Category: Daily Living
The New York Times had an article titled
For Some Social-Media Users, an Anxiety From Approval Seeking
I'm not going to review that article because it's not really about what I want to talk about. But it's an
interesting article, if you're into selfees etc, and it's the article which spurred me on to write this one. In
case the link above doesn't work, the url is
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/fashion/for-some-social-media-users-an-anxiety-from-approval-seeking.html
Anyway, I was just interested in why we post what we post.
If you've been around here for a while, you'll notice that some board topics take off, while others langer in cyber pergatory forever. Why is that?
Sometime take a look at the topics with the most posts, and topics with no responses. It's rather enlightening.
Question: have you ever started a topic? Why?
Have you ever subscribed to a topic? and why?
That's just a few things going through my muddled mind on a Sunday afternoon.
Wonder if anyone will be motivated to respond?
Bob
If I start a topic, it's often to ask for help, such as my recent questions about Windows 7 and Outlook 2013 issues since getting a new computer. I used to post a lot of jokes on the jokes board but don't get many good jokes lately so haven't posted jokes for awhile. I occasionally post a question just to see what people will say.
As far as responding to other people's topics, if the subject interests me I will at least read the post and responses even if I don't end up responding myself. If I feel I have something new to say and will not just be basically repeating what others have said, then I will respond. I tend not to even read subjects that don't interest me or subject lines
that are either not clear or have so many misspelled words that I figure I wouldn't be able to stand reading an entire post by someone who can't even correctly spell a few words in a subject line.
Likewise, there are certain people who irritate me with almost everything they post, so I steer clear of their board topics. I also have certain people whom I feel always have something interesting to say or at least can articulate their thoughts clearly, so I always read these posts.
I tend to stay away from extremely controversial subjects. I don't mind a good argument, but I would rather have these kinds of conversations in person rather than on message boards.
Good topic, Bob. I'll post again later if I think of anything else. I hope lots of people will write their thoughts here.
I'd say a lot of times I will start a topic to see if people are on the same page as I am about a certain thing I've been thinking about. I like to pick people's brains and see what they think. And, as for topics others start, I post what I do if I have something to say, even if the topic is controversial. If anything, I'll have something flippant to toss around since I tend to be the satirical sort. I'm not all that bothered about serious debate because I know I'm not good at it and many times just reading people pick at every little thing gets tiresome. I don't care if people think I'm right as long as I expressed myself, and expressing myself seems important to me.
I really like what others have said already. I've started several topics, some asking for computer help, some regarding hobbies, some about jobs, and of course several rants. I don't know why some take off and others don't. Interesting though.
I have a few reasons for posting boards, depending on the sort of board post.
There's the obvious, asking for help or advice or suggestions. Then sometimes
there are things I feel people could benefit from reading, like tech articles or
civil rights articles or laws, that sort of thing. Mostly though, I do it to subject
my opinions and positions to scrutiny. Its how my opinions and abilities at
defending them improve. Hope that answers your question. Interesting thoughts
for a sunday.
I find others' perspective informative. Even if I don't agree, chances are I might know
someone who does, and this helps me understand them more. Debate expert or
rhetorician I am not.
I'm afraid my posts can be cathartic, and can help me turn my thoughts into words, which
results too often in posts that ar ramble and are disjointed. They help me think, for better
or worse.
Ironically, perhaps, in real life I do a lot of processing in my head before I tell people
things. As the Better Half puts it, She never gets to be part of my processes. Even
recently, we have dealt with this. I have been like this as long as I can remember,long
before the Internet.
But this anonymous forum, for better or worse, helps me turn thoughts and ideas to
words, and ultimately crystallize them into something useful.
I post to hopefully help users when a specific thing keeps coming up if I can.
I post about things on my mind to see what we think, and sometimes I post silly subjects because they strike me.
Otherwise I'd say the same things Becky has said.
I forgot about posting articles. I have done that occasionally if I think others will be interested in the subject matter.
