I’ve been sharing my thoughts on the internet since the days when dial-up was king. After all these years, you’d think I’d be accustomed to the quirks of online discourse, but some behaviors still leave me scratching my head. Chief among them? Commenting on articles without actually reading them first.
Seriously, folks. Isn’t this just basic etiquette? I get it; headlines can be enticing and provoke knee-jerk reactions. But, for the love of all that is good, please resist that instinct.
Not long ago, I penned a piece titled, “What’s Tough About Covering Up to Breastfeed?” A flurry of outraged advocates stormed the comments on social media before realizing the article was a thorough defense of breastfeeding in public. While public embarrassment isn’t my style, I have to admit that if you choose to express an opinion on something you haven’t read, you kind of set yourself up for it.
Writers like me dedicate significant time and effort to construct the words you see. We invest hours in research and carefully choose our language—all while considering you, the reader. The very least you can do is read the piece before sharing your thoughts.
If, after reading, you still disagree? That’s totally fine! We welcome healthy discussion and appreciate different viewpoints, as long as they’re expressed respectfully. Many of us do read the comments, and yes, we know that disagreements are part of the game. Just remember: you can’t truly understand an article from its title alone. Commenting without reading is not just discourteous; it shows a lack of awareness and makes you look uninformed.
I once had someone respond to one of my articles with, “I haven’t read this, but…” and proceeded to write three paragraphs critiquing a point I had already addressed. If only she had read what I wrote, she would’ve saved herself the embarrassment.
And let’s talk about sharing content without reading it—arguably worse than commenting. Just recently, an article shared by a well-known figure was titled “Trump’s Budget Makes Perfect Sense and Will Fix America—Here’s Why.” Sounds positive, right? Except, it was a sharp satire, evident from the first paragraph!
The writer, Alex Paterson, humorously remarked, “There will be no LABOR in the future. Labor is what women do, I think. All fetuses will burst out of wombs brandishing an Uzi on each arm.” It’s clear that someone skimmed the title, jumped to conclusions, and ended up sharing a piece that didn’t align with their beliefs. Talk about irony!
So, for the love of all that is good, please refrain from commenting, sharing, or forming opinions on online articles without actually clicking through and reading the entire content first—even the links that support the claims. And while we’re at it, let’s stop using phrases like “Do your own research” without backing up claims. Also, can we please improve our spelling and grammar?
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading this post before commenting. You’re my kind of people. High five!
For those interested in deeper insights about home insemination, check out resources like this one from the CDC or explore products available at Make a Mom. And if you’re curious about more topics related to at-home insemination, visit this blog post for further reading.
Summary:
This article emphasizes the importance of reading articles in their entirety before commenting or sharing opinions. It highlights the embarrassment that can arise from forming judgments based on headlines alone, using personal anecdotes and examples from recent events. The piece concludes with a call for thoughtful engagement and a reminder to check out helpful resources on home insemination.