# I Want to Answer, but 46 People Already Have **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 20, 2007, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682 "2007-03-20T05:03:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/41 "2007-03-21T16:12:24Z")
In a parallel vein, I’m wondering how it is that threads expire without getting a single reply. It’s a phenomenon of nature that I can’t quite explain. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/42 "2007-03-21T16:16:37Z")
Like, for instance, [this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=413295). Come on, it’s about Starbucks, it’s about coffee! Who hasn’t got an opinion about that? Last one in is a rotten egg! Oops! Never mind! Too late! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/43 "2007-03-21T18:02:43Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] In a parallel vein, I’m wondering how it is that threads expire without getting a single reply. It’s a phenomenon of nature that I can’t quite explain. [/QUOTE] Based on the ones I’ve started, I’d say it’s shitty topics that nobody knows or cares about. I have even gone back to some a day or so later just to be sure they were seen, and the “bump” post prevents them from being 0 replies things. Some weren’t worth even that much effort. It’s hard to know what will catch on and what won’t. Practice makes better odds. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/44 "2007-03-21T19:32:57Z")
Dagnab it! Is this thread _ever_ going to make it to 46 posts? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/45 "2007-03-21T19:35:53Z")
Evidently not. ::::waiting for it::::: ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/46 "2007-03-21T19:38:59Z")
I bet there’s a simulpost now. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/47 "2007-03-21T19:52:57Z")
The first original answer right here. Actually, this phenomenon doesn’t happen to me. . . that often. I’m most often the first person to see a thread and then I wait because I don’t want to be the first. ETA: On preview, I realized that I’m not actually the 47th person, just the 47th post as the OP counts as one. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/48 "2007-03-21T20:31:41Z")
I want to answer this thread, but 46 people already have! Aiiiieeeee! ETA: Yep, simulpost. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/49 "2007-03-21T20:36:32Z")
Darn it. Always late to the party. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![YellowTail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5ac83/32.png) [@YellowTail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YellowTail)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/50 "2007-03-21T23:32:53Z")
Zeldar said: “It’s even better when you can be #51. That’s normally the breakpoint for a thread that’s running out of steam as the bottom of the page is approaching. If you add the one that forces the page break, odds are it won’t even be seen. Others will just say to themselves “do I need to see something that’s going to force me to go back a whole page to see what they’re talking about?” I’d guess the odds are pretty low on this.” Sooooo … who’s it gonna be??? ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/51 "2007-03-21T23:42:11Z")
Me too ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/52 "2007-03-22T11:49:10Z")
Guess who… ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/53 "2007-03-22T11:50:46Z")
[QUOTE=Mbossa] Me too [/QUOTE] So much for the wisdom of **Zeldar**! Guess we’ll have to fill up another page. Then the question becomes: “When does this end?” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/54 "2007-03-22T13:26:48Z")
Not just yet, I guess… ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/55 "2007-03-23T14:52:00Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Not just yet, I guess… [/QUOTE] I can’t let you win this thread too! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/56 "2007-03-23T15:17:27Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] I can’t let you win this thread too! 😛 [/QUOTE] Oh. So it’s down to winning the thread, eh? Take that! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/57 "2007-03-23T15:45:49Z")
[QUOTE=Miss Woodhouse] Your OP has hit on the main reason it took me more than a year of lurking to cough up my 15 bucks. Everything worth saying had already been said. 😉 Now I’m just here to ramble. [/QUOTE] I’m with ya sister. Although I’ve never let a lengthy thread stop me from running my damn mouth. Have your membership lapse, you will be amazed at how much you have to say. Gave me the shakes and the sweats it did. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/58 "2007-03-23T19:18:12Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] I can’t let you win this thread too! 😛 [/QUOTE] Since you used the word “too,” I wholeheartedly forgive you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/59 "2007-03-23T19:44:43Z")
Sorry to bring it back to the topic (well, slightly, anyhow… slightly sorry, and slightly on-topic) but… I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. It seems like those of us who wait for a topic we are familiar with to post get kind of left behind. Ok, maybe only I do. (Anybody?) I think it has something to do with how we are taught to behave as children, maybe. I was taught to not interrupt, and don’t just “talk to hear yourself”. I don’t just chime in to a topic because I can say something witty, although I’ve been trying to do that lately and failing miserably. So, what to do when you aren’t particularly witty, but feeling ignored and left behind? any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Viridiana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Viridiana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viridiana)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682/60 "2007-03-23T21:03:51Z")
I don’t know, but I guess guidelines like those when I was growing up have affected my posting style, too. Between that and limited reading time I have at most a third of the posts I should. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-answer-but-46-people-already-have/396682.md?page=2)