I try to help people who ask questions if the questions are about something I know about. I don't have much tech knowledge so can't usually be helpful to people who ask tech questions, and sometimes I don't even read those kinds of posts because I know I won't be any help. But sometimes I do read them just because I'm curious about what other people say and have actually found some useful information I can use myself even though I never thought to ask the question.
Must say Becky your jokes are one of the few jokes on the joke board that i really enjoy
reading and get some chucle out of it. I do miss those grins.
I think, sometime, when come to posting something, anything really on the net can either
to seek for help, voice some opinion, and at times, some people feel like they need to post
because their peers have done so, a little of peer pressure among other thing else.
I'm interested in reading posts that will give me some thoughts to ponder about, some
intelegent discussion instead of having a discussion for the sake of discussion, and also
post that bring new knowledge and new prospective to my life.
However, this is getting very rare and few on the zone, and dare i say, on many social
media.
I post for a lot of reasons. I have started topics to start a discussion. I post to
topics to express my opinion and to share my little knowledge about a certain
subject. Sometimes I find other's post amusing and so I express it on my posts.
I like to ask questions, so enjoy knowing what others think. I'm no where near a
good debater, but I've done it, enjoyed it and learned from them. I think mainly
that's why. I learn a lot from these boards... so enjoy reading them when the
writing is just wonderful, sincere and or interesting.
Like others, I have posted to gain help on an issue. But the main reason I post topics is to showcase my work, either with writing or audio production. I thrive both on praise and validation, and constructive criticism. I like it when people read or listen to my hard work, and I like the suggestions I receive. I've discovered this isn't the best site for that however. I also post to defend something I believe in against misinformation, not in the hopes of changing the mind of the person I'm opposing, because more often than not I'm not enough of a confrontationalist to sway someone, but in the hopes that others reading the exchange will have another view to consider. I will say that I've noticed many of the most non-game topics seem to be ones created either to debate an issue, or merely to stir the pot. Some people love to create contravercial topics for that very reason.
Hey. I want to thank everyone who posted here. I found your posts enlightening but not very surprising.
I sometimes start topics to get an idea of what others think on a subject, (this topic for example). Sometimes I read an article somewhere else and wonder what my friends on the zone would think of it.
Occasionally I'll post to a topic to present a different point of view. (This especially applies to posts about religion), because I'm not really sure what I think about a subject, but want to try out various positions.
Leo's recent topic about exiting from religion was a case in point. I could tell that Leo was very serious (some would say "convicted" about this topic, so I tried to keep the snarky remarks down to a minimum. Not sure how successful I was.
On the other hand there was the religion topic started by "megotyousendbright" (whatever his name is). I posted to that one just cause it was fun.
Becky and I used to trade gigs at one another, and that caused me to post to a lot of topics I wouldn't have otherwise. We've kind of gotten away from that for the present.
Finally, I've started topics to get help on a subject (usually geeky stuff) and have found the results life saving at times.
Both ForReal and JhRadio have been most helpful here, along with b3n.
So that's some of the reasons I post what I post.
Bob
Hey Bob, you idiot, don't you mean we used to trade "digs" at each other and not "gigs?"
I post what I post, mainly cause I know the way I think is vastly different than how society thinks I should think, as a woman, as a fellow human being, and mostly, as someone who's all about challenging/pushing the boundaries of society's current norms.
I wholeheartedly believe that differences need to be expressed and embraced, rather than hidden.
occasionally, I'll post things to help people, as well.
Becky, you idiot, you remember "digs" I remember "gigs".
Question is, are we talking about the same memories?
Bob
I’ve posted relatively few actual topics here, but I think of the ones I have done, the one was for fun, a couple have been for help, and my most recent one was to spark some thought/philosophizing/bullshitting. I think I debate reasonably well, but recognize that there are times when I’m wrong. Sometimes I have to vent or rant, like on some of the religion topics, mostly because some anxt has to get out. Or I want to express the progress I think I’ve made in certain areas. And there are things I might want to say on these boards that I can’t necessarily say in public. I’ve stopped posting to boards originated by Mygodwhositswhatsit or whatever the hell he calls himself mostly because it leads down the slaughterhouse lane to stupidity. But I try not to post if I don’t have anything to say.
