How to embarrass yourself in a discussion forum...

@MsTickle (25180)
Australia
October 7, 2010 6:52pm CST
The idea pops in your head, don't think it through just jump to "New Discussion", pick a subject and type away. When the first few responses come you realise it's an empty maybe even silly discussion and you cannot think of anything intelligent, interesting or funny to comment back to your responders. Do you run away and hide, ignoring those who respond? Do you fake it...blithering away about nothing or repeating what the responder says? Do you just find a dozen ways to say "Thank you for responding"? Does anyone know what I'm talking about? You can be as silly as you like here. Or you can be serious. I will get back to you no matter what...
8 people like this
20 responses
• United States
8 Oct 10
Hi MsTickle. Yes, I've hurried up to get a discussion started and didn't know how to respond back to responses, so I did come up with just whatever cause my mind went totally blank. I'm trying not to do that again. Ha!
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
LOL thank you...and I don't mean for responding but for allowing me to recognise a kindred spirit. At least you came up with something.
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
8 Oct 10
Errmmm...I fake it and think of something that might make the discussion meaningful Thankfully, most of my silly posts don't get responded to as much, so there's no sense in ignoring the few posts.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
Hi there gloryacam. You're still pretty new here and it does take a while to blend in to the place and find some friends who will respond to your every word. Give it time and be patient. Just remember..."you type, you earn. I type, I earn." If you really want to do well here, comment back to anyone who responds to your discussion. It is hard at first but you will soon get the hang of it.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
That has happened to me about twice and thankfully a long time ago. It does hurt even if I'm not the only one.
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
8 Oct 10
Yup, I diligently respond to all who respond to my discussion. Even the downright rude ones. And, silly me, sometimes I get upset when I respond to a discussion and I'm the only one which was not responded back to.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
18 Oct 10
Oh no, all my discussions are seriously intellectual and deep. Well maybe not, but even if they're silly, I usually manage to find something to say to people who respond.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
19 Oct 10
I've seen you out there turning many a profound intellectual discussion into something bordering on silly. You are so clever. Of course everyone knows there is no such thing as a profound intellectual discussion on myLot....insert "snickering" emoticon here.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
19 Oct 10
haha smarty pants
@bodhisatya (2384)
• India
8 Oct 10
Hi Ms Tickle, Hmmm... I think I might know what you are exactly saying. I will give you an example, when I faced such a situation. I observed constantly that most of my discussions weren't getting enough responses. At themost 15- 20 where as many discussions... well.. I would say that were not that thoughtful were attracting loads of traffic. So just for the sake of it I came up with this discussion that "At what time do you wake up?" I knew the discussion was not so intelligent but the response was immense and I had to shy away I admit. You have a wonderful day too!
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
Hi bodhisatya...do you mean to tell me that that was it??? You asked what time people wake up and were overwhelmed with responses??? WOW! I'm happy if I get 15 - 20 responses, happy AND satisfied. I would so love to do such a discussion that gets a hundred responses and I would answer every single one of them because that is a wonderful earning opportunity my friend. Why would you shy away from it? You get paid each time you reply. If you are given such a wonderful opportunity why would you choose to throw it away? I just don't understand why people forgo this earning opportunity. Enjoy.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
The secret is to let your brain react to what you are reading, then type away whatever comes to you. Keep trying and it will become easier my friend.
• India
8 Oct 10
Ummm. I think I ran out of stock to thank everyone enough hehehehe! I would pay heed to your advice though.
1 person likes this
@quita88 (3715)
• United States
8 Oct 10
I have had that same thing happen several times. The problem being , some of my discussions seem more worth while than a lot of others do. I see the discussions of the day/ week, whatever and wonder what ever in the world inspired this one???????????? Heck, I have never made it to that discussion of the day and doubt I do.. But, yes, in reference to your question, I answer all who respond as intelligently as I know how !!
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
10 Oct 10
Okey Dokey!
