So, I hope this doesn't come across wrong but this is something I want ask about because it's kind of bugging me.
While I love the fact that we have so many passionate people on these boards that are active and want to meet other people, that want to chatter away about the wonderful faires that we go to and the things we do, I want to present a very valid question.
When does so much become too much?
When you enter a conversation, here's a few things I want to ask:
Does your addition to the conversation have anything to do with the subject in the thread in any way possible?
If not, why are you posting?
This doesn't apply to the Absolutely Random Thoughts or Two Words! type of threads.
I understand that some people have more free time than others. More kudos for you for having more active time on these boards. But more often than not these days, I have to wade through posts by people that don't have anything to do with the subject, aren't even attending said event, etc and I'm left asking myself...why I am I reading this again? Oh wait, that's what the subject is- ah-hah, ok. Back on topic...I think.
Am I wrong for thinking this way or am I not the only one?
I hope this doesn't come across as derogatory towards any one person but I just want to present a very valid question.
You are not alone. I have noticed it and wonder sometimes myself.
Mea Culpa... sometimes I just get excited about things. I know I'm guilty, but I'll try to do better...
Actually, this sentiment is exactly why I don't post all that much. I wouldn't want people to think I'm a nuisance, or that I should post in a certain thread, so I silently lurk, a lot.
Elo, I understand your point, but I don't if the "problem people" will.
Somewhere there's a happy medium, but I'm not sure we'd all agree where that is.
For instance, Merlin the Elder posts quite a bit, as he acknowledged above, but I have not felt in any way like he's sticking his nose into everything.
I generally take Blushing's approach, but lately I've "poked" into the Texas Renaissance Festival threads a bit since I'm planning to visit this fall. And it's possible that some of my posts may not be seen by some as pertinent.
I'm just trying -- as I think most people are -- to take part, and some of us may be more "enthusiastic" than others.
Drat, I hope that's added to the conversation ...
Let me take this opportunity to remind us all, that there have been some rules, more like guidelines to follow here on RF.Com:
and for this direct purpose, rules 5, 7, and 8 would apply appropriatly:
http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=452.0
I'm in accord with you EloquentXI.
The way I feel about it, is if you have something constructive to add to a conversation, do so. If you just want to post to post, that is when it can become bothersome. I understand this is a great outlet for many people, and sometimes the only contact with the outside world they get in a day. I don't want to hinder their enthusiasum but it can be a little anoying. /shrug
Yes, i've posted quite a bit in the last three years but i rarely venture outside of TRF's forum and mainly stay on my own thread, which happens to be the neverending countdown.... where i'll be headed back to now.
:P
Quote from: iain robb on July 27, 2011, 03:36:53 PM
...For instance, Merlin the Elder posts quite a bit, as he acknowledged above, but I have not felt in any way like he's sticking his nose into everything. ...
I do spend a lot of time here—too much perhaps. I don't participate in any other social websites (Facebook, etc)...this is it. My work tends to keep me isolated from most folks, and this is mostly by design—I need to be able to concentrate to effectively write software. When I break, I usually come here.
It's been here that I've made initial contact with a lot of people that I have eventually met in person. Being a rather timid person by nature, it has been a great help to me to use this forum to build relationships. I mostly stay in a few areas, but I do wander about to see what's going on elsewhere, and will occasionally open my yap. I don't want to wear out my welcome. If I get on someone's nerves, PM me and tell me nicely to shut up...
Wow.
Text can be so confusing without tone and inflections. So I hope I am misunderstanding the feeling that we should pick camps and stay in them. Especially since I have no large "home faire" to pick that we can attend nearby to be able to attend its full run. We have only Mobile's one day and also Pensacolas, although we travel hours to attend others such as Tampa, recently Scarborough and in Nov., TRF. I also have great interest in making garb (including sewing ) , books, theatre, movie releases and tv series. Sometimes I comment on other faires, having been there at least once and any other subject I feel an interest in commenting on or attempting to help someone else with a question. Off topic occasionally, I decree guilty as charged, but I try not to continue said path once a comment of mine is made, I usually let that lie.
