Managing Self-Criticism in Online Discussions: A Scientist's Perspective

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around participants' feelings and behaviors when reading their own replies in online forums. It explores the emotional responses, habits, and reflections on self-criticism and the quality of their contributions in a scientific community context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express feelings of embarrassment or frustration upon rereading their posts, indicating a tendency to criticize their own contributions.
  • Others mention a habit of proofreading their replies immediately after posting, often finding insights or errors they missed initially.
  • A few participants share experiences of not recognizing their own posts upon rereading, suggesting a disconnect between their immediate thoughts and later reflections.
  • Some participants highlight the importance of revisiting their posts to clarify their original points when others respond to them.
  • There are mentions of specific times when participants feel more prone to making mistakes or posting hastily, such as late at night or when distracted.
  • A humorous suggestion is made about coining a term for the tendency to reread one's own posts, referred to as the "Domer Effect."

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share similar experiences regarding self-criticism and the act of rereading their posts, but there is no consensus on the best practices or feelings associated with this behavior. Multiple perspectives on the emotional responses and habits exist without resolution.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention specific conditions affecting their posting habits, such as time of day and distractions, which may influence their self-assessment and the quality of their contributions.

Bladibla
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Just a simpel question really. What do you feel when you read your own replies to a thread?

Personally i think 'aw S**t. I've made a fool o'myself!' and get angry at my dog.
 
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I do because I am stunned and awed by the sheer genius of my own work... :rolleyes:

No, really... I have to because my memory sucks. The only way that I can keep track of what's going on is to keep going back and rereading all recent posts (not just my own). :redface:
 
a dumbass reply ignoring your actual post:

no, I type with my eyes shut.
 
Yeah I usually try to read my replies before I post them, but it never works that way. It is like I do not take anything seriously until it is actually there. Then I think, ohh where is that edit button.
 
Sometimes I create replies that I'm rather proud of, and I will indeed read them over again later -- not out of hubris, but out of a desire to see my own shortcomings. It's rather like a teacher reading over his/her notes every semester, hoping to improve them.

- Warren
 
Since I have a bad habbit of slamming out responses when I don't have the time, I often go back to proof and correct errors later. On a few occasions it was found that little things like the word "not" were left out, which really changed the nature of my post.
 
Once or twice I've had the experience of reading one of my own replies without realizing it was my reply. I was all thinking about and going "hmm," then I noticed the name in the upper left. (I was tired)
 
I always proof-read anything I post immediately after posting it. I'm usually rather amazed at how insightful and intelligent I am (and unlike the rest of you, I'm willing to admit it).
 
loseyourname said:
I always proof-read anything I post immediately after posting it. I'm usually rather amazed at how insightful and intelligent I am (and unlike the rest of you, I'm willing to admit it).
Yes, and for such a young-un too. :smile:
 
  • #10
So if someone likes to read and re-read their own posts, like re-living the moment, should we call this the Domer Effect? :smile: I already spend WAY too much time on the PF, and surf around between threads trying to keep up. Who has time to re-read? Oh, and I have ADD (Lord only knows what I've said :redface:).
 
  • #11
Don't read anything I've written less than fifteen minutes after I post it: chances are, I'm still editing/refining it.
 
  • #12
I've plotted the data points and hypothesized I would be wise to refrain from posting after 7 GMT.
 
  • #13
If someone takes issue with something I've said, it often helps to re-read what I've said to remind myself how I worded my original point before replying.
Its also easier to check for spelling & grammar errors a while afterwards, when its not so fresh in my mind.
 
  • #14
I once did a google search on something (don't recall the topic), found a likely looking link, without paying much attention, followed to ... Here.. and one of my own posts! Scary!
 
  • #15
Chronos said:
I've plotted the data points and hypothesized I would be wise to refrain from posting after 7 GMT.

Yeah, I've had similar experiences. I've learned not to try to answer questions in the biology forum after midnight; I stick with GD when I'm suffering insomnia.

I do sometimes reread my own posts. Most often I end up doing so when someone else comments on it and I need to remind myself what I wrote (do you really think I remember everything I post around here more than 5 min after it's been transmitted from my fingertips to keyboard?)
 
  • #16
Moonbear said:
I end up doing so when someone else comments on it and I need to remind myself what I wrote
No kidding! What with you and the rest of my harem popping from one thread to another like Nightcrawler on bennies, and taking chunks of the threads with you, you've got me totally flummoxed and running in 6 directions at once. (That's pretty good, considering there are only 3 of you.) I'm really going to have to consider keeping you confined at night. :biggrin:
 

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