Lets make MyLot a Better Discussion Board

Ah those 2 essential and crucial words - "time permitting"! This plays a major role in influencing the way ALL of us choose to participate unfortunately. Such as now for me! I have a child's birthday party to attend, so enjoy, everyone!

Yes, myLot is fun unless it becomes a chore. Offline things must come first and foremost and as long as we manage to keep it that way everything runs smoothly. Have fun at your party. No at the party because I doubt it's yours... or is it?

Very good points, the both of you. We cannot let this site take up all our time. For one thing it don't pay well enough to make a living out of it. And we cannot survive if cyber space is the only thing we do.

Perhaps you could try just looking through some discussions one day and just reply to a few points that interest you? If we all do this periodically, and add to all the existing threads, then everyone will cotton on eventually wont they?

Thats what I am going to start doing, not worry about who i repspond to or respondint to everyone...i am going to respond to people who i truly have something to say...or a point or suggestion to make.

I am not sure how much more to add littletinker as I have kind of exhausted myself with words in the4 other discussion! lol. I would like to offer that in theory it would be absolutely wonderful for mylot and it's discussions to follow the exact approach and interaction path you have suggested. However! We have two major influences/motivators/challenges to consider. First is the immediate gravitation towards familiarity. People by nature will integrate themselves mostly into groups or situations that are within their known comfort zones. It's just the way it is! Even though we are anonymous to a degree here, many people will STILL sometimes lack the confidence to just jump in all over the place! The second area is the availability of time versus earning mentality angle. Time is precious for many! We are led to believe that we will NOT earn for ongoing conversations within threads, nor does our post count increase for the same. (At least not after the first comment we make) So does this mean that many people will look to play the numbers game even a little and seek multiple "in and outs" to keep their earnings and post count growth ticking over? Unfortunately, I think they just might place priority on this, yes. Take me for example, I am a full time worker in a corporate senior management position. I am living and working in a foreign country as well. My time is limited! And no matter how much I would LOVE to be able to integrate myself anywhere and everywhere, I just can't! It's not about the earnings for me either. What I make here in a month, I make in 30 minutes with my real job! But I WILL try to maximize the time I do have available by interacting mostly with who and what I know already. I doubt very much that many others are different in that sense! I am by no means trying to be a naysayer, but I am undoubtedly a realist! If you took ratings, stars, post counts and earnings etc out of the equation here, what you are discussing may actually have a stronger chance of becoming a reality! The reality of your suggestion littletinker, is that the only person who will earn more if we were to all put our energies into mass and ongoing interaction within a thread, is the person who started that thread! Self-serving mentalities will also reign supreme too I'm afraid.

I will plonk myself here with you for the same reason and I might even go unnoticed I have been reading all your discussions both here and there hopefully. I have a mission of late - to help get rid of all the discussions with no responses too Some are already aware of this

Awwww....and it feels as though you are 'humouring' me :-((

Oh, I do try to engage people. And when I reply to a discussion made by someone else, I go through the replies and make my own comments. That's half the fun, getting in on someone else's conversation!

Yes, but replying to people who comment isnt making a good discussion either. If I am an outsider looking at that thread, all I see is you replying over and over again to all the people who take time out to answer your original post..... .....you might end up with a long thread, but it isnt a discussion that a large group of people have contributed in is it? EVERYONE needs to post a comment to ANYONE they think has made a valid point. No matter who started the thread, no matter what the subject......that is what creating discussion is all about. We are not here to make "Conversation" are we? We want worthwhile discussion where everyone can say how they feel about things.

I do agree with that in a way. I cant possibly respond to everyone who responds to me...in all my discussions. Some dont make sense...and some i really have nothing to say to. However responding to any persons response to any discussion mine or otherwise...it s great way to generate substance to the conversation. That will also make it easier for people to find discussions worth commenting on.

That would be me.

Who is the 'Old Dog' though!? lol

Hello my dear littletinker Ji, So nice of your comments. Rules are made by me, so there is no question of voilation. Also, rule made to be followed. Again, if some problem comes up, I may re-decide, but I have to honor all responses and comments, accept friendships and reply to all PMs. may god bless you and have great time.

If rules work for you, then thats a good thing to have. I personally dont think that you can run a discussion on too many rigid rules....as there needs to be a high level of flexibility and spontaneity. (sp)

You are so complimentary.....for someone with such a short name :-))

What? People with long names are generally better at complimenting? I didn't know that!

No..I would not comment on every response on a discussion.....that doesnt happen in a real life discussion, so I dont see why it would need to happen in an online discussion. What discussion is all about is beginning a topic that it then discussed by lots of people.....the person who opens the discussion interjects from time to time...but doesnt need to answer every single point. But.........My Lot isnt promoting discussions on its site.....it is promoting question and answer threads. Someone asks a question that they hope many people will answer.....so to get a nice long thread. That isnt a discussion!! 90% of the people on MyLot have no idea HOW to have a discussion.