2011: A Posting Odyssey
Basically, this is a topic discussing the community, and how and why people post on this forum? Basically, it's an odyssey, or journey, into the posting that goes on here every day. I'll try to keep this short and sweet and to the point. So, I've been doing some thinking about the forum. To be precise, the posting aspect of the forum. Posting is the heart of a forum. It is the whole reason a forum exists. People go to a forum to express their thoughts either on a certain subject or a series of subjects, in a group of like-minded people or at least people with some common interests.
However, I've noticed that in this forum, posting isn't so much a means of interacting with or communicating with others, nor is it a means of gaining new knowledge and insight from a group of other people. It's not even a way of exchanging ideas and thoughts. It just seems like, around here, people post to throw their opinion out loudly without caring what others think or say. It seems like posting here is some sort of self-serving, self-important way of feeling satisfied that one posted what one thinks. Like, "Woohoo, look at me, everybody! I got something to say! Look at me!" However, I'm very curious as to what sort of posts people prefer, what sort they read, what sort they write, etc, and perhaps that will shed more light on how people post here and how the community interacts and how healthy it really is.
Is that really the sort of forum you guys prefer? Self-absorbed posts with no care for exchanging ideas or interacting together as a community? Basically, this topic is intended as a study of forum posting here.
Some questions I want to put to everyone here and discuss.
1. Why do you post here?
2. What do you hope to gain from posting here?
3. Are you interested in being a part of the community, or are you only interested in what you think?
4. What kind of posts do you generally read?
5. What kind of posts do you generally avoid?
6. What kind of posts do you tend to write yourself, or avoid writing?
7. What do you respect or loathe most in posts?
8. Do you prefer long posts or short posts?
9. Why do you read a particular post?
10. Do you think the posts in this forum are of good quality or bad quality?
I tried to keep this post as short as possible, so, discuss.
However, I've noticed that in this forum, posting isn't so much a means of interacting with or communicating with others, nor is it a means of gaining new knowledge and insight from a group of other people. It's not even a way of exchanging ideas and thoughts. It just seems like, around here, people post to throw their opinion out loudly without caring what others think or say. It seems like posting here is some sort of self-serving, self-important way of feeling satisfied that one posted what one thinks. Like, "Woohoo, look at me, everybody! I got something to say! Look at me!" However, I'm very curious as to what sort of posts people prefer, what sort they read, what sort they write, etc, and perhaps that will shed more light on how people post here and how the community interacts and how healthy it really is.
Is that really the sort of forum you guys prefer? Self-absorbed posts with no care for exchanging ideas or interacting together as a community? Basically, this topic is intended as a study of forum posting here.
Some questions I want to put to everyone here and discuss.
1. Why do you post here?
2. What do you hope to gain from posting here?
3. Are you interested in being a part of the community, or are you only interested in what you think?
4. What kind of posts do you generally read?
5. What kind of posts do you generally avoid?
6. What kind of posts do you tend to write yourself, or avoid writing?
7. What do you respect or loathe most in posts?
8. Do you prefer long posts or short posts?
9. Why do you read a particular post?
10. Do you think the posts in this forum are of good quality or bad quality?
I tried to keep this post as short as possible, so, discuss.
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Comments
1. Why do you post here?
I came as a troll, stayed for the community. Once I stopped trolling, I found some genuinely awesome people here.
2. What do you hope to gain from posting here?
Life everlasting.
3. Are you interested in being a part of the community, or are you only interested in what you think?
I like being a part of the community.
4. What kind of posts do you generally read?
Generally, I'll read posts that look insightful or are written by one of my friends.
5. What kind of posts do you generally avoid?
Anything by Pepsiboy, GeorgeC, or Doodo! Sorry, guys; but it's true.
6. What kind of posts do you tend to write yourself, or avoid writing?
I try to write witty, insightful posts but they often amount to little more than quips and rants.
7. What do you respect or loathe most in posts?
Respect: Coherence and humor.
