Would you respond to a discussion that had nothing to do with you???

@reinydawn (11643)
United States
October 28, 2007 10:38pm CST
I mean, just to put your two cents in? I have done that on occasion and usually it turns out ok. But recently I responded to a discussion that really didn't affect me, but I thought the person posting might like to know why. So I stated that the issue the person was having had nothing to do with me right for the start. I then proceeded to tell them why so that I might offer a little insight as to why people might disagree with the post. Well, I got a pretty "mean" sounding reply, which I took to mean the post obviously didn't pertain to me so I had no business responding to it. I just posted to another one tonight and did about the same thing - and again I prefaced my comment with the fact that it wasn't something that applied to me. I like to discuss things with people - and I've learned a lot by doing that. Do you just stick to "your" kinds of topics or do you try to find "good" topics to respond and contribute to?
6 people like this
20 responses
• United States
29 Oct 07
Actually, I think responding to any or all (if that were possible) is the idea here. I mean, it's not like this is a private area or anything like that. If someone wants to communicate in private they can PM or email or "get a room". Plus it's kinda fun going around and dropping in here and there--sorta like a party. Isn't that why we're here?
• United States
29 Oct 07
The analogy of being at a party is a good one! I like that. Now if I could just figure out how to be as open at a real party as I am on here I would have it made.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 07
vanbuchanan - I love it!! Get a room!!! That's awesome!! Yup, that's how I feel too, it's a public forum, anyone can join :)
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 07
blueunicorn - I'm much more outgoing here than in real life too, but I'm working on it!!!
2 people like this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
29 Oct 07
I try to be very versatile in answering discussions... i try to answer discussions from all walks of life as long as i have knowledge on the particular topic... that way i earn, learn, and voice out my opinion... Some discussion that i answer affect me and some don't but it doesn't really matter for me as long as i gave my best in responding...
4 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 07
I like it also when you can tell that the person has put some thought into the response - even if they aren't knowledgeable about the topic. At least they aren't just putting "I agree" or something like that!!! Thanks!
2 people like this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
29 Oct 07
If by what you said, you mean you answer topics you know a little about, but didn't necessarily pertain to you personally? sure...I'd answer one like that. I don't know why you would get slammed, though. Not everything we know in life comes from personal experience. Sometimes from knowing someone who has gone through something we also learn things.
3 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 07
If the topic interests me, I reply with what I think, regardless of wether or not I have personal experience with it or it is even relevant to me. If we all stayed in our comfort zone all the time we'd be like little turtles...
2 people like this
• Abernathy, Texas
31 Oct 07
I like that "If we all remained in our comfort zones, we'd be like little turtles"
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
1 Nov 07
Thanks artemis! Every once in a while I can come up with a good one :)
@laurika (4532)
• United States
29 Oct 07
YEs I would response to a topic like that too.And not for my two cents, but for helping someone or just saying my opinion.Ok I might not be in the same situation like a person, but I still can say my opinion.
4 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 07
Yes, we all have our own opinions - weither they're helpful or not we wont know unless we post them. Thanks!
2 people like this
• Australia
29 Oct 07
Absolutely! We all have opinions and deserve to voice them. Gosh, if we kept our traps shut, we would be quite boring! lol. You go for it, and if they are less than nice about it, then stuff them! I just respond back in a positive way! lol. don't let it stop you from being who you are! All the best.
3 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 07
I tried not to be rude in my reply to theirs, but I did want to let them know that I can respond to anything really... At least my response wasn't off-the-wall or anything. Now, that I would understand and have seen before.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
30 Oct 07
Eh, some people are just like that. Then we move on :) See ya!
1 person likes this
• Australia
30 Oct 07
They need to remove their heads from their...never mind...and get with the real world. Some people are just sour. Don't let it affect you. They are the ones with no life! lol.
1 person likes this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
29 Oct 07
I would, and I do. I love to discuss topics that are interesting to me, and even if I am not in an exact situation I still feel I might have a valid point or opinion. I've heard of others on this board that rate the poster negatively or attack them for their views, but so far I haven't experienced that. Knock on wood. In my opinion if a person doesn't want to have people comment on their discussion they should not put it on a public forum such as this one.
3 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 07
Ya know, that's EXACTLY what I told the one person. I told them I was sorry for commenting on their topic, and that I thought it was open to anyone not just people that agreed with it. Thanks!
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 07
I think weird is more normal than anything!!
2 people like this
• United States
29 Oct 07
Some people can't handle when someone disagrees with them. To me, though, a disagreement is another chance to dig into a person's mind and find out what leads them to think that when. Then again, I'm just plain weird and think that's what life is all about!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
29 Oct 07
I, too, will jump in, if I think I have an insight. The fact is, this is a free PUBLIC forum, and if they put it out there, they are asking for comments. If they do not want comments, they need to send out private messages. I like to discuss, as well. I am sorry that someone was rude. When they do not like your post, or feel it does not pertain to the discussion, they can skip it. No need to be mean.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 07
Yeah, I was probably even asking for trouble because the original post was very negative so I should have known what mindset the person was in and expected such a reply. I normally tend to shy away from discussion that start out heated, but sometimes I just have to butt in...
