Why do people post when they have nothing to say?

[bimbley]

Ok, I don't want to start a flame war here. I'm just genuinely interested in a frame of mind which I don't understand. I don't float around many web forums, so I'm not sure if this is something that's particular to The Escapist or more widespread, but why do so many people seem to post such pointless things?

I'm not talking about topics or opinions that seem silly, or about arguments that just seem to cycle round and round. At least those guys are trying to be productive. I'm talking about things like replying to a thread called 'Post a picture of yourself' with 'No'. Why bother?

The one that really sticks in my mind is one I saw a while back in response to a poll. The first poster wrote something along the lines of, 'I don't really have an opinion on that right now, but I'll have a think and post later'. I shit you not. What is the point? Why did he think anyone cared about anything in that sentence?

I know all that might sound a bit ranty, but I'm just curious about this mindset which is clearly so different from mine. Is there an obvious answer that I've missed? Are people just trying to get their post count up?

-Bim

 

[PureChaos]

they get asked a question, they reply, even if it doesn't really answer it...that's my theory anyway

 

[Hobo Joe]

In all honesty that's what I've concluded, people posting something just substantial enough to not invoke moderator wrath so they can raise their post count.

 

[Jaythulhu]

For the same reason that twitter exists: Everyone believes that everything they do and say is of the utmost importance, and that everyone else must read what they're saying and recognise their brilliance.

In other words, delusions of importance.

 

[SantoUno]

I rarely ever see that on here. Maybe you've just been lucky, because I can safely say that's not tolerated here on The Escapist so almost no one does it.

And yes, some people are probably posting half-assed responses just for the sake of posting.

 

[Samwise137]

I agree, man. The first couple times it's funny but after a while it gets old. I think, yes, to some extent it has something to do with post count but there's enough threads here that it's probably possible to get the post count up without too much effort. People are so selfish these days...

 

[VulakAerr]

I'm not really sure. Sorry.

Okay, I couldn't resist that. The most obvious answer is to boost their post count. A less obvious answer is "because they know it'll wind you up". I don't understand trolling and I never will, but sometimes you just need to accept that people work differently and move on. After you've clicked "Report", obviously.

 

[Armored Prayer]

I guess they just wanted to increase their post count. I know I sometimes do.

I must admit I posted in that 'post a picture of yourself' saying "no thanks!" when instead I should of just not posted there. It was a mistake and I'll try my best to stop doing that.

 

[rokkolpo]

4chan syndrom, it doesn't have to make sense, just response.

That's how i call it.

EDIT: I might need to start doing this, so i might finally achieve 5000 posts.
I've been stuck on 4000 for ages (JK)

 

[Sassafrass]

Well, I've got two theories.

The first is to raise the post count higher and try and get noticed in the worst possible way[footnote]Although if they really want to do that, just go to forum games and groups, it does work fairly well at getting you noticed in the worst way and also getting people to wonder in a thread about Halo whether or not I need a therapist. ¬¬[/footnote] or, and I saw this reason given on a news article here, that it's a free forum and they are allowed to do as they please, within the rules, obviously.

So it's either one of those two reasons or another reason I can't think of yet.

 

[The Wykydtron]

O HAI THAR GUIZE WAT IS UP?!?!?!?!?!?!

Ok now that the needlessness is over i beleive i can answer your question...With this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z4m4lnjxkY

I would also like to ask the OP to chill at least they aren't deciding to flame.

 

[Palademon]

Gives a sense of that person's opinion, even if it doesn't help you.

 

[thylasos]

A subconcious linking of post-count to erotic desire? I've no idea.

 

[Anti Nudist Cupcake]

I don't know why.





Edit: haha, just kidding, I thought it would be funny to reply in a way you dislike.

Anyway, I think it's because they are the kind of people who will ALWAYS say whatever is on their mind, and I mean EVERYTHING that is on their mind.

The reason we don't see them talk too much (seeing as they say anything that's on their mind, you'd expect them to say allot of things on these threads) is because they generally don't have that much going on inside their minds to begin with,which makes sense with the retardedness of their posts.

 

[Ranchcroutons]

Well since I'm so new here I am always looking for places to bump up my post count but if I don't have anything to add to the discussion then I will not post. Each of my post in someway adds an idea or opinion even if that idea has been stated before.

EDIT: Also even before I was an active member I noticed that moderators would punish people with pointless post and I am very much afraid of the mods so I do my best to be a good Escapist poster.

 

[Nouw]

Well aren't they allowed to have a neutral response? For example in a thread about crying and movies.
"I haven't cried once watching a movie. Is this normal?"

And to counter that they want to raise their post count, perhaps they should walk over to the Forum Games sub-forum...
[sub]P.S. There can be a very dry season of threads so you end up posting anyway >.>[/sub]

 

[Zipa]

This thread seems more than a little pointless tbh.

 

[Bobic]

Boredom makes fools of us all.

 

[FalloutJack]

There are varying cases, of course. In my experience, people come to the Escapist (for one) to just eat up time until the next thing on their list. So, not all comments will be a discourse on the next evolution of man. In my case, I try to make any comment that isn't necessarily a true answer to the question funny, so that even if the conversation isn't moved forwards by my direct input, people can have a quick laugh.