Quality discussions vs wanting others to feel you are just here for t friendship
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
July 24, 2009 8:38am CST
I went over the myLot guidelines, that is the part about quality discussions. Now I have no idea what quality means, but I have a good idea that it is not something trivial. Yet I see a lot of triviality here, simple questions, and statements for people not to get mad because either that mylotter was away on holiday, could not respond or comment, etc. So I started to look at the inane questions and statements at a different light.
I was wondering whether this has to do with the old question that newcomers put on or former newcomers to make us feel like rats if we are not just here for the companionship. If a person is just here for friendship, they do not go and look at the earnings page, and I would suppose, if they could, have a shade to keep them from seeing that currency at the upper left side of the page. In fact, if myLot had a donate button to either pay for myLot's bad width, or help the poor children, they would press that.
But if you write discussions that are to do with questions that are so simple, you get the same results, you do not get paid as much.
So I was wondering are there those here who just go for the simple questions and non quality discussion to prove that you are here for the friendship or are you like me, and are more interested in seeing how good you can write and want the financial proof thereor as well as the friendship and learning and giving advice?
7 people like this
16 responses
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
24 Jul 09
When I first joined Mylot, I too thought that the discussions had to be of some quality, and not just questions thrown out there, to get everyone to respond to. I was kind of dissapointed and found it quite hard to participate in some of them. But as time went on, I realized that you earn money whether or not your discussion was quite simple, and everyone was doing it. After all, I would imagine that with all the people in here, it is quite hard to come up with something different. Also, if you are only here for the money, it does take time to respond to a very thoughtful and quality discussion, and many don't want to take the time to devote that much thought to one.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Aug 09
Oh and don't forget the old standby, "Are you a nice person?" as if someone is going to admit to everyone that they are the meanest person on earth. Then there is the one about "do you wash your hands after going to the washroom?" I do not like those type of discussions, I guess no one does.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
25 Jul 09
Oh and don't forget about those who copy and paste from an article saying how horrible a politician is and the reason he is is because he is of the party they did not vote for. And I was like you, I figured quality meant something only a University Professor could think up.
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
25 Jul 09
lol...quality to me meant something better than "What did you have for breakfast this morning." lol
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
24 Jul 09
I answer all most all post I get.
SOme are simple questions that might be put forth as they are new to the English Langauage.
An no other way to put it. And want an answer.
And all we can do is answer the best we can to that post.
And yup if someone has been missing like ones that or the older ones here we do wonder where they are some just might have been in hospital like I was over a year ago.
WE in the circle of frirens I have like the support of each other.
I cant Say that I dont look att eh top once in awhile but I have it hid most of teh time with my email.
And if I thought about the pay all the time I wouldnt get any wehre for its took 4 mnths for me to get to payout lololololo
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
24 Jul 09
I do not like to give a simple answer I just like things complicated. It takes me about a month to reach payout, but I an anxious because I am saving for a lap top and I am waiting for the chance to myLot in the living room. I do not worry when someone is missing as I naturally assume they have no choice and in summer I expect a lot of people are camping sans computers. It is just that I cannot see how someone is afraid that they might be thought of un friendly if they go for quality.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
22 Aug 09
I rather answer in more then 2 or 3 sentences. It makes it more interesting and I have to really think about it. Even if one can answer something in a couple of sentences, there is always someone who wants a detailed explanation as to why you wrote what you did and living in a family where it was common for someone to ask, 'why did you do it?" )and I an mot brave enough to say "because I golly well felt like it" 
.
.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
24 Jul 09
Hello suspensful, what an interesting discussion you have started here, and I will be interested to follow it, and read the responses. I joined myLot more than three years ago, and haven't started nearly as many discussions as others. I was teaching in Thailand then, so myLot to me had little monitory influence. However, now I'm trying to exist on the pension, (single, even though I support a wife) so when I get near a goal, I have found myself trying to start a discussion that will generate more responses, than start one quality one that may attract only three or four responses. I don't like this, but right now it's necessary for me to payoff a small balance on my Thai credit card, and mtLot is helping me to do this. I also find myself responding to lesser intelligent discussions, so I can see my earnings grow.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Aug 09
I find it hard to find good discussions. Oh yes I find some really intelligent ones, but I do not know anything about the subject, and I do find a lot of not so good discussions, and since I do not have that much time on myLot, I would rather answer discussions in which I can really delve into them.