Loathe: Inanity when it is uncalled for.
8. Do you prefer long posts or short posts?
Short
9. Why do you read a particular post?
BECAUSE I CAN
10. Do you think the posts in this forum are of good quality or bad quality?
It's sort of a mixed bag, tending toward good. My rating curve is skewed by my having come from Reddit and 4chan.
2. Well the forums has shown me a multitude of friends, to talk with.
3. The community, it's always fun, to host something we can all be a part of.
4. Well since I'm a mod a multitude of posts, I try to read everyones.
5. I try and stay clear of offensive posts.
6. I haven't really give much thought about what I post usually what I have to say about a subject.
7. If it's offensive or not, or if it has any place in the thread.
8. Both.
9. To see if it has any bearing on the subject.
10. I think on these forums, it's a bit of both.
*However this is me speaking truthfully and not as a mod for the TTG forum.
Mostly for the community, though I do love the talk of game design and philosophy that has come up a lot.
2. What do you hope to gain from posting here?
Sense of community and or understanding.
3. Are you interested in being a part of the community, or are you only interested in what you think?
It'd be rather boring if it were only about what I thought. I'm not particularly the brightest lamp in the home depot lighting department, but I like reading what others have to say about things in order to expand my thoughts.
4. What kind of posts do you generally read?
Generally anything that comes by my path. Though I subconsciously weed out posts that are essentially repeating what others are saying in an unintelligent manner.
5. What kind of posts do you generally avoid?
See above.
6. What kind of posts do you tend to write yourself, or avoid writing?
Stupid posts that aren't really thought out very well. I'm trying to get better, but I feel like no matter what, I'm still too stupid to write out an intelligent post.
7. What do you respect or loathe most in posts?
A respectable post is a well thought out and logical explanation of ones thoughts.
A loathsome post is one that attacks another person with no basis backing it. Any attack is bad, but one with no basis is even worse.
8. Do you prefer long posts or short posts?
Depends on the situation and content.
9. Why do you read a particular post?
To understand context.
10. Do you think the posts in this forum are of good quality or bad quality?
For the most part, bad. The majority has no meaning and is just mindless filler. Fine for a small amount, but horrible as the mass majority.
To see what the hap-haps are with everyone. It's certainly not really to talk about Telltale any more
2. What do you hope to gain from posting here?
I dunno, to have a discussion and a few laughs, maybe learn something new
3. Are you interested in being a part of the community, or are you only interested in what you think?
I'm not even interested in what I think, so the first one. I wanna say 'define being a part of the community' but i'll just choose it and run with it. Not even the dickiest dick's gonna say they only care about what they think
4. What kind of posts do you generally read?
Well written posts and funny posts. Also the drama, I read the drama. before it gets deleted
5. What kind of posts do you generally avoid?
Stuff where i'd have zero input, like the D&D thread. I'd feel like a loser, amongst D&D players, and my bashed up ego can't handle that
6. What kind of posts do you tend to write yourself, or avoid writing?
Unfunny quips, i've typed out long thoughtful posts, and then deleted them because I don't think anyone would really care. So I short post
7. What do you respect or loathe most in posts?
Manners, I respect manners. There's no reason not to be polite when you're debating with someone. The Wii box colour argument was a total lowpoint for me
8. Do you prefer long posts or short posts?
Depends who's writing I guess
9. Why do you read a particular post?
To see what it says... I mean, come on man
10. Do you think the posts in this forum are of good quality or bad quality?
Good days and bad days, when I went to bed last night it was pretty good. There's a lot of dung flying about though
Well, I'm here in the first place because I'm an old-time adventure gamer and was interested when Telltale got the Sam & Max license. I continue to stay here because I'm interested in the goings-on, and to see if Telltale ever releases the Sam & Max Devil's Playhouse soundtrack.
To answer the question, I post when I think I can be helpful to someone or have an opinion or question about some topic. I occasionally post silly things, but not as much as some.
