# The Psychology of Hit and Run Posters **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 8, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901 "2003-05-08T14:45:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![abderian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@abderian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abderian)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/1 "2003-05-08T14:45:10Z")
With my never-ending fascination for human behaviour, I’ve been thinking about message boards and posting habits. I’ve been a registered SDMB member for a couple of years, but I rarely post – just bits here and there when my schedule allows time for me to think and type in the same fifteen-minute block. I’m a voracious reader of other people’s posts, however, and I sometimes get to wondering about the folks behind the words. Occasionally I post in my head, but never get around to typing it out on the message board. I’m quite uncertain about the netiquette for discussing other posters, so I won’t mention any specifics. But I’m trying to figure out what motivates serial “hit and run” posters, such as one who was recently banned. I refer to a poster who’s made no intellectual or emotionally-supportive contribution to a thread, has asked no questions, and provided no answers. At first glance, such a personality is ostensibly seeking attention. But, seeking attention from a gathering of anonymous strangers? Seems like a mighty poor substitute for true social interaction. Trolls – now trolls, I can at least \understand\. Stepping into a hot topic with a misguided goal of creating some controversy at least shows some eagerness to connect to the crowd – albeit on an immature, annoying level. But the poster who simply appears, adds some irritating in-text-tagline to the thread, and leaves seems more like an on-line equivalent of mooning. What’s the motivation? Are we supposed to be impressed? Entertained? Intimidated? Perhaps this is like virtual graffiti – or like pissing on your doorstep to establish my turf. Any theories? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/2 "2003-05-08T14:49:38Z")
I figure that this thread is better suited to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/3 "2003-05-08T16:40:43Z")
Maybe they just think it’s funny? ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/4 "2003-05-08T17:22:42Z")
I’ve often wondered that myself. It takes a fair amount of time and effort to register to post – do they go through this whole process simply with the intention of posting one message?? Are they THAT board? ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/5 "2003-05-08T17:24:08Z")
:::::::::::::::;;;;;;;;vroooooooooooooooooooooom::::::::::::::::::::::;; \<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\< **Screeeeeeeeeeech!!!** \>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\> **THYUDDDD!!** \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ::::::::::::::::::::;;;;;;;;;;;;;vrooooooooooooooooooooom!!!;;;;;;;;;))))))))00 ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/6 "2003-05-08T17:36:42Z")
I think that even drive-by posters feel they are contributing something; it’s just not always something everyone else appreciates. The person who wanders into a fact-seeking discussion and can only provide a simple pithy rejoinder probably feels he or she, although not solving any problems, at least made someone laugh. Even if that someone is only the poster himself or herself. So it’s just another form of narcissism. ---
**Author:** ![FranticMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/7 "2003-05-08T17:39:03Z")
My guess is that it amuses them. It’s a creative outlet. It tweaks the noses of those who take things seriously. P.S. This post has been hit and run upon by casdave. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/8 "2003-05-08T18:04:06Z")
I think it’s because they’re losers. Losers who need something to do while they try to grow some pubes. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/9 "2003-05-08T18:39:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Giraffe \* > **I think it’s because they’re losers. Losers who need some pubes** The Taxguy has taken away 27% of this post (along with 27% of your income)!!! ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/10 "2003-05-08T20:14:29Z")
Please help me with the definition of “hit and run posters.” Is anyone who posts only once in a thread hit and run? Or does the single post have to be offensive in some way? I’m solid on the definition of troll, it’s the hit and run I’m not clear on, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/11 "2003-05-08T20:30:36Z")
**Big\_Norse** , I think the “phenomena” in question is when somebody randomly posts to a thead with nothing more to say than a stupid slogan - and continues to do so in other threads until they are finally banned. Imagine if **casdave** did his “drive-by” example in every thread he could open and post to before the Mods pulled his plug…as happened today with an annoying little individual who shall go unnamed (won’t be hard to find - the affected threads are still active). I think many of these types are previously banned members who want to tick the Mods off for having the audacity to kick their sorry butts out of the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/12 "2003-05-08T20:32:38Z")
(fart) ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/13 "2003-05-08T20:33:53Z")
—yes, that gave me great momentary joy. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/14 "2003-05-08T20:37:54Z")
Some of us post from work, and have to finish our post before the boss ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/15 "2003-05-08T20:39:34Z")
walks by. (Whew, that was close!) ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/16 "2003-05-08T20:43:42Z")
**Duke** , that’s why the Good Lord gave us the unending joys of ALT-TAB and the minimized window. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/17 "2003-05-08T20:44:25Z")
Thanks **Kilt-wearin’ man**. And thanks to **Rooves** for that fine example. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NameAlreadyTaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/97f17d/32.png) [@NameAlreadyTaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NameAlreadyTaken)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/18 "2003-05-08T20:59:30Z")
Not that long ago, I started a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176856) that ended up shifting over to a concept called the Drive By Posting Percentage. Basically, take the number of threads you’ve responded to and divide it by the number of posts you’ve made (in total). This will give you a number between 0 (you always post to the same thread) and 1 (you are a complete drive by poster). Most people who responded seemed to fall out around .7 or .4, depending primarily on which forums the poster frequented. The pit has more drive by, and great debates has much less. Of course, this statistic doesn’t account for individuals who have stupid slogans or like to use odd markup. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/19 "2003-05-08T21:37:52Z")
**Name** that’s why I asked for a definition. As you see, I’m quite new, and it seems I only really get a chance to post once in a thread before it dies (Hello, my name is Big\_Norse and I’m a thread-killer), or it completely veers off onto a course I have nothing to say about. I am certainly not doing this out of malice or mischievousness (which would be required to fit into **Kilt-wearin’ Man** ’s definition), but by your mathmatical standard I come up with a high Drive By Posting Percentage. To get back to the OP. If we’re going by **Name** ’s mathmatical definition of drive-bys: then the motivation is that I’d like to join the conversation, but as a newbie I don’t seem to have the clout to fully join in or to keep the momentum of a thread going. ---
**Author:** ![abderian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@abderian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abderian)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901/20 "2003-05-08T23:09:05Z")
**casdave** wrote: \>:::::::::::::::;;;;;;;;vroooooooooooooooooooooom::::::::::::::::::::::;; \>\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\> \> **THYUDDDD!!** \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ **Rooves** wrote: \>(fart) **Duke** wrote: \>Some of us post from work, and have to finish our post before the boss… .walks by. **TaxGuy** wrote: \>The Taxguy has taken away 27% of this post… **FranticMad** wrote: \>P.S. This post has been hit and run upon by casdave. Okay, okay. Guess I’d opened the door real wide for all that, didn’t I? 🙂 Big\_Norse wrote: \>Please help me with the definition of “hit and run posters.” \>…As you see, I’m quite new, and it seems I only really get a chance to post \>once in a thread before it dies (Hello, my name is Big\_Norse and I’m a thread-killer)… Naw, Big\_Norse, I didn’t mean you. Despite my own few postings, I believe I’ve killed a thread or two myself. I don’t think I’ve got any particular posting-clout, either. I suspect **Kilt-wearin’ man** has made a pretty good guess at the motivation – I hadn’t thought of previously banned users. That makes perfect sense. Okey-dokey. {Portwest steps back into the bushes and hides.] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-hit-and-run-posters/173901.md?page=2)