But I do hear you clearly on threads that have gone way off the path of what they were intended for. But I accept them no less than seeing a hundred posts of the mundane forums to wade through in getting to what brought me here in the first place, Faires and whatever that involves. The powers that be put them there and allow them to continue, so who am I to quibble. Goes with the territory, at least that is how I feel.
I just won't pick a camp and stay in it, though. If that's what is expected, then I shall simply bow out. I hope I am wrong about that, but as I rarely post as it is save for in the first when I was trying to fit in, I doubt I would be missed all that much anyway. ;)
While I look at a forum a lot, I generally don't post unless I've really got something to say on the subject at hand. This is partly because I sort of take a 'quality over quantity' approach... and partly because I'm a slow and labored two-fingered typist!
I guess it depends on the thread, but while 'topic drift' always can happen, I have not really noticed that much pointless posting here compared to some forums I'm on where the post whores run up like 7000 posts without saying anything more useful than "I agree" or "well said" 10 times in a 30 post thread just to see their post count go up.
(and I'm NOT saying that everyone that has thousands of posts is a 'post whore', or that post whores never make a useful contribution!)
I think it's about threads just spinning wildly off into the universe with no connection to the original post, Lord Dragon. You need to hang around...definitely. I've enjoyed yours and the Lady's posts.
Quote from: Lord Dragon on July 27, 2011, 05:10:43 PM
Wow.
Text can be so confusing without tone and inflections. So I hope I am misunderstanding the feeling that we should pick camps and stay in them. Especially since I have no large "home faire" to pick that we can attend nearby to be able to attend its full run. We have only Mobile's one day and also Pensacolas, although we travel hours to attend others such as Tampa, recently Scarborough and in Nov., TRF. I also have great interest in making garb (including sewing ) , books, theatre, movie releases and tv series. Sometimes I comment on other faires, having been there at least once and any other subject I feel an interest in commenting on or attempting to help someone else with a question. Off topic occasionally, I decree guilty as charged, but I try not to continue said path once a comment of mine is made, I usually let that lie.
But I do hear you clearly on threads that have gone way off the path of what they were intended for. But I accept them no less than seeing a hundred posts of the mundane forums to wade through in getting to what brought me here in the first place, Faires and whatever that involves. The powers that be put them there and allow them to continue, so who am I to quibble. Goes with the territory, at least that is how I feel.
I just won't pick a camp and stay in it, though. If that's what is expected, then I shall simply bow out. I hope I am wrong about that, but as I rarely post as it is save for in the first when I was trying to fit in, I doubt I would be missed all that much anyway. ;)
I am in NO way telling people where they can or can't post, at all. And bunny-trails happen, sometime, we go off on a random tangent and then...oops! Its just whenever it seems like honestly...someone has to dip there toe into everything without it being even related to the conversation. That's when it gets frustrating. I am by no means telling people to pick a camp and stay in that one. Had that been the way, I would have never talked to some of the people who have become almost like family that live half a nation away from Texas.
And no, Merlin, I don't consider you one of those people. You are almost always a great addition to any conversation (and funny as hell even if you aren't...)
I'm sorry if any took offense to what I was saying. I don't want people to feel like they aren't allowed to talk to other people or that if they have been trying to come out of their box, that they should revert back to being shy. That's not it at all. This place is wonderful for meeting people from around the nation.
I've been around these boards or one of its previous versions since 2006 and watched it grow to amazing bounds. But sometimes, things can get to be a bit too much. Being enthusiastic is great but apart of being an adult is also knowing when to shut your mouth.
If this is making some people want to shy away from this place, then I will gladly delete my post.
:P
Oh I am certainly not offended. Takes a caravan and more to do that. :) Many thanks for the clarification.
Possible guidelines for posting:
If you think that this thread pertains to you and your posting habits, here is a simple series of questions to ask yourself before hitting that "post" button.
1. Have you been drinking?
A. YES!
1. How many have you had?
a. 1 or 2: Post away! Everything you say will be clever and witty!
b. 3 or more: Be sure to use spellcheck and consider saving your post for another day. If comment
is still valid, hit "Post".
