"What moves people to post and participate in forums?"

The many answers to Brett's burning question

[solly]

In message #36 of this thread:

[webmasterworld.com...]

Brett_Tabke asked an intriguing question:

What moves people to post and participate in forums, email lists, or old BBS discussions?

I don't know if that question has been asked in a dedicated topic or not not, but another important question to ask is the converse of that: "Why don't you post?"

For me, I only post when I feel I have something valuable to contribute. I usually live by the philosophy of keeping my mouth shut and having people assume I'm stupid vs opening it and removing all doubt. So, I don't post when I feel I could be wrong. Additionally, I only ask questions when I can't find the answer after doing a thorough search.

I do feel the ideal of reciprocity is involved when I post. When I glean information from others, I want to return something to the community. Which is also interesting concept, this one of "community." We all here, I think, have this sense of webmaster brother/sisterhood that compels us to help out our siblings--even if being a webmaster is the only thing that ties us together. But, that is just my opinion...

What about you makes you post? Why don't you post more often?

[Lyndsay]

I *hate* nonsense posts. Or when someone repeats another post just for the sake of post count. Ugh, in fact I hate post counters... it's kind of like PR. It doesn't mean anything, but people will do anything to get it.

Like you Solly, I will only post if I have something to contribute. And because I'm new to so much of this, often I'm asking more questions than contributing to a discussion or helping someone else. I enjoy jumping in when I can help someone. It makes me feel good.

It also takes me a while to feel comfortable posting. Hence lurking for a while. Get to know the people.

[JerryOdom]

My posting is much like how I am in everyday life. I like to read, learn, etc but don't talk much. I usually only post when I have questions or when a question needs an answer.

I've been here since 2001 and only posted around 500 times. I see people come in new and run up that many posts in no time.

[john_k]

There are a couple of factors. The most important is if I read the post and find myself shaking my head and whispering to the poster "you poor sod. You have no idea."

Then I jump right in and post to help them.

Not that I shook my head at your post, Solly. And not that there would be anything wrong with that if I had. :)

Othertimes I just feel like adding useless banter to a thread.

If I am trying to avoid my real-world work, it usually lowers the inhibition too. That way people walking by my desk think my rapid keyboard work is probably real work.

[DamonHD]

Hi,

I post to add information (or a dash of humour, I hope!) to a thread, if I think I can help.

I hope that I've now stopped posting to show off, but only you, dear readers, can confirm or deny that! B^>

I like to go on "giving something back" to the Net which has helped me make a comfortable and interesting living for well over a decade.

Rgds

Damon

[Pfui]

On this site, where technical experts abound, I try to balance my posts so that for every post where I seek help, I try to make at least one and preferably two posts where I give help.

(It would be easier to only post my questions, but that feels kinda selfish.)

On other sites, my posts depend on the focus, the members, the rules, the degree of camaraderie. But having moderated boards for eight-plus years, I usually hover in the background -- all the while resisting helping out with milieu management:)

[AWildman]

One reason I don't post, especially to someone else's question, is how RUDE some people can be, as if you'd just written the dumbest thing EVER. Sometimes memberA will give a reply to a question and memberB tells the poster not to listen to memberA because that person is (insert favorite insult).

Another is being ignored because one doesn't have a gazillion posts. Doesn't matter if lowpostmemberA has been a (insert career here) for a hundred years and has mad skills because the number next to the name implies that answer can be ignored. I try to always thank everyone after every post or give some sort of response to know that the replies are appreciated.