Do you respond to discussion because of person who wrote it or the topic itself?
By jellymonty
@jellymonty (2352)
June 9, 2009 2:15pm CST
I have noticed that they are certain my lotters regardless of what topic they start or even if they are repeating a discussion, they tend to get a high number of responses. At first I thought that well these guys really know how to start good topic but when I started to read the responses I discovered that almost 99% of people who respond to these discussions are not actually answering or responding to what the person is talking about. It all ends up being 99 different topics jammed into one topic.. which has led me conclude that some people only respond to certain individuals and not necessarily the topic they have started.
So do you have to be popular here in order to get a high volume of responses? Do you respond to a topic because of the person who started it or the actual topic? If that's the case that you need to be popular then I might as well bow out and say "it was nice to be here and knowing the few people who have bothered to actually respond to my very boring topics"
5 people like this
27 responses
@anotherxidentity (1434)
• United States
9 Jun 09
For me I respond to what I think is interesting in my list of topics - there aren't certain users that I find great to respond to no matter what their topic is and I feel that those users really aren't worth talking to a lot of times. Like you I did notice those people - and there are quite a few that are full of themselves and what not and I hate their personalities so even if there is a topic I'm interested in - I won't respond to it. So the person doesn't shift me towards the topic - but it might shift me away from the topic.
2 people like this
@jellymonty (2352)
•
9 Jun 09
well said, exactly my point. I too think these users really are time wasters really.
@Tiamjr (435)
•
9 Jun 09
I have noticed this with a lot of the messages as well. I go into the message to see what has interested so many people to respond and there are long strands of seemingly pointless responses.
I like messages that have substance and try to respond to discussions that interest me. I will also answer discussions started by people who need advice about something I might know about.
I also don't like discussions where people ask for a response and then don't bother to reply to your posts. Those type of discussions aren't really discussions, just a trail of posts.
2 people like this
@jellymonty (2352)
•
9 Jun 09
I know, I can't stand people who want responses and yet they don't want to respond to your post and if they do its just one word..! I think that should be looked into.. meaningless trail posts..
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
9 Jun 09
I respond where I see something interesting regardless of who started the discussion. I also respond on discussions by those who respond on mine as long as I can find something I can relate too.
Receiving a lot of responses is also to do with give and take - I scratch your back you scratch mine and not always only receivng responses 
1 person likes this
@jellymonty (2352)
•
9 Jun 09
true.. it is all about give and take.. but some people here seem to take a lot more than they give.. (I'm talking about those plonkers who want referrals!)
1 person likes this
@saw2207 (1359)
• United States
9 Jun 09
ignore those plonkers and dont follow them . .find some good friends you can follow and visa versa . friends here on mylot help you like a map of places and conversations you might like to follow .. they can help you find your way around. Friends here have interests that are common and that too maybe why you see alot of the same people on certain threads. Its not a popularity contest. It is friends who sometimes are on a thread and just throw a little fun into it .. If you read what the first friend may have replied to I bet you find something very relevant to the topic .. some have some fun off of that answer . that is all it is. .. a little fun with the friends that you make here . . that is why it is important to find some good "friends".
2 people like this
@kumarpslv (3216)
• India
9 Jun 09
I will never look after the discussion starter if I decide to respond to some discussion and will start responding only if I am familiar with the issue of the discussion. Also I don't think that the most of the members are responding after seeing the discussion starter and some time we are able to see the discussions with lot of responses,which is started by some new member who is not having much friends in mylot or not known to most of the active members of mylot..The only thing we are able to understand is,the discussions started in the earning or money making interest are getting more responses rather than the other discussions started under some other interests.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 Jun 09
I respond to the topics that interst me regardless of who started the discussion. I feel that if someone is going to make the effort to post a response to a discussion I started, then I will respond back. It is only right. I don't think it is really fair just to post to my friends discussions. A lot of them I respond to, are new people that need help for one thing or another, and I help them if and when I can. I do agree though that some people will only post to their freinds discussions. I probably have done that too, but most of the time, I will look at all the sicussions in whatever categor interests me and I will start posting. I don't post just to be posting, as if a topic doesn't interest me, I definetely will skip it and go on to the next one. Well, good luck to ou and happy mylotting.
