Why don't you start threads?

[Sakrysta]

Because, well, I don't usually either. I think that at the rare times when I think of a topic to discuss, I end up talking myself out of posting the thread, because I'm afraid it will just lie there all pathetic and die, and then I'll look all pathetic and stupid. And at the even rarer times when I actually DO start a thread, that's pretty much exactly what happens.

So, as I bravely saunter off to start a thread that I've been thinking of starting for days and have been too chicken to start, is anyone else as neurotic as I am? Because, seriously, I am.

Seriously.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Having a thread die and drop off into page 7 after three days on Misc is nothing to be ashamed of. It's happened to me several times. At the very worst, the same old people who think they are "funny" will come in and post something "funny" and then leave. Pay no attention to them.

Besides, chances are, there's at last one person interested in what you have to say. If that's the case, consider it a victory. That's how I see things anyway. (Mind you, it's always the same old interested people, but...)

That's how the Internet forums work: a place for anyone to air their world view to anyone else who is patient enough to stop and look. I say: go on, tell us all what you want to say, and see how the thread develops. Good luck.

 

[Sakrysta]

LOL - yeah, I know that's how forums work. After so long here, I've pretty much got the rhythm down. I think that's another reason I don't bother - I've kind of seen it all roll by, you know? After a while, what else is there? And is it worth the time & effort to bother?

 

[Etched]

Because, well, I don't usually either. I think that at the rare times when I think of a topic to discuss, I end up talking myself out of posting the thread, because I'm afraid it will just lie there all pathetic and die, and then I'll look all pathetic and stupid. And at the even rarer times when I actually DO start a thread, that's pretty much exactly what happens.

So, as I bravely saunter off to start a thread that I've been thinking of starting for days and have been too chicken to start, is anyone else as neurotic as I am? Because, seriously, I am.

Seriously.

I think I'm probably even more neurotic than you, in my five years on the board I think I've only ever started one thread in Misc. Hell, I rarely post comments to other people's threads because of the whole "they'll think I'm pathetic and stupid" thing. I tell myself being shy and anxious on the internet is really dumb but its just the way I am.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

I don't post many threads myself. I just feel more comfortable posting in other peoples threads.

 

[1001001]

I've only started a handful of threads over the years I've been here. None have been off-the-charts successful. Sometimes 2-3 pages.

But to answer your question basically, anything I find interesting enough to talk about is already posted by the time I log on. Perhaps a hazard of living on the West Coast?

 

[Chaos Descending]

I rarely POST, let alone start threads!

 

[AdAstra]

I rarely POST, let alone start threads!

Ditto.


Sakry, when I see a thread by you, I'll always make the effort to read and post! Even when I have really nothing to say, like now...

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

I hardly have anything to say, and my posts show it.

I can say nothing in like 50 different ways, right SPOCKED?

 

[Kelthaz]

I've just got nothing to say.

 

[RandyS]

I don't start threads because there's no point. 95% of the time whenever I post in a thread I'm either ignored, or the thread dies instantly. Staring one I know won't get any replies is just taking up space.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I start quite a lot of threads but I still get nervous about starting one even after all these years. I have had many dud threads over the years, and having no-one reply to you doesn't feel good, so if I see a thread that no-one seems to be replying to I have a look and try to make a comment so that the OP feel like he isn't being totally ignored.

 

[Gryffindorian]

Don't hesitate to start a new topic if you feel like you want to discuss it more in detail. From my experience, sometimes my threads generate a lot of replies (e.g., "At what age do you start to feel old?"). Sometimes they don't. It really depends on the nature of the topic you're discussing and how the readers, particularly here in MISC, can relate to the subject. I don't think it has anything to do with being popular (I'm certainly not).

It also depends on other things like the size of the audience and in which forum you start a thread. For example, right now there don't seem to be a lot of posters in the Sports & Fitness Forum, so your threads/topics may not get a lot of replies, if any, or may not get answered right away. Personally, I find reading and replying to people's posts just as fun as starting my own thread.

 

[JustKate]

I don't start many threads because...because somebody else usually has.

But I don't hesitate to start one on those rare occasions when (1) I feel like it and (2) nobody else has started one on a similar topic. If it sinks, it sinks. I don't expect everybody to be interested in everything I'm interested in. I mean, there are lots of threads that don't interest me, so I have to expect that sometimes I'm going to post a thread that doesn't interest that many other people.

Eh. It's just one topic. That doesn't affect my value as a person or anything. Just my value as a thread-starter. I can live with that!

 

[Deranged Nasat]

Well, even if no members post replies, I'm sure all threads receive at least some visits from, well, visitors. When I've introduced threads that received no reply, I've noticed they've been viewed more than a few times. So there's always someone interested in what you say.

(PS: That's a reply to the OP. It sort of looks like a reply to my friend JustKate above, but it's not!)

 

[All Seeing Eye]

I think everybody in here should all each start one thread right now.

CONQUER YOUR FEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Supreme Admiral]

Truth be told.

I'm obsessed to making new threads, but I'm going to stop doing that very soon. There are so many interesting threads for me to discussing. If I want to making a new thread, it has to be very, very good topic to talking about.

Like this stupid thread that I created..it almost got me in the big trouble, so I don't want doing that anymore. The very same thing that I was doing on another forum that is very mean-spirited, they think I was making too much threads, so they decided to took my rights to created new threads anymore.

Stupid, huh?

 

[Kestra]

I start quite a lot of threads but I still get nervous about starting one even after all these years. I have had many dud threads over the years, and having no-one reply to you doesn't feel good, so if I see a thread that no-one seems to be replying to I have a look and try to make a comment so that the OP feel like he isn't being totally ignored.

I actually am more likely to click on a thread when it's authored by certain posters, and you're one of them.

I feel the same fear that others here feel though, and I definitely am very self-conscious and shy in ways, even on the internet. I think sometimes I come off as a lot more outgoing than I really am. When in reality I'm constantly worried about what everyone thinks of me. It's exhausting enough without starting lots of topics!

 

[Sakrysta]

Sakry, when I see a thread by you, I'll always make the effort to read and post! Even when I have really nothing to say, like now...

Addie, you are one of my holdover loves from when I used to try to do the board socializing thing. I'm always happy to see you in a thread. *hugs* Seeing you in MY thread is just a bonus.

 

[mimic]

On those rare occasions when I think of a thread topic I have been known to track down other BBSers on AIM and tell them to start the thread. The picture thread in the sports forum comes to mind.

I have started a few threads. A few years ago I started the 'Fantasy Trekbbs' thing and I ran a Grand Miscellaneous Contest one summer.

My most recent non-thread topic was about how I found a four-leaf clover on the way home. First one I've found in a while. I used to find them all the time.