I post for pretty much the same reasons as everyone else has stated: to ask for suggestions, or if anyone else has heard of or had experience with some kind of product or whatever. Or how others do something as a blind person. Often I post to try to answer someone else's question. This was especially true when I was a CL, though I will still post an answer if I think I have something useful to say. Also when I was a CL, I'd post to defend myself or someone on the CL team at the time. And of course there's posts just to rant and vent about things. When I knew more people on the site, I sometimes posted asking for support. Years ago, when I lost my Shadow kitty, I sought support on the boards. But don't think I've posted anything of that nature recently. I think Becky was the one who said it, I also choose what topics to read and respond to based on the author. Some people's topics consistently frustrate me, so I don't even bother, and some consistently interest me, so I make it a point to read and respond. If a board gets too lengthy, I find that eventually I lose interest in it, even if I posted at the beginning, generally because it's veered so far from the original topic that it's gotten pointless.
I generally only start a thread when I have something to promote or annouce which I think is of interest. I will answer the questions of others if I happen to know the answer. I like debate, and if a particular post really annoys me as either inaccurate, biggoted, or unfair attacks, I am moved to correct, defend or challenge. I really see very few compelling threads though.
interesting topic and I mainly start a board because I just wanna hear what others have to say about it and I will post to boards that sound good and that are interesting or of use to me, smiles.
I've noticed, that by and large, its easy enough to categorize the users here in
to groups based on what they post and why. Here are the categories i've
mentally, and to this point, subconsciously observed.
I think this is an oversimplification of peoples goals and desires, but lets run
with it anyway.
1. Validators. Strengths, are known for creating or sharing interesting content.
they use these boards to improve their work, and enjoy showing people the
end results.
Weaknesses: some, but not all validators can create what would appear to be a
controversial topic only to affirm their own views. What Leo likes to call the
Echo chamber effect.
2. Explorers.
Strengths: Are usually open minded. Often times are positively self interested.
They believe that almost every user can share something with them of value.
Weaknesses: their bend for self improvement based on their core values can at
times hinder them from relating to or identifying with others, Because this isn't
their goal. Sometimes they use these forums to solve problems or explore their
own issues, but leave the end results on the board itself, rather than applying
them to their lives, where applicable.
3. challengers
Strengths: they often tend to come to a discussion armed for battle, with
information, tactics and/or a really thick skin. They feel confident in themselves
as relates to the topics they choose to challenge others on, and aim to educate
them about why their paths are superior. challengers don't give up easily.
Weaknesses: In the event a challenger is wrong, their stubbornness, and belief
they are in the right make it very hard for them to take a contradicting view
seriously. challengers are often adept at rationalizing away anything they don't
wish to here.
4. Lurkers/observers.
Observers hardly post, particularly in topics out of their comfort zones. So while
they may read a lot, not sharing their own views, ideas, opinions and
experiences can be its own strength and weakness. On the one hand, no one
will challenge you, or push you to explore further. But, this comes at the cost of
interacting with people, gaining their assistance in learning about the world,
ones self, and differing ways of living. A question never asked, is never
answered.
I think all of us to a degree exhibit some of these personality types at times.
though they usually pare up in sets of two. Observer/explorer,
Explorer/challenger, challenger/validator, and explorer/validator.
Wow James, that was extremely well put: Not just the categories and categorical relationships, but the strengths and weaknesses therein.
We're usually painfully aware of our own weaknesses, something that runs rampant as a characteristic of our species. I was challenged personally by reading your post.
I don't have much to add. my reasons are a little of everything claimed above except for making flippant coments or some type of arguments, at least not anymore.
I use to be type one and 3, but I have discovered I am rather questioning whether I enjoy debating. I am rather great at it, but do not enjoy it quite as much as I did. I am more type 1 and 2, these days.