Why?
By betsyraeduke
@betsyraeduke (2670)
United States
November 30, 2008 7:09pm CST
Why don't people just answer my questions? When I post a discussion here that is supposed to be fun and I am just looking for fun, imaginative answers, why can't I get them?
I am not talking about posting discussions that I get no responses to, I'm talking about discussions that I do get responses to but the responders do not answer the question that was asked.
I am also not talking about discussions in which the responders just replied to the title and apparently did not read the entire posts. I am talking about discussions in which I get responses, in which it is obvious that the responders did, in fact, read the entire post, but still respond with an answer that does not answer the question which I actually asked.
This primarily happens to me in discussions that are posted in fun and where the question is a fun one meant to get fun/imaginative replies. Instead I get mostly responders who seem to want the turn the discussion into a serious one instead of the fun one that it was meant to be and give me sensible replies to a question that I never asked in the first place.
Why? Why can't I post a fun discussion with a fun question and get fun responses?
8 people like this
13 responses
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Well, we cannot always guarantee when we start New discussions in here that people will respond back to them. I personally have started a lot of New discussions myself over time and some get Great results back to them while others might only get a couple of answers so you really never know. I think a lot of times it could be the Subject title, or the topic in itself, or maybe yet the time you start your New discussion as well.
I think in reality you should not let it get you down and bother you. If you are gaining a reputation where people know and Trust you here, good things will happen even if takes time. Just remember to have Fun. Wishing you the Best.
2 people like this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Yes, I understand that there is no guarantee that we will always get responses to discussions. This was not about not getting responses. This was about not getting the type of responses that I was looking for, lol.
I always try to have fun 
2 people like this
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
1 Dec 08
I have to ask myself: Did this person actually read the discussion, because she seems to have answered something you didn't ask. Oh, maybe she was being ironic, and deliberately doing what you were ranting about? Yes, that must be it.
ROFLMAO
Lash
2 people like this
@eldan_ydmarel (73)
•
1 Dec 08
Well, we don't control other people's minds, do we? That's how they want to answer your question, so that's how they would respond. I guess it wouldn't hurt if you add notes in your posts telling other users to only give answers to your posted question. And also you may want to ask them to write 'not serious' replies.
But I guess the catch here is that when people read your posts and see that you want imaginative replies, they may not reply at all if they think that their would-be answer would be serious for you. n.n
2 people like this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
1 Dec 08
LOL! I should not have to write notes to tell people not to give serious replies in the discussions that I am referring to. It's simple, if they actually answered the question that was asked, the replies automatically would not serious since the question is in no way serious. The problem is not that they give a serious reply to the question that was asked. The problem is that they do not answer the actual question that was asked at all, they answer completely different questions that I never asked.
2 people like this
@munhozmib (3836)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
1 Dec 08
Hello, Bestyraeduke.
I don't know which discussions you are talking about, but I can guess why are you not getting funny responses. Look at your discussion. FULL of questions. There are way too many questions. I mean, you add a lot of questions and this makes the user lose his focus on what to answer. He will usually respond to one question or another, but nobody can respond to all of those. In fact, they can, but nobody will, as it is natural. Look at this. You made five questions in one single discussions. Discussions must be short and straight to the point, no turning around. You made way too many questions, but this time all of them were similar. What if in your other discussions the questions are not? Try to put less questions. Then you tell me how did it go.
Hope to have helped!
Respectfully,
Munhozmib.
1 person likes this
@munhozmib (3836)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
2 Dec 08
Well then, if you are not getting the expected answer, then change the question. :)
1 person likes this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
1 Dec 08
This discussion has several questions, though it is not really several questions, it is actually just one question asked several times.
However the discussion/s I am referring to have only one question, asked only once, so no, that would not be the problem.
Also, discussions do not always have to be short, though again, the discussion/s I am referring to in this post were all pretty short and sweet.
Thanks for your response.
2 people like this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I believe that I was one of your "blah, blah, blahs" on the discussion in question!
I apologize for not answering your question as you had hoped. My only excuse is that I was mylotting late in the evening and my brain was not functioning well enough to come up with a snappy answer!
You have now got my attention and I will try to be more witty and less pretentious!