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Oct 07
Breast Cancer Awareness - This is something we all know something about and is a pretty safe topic!
Reinydawn, If the topic was baseball or football, I would totally stay out of it as I know NOTHING about it. One of my dear friends is very knowledgeable about politics. She starts most interesting discussions and just because I love her so much I will most often pop in with my opinion; but when I read the other responses I feel like the dumb woman on the block. The good part of this is that I am getting a bit of an education. This is not to say that I agree with all of the views espoused on her threads, but I am learning. If I don't know anything about the subject, I don't think that I would actually use the word "disagree"; but I would do the rest of what you did. I would explain that I didn't know anything about the discussion but was wanting to learn more. I am sorry that you were treated in a manner that was hurtful to you.~D
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 07
Well, the one discussion that I was kinda slammed for responding to, was pretty banal to begin with... The person was griping because some of their friends don't state clearly what the discussion is about, they just put it in that interest and then talk about it. I know you've seen this before, someone posts a disucssion in the interest "Tommy Boy" which is a movie. Well, that discussion topic and discussion don't reference the title of the movie. Well, this person responds to all the topics through e-mail (which I didn't know you could do because I don't use notify for any of my friends, I just check them all here). Well, the gripe was to have people put a reference to what they're talking about in the topic or discussion so they could respond accordingly. Well, I told them that it doesn't affect me and I had no clue what they were talking about. But, the reason I didn't have a problem with it is because I reply through the web page and can see the interest that the discussion is posted in. So, I didn't have this problem (and I wasn't alone in not having the problem either). Well I was told I obviously had no clue what they were talking about and should have not wasted my time responding (that wasn't the exact words, but probably pretty close). Then last night - now that you mention sports... - I saw a discussion about the whole football/soccer thing. Someone wanted people to stop saying soccer when talking about football and to not call our football football because that's what they call soccer - or something to that effect. Well, again, I don't do sports - some baseball but that's about it. But, I told them I was raised to know that football was with touchdowns and soccer was with goals and I don't think we're going to change our wording because someone else calls it something different. I'm still waiting to see what kinda response I get on that one. But I like to give my input, and that's what I'm here for. I also read through other peoples input because I know we all think differently. It's a GREAT learning experience!!!
1 person likes this
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
29 Oct 07
I find this really hard, I always think of fairness and do my best to respond to discussions that I know I am aware of. I am not an inventor, so I don't make up things just to earn here on mylot. Same as you, it's safe to say that we can provide them insights and ideas to help them solve their issues but I also don't tell them that I don't have any experiences same as their's to avoid confusions. I also put some of my posts in "general" explanations, for them to have a good picture of what I was referring to.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 07
For this one discussion (which I did go into more detail on another persons reply) I thought it was kinda neccessary for me to tell them I didn't know what they were talking about because I didn't do things the way they did. I wanted them to know that not everyone does stuff the same so the issue the person had wasn't an issue for me - although we both responded to the original discussion that sparked the issue.
2 people like this
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
29 Oct 07
I saw that topic you're talking about, I skipped it since the title seems too negative already for me to post at. I also think that the threadhost has no REAL knowledge of the topic he was trying to discuss, so I didn't waste my time sharing my cent(s) worth. I believe your post is not offensive at all, I believe that they just misunderstood your point since they came from a non-english speaking country..
1 person likes this
• India
29 Oct 07
we have nothing to lose by responding our opinion on a topic
2 people like this
• United States
31 Oct 07
Hi Dawn, I think it depends. I mean Im a passionate person, and if I feel strongly about something and I feel it might just give someone another insight to look at, I will post. I think that person who got upset with you, might have just felt like you were against them or something. Too closed minded anyway, so I wouldnt worry about it. I mean this is a discussion forum, you are a memeber. Ive told someone to re-read my discussion and try to reply again, cos they really didnt hit on the topic, which was a pretty controversial one, and someone else piped up and told me that the last time they checked it was a public forum, you can post anywhere. LOL Well!! *rolling my eyes* Cant let that kind of thing bother you. I think people who really only want one sided opinions, should state that! Or if they JUST want their friends to reply, put it in the title or in the body of your post. OR...lol, they could just simply ignore your comment like so many do. Bay xx
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
31 Oct 07
Hey, I read that post!!! Ya gotta love it!!! Yup, it's a public forum, and when something hits me wrong I like to let the person know that they've gone a bit too far maybe. OK, I'm done plussing for tonight - it's almost tomorrow. I'll catch up with you in a few hours (when I have to get up for work...)
1 person likes this
• Abernathy, Texas
31 Oct 07
Bayleigh - When you say they didn't really hit the topic that they posted an answer that didn't really address the discussion? Because that's happened to me. Alot. One time when some guy was only answering on what was the first few words, which made him totally off topic, he said he has the right to anwswer whatever he feels like. And then asked if I knew what a netcop was. I guess he was saying I was being one or something.