2. What do you hope to gain from posting here?
Amusement, information, and the ability to share.
3. Are you interested in being a part of the community, or are you only interested in what you think?
If I weren't interested in what everyone else is posting, I wouldn't be here. I'd be writing a blog.
4. What kind of posts do you generally read?
Ones in topics that appeal to me.
5. What kind of posts do you generally avoid?
Ones in topics that I don't care about. I have a limited amount of time, so I also tend to skip really long multi-paragraph posts that don't come to a point quickly enough. If they were really important, I can go back and read them later.
Questions 6-9 are kind of a repeat of the above.
10. Do you think the posts in this forum are of good quality or bad quality?
A little of both, same as any forum. The advantage of this forum is that people are nice to each other, for the most part. If it were all personal attacks or flame wars about whatever political views everyone had, I'd be gone. I don't read those kinds of forums anymore.
I post at a few forums, but this forum is always my first stop and the forum I post the most in because the people here share my interests the most out of any of the forums I visit. I especially like the Back to the Future forum, and engaging in geek talk about time travel.
I like adventure games... this is a pretty active and healthy board full of like minded people who also really love adventure games.
2. What do you hope to gain from posting here?
absolute fealty from each of you.
3. Are you interested in being a part of the community, or are you only interested in what you think?
Yeah I like being a part of the community... I really like chatting it up and speculating during a season.
4. What kind of posts do you generally read?
I tend to like when people are joking around and having a laugh
5. What kind of posts do you generally avoid?
I admit I often skip over overly wordy posts... unless they really grab my attention in the first few lines...
6. What kind of posts do you tend to write yourself, or avoid writing?
Most of my posts are probably a little sarcastic.. often accompanied with a photoshopped pic made by me to suit a current topic. I avoid being rude or mean on purpose... its just not who I am... I was kind of a douchey jerk growing up ... I regret that as an adult.
7. What do you respect or loathe most in posts?
If you can make me laugh you will gain my attention pretty fast... I do not like it when people whine over trivial things or are jerks
8. Do you prefer long posts or short posts?
short... I have the attention span of a goldfi..........
9. Why do you read a particular post?
If its a topic that is interesting... or funny.
10. Do you think the posts in this forum are of good quality or bad quality?
For the most part I think the boards generate a great mix of posts ... there really is something for just about anyone to talk about.... except maybe sports... we do not talk about that too often.
Because I feel I need some sort of outlet to some sort of community on the internet, and this is my favorite so far. I've never really felt comfortable on most forums (this is the only one where I have a post count over 500, and most are well below that), and this one feels like a good fit. Before I came here, I filled this need with the Nintendo Cult guild on Gaia, and it was extremely unfulfilling.
And I post here because I feel like there's some decent people here who I enjoy talking to. I feel there's some people here who I can count on to say thought-provoking things and who I can count on to give what I have to say a read (and call bullshit on it if need be
2. What do you hope to gain from posting here?
I don't really know. Friendship, maybe? I feel I've already gained a place among a group of peers who are engaging to talk to and respect from many of them. What else is there?
3. Are you interested in being a part of the community, or are you only interested in what you think?
I'm tempted to say that I wouldn't have taken up the offer of modship if I wasn't interested in being a part of the community, but I'm not sure if that's really a valid argument. I admit, I've posted my share of bullshit that I knew full well nobody else would care about (I mean really, how many of us use "Whatever's on your mind" as an outlet in lieu of something like Twitter?), but I definitely spend more time reading what other people have to say than I do thinking about what inanity I'm going to spout next.
4. What kind of posts do you generally read?
There's certain people whose posts I almost always stop to read when I see them, people who I know I can count on for either a well-thought discussion or witty(ish) humor.
5. What kind of posts do you generally avoid?
Well, under the new mantle of moderator, I'm avoiding much less than I used to. I used to avoid the boards for games I wasn't extremely interested, which limited me to General Chat, Sam & Max, and Monkey Island.
