# If you post a thread on straight dope but get Zero replies, do you feel like a Loser? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 11, 2006, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250 "2006-08-11T03:58:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![O2BDumb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@O2BDumb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/O2BDumb)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/1 "2006-08-11T03:58:36Z")
Gee whiz…I sure do. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/2 "2006-08-11T04:10:55Z")
It’s happened to me several times. I like to tell myself that I articulated my point/tale so well that nothing remained to be said, but yeah, I do feel like a doofus. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/3 "2006-08-11T04:24:27Z")
It’s happened to me several times. I like to tell myself that I articulated my point/tale so well that nothing remained to be said, but yeah, I do feel like a doofus. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/4 "2006-08-11T04:25:49Z")
Lissa, I’m so so sorry for laughing, please forgive me… That was the best double post _ever_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/5 "2006-08-11T04:49:18Z")
😃 I agree… To the OP, nope. Not a loser, just not interesting enough. Hey, it happens. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/6 "2006-08-11T13:46:38Z")
It infuriates me when I think that the thread responses would be entirely different and much higher if someone else had posted the thread, but mostly it annoys me when threads I ponder for days whither on the vine. In other words, yes, but I know it’s silly of me. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/7 "2006-08-11T15:33:34Z")
Most of the time (and there have been quite a few!) I just realize the topic or question is not nearly as appealing to others as it may have been for me. Some of the threads have been too inane for anybody even to mouse over, much less read, and surely not reply to. Others have been on topics either too old (way out of date) or too arcane (nobody _ever_ cared about them) for there to be much interest in them. But, yes, every once in a while I feel so rejected and pitiful. Waaaaaaah. ☹ However, when I balance the 0-replies threads with the over-200 replies threads, it’s enough for me to feel as if I’m not just absolutely rejected. It’s the price you pay for either: 1. selecting a stupid issue 2. not phrasing it well 3. duplicating an ongoing issue that’s being treated more favorably in another extant thread 4. bringing up for the umpteenth time some topic that is well past dead 5. pissing others off with your recent behavior elsewhere on the boards 6. being a loser! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/8 "2006-08-11T15:42:39Z")
Yeah, like this one: > **[Do Terrorists Read Superman Comics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=383495)** > > This current anxiety about liquid two-part explosives makes me remember a 1960s Superman story in which Superman was (IIRC) giving a tour of his Fortress of Solitude, and two criminals brought in an explosive in the form of ink in a pen and a therms... I’ve had that happen lots of times. The solution? Post more threads. And try to make them more reply-inviting. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/9 "2006-08-11T15:42:56Z")
Wouldn’t it be funny if no one responded to this thread? Um, so … yeah. I feel like a geek 'cos I must have picked someone no one cared about/everyone thought was incredibly _ghey_/has already been posted before, and probably much more interestingly. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/10 "2006-08-11T16:25:44Z")
Will anyone else cop to replying to a thread just because it has languished, lonely as a cloud, with no replies? Call it a pity post. I’ve done it once or twice. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/11 "2006-08-11T16:26:43Z")
I can usually engineer threads to get any reasonable number of replies I want (I may only one really good reply to a GQ for example). However, if I make one and it gets little to no activity, the only possible conclusions are: 1. I have posed a question so profound or cutting edge that no one here can address it. 2. People were humbled by it and were afraid to respond. I am also amazed when people complain about being a “thread killer”. I love being the last person to post to the thread. That meant that I gave the most lucid and definitive answer possible and the facts and logic are simply above reproach. It would be a little much to expect people to both read it and then applaud me publicly. I am actually pretty serious about this and it is the way my mind works. I suppose that explains why my self-esteem seems way too high for what it has to work with according to some people. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/12 "2006-08-11T16:28:36Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > Will anyone else cop to replying to a thread just because it has languished, lonely as a cloud, with no replies? Call it a pity post. I’ve done it once or twice. I have just been thinking about a new thread where I will provide links to all my 0-replies threads with a plea for anybody _anybody_ to go post _something_, just anything to save the poor things. If I did that would you reply to the request(s)? Me neither. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/13 "2006-08-11T17:10:50Z")
Well, on the contrary, I think that if you started a thread and got a billion replies where you and a hundred Dopers just kept posting back and forth, over and over and none of you ever left the house… then you’d be a _real_ loser. So don’t worry. If your thread got zero replies, it gives you a chance to get out of the house and be productive. It doesn’t mean you’re a loser. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/14 "2006-08-11T17:12:42Z")
I just reconcile myself to the fact that my OP was so advnaced and complex that noone would dare attemt to answer it for fear of showing their lack of knowledge. either that, or my spelling left the OP unreadable 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/15 "2006-08-11T17:14:55Z")
Not really. The message board is a hobby and doesn’t really define me much. I have so many outside interests and I just pop in when I’m bored with the day. Some of the people here post very long, well researched and well thought-out posts, but I don’t have the time or interest to do so. Quite often I find I want to reply to someone, but don’t have the time to think through what I’m trying to say or the time to find cites or whatever, so I say screw it and don’t post. I’m glad when people respond, but I don’t mind so much when they don’t. Having said that, there have been a few posts here that meant a lot to me. For instance, when my dad died I posted a rememberance of/to him and dozens of dopers popped in to post rememberances of their own fathers. I will cherish that thread for a long time. When I was sick dopers popped in to send me good thoughts and prayers. Those were great. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/16 "2006-08-11T20:16:28Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > Will anyone else cop to replying to a thread just because it has languished, lonely as a cloud, with no replies? Call it a pity post. I’ve done it once or twice. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/17 "2006-08-11T20:18:29Z")
Post a Lord of the Rings - Star Trek - Firefly - Star Wars thread. It’ll get responses. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/18 "2006-08-11T20:32:55Z")
> [@O2BDumb](#): > > Gee whiz…I sure do. Judging from your posting history, it appears this has only happened to you once, in this GQ on [“the fake cough”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=378527). It drew the astonishing total of 274 views, and no responses. The problem is that there’s no way to answer it in the negative. It appears the “fake cough” _isn’t_ widespread, because zero out of 274 people said “Yeah, I’ve seen that, too”, or “Yeah, that’s how my friends say they’re interested in a guy”. But how can one person post that as an answer? Just because one person hasn’t seen it doesn’t mean it isn’t widespread. There isn’t much point to each of 274 people posting, “I personally haven’t seen it.” So you get no response, but in this case no responses is a “No” answer and answers your question. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/19 "2006-08-11T20:59:27Z")
If a thread posted on the SDMB gets zero replies, does it make a sound? ---
**Author:** ![Pixisis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Pixisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixisis)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250/20 "2006-08-11T21:00:20Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > If a thread posted on the SDMB gets zero replies, does it make a sound? well, there’s always the little creaky noise of the hamsters in their wheel … [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-post-a-thread-on-straight-dope-but-get-zero-replies-do-you-feel-like-a-loser/368250.md?page=2)