Do You Actually Care?

[James Joseph Emerald]

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

Specifically speaking, people seem to spend most of their time depositing their opinions on random "deposit your opinion here" subjects, without even reading anyone else's. Which I just don't understand. It just makes the whole thing inconsequential. Threads like "Poll: What's your favourite colour?" (I just made that example up, though I'm sure it's been done)
I mean, who actually cares what the favourite colour of some random stranger on the internet is? Yet people will still post theirs, and then move on, along with everyone else. I just don't understand what the point of those kind of threads is. I guess people just can't resist talking about themselves, even if nobody's listening. Some form of narcissistic catharsis or something...

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?

 

[Doctor What]

I always like to throw my own two cents into the ring. If it's original, than yay! If it's what's been posted a bajilion times, then I guess the fox news brain oozing machine has already run it's course on my brain.

 

[Palademon]

I try to post of threads with very few posts already to avoid having to read alot to avoid writing the same as someone else. But when it's a thread where everyone just gives funny answers, I'll ost mine as quickly as possible so no one says it then read through them having a laugh.

 

[Vampire cat]

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...

 

[JWRosser]

Short answer: No.

Admittedly, unless the thread appears to be very interesting, I will just post without reading other peoples'. If the thread peaks my interests I will generally read everyone else's comments. Thing is, on a forum this big, threads can be what...4...9...12 pages long? That is a lot of responses to read.

I don't know. A lot of times when I post in a busy thread especially I am aware my input won't be noticed...but I do it anyway. This isn't to increase my post count because, quite frankly, I couldn't care less about that.

It is quite confusing. Sometimes you get noticed (and quoted), sometimes you don't. I guess that's just the way it goes. I don't really know what else to say to it.

 

[Booze Zombie]

If someone makes a 20 word post asking us all if we like Stilton or Danish Blue cheese better, I'd answer, but I'm not going to dwell on it.
But, if someone makes a thread about, say, if being turned on by Hannah Montana makes you a paedophile, that's "food for thought", is it not?

I mean, actually asking a real question that you have to think about, as opposed to "do you like potatoes" or "are cucumbers better tasting than carrots", is very compelling.
In short, if the poster puts effort into making the thread, I will normally put effort into replying and thinking about what they've typed.
If they can't even be bothered to stop and think about what they're typing, if even they don't care about it, why should I be expected to care?

 

[Corpse XxX]

People like to talk about themselves, not listen to unknown people talk about their lives..

Everybody likes attention!

But will admit that i rarely read more than the first couple a pages with replies, maaaayyybe more if thread is especially interesting..

 

[Layz92]

I tend to avoid the low worth threads. A couple like "favourite movie" I take a peak at and maybe post on cos I or someone else might gain from it (seeing awesome movies listed in answers). I do tend to read the first 2 pages closely if I have an opinion to see if it is stated and check pages at random after that to see the direction chat is taking. I like to feel I've added something when I comment.

 

[Outright Villainy]

I'll read every reply if it's around 2 pages. If it's one of the huge ones, I'll read the first and last, or try and quote someone to get a conversation going amongst the noise.
The quoting system here is marvellous.

 

[Betancore]

I don't read through every post if the thread is already longer than three or four pages, unless it's a particularly interesting discussion, and I guess most of the time my posts are ignored, but I post anyway. I don't really know why I do it - thanks for making me think about this. I guess I post so my opinion's there, just in case someone does happen upon it. Some people have, surprisingly.

 

[Billion Backs]

Read about a page or two, post something. My replies aren't exactly welcome in most areas, and it's not like they're going to accomplish something, so why bother replying in the first place?

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

It depends on how busy I am. I post from my office desk when I have a spare five minutes rather than from a laptop when I'm sat on a sofa after work. This means that whilst I can nip in and out, checking for intersting threads or new posts every half hour to an hour, I can't stay online for an extended period to get involved in an in-depth discussion (well, except for on Fridays, they're usually slow as hell).

I see your point however, and it has struck me on more than one occasion that I'm posting in discussion forums without actually having a discussion with anyone. On the other hand however, if everyone got involved in a full on discussion over every thread (rather than just posting their opinions) threads would reach ludicrous lengths and many walls of text would result. Another reason for just posting an opinion and moving on is sooner or later in a discussion you'll encounter a fanboy/girl (whose opinion you will not be able to change regardless of the validity of your position) and at that point true discussion tends to stall.

The last and final reason is that sometimes people (in this case I'm referring to the OP of a given thread) just want to hear other people's opinions on a given subjuct, rather than get drawn into a long discussion as to the whys and the wherefores.

 

[Celtic_Kerr]

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

Specifically speaking, people seem to spend most of their time depositing their opinions on random "deposit your opinion here" subjects, without even reading anyone else's. Which I just don't understand. It just makes the whole thing inconsequential. Threads like "Poll: What's your favourite colour?" (I just made that example up, though I'm sure it's been done)
I mean, who actually cares what the favourite colour of some random stranger on the internet is? Yet people will still post theirs, and then move on, along with everyone else. I just don't understand what the point of those kind of threads is. I guess people just can't resist talking about themselves, even if nobody's listening. Some form of narcissistic catharsis or something...

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 think people are just trying to get various badges, so they create a topic that people will simply spam with opinions. Each time I create an original topic (example: Have you ever watched Firefly and what is your favourite moment? and you just alot of people saying "It was decent, but Joss Whedon could have..." or "It sucked"

To answer you, I ususally post on the low content topics. I make sure what I've said hasn't been mentioned 5,000,000 times as well.

 

[Aedes]

As you already stated, freaking long threads hardly have anything "to think about" in them so I try to avoid threads with more than 4 pages unless the subject really interest me.
Silly threads, if it has 3 pages or less, I only read the first page and reply but that's it. I don't keep track of it.

I guess that explains why my post count is so low, ha ha...

 

[Mr Thin]

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.

 

[Mr. Elemenopee]

I know it's tedious sometimes, but I like to read the comments before I comment. I look for threads that have been made before making them myself also. It's not that I like to be original or have answers that stand out, but if someone has said something that I would say, I would rather comment off of it and throw in my additional two cents. Also, it gives me the chance to add some new content to a thread rather than just reposting the same replies that have bombarded about 3 pages. But that's just me.

 

[James Joseph Emerald]

I don't read through every post if the thread is already longer than three or four pages, unless it's a particularly interesting discussion, and I guess most of the time my posts are ignored, but I post anyway. I don't really know why I do it - thanks for making me think about this. I guess I post so my opinion's there, just in case someone does happen upon it. Some people have, surprisingly.

That all makes sense.
Mostly. The main thing that confuses me is why people bother to post basically word-for-word what other people have already said. I suppose, in a way, it reinforces whatever point is being made. But I often find threads filled with like 50 generic, identical responses, and I've always wondered why the next one is so eager to ultimately waste his/her time becoming the 51st.

I guess it isn't something unique to the Escapist. Just a part of human nature I suppose.
(Though the Escapist is odd, in that its moderators are quite strict, yet allow all these frivolous, pointless threads. Guess it's linked with the whole 'post count prestige' that seems to exist around here. Paradoxically.)

 

[Dexiro]

I look at threads that interest me and usually skim through the first and last pages.

If someone has a similar opinion i'll try to expand on it, if someone has an opposing opinion i'll try to see the reasoning behind it and sometimes get a discussion going