesome! You are one faithful poster, Rhiannon. I appreciate all the regular video posters.

Humor is woke.

[MerryHolidays]

58. We all depend on your videos!

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]

75. I recently discovered that there are DUers who aren't aware that we have a video forum

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]

64. Thanks! I frequently watch your video posts. ❤ nt

[Rhiannon12866]

85. Awww, thanks so much!

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]

115. You're welcome! ❤

[quaint]

88. Thank you.

Your efforts are appreciated.

[chia]

16. Doesn't bother me. If I want more context and I'm interested, I'll go looking for it.

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]

54. The problem with this is that without context, I don't know whether it's interesting or not . . .

. . . 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]

83. And sometimes there's not enough context to be able to tell what to look for in the first place!

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]

20. Totally agree

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]

21. I think too many posters are in too much of a hurry

DU isn't FB or Twitter.

On twitter or FB, all I have to do is click the "Share" button.

[wcast]

23. Same with recs.

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]

38. recs make posts visible on greates page and maybe trending news

in the individual forums, replies keep topics to the top of the first page

[quickesst]

24. Another thing....

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]

26. Important point and I do have a pet peeve of posts with inscrutable title lines

and little detail in the main post

[littlemissmartypants]

66. Sometimes I think there should be a one paragraph minimum

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]

87. that would be good!

[Warpy]

28. I've actually seen fewer useless posts like that since my 2 year vacation

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]

41. Thanks, Warpy. Somebody else came back from a long hiatus to tell us we were "calcified"...

I think they’d been gone a decade or something, but it was a little weird.

[Warpy]

49. A lot of the bullies who abused the alert system seem to be MIA

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]

30. Location, location, location

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.

[Atticus]

32. Amen. nt

[Kali]

39. not just DU

freaking local news websites that don't mention the STATE they are in and sometimes not even the city

[smirkymonkey]

100. +1000

[SWBTATTReg]

31. Good points indeed. Thanks!

[KG]

33. call your congressman now! dial till your fingers bleed!

[littlemissmartypants]

67. Hahaha...

[Ka-Dinh Oy]

34. I do get a lot of my news from DU.

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]

35. Wouldn't this be something best handled by moderators?

Alternatively or additionally, people could politely post a comment requesting the author not do that.

[calimary]

37. Good to know/Good to keep in mind.

[stopdiggin]

42. Gets my vote.

I know this is a discussion board -- but I'll keep on insisting it is not Facebook!

[Generic Brad]

44. And satire presented as news is deceptive

I can’t count the number of times I have seen this. On days when we are bombarded with information overload, we shouldn’t have to learn a post is satire through the responses.

[cinematicdiversions]

45. Not to mention many of us don't have access to cable news.

I mean it is a blessing honestly but still.

[Harker]

46. +33.

OMFG TRMS RFN! isn't much of a post.

[relayerbob]

51. Agreed

And double that on the "watch the news" comment. That's just rude.

[euphorb]

53. Agreed! And don't tell us to Google it.

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]

70. The twitter posts take forever where I am to come up.

Usually I can’t wait that long to see what it is.

[JohnnyRingo]

59. Amen. If it's worth posting, then it's worth some context.

Don't assume anyone knows what the hell you're talking about.

[Ferrets are Cool]

60. K and R

[LakeArenal]

61. Wow. I couldn't stay on line today.

Got home and I’m on the front page.

Thanks. For sharing my peeve.

[leighbythesea2]

69. Thank you

Work too many hours, and rely on DU often, so far, into 2021.

[StClone]

71. I would like to see city, county, and/or state listed in some news items headers.

Often it is not in a particular FORUM group to reference and not specifically noted in the text.

[Rhiannon12866]

79. Yes! And thank you!

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]

72. We do come to rely on the up-to-the-minute news at this place, don't

I spend an inordinate amount of time here.

[Martin68]

76. I'm sorry, but I think every citizen has an obligation to keep themselves informed. It isn't that

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]

77. That's pretty easy to say.

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]

99. Television is not a reliable source of news.

[LakeArenal]

103. What are you trying to say?

I live in a foreign country. I have limited sources of US. I don’t 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.

That’s fine. But some of don’t. They have spelled it out 200+ times on this thread
I guess you aren’t listening.

[Martin68]

104. I grew up in South America, graduating from high school in Bogota in 1970. My parents subscribed to

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]

105. Well you haven't lived here in 2020 Covid

But heck, good for you and your parents.

[Martin68]

106. Where is "here" may I ask?

[LakeArenal]

107. Thank you for your unrelated to topic concern.

You have a real nice evening.

[iemanja]

80. I hate oblique threads with no context

Like you I don't have time to watch TV all day. Context is important.

[mrsadm]

86. rec +1000 from me too

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]

89. Not everyone watches the news all day

Thanks for saying that!

[llashram]

91. this site

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]

96. Fully agree.

[Jimvanhise]

97. DU is for subtext, not a primary source

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]

98. Well fortunately you live somewhere with plenty of access to the news.

Lucky you. However, as you can read, it’s not like that for lots of people.

[Treefrog]

111. Why can't you get news?

I travel a lot but always can find news.

[LakeArenal]

113. What if your internet sucked?

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]

112. Sadly we have our share of rude twits.

Screw 'em.