I found this on the front page of Hacker News. This is apparently what is now worthy of front page status, alongside 15 articles on or related to Aaron Swartz.
I don’t understand. The author seems to miss the point that tl:dr doesn’t indicate that you didn’t read it, it is a synopsis provided for a reader that doesn’t have the time.However, if you actually wrote the article, it is asinine to preface it with "Too Long; Didn't Read". Of course you read it. You wrote it.
I've never, not once used TLDR. This isn't a brag, just a statement. I don't think I'm entirely clear on when/how it is appropriate.
I still think of it as an insult, rather than a short or funny summary of what you've written.
It has always rubbed me the wrong way as well. If a content creator needs to use it he/she didn't edit well and/or does not have faith in the quality of the output. On the other hand, when commenters use it it just strikes me as a little rude. Maybe I'm in the minority.
I think it evolved as a means to preempt any cries of "Too long; didn't read", which may work well in communities where hostility is the default but I think is out of place anywhere else.