Do You Actually Care?

[Not-here-anymore]

Threads like "Poll: What's your favourite colour?" (I just made that example up, though I'm sure it's been done)

I think it's time to make a thread!

a) I only look at threads that interest me. I don't open up a thread & post for the hell of it.

b) If it's something I care about - maybe the thread is about a question I'd like answered, or advice on something I need advice on - then I'll probably read the whole thing. Unless I get bored.

c) If it's more than a few pages long, I probably won't post. There's no point, no one would see it.

d) If there are hundreds of pages and/or thousands of posts, I probably will post. Just to add to the swarm. People get badges for that sort of thing, I'm happy to contribute.

e) Those last two points are somewhat contradictory. Meh.

I tend to read the first page, and see what comes up. In this case, everything I would have said is in your post, making mine irrelevant. But I've typed it now, so I'm going to hit 'post' at some point anyway.
If I think what I'm going to say is obvious/clichéd, I'll check 2 pages for it. Any more than that and it's probably not worth posting. Especially when I end up scrolling through the last page after I've posted, and find I could write a semi-witty reply to someone if I deliberately double post - that's a real moral dilemma...

 

[Jaranja]

That kind of threads is all about the posts. To get one more post on your profile.

And for the thread starter, stupid topics like that gets a lot of relpies, because people reply for a post count... So they get their "has created a thread with 100 replies" and so on. I never create threads like that. I want my discussion to have something for it. I read replies in discussions I'm interested in, but NOT if it's mroe than 2 pages...

That's exactly what I do. >.>

I actually tested it. Most of the threads I've made have been related to psychology or personal beliefs and they only ever got up to two pages. I wanted to see if something with little to no discussion value would see some replies, so I made a list thread about, I think, five favourite bands and it got to about 12 pages.

 

[Baby Tea]

I read pretty much every post for the first 3 or four pages, and then I just skim the rest. I usually post earlier in threads anyway.

I think it's because of new people. They might be a bit too shy at the start to want to get into full discussion, and just want to dump their thoughts on a "this" or something.

This is pretty much what I do.
I enjoy actually hearing what other people have to say on some subject. Maybe not your favourite color, but certainly a game you enjoyed, an RPG you thought had the worst ending, why you didn't 'get' a certain movie, or whatever. It's no different then random conversations with people I have in real life, so why wouldn't I be interested?

It's not going to change my worldview or anything, but it's just 'neat' to me.

 

[SmartIdiot]

Some form of narcissistic catharsis or something...

I think you hit the nail on the head there. I'd only add that more often than not people quote one another to grab attention to ensure their post has been read (isn't this ironic...). I suppose people feel better knowing they have a place to deposit their thoughts and opinions where people may or may not see them, almost like a blog. I'll admit it, I know that the majority of my posts will go unread but as there are always thoughts flying around in my head it's handy to be able to drop them from time to time. Occasionally I do get a couple of angry responses in my 'Quoted' inbox but there we go...

 

[Nailz]

I've noticed an odd trend on this site. The popularity of threads tend to be inversely proportionate to how much discussion it generates.

I think you'll find this odd trend translates into RL discussion as well.
Walk through any social environment and check out how many people are problem solving vs. how many are shooting the shit.
Both activities are fine in my book, but obviously serve different purposes.

What do you think?


(Yes, I'm aware of the irony. I tried to make it a poll for even greater effect, but couldn't figure out how to phrase it to include the full spectrum of choices. That's the problem with polls: they inherently limit discussion by constraining people's approach to the question.)
(Also, yes, I did just use the word 'just' like 9 times in one paragraph. Whoops.)


To frame the question a bit better: what do you do before posting? Meticulously read every post to make sure yours is unique, original and interesting? Or just dump your thoughts on the matter and move on? Does it depend on the type of thread? If so, why do you post in a thread where you can safely assume you'll be ignored?

I don't really think there's anything ironic about this thread. It is an interesting, thought provoking, subject. It would have been Ironic if the post had been "do you actually care? Yes/Maybe/Pasta" or wtv

On a tangent I think the point of Polls is that it inherently limits discussion. All creativity is founded in limitation, and polls let you limit a subject to certain situations for a more focused discussion.

Why do people post on subjects with very little to discuss? Well thousands of pages have been written on this and thousands more will no doubt be written. It's a form of socializing/small talk, except it's not a bar or cafe but a forum. I don't know if it is unhealthily narcissistic, but perhaps more therapeutically narcissistic. A social phenomenon fulfilling a social function.

My MO is contextual. If it's an interesting post, I'll generally read most of what is written. If it's a nonsense post, well then sometimes I'll post for a reaction/ for the lulz.
I try to make sure my writing is of a certain grade, self quality control, but besides that I feel it is better to post and be ignored than to never have posted at all. Besides, who knows who will read what you've written? Just because no one responds directly to you, doesn't mean that a post was a waste.

