First!!!1!one!1

[N3vans]

Quick rant/ question.

What is the obsession people have with screaming 'first' like a brain-damage toddler in the comments section of any particular internet-related thing one could care to mention?

I completely understand some people do it just to troll, and good luck with that. However, there's going to be a number of people who do it for other reasons, this is what eludes me. Is it out of some sense of achievement, that they happened to arbitrarily refresh their browser page just as something was posted? Thus feeling the overwhelming compulsion to make themselves look like they were/ are in the remedial class at school.

It strikes me that one has to have no grasp of the phrase 'pissing in the wind' for it to seem like a good idea to post something so irrelivant. What are they expecting? "Congratulations! here's a cookie for being privelaged enough to have internet access and knowing how to mash your face into the keyboard in such a way as to produce words!"

Ultimately its rather sad, discuss.

 

[Marter]

It gets them attention. They can see a thread like this and go "Hey, I was one of those people who did that, and I'm now getting direct attention from someone. Awesome!"

Some people desire that kind of attention -- knowing that they'll be seen by every single person after them who decides to comment.

Not that I know anything about posting first in threads...

 

[Acidwell]

I think its just a human thing where everyone wants to get there first... also you missed a perfect chance to say first.

 

[Signa]

FIRST!
I dunno. I think in popular sites and topics, just being there first is an honor, because most of the time you're 200 posts late, and you know only a few people will bother to read that far.

 

[N3vans]

It gets them attention. They can see a thread like this and go "Hey, I was one of those people who did that, and I'm now getting direct attention from someone. Awesome!"

Some people desire that kind of attention -- knowing that they'll be seen by every single person after them who decides to comment.

Not that I know anything about posting first in threads...

FIRST!
I dunno. I think in popular sites and topics, just being there first is an honor, because most of the time you're 200 posts late, and you know only a few people will bother to read that far.

True, but surely if you are in a position to post first/ second/ third you'd do something constructive with it so people will actually think you're a competant human being, rather than thinking "Erm... good for you, moving swiftly on."

 

[Marter]

True, but surely if you are in a position to post first/ second/ third you'd do something constructive with it so people will actually think you're a competant human being, rather than thinking "Erm... good for you, moving swiftly on."

Not how they view it.

If they take the time to actually write something out, it might be too late for them to get the first post. And then they'll get less attention, something that they thrive upon. Even if it's negative attention, they don't care. It's like publicity: "Any Publicity is Good Publicity". I think that is the same mindset that is used in these cases.

 

[N3vans]

I suppose I'm making something out of very little, the badge of honour thing makes sense, even if it does seem very reminicent of the old internet paradigm "It's like coming first in the special olympics..."

 

[ZeZZZZevy]

It's really funny when people shout first when they're actually the second or third post down the line, it makes them look really dumb.

Not sure why, it seems a little arbitrary to me why people would do it.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I don't understand why it bothers people so much.

If they want to go 'first!' let them, it might be pointless but if it makes them happy for 5 seconds what's the problem?

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

It's mostly for the attention whether it be good or bad.

 

[Signa]

It gets them attention. They can see a thread like this and go "Hey, I was one of those people who did that, and I'm now getting direct attention from someone. Awesome!"

Some people desire that kind of attention -- knowing that they'll be seen by every single person after them who decides to comment.

Not that I know anything about posting first in threads...

FIRST!
I dunno. I think in popular sites and topics, just being there first is an honor, because most of the time you're 200 posts late, and you know only a few people will bother to read that far.

True, but surely if you are in a position to post first/ second/ third you'd do something constructive with it so people will actually think you're a competant human being, rather than thinking "Erm... good for you, moving swiftly on."

Agreed. The thing is, how often do you see some one saying something profound in the ZP comments? Mostly it's an "I agree" or "I disagree" and if you're lucky, you will get a "here's why" thrown in. Screaming "first" doesn't add anything to a conversation, but it at least gets you noticed among the hundreds of other posts of the same shit.

 

[Yokai]

What makes it really stupid is that such people pretty much never actually contribute to the discussion, or even embellish their comment beyond that single word. It's like being first to the finish line of a footrace because you camped out there the day before. You haven't even bothered to make the same effort as the others involved, so what makes you think anyone gives two shits if you got your name up before they did?

 

[Xanadu84]

Here's a thought: Go watch the Extra Credit on Gamification

Achievements, even arbitrary ones, can be a powerful force that can encourage even the stupidest of things. First post has become a sort of achievement in certain circles. People want to get that achievement. And they get no feedback over there, "Success" unless they mention it.

 

[The .50 Caliber Cow]

It gets them attention. They can see a thread like this and go "Hey, I was one of those people who did that, and I'm now getting direct attention from someone. Awesome!"

Some people desire that kind of attention -- knowing that they'll be seen by every single person after them who decides to comment.

Not that I know anything about posting first in threads...

Or, to put it bluntly; its done by pathetic losers trying to increase their e-penis size by showing how awesome they must be to get that shiny first comment.

I didn't know the first comment was shiny.

OT: People who post "First" are attention whores.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Well, you finish a quest on Giantbomb by doing that.

 

[dancinginfernal]

Well, you finish a quest on Giantbomb by doing that.

It is extremely irritating every time I see someone trying for it.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Well, you finish a quest on Giantbomb by doing that.

It is extremely irritating every time I see someone trying for it.

Sometimes, but some of the really nonchalant comments can be pretty funny.

 

[MisterGobbles]

I would make a guess that it's almost entirely stupid young kids and trolls. Why? Because when I was younger and stupid, I used to do it.

 

[GeorgW]

I guess because it's rare? I just ignore it as nonsense.