@quita88 (3715)
• United States
9 Oct 10
LOL, I am glad you see the digest the way I do :) I have to say some topics are sickening ............over and over, always the same things... When I first started my lot and didn't know what that was all about, I did answer some of them but found it revolting ! Anyways, maybe admin should take another look??? See ya in the funny papers :) quita
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Oct 10
I do not start very many discussions as I do notice a great deal of repeats. I do however start one and for some reason have so much to say. It sort of comes natural but again simply because I will not start one for days then only stick to one at a time. I am however amazed by the number of started discussion by one member who will start 10 - 15 of them and perhaps only respond to one member and maybe not respond at all. I wonder if this is how they speak to people off-line. I mean we normally do not start topics amongst friends and then stare into space right??
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
From a couple of discussions i have read today my friend, some people just don't get it. They think they just need to write down their opinion of the original post and that's it, of they go to their next response. Basically the same goers for the poster. They think they only have to post the original post and go on to the next one without a backward glance...they do not realise they are meant to read the responses and comment back. As for repeat discussions, this was getting up my nose for ages and I was becoming really bored. However then I realised that some of those early posts are 3 or 4 years old and some of the members who contributed to them have been gone for ages. I don't look at those posts as repeats any more but as if they have been refreshed by new ideas and new members and even though the topic might be the same the contributors are different. In some cases as a result of being here for so long I find my own opinion on any given topic may have changed or altered in a small way so I can respond again with my own fresh opinion of the day. I also find it strange how the folk here will wander away mid discussion...hi everyone, my sister is finally going to divorce her rotten husband even though he swears he didn't cheat...if your hubby did that would you divorce him?.... and when you answer their question, they are not there to hear/see your answer. It happens in real life all the time. NOT
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Oct 10
I too have noticed the repeated responses form the poster.. You are absolutely correct I have had from my friends list post discussions that perhaps one week ago I had answered from someone else and well I do have a slightly different opinion and go ahead and respond. But funny about the your analogy about the divorce example, yeah I see this all the time and often wonder as well. Too funny.
1 person likes this
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
8 Oct 10
Well, I first remind myself that I should think before I type. But I would probably try to fake it - because I do want the discussion to happen, even if for only a little. If you can get two or three responses, you can probably work off of one of them to spark some new life in the discusison. Maybe it is even OK for the writer to change their position, based on the other responses causing them to think a bit deeper.
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
8 Oct 10
I like your expression 'my brain is whirring away'. That is a pretty accurate word picture that I can realate to. Staying on topic and not putting words in the mouth of the original poster is important to maintain a logical discussion thread. Have a great day.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
However there is such a thing as staying on topic which now that I think about it a lot of people never do. I actually thought I was going to have to apologise again for this discussion but my brain is whirring away and I'm doing good...well, I think so anyway.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
8 Oct 10
If that happened I think I would just say thanks for responding. only one way to say it too.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
8 Oct 10
I have found some that if I respond good that post can go on forever till I think we have went thru every thing I have responded like 20 times to one person on the same thing maybe more
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
But I just could NOT do that Lakota...I would have to skip a comment to that person or find something to say, even if I had to think on it for a couple of days. I'm very humbled when my friends and other members find my discussions interesting enough to respond to and so a mere thanks is just not enough for me. I know others do it and that's ok but it's not for me. Hope things are going better for you and yours.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
8 Oct 10
I feel the impact of this discussion. I am one of those who just jump to get a new discussion started. I enjoy the fun of seeing my discussion magnetizing varied views from other members. But when the responses hit the roof and that is where my problem starts. I am lost and do not know how to respond appropriately. It becomes repetitive. But rather than saying 'thank you for responding' which is quite irritating I would write what ever ideas that comes to my mind at that material moment.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
I've noticed this zandi. I've seen you in the warm up phase where your comments are low key then next thing you are powering along giving back excellent comments even to the most simple responses. You are a good teacher too always showing the way and being a conscientious member of this great site.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
8 Oct 10
I don't know MsTickle, lately my discussions have been pretty serious. Here I thought I wouldn't make as much since I started school, but not only am I getting most of my work done in just three days, but the craziness of it all, I have lots to talk about as well as some concerns. Though because at the beginning I was lost and it did take up a lot of my time, I won't get as big a payout this month, but if life keeps going this way, I may make more from deep dicussions just for going to school..lol
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
Hi Carmelanirel. I think that's the difference between a quality discussion and a frivolous one. I've noticed myself lately (it's only taken 4 years) that I got paid a fabulous amount for a discussion because the content (the responses and my comments) was fairly meaty. It's good when you have a passion, like going to school, that you can make discussions from or even ask for help. Anything that keeps the ole brain ticking along is a good thing.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Oct 10
Or the craziness of it???? That's where I am now, I am in this group and I keep getting all these excuses. I finally talks to a friend this morning who told me that if they don't keep communicating with me, to turn in what I have and tell the teacher that I did it all, they didn't help me I didn't help them and they didn't get together with me regardless of how many times I try to set something up. This project is due Oct, 17, so if they get it together, then we are good, if not, then I am turning in what I have..
