Why do people write their headlines ...

Perhaps it's because it is now more and more common for 'journalists' to write their copy direct onto a page template and upload it that way. That means much of what you see or read hasn't been run past a copy editor or sub-editor as it would have been in the 'old days'. I'm speaking as someone who did this for a living for almost 50 years.

A lot of the headlines are written as clickbait.

I'm not altogether sure who or what you are talking about, PN.

Which 'people'?

What 'headlines?

We could ask, 'Why do people on Gnet write post titles that don't make much sense?' Clickbait?

We certainly could, MaisieD. Titles such as 'Is it just me?' Or 'Strange happening' are pointless.

Oh, never considered that the OP might be talking about the 'headlines' on here? Never really thought of them in that way.

ViceVersa

Perhaps it's because it is now more and more common for 'journalists' to write their copy direct onto a page template and upload it that way. That means much of what you see or read hasn't been run past a copy editor or sub-editor as it would have been in the 'old days'. I'm speaking as someone who did this for a living for almost 50 years.

So do you think journalists come on here to write as journalists then ViceVersa?

Jackiest

A lot of the headlines are written as clickbait.

But why Jackiest? How does it benefit anyone? No-one on here gets paid for clicks - or have I missed something?

Sorry. Yes I did mean the headlines on here.

PoliticsNerd

Sorry. Yes I did mean the headlines on here.

Thanks for clarifying, PN. I was genuinely puzzled as to what you meant.

Could you give some examples of the headlines that you find so irritating, PN?
That way posters will know not to do it again.

PoliticsNerd

Sorry. Yes I did mean the headlines on here.

Sorry, I thought you meant news headlines, not on here, so my comments about journalists are fairly redundant in that regard.

I’ve added a few existing GN headlines to help.
Which ones are written as if they are MSN copy editors? I’m not a journalist, so I’d really like to know.

Gifts - are there 'age limits'?

Getting rid of unused/unwanted clutter at home

Mum and her TV Licence

Fur babies!

Problem with Fitted Sheets

News & politics:
Why do people write their headlines ...

Artificial Intelligence for the Novice User
:
Resident (Junior) Doctors vote to strike

Goodness, we have some proper rain at last!

Declaring interest on savings to HMRC

Oh sorry I was thinking of headlines in online newspapers.

I do think of them as post titles rather than headlines...

None of these are particularly obscure, but there have been really uninformative ones from time to time...

Or ones that are not only uninformative but the OP consists of one sentence about a news item that they clearly expect everyone has heard of...

Why is it News and Politics how people write their thread titles?
Or do you mean just in those categories only?

I think they should be simple thread titles Maizie, that's part of my point.

It's the ones that start with a titillating phrase but the actual subject isn't mentioned until body of the OP. Why? Why not tell us what it's about in the title?

That said, it may well not bother anyone else and I seem to have made such a muddle that it's outstripped my initial point - that I found it irritating.

I've been up since 5 o'clock so maybe it's time for bed!

PoliticsNerd

... as if they are MSM copy editors? Why not just say what you want to talk about?

Looking at the first 10 posts on N&P yours is the only one that doesn’t give a clue as to the subject 🤷‍♀️

I think some people deliberately write the headline to provoke disagreement PoliticsNerd, is that what you’re getting at? I don’t think that can be stopped though, it’s just like the different style of newspaper headlines, eg Freddie Starr ate my hamster! - Daily Star style. We probably all lean favourably towards headlines which echo our own politics?

petra

PoliticsNerd

... as if they are MSM copy editors? Why not just say what you want to talk about?

Looking at the first 10 posts on N&P yours is the only one that doesn’t give a clue as to the subject 🤷‍♀️

That was deliberate Petra; an example of what I was talking about. However I do appreciate I shouldn't expect people to understand what I mean if I don't explain it clearly.

Casdon, not really. I just like to know the subject before I click onto it. I find this way of doing things rather manipulate/controlling.

I do think of them as post titles rather than headlines ...

Yes, me too.

The one about the huge tomato caught me out 🍅 because I thought it was going to be about fibs, but live and let live, I think. If that's how someone wants to write or to catch the eye of others and it's not against guidelines, why should complain?

Thank you to all who start threads, it keeps Gransnet going.

The only thread title on Active that I can’t tell what it’s about is this one.
How ironic.

The one about the huge tomato caught me out 🍅 because I thought it was going to be about fibs

But it also made me smile.

Your initial point - that I found it irritating

You may think it's irritating but you can't control what other posters write. Just skip past.

Oreo

The only thread title on Active that I can’t tell what it’s about is this one.
How ironic.

We've done all that Oreo. How many times would you like me to apologise for not making what I meant, clear?

That doesn't stop this method of writing titles being manipulative. Some will mind that, some won't care, and some indecisive just as always.