Posting etiquette (topics, first)

[jambo101]

On topics with 10 or 20 pages of responses to a topic is it incumbent on me to read every post before submitting a reply or just scan the first few replies and then the last few and at that point just post my reply to the general topic not knowing what back and forth debates have transpired within those 10 or 20 pages of threads.?..
Much as i'd like to read all the posts i often just dont have the time and i would like to add my 2 cents to the original topic but sometimes i feel my additions just feel out of context to the flow of conversation even though i am replying directly to the original topic...

[nimchimpsky]

On threads that exceed 10 pages, I usually at least make an effort to read the OP's post and the last few pages. Sometimes, though, when it's obvious the thread has been completely derailed, I will just reply to the OP's post and ignore where the thread has gone. (I.e. if a thread about pretty much any topic ends up being about religion, which happens a lot on CD, I will reply to the original topic and ignore the last 5 pages that have turned into The Latest Atheism-Christian Debate.)