 

[SonicWaffle]

I like to discuss things with people - it's why I'm on a forum, after all - and if quoted will almost always respond in the same thread. However, I've noticed too many people that don't respond if you quote them, and just abandon the thread as soon as they've said what they felt like saying. This does not facilitate conversation, just a series of "Listen to what I have to say!" posts that only annoy people who actually want to chat about stuff.

 

[Carlston]

Well there are badges to be earned getting so many views on a thread.
But If someone in a poll or just a thread asks a question, I give a reply, no I don't give two shits about reading the other peoples replies as I am replying to the main question. I try to give my thoughts and mostly humor.

I mostly see retarded question like... why all the hate for this popular game that sold 10 million copies. Well moron there obviously isn't a lot of hate for it now is there. Or if there is, it might be a sports game that some people just don't like duh. Or why all the hate for snipers. Well because losers who always have to charge cry campers. It's the same shit over and over. The rpg debate of a changing series, if playing Final Fantasy 13 for 30 hours is giving it a chance or even past the tutorial, what anime is better, if jrpgs all suck because Yatzee says so ect ect.

In my mind, I log on here. Watch the vids, read the humor, make a few jokes, insult a few trolls right back just enough to not be banned, drink a beer. And not care to much anymore about anything.

 

[gl1koz3]

But, really, there's too much people for the voices not to form a collective noise.

 

[Serathen]

I tend to read every comment before posting on a subject that I care about passionately; very little else actually gets my attention. However, I tend to have my posts be so wordy and immense that they take up the space of about eight normal posts...and by the time I'm actually done typing them, fifteen minutes after I started, anything I actually wanted to say has been either said by now or is off-topic. Thus: I have like five posts. Yay.

I suppose that the exception to this is when some topic has almost no replies at all, and therefor I can actually read through the whole thing before getting bored, regardless of how passionate I am. Like now. Hard to get passionate about...uh...this. Whatever it is. Forum etiquette?

 

[Estocavio]

I suppose the real question is, do you care what our inconsequential responses stand for, and did we read anyone elses?

Anyway, i read the question and the first 5 responses to see if my answer has already been said, though i only participate in worthwhile questions, a bit further than your favourite colour for example.

 

[no oneder]

Aaaand your thread is exactly the one you mentioned.

I do care, but only when it's something really interesting. Otherwise, why posting at all?

 

[mip0]

It depends on what mood I'm in.
Right now it's one of the "just dump your thoughts on the matter and move on" moods.

 

[Doclector]

I don't care, I'm just rather bored. Fills a minute or two, doesn't it?

And besides, in the case of the colour thread, there's always room for some monty python...

Spoiler

Blue. No! I mean, re-AAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

 

[Funkysandwich]

In short: No

I just scrolled all the way through the page to get to the reply box.

EDIT:: And magically ended up being the first post on the second page, which means that what I wrote makes no sense.

 

[Kiokia]

I read maybe five or six responses on this page, gathered the gist of what people are saying and proceeded to the bottom, ignoring all the other replies that have been posted. I think there are a couple of threads where posters as a collective move and shape the direction of discussion, which keeps reading pages of posts easier and more enjoyable. However, in a thread like this I'm afraid its a dead end, and discussion can't very well evolve beyond acknowledgment of your point in the context of forums.

 

[Scobie]

DELETED

 

[Marter]

If a topic has an interesting subject, where people are actually giving their reason behind their opinion on something, then I try to read through the entire thread, if I have the time to do so. Seeing how much time I've spent here, I can recognize quite a few members, so I don't really consider them "strangers" any more. I want to hear what they have to say on the subject, so I read.

I usually post early though, and then go back about an hour later and read the responses

 

[Dapsen]

I thought this would be a thread about emotional/psychological defects. Sigh...

Anyways: I rarely post, and only in topics I find interesting. If I intend to post and/or I like the subject, I'll read every post, and try to be original without straying from my opinion.

If not, I normally read half a page, vote in the poll (if one is present), and then move on without posting.

 

[VanityGirl]

If we didn't care about the other people's opinions on the thread, then there wouldn't be quoted statements and there wouldn't be debates/arguments in the thread.

Aaaand your thread is exactly the one you mentioned.

I do care, but only when it's something really interesting. Otherwise, why posting at all?

Also, this. ^

 

[iLikeHippos]

Yes. It's called an "Ego generating topic" where others posts does not matter but to block you away from other non-readers.

I never assume people have read my posts until I get quoted. Luckily, that happens 30-50% of the time.