People who Post...
 

I have been on GC for more than a minute. I come. I go. I think mostly I get bored....conversations on here have not changed a whole lot. I am amazed how some folks have like 10,000 posts- 20,000 posts! WOW!!!!!

What are you implying? :p

If anything I'm amazed at how snippy some people can get on here.

Too much energy spent in the wrong places...

I'm not amazed.... I've encountered it in person, so when I came to GC I was not surprised.

As far as the 10,000 - 20,000 posts, I can understand if the person is a moderator. They are doing their job by addressing issues in their forum.

If it is just a regular member, then I'd be like 'get a life'. I love reading and posting on GC, but I do have other things to do like my job, spend time with my family, enjoy my friends and hobbies. You know, a life.

The people who amaze me are the ones who have at least 5,000 posts on GC and they are an active member of other message boards. That is when I really begin to wonder if they have a life.

LG :p,

I know some folks are just very opinionated. I know some folks are moderators. I know some folks just have a lot of time on their hands. I know the net is addictive. But I think there is something deeper happening here...beyond the surface.

I am curious to understand the psyche of those who stay and post 10,000 plus in a relatively short time frame...and I am not talking about the one liner conversations. I don't think its fair to just dismiss those posters as "just not having a life". Like I said in my original post, I come and go. I mostly go now because my Sorors who are on this list keep me posted of what is happening on GC anyway so I don't feel the "need" (everyone wants to have representation-even in cyberspace) to be here as much as I used to at one time (when GC was in its infancy)...and the conversations for the most part are just not terribly compelling to me.

This may not really be the right forum to get into such a study...but its something I think I plan to analyze more formally at a later date, because it is very interesting. Honest feedback would be nice. If I don't get it, no worries.

Nothing wrong with having too much time on your hands. I had that issue for a while, and now I long for those days again.

Anyway, what I'm curious about is not people with high post counts alone. I'm curious how people manage their time when they have a job, school, a girlfriend/boyfriend, membership in a GLO, watch a lot of tv, play a lot of videogames, AND have thousands of posts on GC. There's only 24 hours a day. :confused:

Yeah that was quite blatant. :eek:

But what if you've been laid off? Don't have a family or are not that close to your family? What if you're at a new school/town/job and have not made any friends yet? What if you live in a climate where there isn't much to do outside? Or in a city where there isn't much going on?

This can happen to normal people. It's not as simple as just "not having a life".

Isn't GC part of "life" just like anything else? If you spend X amount of time with your SO or family, would that not be like spending that same amount of time on GC and other MB?

Why is it that having a large number of posts on here or any other MB would equate to or give the impression that said person does not have a "life"?

And why is that low post number on GC or/and other MB's means that you have a "life"?

You bring up a very interesting point--- the idea of a message board being part of life...and what about the other side...those who don't post but lurk on boards for years and rarely post.

What about them? What I got from this thread is that those with large amount of posts don't have a life outside of GC or other MB's. My point is why does that have to be the case? Why can't it just be?

If you enjoy doing something (GC, Kazo, GP, Yahoo chat, blackplanet, reading, eating, talking about folks, going to school, breathing, bathing, and so on) and you do it all the time, is that not part of said person's LIFE? who are we (on a MB) to tell another perons (on a MB) to get a life outside?? That sounds convoluted to me.

You know that's the assumption (no life). When you look a little deeper,I don't think that's the case. At first I was just like...wow, is there that much to talk about? And then I thought about the possible content of those 10K to 20K posts and then I thought about the person behind the posts. And then I thought about the people who come and don't post at all. I think part of it may be about having a voice...somewhere...anywhere...and our need to be heard. I don't think that's a complete answer either. I think its worth studying. Cyber World- Cyber Family

I see. Then it's best to say that anything that people spend a great deal of time doing (or not doing), is worthy of studying.

There are people who study that too...but the internet, specifically is of interest to me considering it has not been around for public consumption for even 20 years. There is a whole new culture of communication that has been created and its one that does not rely body language, speech, or inflection. The end users are forced to make a lot of assumptions as they communicate. My background is communications...so I just find it fascinating.

I agree with you that this new way/form of communicating is interesting and can be fascinating, however, your first post and that of Sigmadiva (which is the reason behind this thread) gives the impression that those who rely on this form of communication (especially on MBs) more then others have no "real life", and that there is more to their actions (the high number of posts) that requires study, opposed to GC and other MB's being a part of their lives.

And that's why this whole thing is interesting. I really did n't say anything other than "wow". That was my way of saying "fascinating" I did n't go into any detail in what my feelings were one way or another, but based on that post you thought that's where I was going.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure on more than one occasion I may have misinterpreted a user's intention. However, often my initial instincts about a user's intentions are revealed in later posts in a thread.

At this point I am not able to make a statement about the profile of posters, which is something, somebody is probably studying... if not it might be the topic of my future dissertation! More later...

