I’ve been around the boards for a few years, posting infrequently. I continually find myself getting stirred up by things people write, but not responding. I’ve even gone so far as to compose a reply and then not send it. I know I’m being a real wuss. Lately I’ve seen threads dedicated to things I thought I was the only one in the world who did them. That leads me to believe I am not alone. Anyone else out there want to admit they’re apprehensive about joining the debates with the big-brained ones?
::raises hand::
Me, me, me, me.
I always read Great Debates and usually can get through without having to hit something. But in the last couple of days there have been threads I have had to physically get up and walk away from my desk because of to cool off and not post.
Here’s why:
They’re debating abortion and the working poor (I’m too lazy to go get the lunks. Sue me.). While the both sides of the debate on abortion are well written and passionate, they are also from people who have no experience with the subject-not that they profess to while I was reading it, anyway. I do. I have personal experience with both sides of the debate. I’ve been on the damned table. This is precisely why I don’t post. I was so mad I feared I would come off as an idiot.
Same with the working poor topic. Please. Of all the posts I read, only one was from a person with actual experience with that lifestyle. The ones that were saying the working poor were working poorly have no idea what’s it like to actually have to support a family of four on a poverty line income when the one working is putting in 60+ hours a week. What was I going to say if I posted? Nothing complimentary.
So since I can’t say something nice, I say nothing at all. Probably said too much here as it is.
:: sigh ::
Nnnahhh. You’re in good company. I’m too much of a wuss too. Mostly. I have composed reasonable, well-thought-out posts that I just turf at the last second. I really don’t want to look like an ass, and a few people seem to have been on hair-triggers lately.
I’m beginning to wonder if perhaps I should just hit that damn submit button anyways. But I got kinda squelched once on a matter of definition and I’m still not confident enough here to assert otherwise.
:sigh:
Eventually, maybe we’ll lose this inhibition and join the rest, merrily shrieking out relevant bits of opinion and fact.
And I’m with Arden Ranger on the working poor, dammit. Been there, done that, only JUST got out of it thanks.
Heh. Almost turfed this post too. Hit that submit button, wuss! And damn the torpedoes and semi-trolls!
Tisiphone
This is why I avoid GD. I have way too much life experiance and I’m really emotional. Not the way to go around in there.
So I bounce around in MPSIMs, and sometimes poke my nose in the Pit or IMHO.
I’m a wuss.
MPSIMS, Pit and GQ are my usual places.
GD just scares me.
You’re not the only one, I do that too. Mostly, it’s because I’m new here and I don’t want to ruffle too many feathers. That’s why I’m mostly sticking to IMHO, MPSIMS, and GQ for now, until I build up a more respectable post count.
Nope, I’m with ya. I’ve written whole replies and then just hit the back button. I refuse to write anything even remotely inflammatory, for fear of a pit thread dedicated to me. The last time I tried to participate in a pit thread it didn’t work out at all. So I just hang out in the safe MPSIMS/IMHO area, and venture into GQ to learn a few things (though I hardly post anything there either), and into the pit to read all the flames.
I won’t even touch GD.
Personally, I love GD and GQ and read them first every time I check the boards. There have been dozens of times when I’ll find a post within a thread to which I’d like to respond, only to find that someone a few posts down has encapsulated my main points in their own message. Generally speaking, i’m not inclined to make a post that simply says “me too” or something similar. If I don’t have anything new or worthwhile to add to the thread, I’ll simply move on and hope I arrive more quickly next time. It’s caused me to compose entire (rather lenghty) messages and then realize that I haven’t said anything that hasn’t been mentioned already.
Half the time I post a message in there I feel like a thread killer anyways. Maybe it’s all for the best.
The reason I started this thread was because I was feeling guilty after watching 2 people unjustly flayed alive (in my opinion) in the Pit. Like others have stated, giving the ol’ “me, too” just doesn’t cut it. Anyway, it would have taken me an hour to compose something logical enough to be proud of.
For what it’s worth, I’m going to try and post more often. I’m going straight to the “name the boobs” and “last time I got laid” threads. Mrs. Scarred (and I sure she’d be REAL happy to be called that) makes it a point to avoid anything with the word ‘dope’ in it. I’m safe.
:Raises hand quietly in a corner:
I don’t often post at all, though I have done a bit more just recently. I tend to read many of the threads in all of the forums except The Pit, but I rarely reply.
The main reason I don’t reply to GD or GQ is cause I often don’t have any experience or knowledge to back up anything I could say, so I figure it is best to say nothing. Also, I feel there are many people much smarter than me here, so it is best to just keep quiet and read.
Rick
I regularly read the Pit, GD, GQ, IMHO, and MPSIMS. I usually post only in IMHO and MPSIMS though, with the occasional post in GQ. Great Debates is often an illuminating read, and I’ve found my opinions on some subjects changed as a result of the eloquent defenses and citations I’ve seen presented there. I also disagree quite often with things I’ve seen posted there, but I’m not much one for debating. The Pit, on the other hand, is more akin to rubbernecking at a car crash. I’m amazed at some of the stuff that gets posted there, as well as the obvious emotion behind it, but my voyeuristic tendencies keep bringing me back.
All in all, it’s fun to post, but I find it more educational to read what others post.
::Falls out of his chair laughing:::
Respectable post count!!! good one!!! AHAHAHAHAHA.
I would rather read a well written topic posted by a newbie, than some drivel by someone with 1000+ (post count parties).
I’ve given up trying to make a respectable post count. I’ve been here for how long and I still only have around 70 posts. Do I feel like I’m a wuss? Of course I do, but I’m not losing sleep over it. I’ve decided to post where I can when I can if I have something good to say. I’m 17 so there’s not much of a chance I’m going to be meeting anybody else on the board anytime soon, so it doesn’t really matter what they think of me. (not to say I don’t care at all it’s just not one of my bigger worries in life)
Hmm… I feel less alone. The only place I am willing to post is MPSIMS, with the odd foray into IMHO. GD interests me, and I’ve learned a lot from GQ, but I know there are people out there who either know what they’re talking about better or can say it more clearly. I’ll just hide here in MPSIMS where I can’t do any damage.
Besides, this place is fun 
::::raises hand::::
Me, too. I can’t even read some of the posts with a dictionary at hand. And I live in fear that someone will take my post the wrong way and beat me to a bloody pulp.
I stick to IMHO and MPSIMS, but do venture over to the Pit just to make sure I didn’t piss somebody off.
I’m of the “quality over quantity” school of thought with regards to post count. And if I read something I either disagree with or know for a fact to be wrong, I will say so, although I try to do so tactfully.
I’m not sure why people are scared by GD. I’ve posted there (albeit rarely), and I don’t feel I’ve been looked down upon (of course, it’s distinctly possible that I’m just too dumb to realize people are doing it).
I do think that it takes a LOT of time to come up with a halfway intelligent GD post, compared to the other forums, so I can understand the reluctance on that basis.