B. NO. For St. Molden's sake, go pour yourself something and post later.
2. Have you posted in more than 8 threads today?
A. YES! And, I've been drinking!: Fabulous! Refer to question 1A1.
B. Yes! But I've not been drinking.: Check to see if your comments are germane, then refer to 1B.
C. NO: Stop lurking and start posting so people can get to know you!
3. Is this comment worthy of my "out loud" voice?
A. YES! And, I've been drinking!: Fabulous! Refer to question 1A1
B. YES! But I've not been drinking: Call your bestie and verify that your comment is indeed pertinent
and witty before you hit "post".
C. No: Then may I recommend "delete" and perhaps a beverage?
***edit***
Just for clarification purposes, Ms. Trish and I have been drinking, we've had more than 3, and have cleared the checklist!
Happy posting, everyone! ;D
LOL MG, that's priceless.
I go through phases of being post crazy and lurking. And I have my own version of MG's rules. Sometimes I just have to type a response to get it out of my system then actually don't post it.
Over the years, I get less and less worked up over things so random posts in threads don't phase me much anymore. I just shrug and go on.
That was my somewhat useless addition to the thread! ;)
It was only mojitos...which I excel at making for the record. ;D
I'm guessing that "post whore" might possibly be referring to me... :D
Although I do at least try to contribute something pertinent to any discussion I enter, and try not to hijack threads too often. I DO tend to post in a great many areas, though, and frequently in threads about events that I am unable to attend, but would like to participate in, and I've gotten to talk to a lot of people I might never have spoken to otherwise because of it.
Sometimes a simple comment is meant as encouragement, congratulations or even support for a friend, or to help keep a topic from falling by the wayside. And sometimes it's just a place-marker, so that the thread will pop up in the poster's list of New Replies, so that even if they don't have anything to contribute they can still follow a discussion they're interested in.
And occasionally someone might simply want to feel like they're included... (particularly when the mojitos are making the rounds!) ;)
I must be lurking in all the wrong threads because I was totally surprised to see this as an issue. :-\
MG, Love the posting guidelines!!! And I can also verify that Ms Trish does in fact excel at making Mojitos (which I would much rather be drinking right now, but can't, cuz I'm working...and, well, pregnant so hard liquor is pretty much out for a while).
I see this pop up sometimes but not enough to annoy me. Some people might think I post a lot, but usually it is germane to the subject.
I apologize if I seem to be sticking my nose into everything; but I do have interests outside of just one fair.
In addition, there are thoughts that I can bounce off you guys that people I work with would go huh?
It's this kind of exclusionary attitude that has driven me away for the most part from both this board and faire in general. Just looking at a few prior posters, the numbers of posts posted by the users runs from less than half a post per day to just below four posts per day. There are probably people who post more often.
But even someone who posts 10x/day is posting less than 1x/hour. Maybe on something he or she is proficient in, or knows nothing about and wants to learn, or knows nothing about and is blowing hot air. If you feel a user is abusing their privileges, let the moderator(s) know. But to bring it out so people can jump all over an anonymous user(s) is beneath contempt.
Well, since I haven't been drinking and think All my posts are witty and worthy of my out loud voice....
Eloquent, your are clearly upset by a particular poster or thread. I know this isn't a real popular opinion around here, but I think you should stop beating around the bush and say whats on your mind straight up. If there is a particular thread you feel is off topic, and the topic is actually important enough to stick to, then make a polite request in the thread, or send a private note to the posters. That failing, contact a mod. Yes, I 've seen the folks who like to deliberately stir the pot ny running into threads and mussing things up. It's rare anymore, but it was a problem back in the day. I 've also seen the others in the thread quietly put the fire out.
.
If this is about the Texas countdown thread...I do read it. It's entertaining. Sure there's alot that doesn't pertain to me, or is part of a countdown exactly... but it's happy chatter and I don't see any need for the thread to stick so close to topic. Can you imagine page after page of..62 days...61 days etc.?
