Why follow someone when
By Joanie
@Freelanzer (10744)
Canada
October 18, 2015 2:56pm CST
Maybe I am a little too picky. Or maybe I am just too darn logical and the internet is not logical. But I can't help wondering what goes through someone's mind when they decide to follow someone when they haven't read their post, joined at least one of their discussions or liked or commented. Here are some possible reasons
1) They fell in love with the avatar
2) They are collectors, of people that is
3) The can't read
Even when you go on a blind date you have some idea of who the person is, their profile or something. When I follow someone, unless I already know them from another world, I need to read what they are saying, I need to like some of what they are saying, or their style and I need to make a connection before I follow otherwise, I am not being honest. I am following blindly and that never ends well.
Do you follow or follow back someone without ever visiting their discussions and participating in their discussions?
20 people like this
18 responses
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
18 Oct 15
I know exactly what you mean. Before I came here I wrote a farewell post on a previous site and haven't really been there for about six weeks, yet when I peep in people are still starting to follow me. I can't understand this either. I read at least one discussion here and check on how they interact, unless I know them from previous sites.
4 people like this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
18 Oct 15
Same here.But I think some just collect followers and I find the ones who follow without reading and liking, don't do any of that after they start following you.
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
18 Oct 15
noperz, i follow those i enjoy readin' 'n interactin' with. those folks who do such ('s ya mention) jest make my head spin.
3 people like this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
18 Oct 15
Yes, like do you really expect me to take you seriously? But they just keep right on doing it.
2 people like this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
18 Oct 15
I do the same but I also interact on their posts if i would like to follow them
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
18 Oct 15
I would think that is the way to go - know who you are following.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
18 Oct 15
And why should you, it makes no sense to me. If someone is following me I assume they have read or liked my posts but I find that is not always the case
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
19 Oct 15
@Freelanzer sadly it was always like this on sites of this type. Too many people fixated on quantity not quality of connections.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
18 Oct 15
Personally I like to follow people who have interesting discussion with a lot of meaning behind them. I like to also file people who give me some new information that I didn't know about before. Then I also follow my friends. The people I do follow I try hard to find their posts and comment on them. I like the suggestion part of post where you can suggest a post to a follower. I wish that more of my followers would use this so I can find their post quicker. I know you can find them in people but this takes a lot of time and especially when so many new things are added all the time. I like suggestions because they are clean and all in one place. It makes it so much faster to find their work and read it.
3 people like this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
18 Oct 15
I just learned about the suggestion tool for some discussions I read. Perhaps many newbies like mayself don't really know what it is all about. Thanks for clarifying
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
19 Oct 15
I do not follow blindly any user here. If I feel that any user has contributed to any of my posts and has posted his counter-comments on my comments, I 'follow' those users. I also like to follow those, who post comments on my responses.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
19 Oct 15
For sure and no question about it you do read alot
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
19 Oct 15
Technically, you don't have to follow anyone. Sometimes less is best.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
19 Oct 15
@Freelanzer We all learn our own little ways of doing things here, just like in life in general.
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
19 Oct 15
I am beginning to think that is the way to go since I usually don't see most of my followers after the official "follow"
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
24 Oct 15
@Freelanzer I think so too. And, I want to make sure that we have some things in common. For instance, if someone was posting all about sports, I may not follow because I'm not really into sports.
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
19 Oct 15
I do the same just because I want to know who i am following and it is just a sign of respect
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (207134)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Oct 15
I follow someone when I read a post (or three) of theirs and find it (or them) to be either really funny or really thought-provoking. I admit it: here, I'll automatically follow someone if they were one of my favorites from the "Avind Dixit Charity Fund" site. They're not going to suddenly take a stupid pill when they come here. That's about it.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
19 Oct 15
True, I also follow those I know already. "Charity fund" - so funny?
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
18 Oct 15
No I often don't follow people formally. I just read their posts and comment. I don't see the benefit of following someone here. I don't think they come up in my notifications. I just have my favs that I visit every day, Then others come into my view when they comment and I like what they say. I often start with the new discussion posts. So I usually find new people there too.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
18 Oct 15
@NeldaHoxie (618) That makes a lot of sense because so often you have followers who never visit your posts. I too start by reading the new discussions, I don't limit myself to followers in any case.
@jstory07 (134843)
• Roseburg, Oregon
18 Oct 15
@JakeOmatic But following someone on here is good.
1 person likes this
@Macarrosel (7498)
• Philippines
19 Oct 15
I follow people whom I am interested into but not always. I just try to pick the good ones.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
19 Oct 15
I am not too picky. I would follow someone who may not be the best writer but I like their logic, humor or what they have to say
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
19 Oct 15
Like you I need to read a few of a person's posts before I follow them. I think a fourth reason for following someone may be the thought it could earn the follower more money.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
2 Nov 15
I usually follow people whom have discussions I can relate to and people that are able to respond. I don't follow every person who posts on this site. In fact I find it hard to follow the people I am already following on here as far as the discussions it has started.
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
18 Oct 15
I like to kow who I am following so I at least read like and comment before I follow
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
14 Jan 16
I follow people whom I met at other sites, or when I find their posted discussions interesting.
