# What motivates these people who sign up just to post ONE post in a zombie thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 18, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192 "2011-03-18T20:25:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/1 "2011-03-18T20:25:38Z")
I don’t understand why all these people are actually joining the forum, signing up with usernames, just to make ONE post (often a ragged, poorly written post, at that) in an old-ass thread from six or seven years ago, and then NEVER post anything else again. What is the motivation for these people? I wish they’d stop. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/2 "2011-03-18T20:31:04Z")
I wish I had a pony. I think it’s funny. Especially when someone posts in the zombie thread with exactly the same post they posted 2 years ago. Even better is when they post the opposite of what they said 2 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/3 "2011-03-18T20:32:41Z")
I wish I had a watermelon. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/4 "2011-03-18T20:32:55Z")
I suspect that it’s generally teenagers who don’t understand how the Internet in general, and message boards in particular, work. They probably have a vague concept that the Internet works like one big message board, for which Google is the index, and that you can just wander around posting comments wherever there is a mechanism for comments. They haven’t reached the level of enlightenment that there are all these discrete parts of the Internet where people have conversations. But, as they grow up, some will realise this. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/5 "2011-03-18T20:35:57Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I suspect that it’s generally teenagers who don’t understand how the Internet in general, and message boards in particular, work. They probably have a vague concept that the Internet works like one big message board, for which Google is the index, and that you can just wander around posting comments wherever there is a mechanism for comments. The way Google is going, we’ll probably get there. Maybe we’ll finally even have a playoff system and a championship. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/6 "2011-03-18T20:37:31Z")
> [@Tahssa](#): > > I wish I had a watermelon. Yesss! Holy shit, maybe it’s winter madness but that sounds so good right now. I wanna spit seeds and chuck rinds. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/7 "2011-03-18T20:42:55Z")
I don’t know if this has anything to do with it, but the culture for just signing up for a message board seems to have lightened up in recent years. That is – and this is just an insight into my attitudes – back in the day, signing up at a message board invloved a decision making process. For example, when I signed up here, it was after reading the boards for a couple of months and telling myself I’d join tomorrow … but it was a big deal back in the dark days of internet infancy (well childhood) … I mean I’d actually be \*contributing \*to the internet and not just surfing it … talk about a big deal. Now? Eh, fuck it. I think I’ll float my useless yahoo addy at 72 other message boards today. ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/8 "2011-03-18T20:51:16Z")
Perhaps in the future, if this turns out to be a major annoyance, boards like this might have new members quarantined for a week: You sign up and have to wait a week before you can post. Problem solved, and every board who implements this send $100 to Wakinyan. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/9 "2011-03-18T21:32:53Z")
It’s not uncommon (in fact I’ve done it myself) to idly browse the net, follow some particular link to a board you haven’t visited before, then see a post which you feel the need to answer. Takes all of 2 minutes to register, you post your pearl of wisdom, withering riposte, whatever, bask in the momentary glow of a job well done. Now it can go either one of two ways. Returning a little later to enjoy the complete discomfiture of your opponents, you see several intelligent, well-written responses pointing out the complete and utter idiocy of your post. the fatuousness of which even you must now concede. You scurry for the nearest exit, thankful once again for the anonymity of the net, firm in the resolve never to post again on subjects you know nothing about (a resolution which lasts all of 5 minutes) and vowing never to go near that dumb board again. Or (and more probably) you get caught up in the latest gossip on TMZ and never give another thought to your post or the board (what was its name again?) ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/10 "2011-03-19T01:10:00Z")
I have at times signed up for a forum to make one post and then fade away; usually some question on numismatics. In some cases as an indirect way to promote the company I work for and demonstrate my brilliance on the issues of the Colonial Era. And in some cases to justify goofing off at work when I’m tired of sorting Mercury Dimes. But I _have_ done it. And I wish I were an Oscar Meyer wiener ----- but that could just be me. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/11 "2011-03-19T03:53:40Z")
I wish I knew what makes me me and what makes you you. I also wonder if anyone’s ever become a regular here after making their first post in a zombie thread. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/12 "2011-03-19T06:00:20Z")
I wish sock puppets were allowed so I could sign up as one, post once to this thread, and never be heard from again. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/13 "2011-03-19T07:12:39Z")
Ten years from now. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/14 "2011-03-19T07:16:29Z")
I wish I could fly, like in Dragon Ball Z. I don’t mind the one-shots so much. Zombies are fun more often than not. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/15 "2011-03-19T14:30:12Z")
Happens all the time on my site. Usually, it’s international posters. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/16 "2011-03-19T15:11:26Z")
Often it’s spammers. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/17 "2011-03-19T15:23:21Z")
> [@Wakinyan](#): > > Perhaps in the future, if this turns out to be a major annoyance, boards like this might have new members quarantined for a week: You sign up and have to wait a week before you can post. Problem solved, and every board who implements this send $100 to Wakinyan. It was only a day instead of a week, but the message boards for FOX’s TV showed had a 24-hour waiting period before you could post, at least back when I first signed up in 2001. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/18 "2011-03-19T15:39:29Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Happens all the time on my site. Usually, it’s international posters. Yeah who let those international jerks onto the internet? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/19 "2011-03-19T16:58:59Z")
My assumption has always been someone Googling a topic, an SDMB thread being first in the list (as it should be), and logged on to comment on it, not noticing the date. ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192/20 "2011-03-20T23:23:51Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > It was only a day instead of a week, but the message boards for FOX’s TV showed had a 24-hour waiting period before you could post, at least back when I first signed up in 2001. Dammit. Here I am with this big brain and I’ll never get rich. :mad: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-motivates-these-people-who-sign-up-just-to-post-one-post-in-a-zombie-thread/575192.md?page=2)