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Oct 10
yes ive done it. especially when i first started. i was like oh gee, now how do i answer that since im no longer in the mood to discuss it but i find dumb little things to respond back to my responders somehow anyway.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
9 Oct 10
Oh bunny, I've done it a bit at first but I've done it more recently too...twice! I think my mind has been caught up in bigger things lately and so I have times when my brain isn't functioning as well as I'd like it to. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
@artistry (4152)
• United States
10 Oct 10
...Hi MsT, My problem as you mentioned is trying to find a way to say the same thing but in a different way. The creative part gets to be tedious. The subect matter will be answered in one way or another most of the time and like you mentioned repeating and repeating an answer over and over. Your brain has to get in gear and I guess that is good. You may activate a few more cells up there as you are trying to find an answer. It's all interesting and fun in a way. Thanks for an interesting discussion subject. Hi to the emu. "o) Take care.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
10 Oct 10
Hi there artistry - I'm thinking it might also have something to do with how preoccupied we are at the time. I find if I'm busy or have something on my mind I have less chance of being creative with responses and comments here. That sounds like a fairly plausible excuse don't you think??
@artistry (4152)
• United States
11 Oct 10
...Hey, I think that works. Late at night though I love the stillness, I tend to start typing erratically, making all kinds of errors, so I have to stop and give it up until the next rising. Creativity comes in spurts, so to conquer the dullness, I will respond to a few, stop, go somehere else and come back to try to be a little more inventive on the next group. That is if I get more than two responses, which may not happen a lot. "o) Take care.
1 person likes this
8 Oct 10
lol since I don't make a lot of threads sometimes I do make some embarrasing comments. For example there was this one time when I must have misread someone's comment and went on for like 5 paragraphs about something else. I only realised after having pressed the 'post' button :/ And other times I posted the same thing 3+ times which is annoying cos then I have to spend time reporting it to get it deleted and writing up an apology note lol... Fun times.. :/
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
9 Oct 10
Hi parrot...yes, I can relate to your first incident and embarrassing post. I have done that too...totally mis-read the topic, answered from my email, gone in to re-read my post and everyone else's only to discover my embarrassing error. What beats me is you would expect that sort of thing to happen more often but it doesn't...it's only klutzes like you and I who make such mistakes! Oh well, it's a learning curve...it teaches us to laugh at ourselves and not to take our mistakes too seriously. Fun times indeed c").
• United States
13 Oct 10
HAHAHA! Oh, that hasn't happened to me yet. Normally there is always something to talk about with most of the people who kindly respond to my discussions. I think the worst embarrassment is having a discussion that no one has replied to ! LOL!
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
13 Oct 10
Hi Julia...a belated welcome to myLot to you. A lot of us have had at least one discussion with no response so you are doing extremely well. I'm pleased that so far your experiences have been ones of kindness. See you around my friend!