As of the last week, now I only avoid certain threads I don't care for. For example, I don't go near the Doctor Who thread, and I only set foot in doodo's threads when necessary.
But as far as individual posts, when I used to avoid were things like trolling and forum spam, but now those are the things I have to deal with. But they're still the kinds of posts I like the least.
6. What kind of posts do you tend to write yourself, or avoid writing?
Outside of "Whatever", I tend to post whenever I have anything to contribute to a topic. I tend to shy away from long posts because I know I can't produce anything as well-thought as the likes of Rather Dashing or even Secret Fawful (yes, you), but I will write them on occasion when I have something to say and thing I can write something worth reading. Otherwise, it's mostly short posts, either with part of my thoughts on the topic or quipping with other forum members.
7. What do you respect or loathe most in posts?
The posts I respect the most are the ones where people give their honest opinions in a well-thought manner. I respect posts where people give thought to the way they present themselves (even if that thought is "I don't care what they think of me", as long as they're well-spoken and not offensive).
The posts I respect the least are the ones that are childish, troll posts, completely inane, or incredibly long without saying anything.
8. Do you prefer long posts or short posts?
It depends on the content. I enjoy long posts, but only if they're engaging and I feel like I'm getting something out of putting in the time to read them (and I admit I do tend to rely on my opinion of a person's reputation to decide whether a long post by them will be worth reading). Otherwise, I prefer short posts.
9. Why do you read a particular post?
This question seems a little redundant at this point.
10. Do you think the posts in this forum are of good quality or bad quality?
As with anywhere, it's a mixed bag, but I feel that there's enough good here for it to be worthwhile for me to stay.
I was going to try to do a little of both, but by the time I finished with the questionnaire, I couldn't think of anything to say that I hadn't said already.
After a long day full of work, I just like to sit in my chair and relax by reading the posts in this Forum. There are so many awesome people here, it's impossible not to grin or even laugh with them.
I post here because it literally makes me feel as if I've known these people since childhood. Well, most of us did play the same games. It makes me feel cozy knowing that I can say something like "You fight like a cow" without getting weird looks.
2. What do you hope to gain from posting here?
Um, absolutely nothing. I just enjoy it with all my heart.
3. Are you interested in being a part of the community, or are you only interested in what you think?
I love sharing ideas and adopting opinions that are more stable than my own. For example, if I say that a game has a good story, then someone else shows the plotholes with valid arguments... I don't hang on to my opinion stupidly. I go like: "Oh! That's right! How could I have missed that?".
That doesn't mean that I stop liking the game.
4. What kind of posts do you generally read?
All kinds. I tend not to read long posts, except review posts. It does depend on my mood at that time.
5. What kind of posts do you generally avoid?
None. Well, maybe redundant posts like "When teh game it'z komin ouuut?!!1!"
6. What kind of posts do you tend to write yourself, or avoid writing?
I do sometimes feel the need to bring arguments to a discussion when provoked, but then I realize that, sometimes, there is no need to.
Best example: Someone asked me "well how do you see BTTF ep1 with better puzzles?".
I grabbed the walkthrough and started rewriting it.
Some people just argue for the sake of arguing. Other people bring real arguments to the table. I enjoy a good discussion.
7. What do you respect or loathe most in posts?
I respect everything when it comes to good manners, politeness, punctuation and a well structured idea.
I don't like vulgarities, stupid jokes, insults and personal attacks.
I don't mind redundant posts, since we can always merge them with bigger threads.
8. Do you prefer long posts or short posts?
Depends on the subject.
9. Why do you read a particular post?
Sometimes, the user grabs my attention. If it's a post from a friend, I read it. I want to hear his opinion, which we can discuss later on in private.
Sometimes, it's the post itself. The post which suggested that Stan the Salesman is actually a crocodile had me in stitches!
Sometimes, I just feel like it. I don't know.
10. Do you think the posts in this forum are of good quality or bad quality?
Good and getting better!
