People who Post...

[Finer Woman10-A-91]

Originally posted by treblk
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...

[treblk]

Originally posted by Finer Woman10-A-91
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

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by Dionysus
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".

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.

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by treblk
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"?

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

[ladygreek]

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.

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by treblk
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.

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.

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by treblk
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)

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.

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by ladygreek
I have a very full life. Although I only have 2,800 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.

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.

[BlueReign]

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.

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!

[Tickled Pink 2]

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" , 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 " " 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.

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

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by Tickled Pink 2

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?"

[Finer Woman10-A-91]

Originally posted by ladygreek
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?"

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!

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by ladygreek
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?"

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.

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by sigmadiva
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.

[Boom_Quack13]

Originally posted by sigmadiva
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.

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.