Interesting...I'm off to L.A. ya'll have a good week

I was not laid off, but I did have some down time between my graduation from grad school and when I started in my research lab. I was off for about 3 1/2 months. Initially I just sat around and watched tv and surfed the web. I was so busy and under so much pressure during grad school, I actually found it relaxing for a while to just sit and let my brain 'go'. Then, I got bored. I got up and started doing stuff. I went out antique-ing, would go to the museums (all free on Thursdays in Houston), worked out at the gym. I became active.

As for the family, for me they are always around. My family is pretty large on both sides and someone is usually having a birthday party or get-together. One of my uncle's and I love to get on the phone and talk about the latest Shelia Jackson Lee sighting. She pops up everywhere!!

I can understand those who may not have a family, or are not close. I think then it is important to connect with somebody in your community, whether through church, or some other type of organization. We have three sorors transfer to my grad chapter and they are all from the mid-west. They became very active in our chapter and we (the chapter) are like their extended family.

Everyone is going to be new at some point, but you are not going to be new forever. I would hope that a person is capable of making and maintaining social contacts.

I can understand when it comes to living in a climate where there is not much to do outside. Heck, during the summers here it can get to 100 F and 100% humidity where it can last until ~ 9 pm. There are a number of indoor arenas where you can go to be active. There are indoor soccer, tennis, swimming, basketball and football arenas.

I can also understand living in a city where there is not much going on. That is why you make friends and create your own excitement!!!

I just think that there is more to life than sitting on your @$$ in front of a computer *all day, everyday*. That is why Americans are so fat. All we do is sit.

I guess to me having a "life" means physically interacting with people. Racking up posts, to me, implies that you really don't have any other way of communicating with people other than through a 'faceless' medium. Which implies that all you do is sit at a computer all day - getting fat:p

I have a very full life. Although I only have 2,300 posts here, if you were to add up all of my posts on here and other MBs on which I particpate over the last five years I have been posting, then I am sure I would have 20,000, too.

Some people stick to one MB and others spread it around. Plus if you look at some of the other forums on here, there are a lot of places to post.

MBs are my form of relaxation and entertainment. And I do sit my a$$ all day in front of the computer most of the day, because it is necessary for the work that I do. So when I need a break from the work I do, I go to MBs, since my job is computer intensive anyway.

Because, like I said, sitting at a computer all day makes you fat. Then you won't have much of a healthy life.

I think it is only covoluted if you don't get it.

CORRECTION!! I am not the reason behind the thread, go back ttt. I just simply stated my opinion and the thread has gone in a slightly different direction.

I hear ya! I come to GC to relax too. But, it is not my only / main form of relaxation and entertainment. I spend part of my day on my feet and part on the computer. By the end of the day I'm exhausted, but I always try to make time to do something not computer related for that day and/or week.

Finer Woman, I feel you on this thread. I wonder too about people who spend so much time on the 'net. As a moderator, I don't have the time to be on here and compared to others I have a very low post count considering I've been here for over 5 years now.

I study these things too because I am not an internet person. I wonder about how people in general spend their time. Aside from the internet I am not into the telephone or tv either. And it's not just because I have a full life (job, kids, grad school, etc.) but because none of this stuff appeals to me as hobbies or things to do in your spare time. Before I was married with children I was busy doing physical things and with church/community groups (like Sigma Diva said). I'm still trying to find out what the appeal is for people who like to "type talk" to people they don't know on any consistent basis to rack up thousands of posts on different boards.:confused:

I have even thought about doing without e-mail altogether because I don't like people communicating with me that way. I have 3 phones you can call me on, ok (home,cell,work!! ;)).I don't like e-vites, e-cards, e-conversations etc. because they don't have that personal touch. I don't even like my boyfriend to instant message me when he sees me on line. I'm too straightforward and I want people to know what I am saying and the intent of what I'm saying (tone of voice and all).

OK, I'm through with this! :)

I've noticed that I have alot of posts in a short amt of time, but I enjoy using the computer or electronics period. My employees used to tease me 'cause I'd bombard them w/ emails (work related) and my friends call me a "techy" or "Connie Chung" because I email out current events, etc. in a flash.

Usually I'm multitasking - I maybe rocking my baby w/ one foot, or holding her while she naps while typing (yep - she's "well loved" and doesn't let me put her down much), or talking w/ family, or talking on the phone w/ business contacts all with 5 different Windows open - which may be GC, employment apps, email, cnn, or any other research or info I'm looking up (and no, I'm not ADD :) ). Not to mention there's life before/after posting - daily devotion, "chuch" taking care of the baby, pushing business, cooking & "cleanting", "wifely duties" :o, helping w/ homework, job searching, talking a walk, meetings, and trying to squeeze in a novel here & there....

Soooo.... no - if someone posts alot it doesn't mean they don't have a life (even though I've joked about it) or that all life for them has halted because of posting or being on the net. Some like clubbing/ dancing, some like knitting, sewing or whatever floats your boat. The net is just another form of enjoyment out there among the plethora of things that occupy our time. The nice thing is - you don't have to "just sit" at the computer - you can get up - do what ever and go back to it from time to time. It doesn't take that long to post - a simple "yep." or "I agree," or even a " :rolleyes: " counts as a post (whereas you may just think it - someone else might post it).

