Why do people write their headlines ...

Why do you find it manipulative?

Oreo

Why do you find it manipulative?

I think it might be because it makes them look at the whole post instead of deciding they’re not interested just by reading the title.

If something that trivial really makes them feel manipulated I don’t know what to suggest.

Me neither.

That doesn't stop this method of writing titles being manipulative.

That may be your opinion, fair enough.

However, an alternative opinion might be that trying to control the way other posters write is manipulative and a way of trying to control threads?

There may be other opinions, because opinions do vary.

It’s clickbait, pure and simple. I used to do it but stopped and now always give a thread title ‘full disclosure’. Less irritating that way I now think.

If it's deceptive and entices someone to buy a newspaper or magazine but we're not paying and posters ignore or not.

It's only social media! Is it that important?

There are no rules against clickbait though. People can write titles in any way they see fit. I suppose it is also true that people can write threads complaining about titles

😁

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

I don’t see anything manipulative at all. These are not headlines, these are thread titles and if they catch our attention so much the better.
The forum should give the first clue as to what a thread is about - and while I am at it it is incredibly irritating how many people confuse threads with posts, but that’s bye the bye.
There have been moans in the past about too short titles eg AIBU under AIBU. Sometimes a title is 3 lines long and practically an essay in itself too.
If nobody chooses to read further tat is the fault of the OP.
Ideally you would hope a thread title gives an indication of what it’s about, whether or not a question is being asked or help/guidance sought, whether it is just an account of an amusing episode or (not infrequently) a bit of a vent.
This is a discussion site, the contributors are not journalists but ordinary people and anybody who doesn’t like it is perfectly free to do the other thing.

'Much ado about nothing' methinks 😏

I remember phoenix’s thread titles were often a tease because they could be deliberately misleading but we always knew who was writing them. 😂

sassenach512

'Much ado about nothing' methinks 😏

Exactly
If you don’t like what people choose as their thread titles - don’t read on.

Allira

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.

This
Why is it such a big deal how GNetters title a thread anyway? 🤔🙄

I wish the titles wouldn’t be IN CAPITAL LETTERS, as some posters head them up.

Why? Do they think that makes us more likely to read them?

Oreo

Why do you find it manipulative?

Why don't you?

Allira

^That doesn't stop this method of writing titles being manipulative.^

That may be your opinion, fair enough.

However, an alternative opinion might be that trying to control the way other posters write is manipulative and a way of trying to control threads?

There may be other opinions, because opinions do vary.

Who is trying to "control" what others write? I know you feel the need to oppose but this doesn't hang true.

The person writing an OP is certainly in control of whether we know the subject in the title bar or only when we click through to the post.

On the other hand, me posting that I find not having a complete subject a minor irritation in no way affects what the person writing has to do. It's not as if I have inflicted a block on all incomplete title bars. I haven't and, quite rightly, I couldn't.

Oreo
Why do you find it manipulative?

PoliticsNerd
Why don't you?

Best non-answer today. Usually used when one doesn’t have an answer or CBB to post it.
manipulative
exercising unscrupulous control or influence over a person or situation.

Maybe we could all explain whether we think it’s manipulative or not.

I don’t find it manipulative because I don’t have to read any post.

Some may find it manipulative because if the contents aren’t advertised simply enough they * do have to* read every post.

Horses for courses.

Calendargirl

I wish the titles wouldn’t be IN CAPITAL LETTERS, as some posters head them up.

Why? Do they think that makes us more likely to read them?

So do I. And I wish people would check facts and use paragraphs.

I think both the unclear headlines and capitals are habits picked up from the less respectable news papers and news programmes.

They try to say the article following is "headline grabbing" i.e., it demands attention. On a forum, I prefer to make that decision for myself.

I think that one of the most interesting things about social media is different writing styles, views, etc.

escaped

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

Sorry escaped I missed your question.

It happens more (exclusively perhaps) on N & P threads. Although I wouldn't now be suprised to see a rash of them everywhere

It niggles me when threads appear in totally (apparently) irrelevant forums but I appreciate that newer members may not always be aware that there is a “system”
As escaped asks- how does something which clearly belongs in Pedants’ Corner, if anything does, somehow qualify for News & Politics?

PoliticsNerd

escaped

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

Sorry escaped I missed your question.

It happens more (exclusively perhaps) on N & P threads. Although I wouldn't now be suprised to see a rash of them everywhere

👍
Thank you for replying.

I think both the unclear headlines and capitals are habits picked up from the less respectable news papers and news programmes
They try to say the article following is "headline grabbing" i.e., it demands attention
These are NOT articles, they are threads and thread titles are NOT headlines.
So feel free to sub- edit somewhere else!

For what it's worth, I think Politics threads should have their own heading anyway.

Back in the day when internet connections were very slow, it could be irritating to click on a thread title, wait ten minutes for it to load, (during which time you hung out the washing, fed the cat and made yourself a cup of tea ) only to find it was of no interest to you.

I imagine most of us have fast internet now so that’s no longer an issue and I can also hide threads that are of no interest to me.