What's more important, starting discussions or answering them?

United States
January 15, 2009 4:29am CST
Is it more important to start discussions on mylot then to answer them? I am new to mylot, not even a week yet, and I noticed a lot of users starting multiple discussions almost every day. The topics may not seem that interesting, or important, yet they keep popping them out. I also noticed that a lot of those who start these discussions, don't respond to the discussions that others start, or to the responses they get. Why do you think that is? Why do you do it? Do you read the discussions, and responses? Do you respond to the responses of others? Is it more important to start discussions, or read them and try to respond in a way that is honest, yet helpful. I try to answer discussions based on my experience, and knowledge. Some of the discussions, and responses I have read have been funny, other's have been stupid, and others have been written by people who obviously don't have a strong command of the English language. Are people from all over the world accepted on this site? Do you really get the meaning of the responses provided by those who don't write English very well? Are people of all ages accepted as well? If so, other then seeking advice, what would someone so young as 10 or so have to offer anyone by way of helpful advice? Do you think you make more money for starting as many discussions as you can, answering as many as you can, or relaying as much information as you can one discussion at a time? What do you think?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@cornyman (1128)
• Germany
16 Jan 09
Hello LuckyLadyD i think when you come to the point of earnings it's equal because it depends on the length of the discussion description or your response. But for the beginning you could earn more with discussions because you can add a picture that matches with your topic! For your responses you have to wait until you have 500 points behind your name to add additional a picture into each response. My experience which you can read in my guide is that you must have also luck that somebody answers to your discussions, otherwise there is no earning for you. The ages range here from over 14 to over 80 but in the last weeks i recognized that many youngster registered in myLot. Sure some of them write just one or two sentences, others can write already very good responses and discussions, too. Sometimes it's difficult to get the meaning of not well-written english speaking members, but you will get used to it like i did, believe me Usually i read almost every response, if there are not more than 30, otherwise i read randomly on each page some that catch my eyes. Afterwards i can build my opinion and write not similar things. I think answer little bit more to discussion than i start discussions because i'm busy in commenting on my huge responding discussion since some weeks now. But this is what i like, staying in contact with the users who wrote me and it gives you some earnings for each comment. Enjoy your time in myLot, your guide for myLot cornyman!
• United States
16 Jan 09
Hello Cornyman, and thank you for responding to my discussion. You seem to have a very strong command of the English language, and use it pretty much in context. However, I do get the sense that English isn't your first language. Where are you from? Where were you educated? It would be interesting to know, because I sense that in addition to English not really being your mother tongue, you are really well read, and educated. I also feel you are particulary well versed on how to make money on this site, a topic I truly hope you will continue to share with me. You know, show me the ropes as I go along. How long have you been on mylot? Do you start regular discussions? Do you respond to discussions by people on your friends list? Or, do you primarily respond to those who generally have responded to you?
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@cornyman (1128)
• Germany
16 Jan 09
Hello again, i'm from Germany but use English actively since a few years by chatting with many people around the globe and recently (the last 16 months) because of my wife with whom i live now in Malaysia for the next 2 years. Sure, sometimes i'm too lazy to watch in the dictionary for a better translation . I think i like to respond to my own discussion but this is only my preference. I know some friends of mine in myLot who mainly respond to discussions because they are not good in starting discussions and others like to start many discussions but respond very less to other discussions. There are no rules on this topic in myLot, you just can animate them to answer to your discussion or that they comment on their own discussions, so that you have a dialog.
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@cornyman (1128)
• Germany
16 Jan 09
Forgot which questions you asked me in your last paragraph I'm in myLot since the second week of November and i began first only with responding and after some days i started one or two discussions (after i had some friends which are very helpful in responding). Afterwards i started discussions only when i felt i have something important to share (even when it's only for a few people, like the book review). For luck some of my discussion have a lot of responses and i am working since many weeks on commenting them. If i have the time i will respond to some of my friends discussion when i have something to say about the topic, otherwise it's not suitable to give a response (also written in the discussion guidelines of myLot - have a look at the bottom of the page).
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@smalneni (99)
• India
15 Jan 09
Hi friend,first of all interest that topic.After that known that topic that's experience and knowledge on that topic ok that's enough.OK take care of it. Have a nice day.
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• United States
15 Jan 09
Hi and thank you for responding to my discussion. Your response was very short, and after reading it my impressions is that you are one of the very same people I was talking about that doesn't have a strong command of the English language. Why do I think that? Well, the way you worded your response to me comes of as being harsh, and talking down to me. Or, are you one of the ones I was talking about that's 10 to 15, and doesn't really have experience enough in life to offer a tactful response.
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• India
15 Jan 09
Ok,your thinking your thinking your good.I have little command on these language,but I think that replay is enough,topic not see length of the replay,see the stuff of the repaly ok.
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• United States
25 Jan 09
I am afraid to say that I have no clue what you are trying to say. I'm very sorry, but thank you for your response anyway.
@sonusd (1547)
• India
15 Jan 09
i think there is parallel relation between starting and answering as well if you only start and do not answer any one then he/she me feel that his/her posts are not quality or not containing good content so it is better to startt as well as answering other post we should always sshow respect to others
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• United States
15 Jan 09
Hi, and thank you for your response. I think you are right when you say that people don't get responses to their discussions, and that hurts their feelings. Content does have a lot to do with it for me. If I find someone is discussing an issue that is important to me, or if they sound like they could really use some help, I try to be as helpful as I can. By the same token, since a lot of discussions aren't responded to, it could also be the way the content is voiced. That's one of the reasons I brought up a strong command of the English language in my discussion. If a person starts a discussion, and doesn't have a strong command of the language, their point may not come across. If words aren't used in their proper context, it can be quite offensive to those of us who comprehend the language well. It's almost like we are being talked down to, and being criticized. It's very demeaning, therefore, being responded to isn't likely.
1 person likes this
@rainmark (4302)
15 Jan 09
I think when you start a discussions you get big points and earnings compare to asnwering those discussions, plus when you get lots of responses from your discussions you get extra earnings from that. You get credited too by answering others discussions but not as much when you started the thread. Some people here started some stupid and funny discussions just because for fun and i noticed non-sense discussions gets more responses compare to the serious one. When i do reply discussions here i always read the content first so that i do understand it well and i can share more ideas and i try to posts as much as i can here to earn extra money. Happy posting and myloting.
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• United States
15 Jan 09
Hello, and thank you for your response. Most seem to have the same opinion that you get paid more for starting a discussion than for answering one. My opinion is that it doesn't matter if you start or answer. The important thing is that you participate. You may be right as to earning more for responses to your discussions. I like the idea of posting funny things to talk about. Life is so serious, and every day is a battle to get through. They say that laughter cures a lot of things, and although it may not cure you, it is a great diversion to read, and comment on something funny. After a long hard day at work, I myself channel surf in search of comedy to wash the worries of my hectic days away. So, what kind of things could we discuss that would bring humor into our daily lives?
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