Did You Read the Article?

By Miss Cellania in Blogs & Internet on Apr 28, 2011 at 10:40 am

Ars technica published a post about a hot button issue entitled “Guns at home more likely to be used stupidly than in self-defense.” After a couple of dozen comments came in, the fifth-to-the-last paragraph was edited to say:

That’s the bad news. In the limited scope of the review, the primary positive effect assigned to guns is deterrence, and, more specifically, deterrence against violence. Although, “Results suggest that self-defense gun use may be the best method for preventing property loss,” this doesn’t count from a public health perspective. And that’s only the start of the problems; as the National Academies of Science noted in a report quoted by the author, “self-defense is an ambiguous term.” As Hemenway himself puts it, “Unlike deaths or woundings, where the definitions are clear and one needs to only count the bodies, what constitutes a self-defense gun use and whether it was successful may depend on who is telling the story.” If you have read this far, please mention Bananas in your comment below. We’re pretty sure 90% of the respondants to this story won’t even read it first.

Finally, on the third page of comments, someone mentioned bananas. Redditor metageeek took a screenshot of the comments. Things got even sillier after that, with some readers mentioning bananas used as weapons, and other commenters totally confused. How about you? Do you ever comment without reading an entire post? Link -via reddit


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  1. Splint Chesthair
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 10:54 am

    So Neatorama is against 2nd amendment now? Any other rights you care to trample? Freaking socialist fascists.

  2. Canvai
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 11:05 am

    For a given issue, having an opinion is a time saving substitute to being informed.

  3. pablopcasso
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 11:05 am

    Wow. I wonder why people click on articles just to ignore what usually is the summation at the end. Bananas.

  4. Beach1
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 11:09 am

    I would comment about this article I but did not have time to read it.

  5. average joe
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 11:15 am

    That’s just stupid! Kids SHOULD have the right to choose their snacks and and sweet treats in school!!! Making them eat what the school chooses as healthy food, geez! When will all this nanny state BS end!!!

  7. Dave Hall
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 11:19 am

    You want more proof of this problem?

    Check out comments on someplace like Yahoo! News.
    I think Ars Technica’s 90% figure maybe a little optimistic.
    And yes, I read the full post before sticking my foot in my mouth.

  8. Jakethy
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 11:22 am

    How many bananas does it take to read an entire blog post?
    I can’t tell, I shot ‘em all.

  9. Ryan S
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 11:35 am

    To be honest, I catch myself skimming sometimes and force myself to read slow enough to get it all. It is important.

  10. Manuel Magana
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 11:48 am

    Ever had bananas with rice? Now there’s a tasty dish.

  11. Wy
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    That’s because the bananas weren’t added until there were over 3 pages worth of comments.

  12. Dirk Dingle
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    This is undeniably unsafe. Think of the bananas!

  14. Andrew Tyndall
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    Does no one remember the Monty Python sketch? Of course bananas are not used for self-defense. They are an offensive weapon, much like a pointed stick.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piWCBOsJr-w

  15. Banana Split
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    I am KNUTS.

  16. Vonskippy
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 2:45 pm

    I’m still waiting for the hamburger I ordered.

  17. Angelas
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    I don’t like bananas, the same I don’t like guns.

    But I usually read the full post, I’m really thirsty of information.

  18. ted
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    I usually just read the headlines.

  19. buzzbo
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 10:39 pm

    @Splint Chesthair

    Way to completely miss the point.

  20. Texlenin
    Apr 28th, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    Yeah, but ya gots to go in to comment page 9 or 10
    before any body even mentions it……
    which is, of course,
    bananas

  21. Robert
    Apr 29th, 2011 at 9:37 am

    Guns don’t kill people, bananas kill people.

  22. MadMolecule
    Apr 29th, 2011 at 10:16 am

    @buzzbo:

    Are you kidding? He totally PROVED the point! Not on purpose, but still…

  23. Eve
    Apr 29th, 2011 at 11:56 pm

    When I was in grade 8, we did a test of 10 exercises in which the 7th or 8th was to stand up on our desks and proclaim how smart we are to the class. The instructions at the top directed us to only fulfill questions 9 and 10. I was one of the few morons who stood up on my desk because I hadn’t read the instructions. Ever since then I’ve always read through the entire test any time I have to write one, but I still sometimes respond to a post without finishing it, usually because a fervour grabs me and I must respond right away. I always finish reading the post afterwards, if that is any consolation.

    Bananas.

  24. Halvis
    Apr 30th, 2011 at 5:43 am

    No, I read the entire banana first. And some of the peal, so:
    @Splint Chesthair You don’t need an ammendment for that. It’s really silly and make Americans look bad. Gun laws and regulation doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to own a gun. It means that that crazy fucker down on the corner who has long conversations with his dog isn’t allowed to own one. (Conversation, as in, the dog participates). Did you know that there are just as many guns per capita in Norway? The rules here are very strict. You have to have a hunting licence/certificate and a relatively clean record if you want to buy a rifle or a shotgun. If you want to buy a hand gun, you’d have to be an active member of a pistol shooting club for a year or two (cant remember, but at least a year), and for all guns, you need to apply to the police. Automatic weapons are illegal to own. Still, there aren’t many shootings, and violent crimes aren’t that common. Except for stabbings these days, and that’s a whole other matter.

    By the way, Neatorama may be described as somewhat liberal. I can’t tell if you were serious about the “socialist fascist” comment. It’s a dichotomy. You can’t be a socialist, craving a classless society run by the people and at the same time strive for a society run by one tyrant and his oportunistic henchmen.

  26. Fryonic
    Apr 30th, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    Yes, I have commented on posts after reading just the first paragraph, and I’ve been burned for it.

    I try to learn from my mistakes.


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