I apologize for not answering your question as you had hoped. My only excuse is that I was mylotting late in the evening and my brain was not functioning well enough to come up with a snappy answer!You have now got my attention and I will try to be more witty and less pretentious!@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
1 Dec 08
That's ok, rocketj1
Your response was interesting and I enjoyed reading it. It wasn't your response alone that lead to this discussion. It wasn't even just that discussion that lead to this discussion. The fact is, I posted different discussions here and there in which I thought the question was clear but got responses that, though they seem related to my topic, also seemed to answer a totally different question then what I asked. And as for the discussion that I refer to here, it was one of the other responses that really inspired this discussion, lol
Your response was interesting and I enjoyed reading it. It wasn't your response alone that lead to this discussion. It wasn't even just that discussion that lead to this discussion. The fact is, I posted different discussions here and there in which I thought the question was clear but got responses that, though they seem related to my topic, also seemed to answer a totally different question then what I asked. And as for the discussion that I refer to here, it was one of the other responses that really inspired this discussion, lol1 person likes this
@Richard_Uther (229)
• Argentina
1 Dec 08
Well, I haven't seen many posts around here that are about fun, or at least I think the majority are of a more serious nature, but I have a theory about what you mean: People just assume that "making quality posts" means "making serious posts".
Also, in the rules it says something like "Don't post jokes as responses", so maybe people think the site is against fun or something like that.
Personally, I tend to try and give answers according to how the person wrote the discussion topic, if it's light and fun, I'll try to be light and fun. Just as simple as that, I don't think fun equals poor quality.
Rich
2 people like this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Yeah, that makes sense. Some people confuse "quality" post with "serious" posts. That could be part of the problem.
2 people like this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Hi xbrendax,
There have been a few discussions here and there in which I did not get the type of responses that I was looking for but the latest discussion that I posted which inspired this discussion was a discussion about the Charlie Brown cartoons.
In the discussion I very clearly asked the question, what do you think the adults in the Charlie Brown comics/cartoons might look like since you never see them?
Instead of getting guesses as to what they might look like, I got somewhat serious responses explaining to me why you never see them and how it "ruin" the comic/cartoon. Which, of course, is not what I asked, lol.
1 person likes this
@Celanith (2327)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Hmmm I like fun posts and try and answer when I see them; I am not always on every day though so probably miss a lot but real life at times is demanding so get here when I can. I don't think your on my friend list but if you were and I am online and it is a fun post I will try and answer ot properly but I don't have a very great sense of humor or so I am told. I have a rather dry wit at times. But as to why who knows there could be lots of reasons why, moods, time, did not really read it through or forgot what your post asked. Distractions or maybe lazy, or don't care. Sorry you not getting the response you hoped for.
1 person likes this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Hi Celanith,
In fact, you are on my friends list dear. The latest discussion I posted which inspired this discussion was one in which I asked people what they thought the adults in the Charlie Brown comics/cartoons might look like. Instead of getting guesses from people as to what they might look like, I got these somewhat serious responses telling me why you never see them and how that would "ruin" the comic/cartoon....hmmm, not exactly what I asked, lol.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92719)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Good question. I can't think of a fun response, but I also can't think of a serious response. I think we may be just spoilsports. I've been disappointed in answers I've gotten for 'fun' discussions, and like you, I don't know why. I think though, it must be because my discussions aren't all that good. 
1 person likes this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Nah, that can't be it. I'm sure your discussions are great!
2 people like this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
20 Dec 08
well i have had the problems you have listed where the people base their answers only on the title or dont read etc.. BUT i have also ran into several times where a non religious post is answered with people preaching back at me trying to convert me when it wasnt even remotely about religion.. which makes me wonder what exactly they read??
i think some people just put bs answers so that you know that they stopped by and helped your earnings etc.. i honestly rather have people not respond if it means i will get shallow 2 word responses that make no sense lol
@bluerainhong (400)
• China
1 Dec 08
Well, Not every one seeks for fun. Sometimes, maybe they feel it is interesting, but they just describe in a formal way, they do not customize in a funny way.
If you are lucky, you will get what you needed in right time.
1 person likes this
@LUCILLE13 (28)
• United States
1 Dec 08
What is funny to you, may not be funny to others. I have not seen one
of your fun discussions, so I cannot make a decission about your
discussions.
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I didn't say "funny", I said "fun", as in not meant to be serious, LOL!
1 person likes this