When I joined this forum it was only to talk about Tales of Monkey Island, when I had completed the game I was blown away and I just needed to talk about it to someone.
The talk about Tales was amazing, I found so many fans and I felt part of something great. So I just realized how great this forum is, and after that I have just hung around.
So now I post here because I feel welcome, I finally feel I am actually part of something to finally give my life meaning. I know it’s kinda cheesy to praise a forum that much but it’s just something of those small things in life I really appreciate.
I could go into a lot of detail about bullying and not being liked in my earlier life, but there is no need for that sort of sentimentality here. But I do feel liked here and that makes me not fear of posting anything, and that is something I really value.
But to come here and not be embarrassed of who you are, is a big deal for me.
I post where I feel I have an opinion on the matter, not because I only care for what I think but because I want to be a part of the community.
And because there are so many MI fans here, this is the perfect place to get friends.
I started posting here simply because I wanted to be included in the hype-fest that was taking place prior to 'Tales of Monkey Island's release. I stayed when I realized just how awesome the community was, with all of the fan material produced (art, videos, etc.), and I really enjoyed being involved in the speculation.
After the season, I stuck around simply because posting here had become habitual, and it had become my sort of 'online home'. I stick around here now mostly for General Chat and the occasional movement in the ToMI Discussion.
2. What do you hope to gain from posting here?
I just want to be able to, every now and again, discuss the things that interest me. Mostly just music and certain video games.
I also hope to be able to engage in discussions/arguments every now and again, and this is a place where I won't get abused for doing so.
3. Are you interested in being a part of the community, or are you only interested in what you think?
I must admit that I'm generally a little selfish in this aspect. I am usually more interested in what I have to say, as opposed to what others have to say. And this is the problem that Secret Fawful mentioned in his initial post:
I feel, in my own way, I'm guilty of this. I get more enjoyment out of putting out my opinion and waiting for people's responses, as opposed to properly taking in what others have to say.
But perhaps I'm being a little harsh on myself, since usually I'm usually uninterested in others' posts since they're usually on the topic of something that doesn't interest me. And I do often read the entire thread of something that I'm interested in.
Still, I am a bit of a selfish forumite, and it's something that I need to work on changing.
4. What kind of posts do you generally read?
I read post about topics that interest me, whether they be long or short. I cherry pick posts from topics that I'm only mildly interested in, and I generally skim over posts about a topic that I'm uninterested in.
5. What kind of posts do you generally avoid?
Posts about topics that don't interest me, long posts about things that only interest me slightly, and almost every post about things that don't interest me... unless they look particularly interesting, or are from a user that I really respect.
6. What kind of posts do you tend to write yourself, or avoid writing?
I think I have a mix of posts that I write. Some are a little long, some are short, some are written with the intention of sparking some argument (but not flame wars), most are written with the intent of adding something of value to the discussion (whether many are successful or not, I don't know), while often I am just throwing my opinion out there and hoping that it will spark some further replies or comments.
I don't know whether many of my posts actually hold anything of worth; this is something that I would have to have somebody else tell me. I usually know when I've written something good judging on the subsequent replies/discussion that may be spawned from it. But, I really don't know what percentage of my posts are actually worth being posted or not.
7. What do you respect or loathe most in posts?
I respect people who convey their opinion well, can be funny whilst still being intelligent and sensible, or can open my eyes to new perspectives on things that I thought I knew inside-out.
I hate bad grammar, I hate double posts, I hate 1/2/3 word posts, I hate posts like 'haha', 'wow', 'yay' or 'awesome!'. I hate posts from people who come in half-way through a discussion, and post something that shows that they haven't payed attention to anything said throughout the entire discussion. I hate posts that repeat what other people have already said, without adding anything new. I hate attention-seeking posts, and I hate space-wasting trolling and nonsense. I may be guilty of some of this myself (I hope I'm not too guilty), but these are things I find unattractive in posts.
8. Do you prefer long posts or short posts?
It depends on the topic and the context. Read my above responses if you want further details.