• United States
31 Oct 07
Exactly Art, they just read the title, or they got only so far into the discussion hit a sour note and then started responding or something. This is how I feel about it, its MY discussion, and I feel that since Im the author of the discussion, I can basically say what Id like, and say who I think shouldnt respond to it. Not like Im going to someone elses discussion and telling someone they had no business commenting there. Which Ive seen on several occasions. I was discussing why God made us the way he did sexually. And someone went off the handle wrote this long a** comment mentioning how wrong it was to be gay, and how you dont wash your a** with a toothbrush and comparing being gay to stuff like that. Im like HUH? The discussion wasnt ABOUT being gay!! And so I comment back saying, they sounded a bit mental themselves, oh because they also mentioned that gay people were considered mentally ill at one time, and I asked them if they were drunk when they wrote this and told them that if they wanted to try and read the discussion again, they could repost without all the garbage they posted with in the first place. Then someone else pipped up and "reminded" me that this was a public forum and that memebers could post when and where they like basically. I told her off too. LOL
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
30 Oct 07
I have few consideration in replying discussion. If that topic had nothing to do with me, I'll take a look, is that topic actual, interesting to discuss, guideline violation, is that topic really important to the topic starter. Those factor lead me to reply or not.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
30 Oct 07
Sounds like you like to broaden your horizons also. I like to talk about everything!
• Indonesia
30 Oct 07
Yes, I do. I'm an open minded person. I always like to see something from different angle, sometime things does not looks like it supposed to be.
1 person likes this
@fird6rer (21)
• Brazil
29 Oct 07
I think the most important is try to contribute and help people with they questions. 2 cents... afff
2 people like this
• India
2 Nov 07
i like to find topics that are new to me... the basically as you said my friend... help you learn new things information one way or the other....i also prefer topics within my interest as well... its benefiacial in many ways.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
3 Nov 07
I usually stick with topics that I'm familiar with, but if I see something that catches my eye I'll read and post on it.
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
29 Oct 07
I try to stick to discussion that interest me and seldom just put my two cents in for the sake of earning a few pennies. If I can't think of anything to say I would rather use my time saying something that matters.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
30 Oct 07
Oh no, this wasn't just to earn a couple pennies - if that were the case I'd have left long ago... The discussion actually stemmed from a discussion that both me and this person responded to. I wanted to let them know that I didn't have the same gripe as them because I didn't use the same process they did. And since not everyone used the same process as them it would be hard for everyone to comply with how they wanted things done.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
30 Oct 07
I usually respond only to posts that have to do with me, but once in awhile, like when a person asks about some oddball diet, I put my two cents in because I worry that they haven't had a check up or that the diet is missing too many vitamins and minerals and could be dangerous. But it gets discouraging when you write a discussion question and person after person says, "No, I don't know anything about this, but...." Then why is the person replying if they don't know anything about it? Sometimes, I can see how one person might not know what a plant like milkweed is or one person might want clarification. But 5 to 20 of them on one topic? Especially the ones that say they don't know and don't want to know. So what do you do with that? I don't know, but want to know. So one person once in awhile, I don't mind, but an entire slew of them, it gets to be a bit much.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
30 Oct 07
Yeah, I can see your point. If there is nothing at all in the discussion that you can contribute to then it's kinda dumb to respond. But some topics are foreign to me but I'd like to know more or share my views of what I "think" it is. Then I can get come clarification and hopefully broaden my horizons a bit.
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
29 Oct 07
Every once in awhile I will. Just because I don't have an experience with something doesn't mean I don't have ideas or an opinion on the matter. Sometimes people just need to see a different perspective on an issue or problem.
29 Oct 07
To be honest, I just love to stick my nose in, and I think, if you have an opinion on a discussion that has started, it has got something to do with you! Everybody is entitled to their opinion, and I don't think you should get a "mean" reply for having your say. I thought that is why freedom of speech was brought about! If people didn't want people to reply to their posts, they shouldn't have started them in the first place! I like to look at posts that have nothing to do with me, simply to find out what is going on in the world and to see what other people are thinking. If I have an opinion on whatever they are talking about, I will have my say! "Mean" response or not!
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
30 Oct 07
I read a ton of posts that have nothing to do with me - or so it seems in the beginning. And I've learned from responding to them, I've also met some cool people that way too!!! I just felt like this person only wanted people that agreed to respond, not to hear any other possible side of the coin. I usually try to stay clear of those people, but sometimes I fall into the trap!
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
30 Oct 07
I have responded to topics that don't personally pertain to me, but i still have an opinion or advice on the matter. I think that being open to peoples opinions whether they are in the same position as you or are just trying to be helpful are valuable resources. Sometimes it takes an "outsider looking in" to see what may be really going on.
1 person likes this
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
30 Oct 07
I have responded to topics that don't personally pertain to me, but i still have an opinion or advice on the matter. I think that being open to peoples opinions whether they are in the same position as you or are just trying to be helpful are valuable resources. Sometimes it takes an "outsider looking in" to see what may be really going on.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
30 Oct 07
I think you summed it up pretty good. Thanks for sharing that!