Kinda like the post in Greek Life where a glo (I think he's a glo member) called the BGLO initiation process "strange". Not strange - different.

Now - when someone turns into a "hermit" - avoids all human contact, turns internet stalker or predator, or starts having GC fantasies - then there's a reason to worry. :p

But - if it wasn't for the frequent posters and returning members - wouldn't GC be a pretty boring message board?

Exactly. But what I don't get is why should anyone else care what someone else does with their time? Even if they are "sitting in front of a computer screen getting fat?" :confused:

If it were that simple...
 

MY interests academically speaking, makes no assumptions about folks who have used the net as a form of entertainment, escape or otherwise. I just queried the concept. At the end of the day, we don't know each other. But I wonder what the science would produce as far as a profile. And that's all folks! I am off to Howard Homecoming...I'm so glad....I went to Howard U!

becuz i wuv wu!!!!

But seriously, it is a matter of deducing information. If a person has "10,000" posts on any MB and "10,000" posts on other MBs, then at some point during the day (or many points during the day) that person is very likely to be in front of a computer, sitting down.

After a while, the desire for munchies creeps up. The person gets up to get a snack, then sits back down.

There is limited physical activity and plenty of snacking, which over time, can make you fat.

Thank you for the luv. ;)

But you do realize that the total number of posts on any message board is the aggregate of the years that person has been one. So say a person has 20,000 posts over 5 years. That is an average of 4,000/year, 11/day, 1.4/hour (over an 8 hour period.) That hardly equates to excessive time in front of a computer.

Also using what you have deduced, the same would apply to computer programmers, software designers, web designers, and any other technology professional. So they are all sitting in front of their computers getting fat.

Just because a person posts a lot, doesn't mean that they don't do anything else. They may still do an hour at the gym every day, as well. WE don't know.

I think that folks who sit around ASSuming about what others do, when not logged on are the ones with no life.

I have to add to this and admit that I am one of those people that would say somebody has no life because they spend so much time on message boards. But then I realized something. I would be also the first one to say that to someone who spends a good deal of time watching tv or talking on the telephone. Then I had to think again because my mother was a tv/telephone person when I was growing up and I wouldn't dare say that she had "no life". (not unless I wanted to pick my face up off the floor!). She has often said that she can't live without the two whereas, I can. My mother is also much more of a social and outgoing person than I am.

So, I guess I am thinking along these lines, if a person is not very sociable person but spends a lot of time on the internet then does that person "have no life"?

Great breakdown of the stats.


Yes. :p

I never ASSumed about what others do when not logged on. I assumed about what others can not be doing if they are logged on so much. There is a difference. Of course I can not assume what others are doing when not logged on. There is no way for anyone to determine that unless one knows the person personally. But, when a person is logged on *and* posting, and since the posts are tallied, (and GC does give an average tally per day, I think), it can be deduced that there is a good chance that that person is not doing much else. That is to say, posting and going to the gym (actually working out).

One can always hypothesize based on information given. It does not mean you (the general you) have to agree.

But, I do enjoy that you all are so taken by my hypothesis. ;)

If by 'a lot of time' you mean most of their waking hours, then I would say yes. Especially if they are not very sociable.

But maybe that is their life. If a person is not very sociable in person, the internet may be a way for them to be so. So who are we to judge what is an acceptable "life." What you enjoy, others may not. But that does not make your "life" anymore better than theirs.

What makes someone 'have a life' anyway? I think we might all define that differently. I'm not the kind of person that goes out a lot, has company at my house, etc., and I guess by some people's standards that would mean I don't have a life. But to me, I enjoy time alone watching TV or talking on the phone. Sometimes I'm just not beat to be around people, that's just me. I don't feel like I don't have a life, I'm satisfied with spending time alone. Some people are just like that. But then again, that's another angle to look at this subject - whether or not the person is satisfied with their life the way it is. They could be like me, just not beat to be around people all the time.

Ah, but I never said better, nor did I intend to imply it.

The original poster made a comment on an observation about the number of posts a person has. I offered my interpretation on the comment. You (the general you) may or may not agree with my assesment. When someone asks 'What do you think' I am going to say what I think.

We all judge on what is an acceptable "life". We do it everyday. What is acceptable for some may not be acceptable for others. And that is okay. At the end of the day you should be happy doing what you do. It really should not matter what anyone thinks.

I think a "life" involves a good deal of physical activity and interacting with people face to face (yes, I do recognize that it does not happen on GC ;)). This is *my* definition.

But that is my point. I also interact face-to-face a lot, as well as post on multiple MBs. One does not preclude the other.

I serve on three nonprofit boards of directors, serve as an adjunct instructor in the MBA program of a local University, do internet consulting work, and I am very active in my sorority--locally, regionally, and nationally. And I manage to walk an hour each day. How? I don't restrict myself to 9-5--it's called multi-tasking.

Great!!:D