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
10 Jun 09
Most times I respond to discussions that catches my eyes. I like to respond to the topics that I like and have interest. I sometimes go for the discussion according to the people. Most times I just go for discussions I see on the recent. I like responding to the discussions that I like very much.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
10 Jun 09
Hi jellymonty, I have different criteria for answering discussions LOL...
1, Those discussions and topics that interest me regardless of who started it.
2, Those discussions started by some friends who encourage me by constantly take part in discussions started by me..
3, Members who take part in discussions started by me regardless of the fact whether they are my friends or not..
So, there is plenty of reason for taking part in discussions here..
@UK_Shree (3603)
•
10 Jun 09
I will always respond to something if the topic interests me regardless of who began the discussion in the first place. I think everyone should do this as it makes the whole website function more fairly. Whilst having friends on myLot is a great thing because it means that you can quickly find discussions by people that you find interesting, it should not prevent discussions with new members for example.
@alexandra777 (643)
• Philippines
10 Jun 09
I respond to topics that i can relate to regardless of who started them but these past few days i find myself reading, reading and just reading and hardly respond to any topic. Maybe because there are a lot of things on my mind lately and i just can't concentrate on giving a sensible response. Perhaps this one will recharge my slow functioning brain and keep me responding more frequently.
@bhabytart (1116)
• Philippines
10 Jun 09
hello there jellymonty.... i myself do not look who the writer of the topic...i always response to a topic because i find the topic interesting... in this way i can share opinions or idea to the writer of the topic. i do not get the point you somebody answering to a discussion when he or she is not even interested with the topic...
have a nice day ahead of you...
@Ingkingderders (3832)
• Philippines
10 Jun 09
I respond to a discussion which I think are interesting and not based on who posted it.. I never really never who posts discussions anyway. LOL. I need to be interested enough at the topic to be able to come up with a long, sensible and easy to understand response.=)
@pinklemonade (486)
•
9 Jun 09
I have only been on this site a few days so I havn't really noticed this but I have used other forums, like Cosmopolitan.co.uk where I have nearly 5000 posts. It is the same on there, no matter how boring the topic it is if a certain user starts it there will always be replies. I just tend to answer topics I find interesting although I would be more inclined to answer my friends topics as they are already there on my home page so I notice them more
1 person likes this
@subha12 (18441)
• India
10 Jun 09
Mainly for the topic. it does not matter mostly who started it. But many times I visit discussion started by my friends. so its mainly those started by my friends.
@tjades (3591)
• Jamaica
10 Jun 09
You have made a very resonable observation jellymonty.
Friends tend to respond to friends discussions and it would be strange if you saw one without the other.
I respond only if the discussion interest me. I used to try to respond to my friends discussion as much as possibe but some topics just do not stricke a cord in me.
@carrine (2743)
• Philippines
10 Jun 09
whew! honestly let me say both! why? both because i do make any discussions from my friends started because going to somewhere else. but if i dont like the discussion or i cant relate, then i dont put any comment on that particular discussions. its hard to response to any situations that you cannot relate right? thats why i do say both.
@nzalheart (2338)
• India
10 Jun 09
Well I don't know how to make the discussions popular. I don't mind how much respond I get for my discussions. But the trend is that, the more responds the better...
I indulge myself in responding to the discussions more than starting a discussion. When selecting the discussions, I make sure that I can reply them descriptively, than just a single sentenced. I may select most of the discussion from the Today's top discussions, or from the interests and also from the friends tab. As I always check the friends tab for responding, I may responding to the same person's discussion again and again...
Well some people really get nice number or response here...But I don't think I am that successful yet...
happy mylotting...
@zzyw87 (1254)
• Philippines
10 Jun 09
I don't reply based on the person who started it. I don't even know most of the members here in mylot. I always post replies to any discussions that catch my interest. Some discussions I usually reply to are related to food, shopping, reading, and traveling. I reply to my discussions that cater to my interests because with these, I have more to say and talk about.
@Bearballew (1148)
• United States
10 Jun 09
Great question! I answer topics that I think are brilliant! If I answer, it's because it got my attention. Often, it's a stranger that wrote the topic and then we get to be friends!
Thanks for asking!
Bearballew