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Oct 10
Thank you! And I hope I didn't make it seem like I haven't had any discussions with no responses because I have! LOL! I've had TWO! Hahah. But oh well, I guess they weren't popular subjects so we just move on and try to get opinions on something else :) Thanks for your kind welcome!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157016)
• United States
8 Oct 10
Hey, I have been to discussions like that. You just end up winging it, you take your cue from the responders, whom I am sure will also play along and be silly. Sometimes a discussion actually starts out serious and they still hijack it and make it silly. Surely you have not done this, though.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Oct 10
hi mstickle No I never fake it and I usually wait until I think I have a good discussion to make. I do not say thanks for responding instead as my lot admins tells us not to comment that way but make a real comment showing I have read the response.Oh I know what you are talking about and yes at times I have wondered if it really was a good response then go ahead and tough it out. The silly thing is the ones I thought might not be up to par seem to get the most responses, especially if I have made a sort of semi funny discussion. and the ones I thought really good did not get as many responses. I think sometimes I get too serious and people get bored. I know you will get back as you always do, and thats so nice. some make a zillion discussions and never ever comment, and that makes me feel bad.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
I always see you Hatley, every day mostly responding to others but sometimes responding to your own discussions. You set such a good example of the right way to go about being a good member of myLot. (please note: I did not say myLotter or myLotian) I'm the same as you in so far as the discussions I start I think will be good are the ones I have the least success with and vice versa. That was really true with most of my early discussions and I think it really made me lose confidence in my ability to post an interesting discussion that would get a huge number of responses. If I open a discussion from my digest that has no comments to the responses then I need to realise I should still respond even if no-one reads it. It's my loss if I don't respond and their loss if they don't respond. I feel bad for some of these people because they are missing out on a great earning opportunity. Have a lovely day my friend. xx
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
8 Oct 10
hi mstickle, frankly i make very very few discussions as i prefer to respond. I have made some discussions but only if i find a subject that is worth discussing and when i know that it will elicit some rep;ies to it. I do not like to waste my time or other peoples time by starting a silly or meaningless discussion as i don`t want to be bad-mouthed by anyone.I don`t wish to spoil my mood or someone elses by starting a discussion on some irrelevant topic just for the sale of starting one or just for the fun of it.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
Oh but veejay...a funny or silly discussion can always be clever or interesting as well. There's no law against having fun here and it may not be stated so plainly in the guidelines but I'm sure that it's implied that we enjoy ourselves. Do you seriously think we are only meant to discuss serious topics in a serious matter?
• United States
8 Oct 10
Ms.Tickle- I end up doing what I always do and try to find something to relate to the topic at hand even if it is the most ridiculous, simply posted to post, irrelevant, and silly post I've seen for the day. I cannot say if I personally have felt any of my topics have been silly but perhaps they were silly to others. And who is more silly? The silly or the silly who follows it? If that is faking it perhaps that is what it is, but I think that if we try hard enough we can turn a very silly conversation around into something of importance or at least of relevance. In this case I have seen a great many threads, as many of us have, that are simply ones that make me scratch my head wondering if the person who typed it was drinking at the time. Even with those I do try to remain serious and find something to write about, especially if the post was made by someone on my friends list. We all seem to have our days and it would be quite mean I think if I simply said "Wow, this is a silly post". Perhaps to them at the time it was very serious. I go back and forth on my own posts. Sometimes the responses are so in-depth that I can respond to everyone who came to the discussion. At other times I receive a simple one liner and that leaves me very little to work with so I simply do not respond. Namaste-Anora
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
Namaste Anora, do not even think that your topics are in any way silly. In my mind, you are one of the most intelligent people on this site; much more so than I and that's a fact. Some of the silly posts I've seen have been picked up by some and made even sillier and have ended up with a response with pages (exaggeration for emphasis) of comments about nothing at all and this might happen with several of the responses in one discussion. Sure, the people involved end up off topic but everything by then is totally irrelevant that I am quite lost. I ignore those as I can never think of anything brilliant enough to add. I'm rather like you in so far as give me a response with some thought or emotion behind it and I will type away. If the response from no-one I'm familiar with and is lacking in everything I just proceed on my merry way.
1 person likes this
8 Oct 10
I have experience of this, but I'm not sure how long ago I think it may have possibly been 2-3 weeks ago and I wrote an article of which people began to make fun of...
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
I'm all agog and can't wait to hear the rest of your story, please continue...
@sam8pro (376)
• India
8 Oct 10
Well ya it happens quite a number of times especially to me in the beginning phase i am pretty careful now when i decide to chose my discussion topic and still if it gets embarassing i just disappear :( ...
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
Hi sam8pro...I'm not sure what you mean friend...if what gets embarrassing..please explain.