9. Why do you read a particular post?
I read a particular post if it is dealing with a topic I find interesting.
10. Do you think the posts in this forum are of good quality or bad quality?
The quality varies greatly.
1. Why do you post here?
Well, I've never seen a community before were I literally couldn't think of anyone I really disliked. I can't say I've always liked all of you here, but I do now, and most of you have earned my respect. I also like wasting my time on online forums, and talking to other people, and when you respect those people, then of course engaging in discussions with them is more enjoyable. I also generally respect this company, even if I haven't agreed one hundred percent with the direction they've taken. There are great mods here as well, well, now anyway. They don't ban or warn out of prejudice but they do their job and treat everyone fairly. I have seen boards where this was not the case. Hell, one time I got banned on a Mario board after only two posts, and I still to this day have no damn clue what I said that got me banned. I think they must have been banning people for shits and giggles. So yes, this is a respectable place.
2. What do you hope to gain from posting here?
I figure I probably lose precious time I could spend elsewhere by posting here, but being in this community is worth the time spent doing so.
3. Are you interested in being a part of the community, or are you only interested in what you think?
I'm always interested in what other's say or think, but I'm definitely guilty of being self-absorbed in my posts or in whether or not people are paying attention to what I say. I do probably tend to think my opinion is infallible sometimes, and think I have a sense of entitlement so that everyone else should listen to what I say and accept it immediately because my opinion is so perfect. Even so, though, I'm aware of my egotism and I do actively pay attention to what others say and other points of view.
4. What kind of posts do you generally read?
I tend to read posts on subjects I relate to or like, posts that are well thought out, posts that try to introduce something new to others, posts I can learn from, stupid posts so I can laugh at the posters, posts with humor, and so on, and so forth. I also pay attention to all posts that directly address me.
5. What kind of posts do you generally avoid?
I generally avoid posts in which fanboys moan and whine and bitch constantly because they aren't getting whatever they feel entitled to, like the TF2 Sam and Max items. I avoid posts with bad grammar, and I avoid posts in which people obviously don't care what others think and disregard any and all rebuttal or different opinion. I usually don't avoid a post, as much as I might stop reading one halfway through because I think it contains bullshit.
6. What kind of posts do you tend to write yourself, or avoid writing?
I write a post if I have something to say. This might either be something insightful, or just a joke that popped into my head at the moment. I avoid writing posts with bad grammar, posts that contain cruel content that might alienate someone or hurt someone's feelings, and I also avoid debates as much as possible. I subscribe to a Groucho Marxian sense of humor, in which everyone, religions, minorities, sexualities, genders male and female, policital groups, etc. are all fair game. However, the actual content of the humor should avoid actually using these things against the person unless using pseudo-logic that doesn't reflect what I actually think.
7. What do you respect or loathe most in posts?
I respect intelligence and loathe bullshit. Simple enough.
8. Do you prefer long posts or short posts?
I don't care either way.
9. Why do you read a particular post?
Yeah, Guru is right, this is a redundant question. I just wanted exactly ten questions.
10. Do you think the posts in this forum are of good quality or bad quality?
It varies. Right now it seems like people are making some effort to have actual discussions, but overall I still see a lot of self-absorbed posting and a lot of good topics die out before they need to, when I know there is plenty of discussion left in them. I'd say I consider it a 50/50 right now.
The forums (and the people I've met here) continue to introduce me to new things and ideas, stuff I wouldn't have encountered just going about my everyday life. I feel that by interacting with a broad range of interesting people, I become a little more interesting myself. And unlike in real life, pretty much everyone here knows what Monkey Island is, and I've never been ridiculed for getting excited about Doctor Who. Nice.
Quality is the kind of mixture I think you'd get pretty much anywhere you have a large gathering of relatively anonymous people. Obviously I see some sort of value here or I wouldn't have stayed around for this long.
Hey ol' buddy ol' friend ol' pal!
...can you lend me 20 bucks?
Yes.