RANT: why can't people READ?

Post Reply New Topic

I agree wholeheartedly!
Why don't people just thoroughly read the WHOLE message, and pay attention to details? I see so many people exaggerating things, missing important details, and misinterpreting things by adding "hidden" meanings to it.
People should just read the words, and reply to the words that exist on the screen, not whatever ridiculous meaning they think lies 'behind' the words.

And of course, it's "rude" to correct those people that got everything wrong in the first place. It seems as if they think they know you better than you know yourself, right? Then they start jumping to wild conclusions and making assumptions based on their own misperceptions.

Some people simply cannot comprehend what they read. It is a skill at which they are poor performers. Some of them are just too lazy or unwilling to put forth the effort, true, but for others it is a legitimate (and devastating) disability. Without early intervention, they will likely never learn to read properly, and will have lifelong difficulties as a result.

But worst of all, they may not even know that they have these difficulties, and be firmly convinced that your words could have only one intended meaning: that which they interpreted from them.

Add in the "faceless" nature of the internet, an "I'm right, period" attitude prevalence, and a decline in manners and mutual respect in general, and we end up with the current situation whereby you are villainized by someone no matter what you say.

As you noted, it is useless to argue with such people. Ranting about them can relieve stress, however.

If it is their forum or web site, they may exercise whatever control over content they see fit. YOUR "right" to free speech ends at MY doorstep.


No, he would tell you to start your own forum to promote your own viewpoint if you so choose. First Amendment "rights" are granted only through proscriptions which apply to Congress (and by extension, government in general), not individuals.

Hey now, people! Try to show a little maturity, here. For one thing, I can't read that well and for another thing, I feel very English. I think that CTBill has a very valid point. I would also like to add that I'm very proud of my Cockney accent and I'm not going to lose it, just for you people.

You never cease to amuse me.

Oh god, it wasn't http://www.survivalistboards.com/ was it? XD I got banned from there once for asking if people would still buy children's books if they knew the author was a pedophile. You can NOT say the "P" word around those people, they go RABID.

I find that Vegans,Libertarians, Fundamentalists and Atheists completely fall apart if you even suggest an alternate view and go into attack mode. Real dialogue is next to impossible. But that's just an opinion.

CockneyRebel we are not talking about people who have trouble reading or people who have accents but people who will take only one little tiny thing from your sentance and take it completely out of context and twist it around so it means something completely different and refuse to listen to your explanation of what you intended by your words.


CleverKitten - exactly!! It's like they think they have more of a right to decide what you meant by your words than you do!

These people I mentioned before are somehow under the impression that I'm insane. And they tell me that I am immature when I try to explain myself. Like I'm just supposed to accept their irrationality and incorrect assumptions and that's the mark of what makes one 'mature.' WTF??

Last edited by mitharatowen on 22 Oct 2009, 10:44 am, edited 1 time in total.

I'm Libertarian and don't fall apart.

Oops, my bad then. I thought the OP was seeking some valid reason why people misread things. I guess I misread it. I blame beer.

People who do those things on purpose are just a**holes, and I have no idea why. I know only that it's not worth trying to reason with them.

There's also hyperlexia.

And I'm atheist and don't fall apart.
I think what you've encountered is really hardcore/fundamental versions of all those things.
Well, I don't know how you can have a not-hardcore vegan. XD;; But for most beliefs and lifestyles, there are a lot of less extreme levels. It's just that the more extreme individuals stand out more..

Agreed.

OK, I should have worded that differently and it was somewhat non serious. But you are right, I have known some hardcore versions. I personally see the value in some of all the perspectives (except fundamental Christianity) but if I offer a different view it's only because I want to explore the idea further and I get frustrated when someone gets freaked out. But anyway, I'm sorry, my sense of humor is on the dry side and there's no emoticon for that.

I have no problem discussing why I have the views I have, but I wouldn't impose my views on anyone else.

That's good

Thanks!