For myself, I don't post like I used to, but when I do, you never know where I'll end up. I have alot of interests too and really enjoy helping out and sharing in conversations. I see that in most of the folks here.
Lol...Rani you sure can post girl, but you are not a post whore. More a post cornucopia. :)
Evrryone is welcome to any section of the forum. But follow guidelines
7. Topic Area
Please stay within the topic area of the forum you are posting a message in.
8. Thread Hijacking
Keep threads on topic. If you wish to start a discussion on a new topic start a new thread please. We all know that conversations take on a life of their own, but we do not want to have thread subjects that have nothing to do with the thread's title. Stay on topic.
we're all here for the love of faire
Quote from: Anna Iram on July 28, 2011, 11:49:31 AM
Lol...Rani you sure can post girl, but you are not a post whore. More a post cornucopia. :)
Heheh... Anna, I do love the way you see things, from time to time! ;) :D
Quote from: Anna Iram on July 28, 2011, 11:49:31 AM
Well, since I haven't been drinking and think All my posts are witty and worthy of my out loud voice....
Eloquent, your are clearly upset by a particular poster or thread. I know this isn't a real popular opinion around here, but I think you should stop beating around the bush and say whats on your mind straight up. If there is a particular thread you feel is off topic, and the topic is actually important enough to stick to, then make a polite request in the thread, or send a private note to the posters. That failing, contact a mod. Yes, I 've seen the folks who like to deliberately stir the pot ny running into threads and mussing things up. It's rare anymore, but it was a problem back in the day. I 've also seen the others in the thread quietly put the fire out.
.
If this is about the Texas countdown thread...I do read it. It's entertaining. Sure there's alot that doesn't pertain to me, or is part of a countdown exactly... but it's happy chatter and I don't see any need for the thread to stick so close to topic. Can you imagine page after page of..62 days...61 days etc.?
For myself, I don't post like I used to, but when I do, you never know where I'll end up. I have alot of interests too and really enjoy helping out and sharing in conversations. I see that in most of the folks here.
Lol...Rani you sure can post girl, but you are not a post whore. More a post cornucopia. :)
This has been on my mind for awhile, on several threads, by more than one person. And unfortunately, due to the way things seem to go around here, no, I can't post my opinion with fear of coming across of being inconsiderate or attacking someone.
This thread has already made it seem so.
This has nothing to do with the Countdown Thread. That thread is around for the purpose of nothing but chatter and randomness. I welcome that gladly and enjoy it immensely, maybe I'm a little biased as most of the people on it are very good friends of mine.
Its great that people can post on a wide array of subjects and different arenas.
All I am asking is not to post for the sake of posting. Cause I get real tired of wading through some of the BS.
Eloquent While I try to stay in certain areas with my postings I do so by my choice I also feel I have the right to voice my opinion along with the next person so in this case I may be sticking my nose where it does not belong. I would much rather run the risk of offending someone then to let a person continue to annoy me. If this post originated as a result of one or two people then take that risk and say something. Also take the time to reread your statement and insure that you have done your best to not create a personal attack. PM said offenders as well send a copy to a mod with all copies stating you do not wish to attack anyone but really need to get this issue off of your chest. best case scenario the air is cleared and who knows where things might go with tension removed from a conversation. Worst case scenario someone is offended and wants to start a pissing contest in which case you have had your say and if the reply is not valid let it go no need in both parties pissing on everything.
Well, I will post a lot for a while then disappear for a time. I guess I dont get real concerned by what other people post. (shrug)
Well, I apologize, Eloquent. I saw your thread as being pointed toward someone. Wasn't sure who, but I took a guess. I was wrong.
As for having opinions, yeah...you might get jumped on but sometimes opening up a conversation leads to better understanding. Sometimes...always worth the chance. I think in this instance everyone is just in the dark about what is upsetting you and guessing the worst.
As Elo mentioned, random, lighthearted conversation is allowed in the Countdown thread in the TRF section. John and I discussed this years ago and it is OK to have a thread where the local folks can participate in casual discussion (within reason, of course). Without a little flexibility, things would get verrrrrrrry boring in the off-season. ;)