I have not started a discussion for a while. Usually i8t is because my mind goes blank even though before I thought "this would make a good discussion.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
15 Aug 09
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who suffers from 'writer's block,' here on myLot. Take care.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
15 Aug 09
I try to start discussions that generate interest on a variety of subjects, and I try and make my responses as detailed and as helpful as I can. However, I do start some one line questions now, as they get many more replies. The money important to me now, albeit minimal. You see, I only qualify for a single man's pension even though I have to support a wife. So, where as the money wasn't important when I was working, now it is, and it's going to pay off a small balance I have left on my Thai credit card. The balance isn't much, but transfering from my bank in Australia isn't cheap. I value my friends here, but I have noticed recently a lot of new friends only start one liners, and don't respond to my discussions, so they will be culled from my list. Thanks suspensful, and take care. Mipen.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 Sep 09
That is terrible! You should get pension for a married man. What is wrong with that government? Do they think your wife should work when she is probably a senior citizen as well? I try to respond to discussions when they first start, but right now I am catching up on my comments. So don't worry, I will get around to it.
And i hate one liners and people who start discussions that are rather silly and could be answered by a three year old, if you get my meaning.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
24 Jul 09
I like making friends, but I also want a quality discussion. I think I should be able to have both. There are a lot of simple questions. Not always, but many times they are made up by people who speak very little English or who are bored. If a person is bored with himself/herself, I don't want to go along for the ride.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
24 Jul 09
I often wonder why some of the questions are so simple. Of course, I hate the ones that infer something negative about me like how often I wash my kitchen floor or do I volunteer.
I can imagine someone saying "boy Suspenseful's house must smell like a pig sty," or "suspenseful's a selfish jerk." and then I would feel rather bad.
and then I would feel rather bad.@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
31 Jul 09
I would go with the boring lives. I bet they spend most of their evenings counting the tiles on the floor, the flowers of the wall paper, the speckles on the ceiling and how many beige cars there are on the road, how many ladies have long fingernails, hoe many candies in a jar, I can go on.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
24 Jul 09
LOL...I really do think some of them don't speak a lot of English or have boring lives. I never care how often people wash their floors. If I don't know, I won't care lol.
1 person likes this
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
29 Aug 09
I'm interested in human behavior so I write with discussion minded topics. I'm sure a lot of people who are here for the money just write simple stuff and don't really care about the friendships they could make with other mylotters. I probably need to weed through my friends and see who is really here for the friendships.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
12 Sep 09
I cannot see how some would think that asking simple questions as to the cleanliness of one's floor or the type of shampoo or what good deed they did would make them earn a lot of money nor would it help them to expand their friendship. For one thing, there might be those who do not have clean floors who would feel rather bad or those wo do not make enough money to give to charity who would feel that they could never live up to their expectations. But if one is here for just the friendship would there not be a danger in them trying to prove that fact by acting as if they are not interested in the money?
So I am here for the discussions, but mostly because I love to write and think the telephone is overrated.
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
25 Jul 09
I am all of the above. I am mostly here for the friendships I have formned. I simply like hanging out on mylot. I do mostly try to use proper English, spelling etc. Sometimes I am here to just have fun. Mylot is a terrific place, its all of the above and then some.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
14 Sep 09
I like writing, but I also like the friendship here, however I would rather start a discussion where I can sort of expand on in the comments. I am not that good at doing the opposite that is I will respond to, but sort of nervous at responding to other people's comments seeing I am the type of person who puts a foot in her mouth, well two feet actually.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
27 Jul 09
I can see where this discussion does leave some good thoughts as many people especially when newer may not take the time to think about what it really takes here to earn, and are looking for things that usually are developed and happen over time. But yes, quality over quantity and keeping focused on what is really happening can earn you more in here, but I guess for most I guess they just need to find a reason why they continue to be here for sure.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
14 Sep 09
When I first joined, I saw what other new members did not, that they wanted quality discussions and of course, I figured it meant long winded, and more from university types but I also realized that short questions that anyone could answer unless one lived in the jungle or the rain forest in a hut was not the way to go. I also found that the more detailed the answer or the post, the finances were greater.
And since I was upset when I could not go into such detail in my discussions or responses, I was wondering why so many beginners sold themselves short as it were.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
14 Sep 09
I like to write, and for some reason, once you get into discussions, you kind of figure out what people are like and that you are not the only one. Also I am a bit of a snoop, and like to poke my nose into other people's business. And mylot sort o appeals to me. Yes anywhere else if I told them what to do, they would get rather upset, but here, they want advise and I also find that I get a new perspective on the things that I want to know about.
So there is a lot here for everyone as long as they make the effort.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
25 Jul 09
I'm in agreement with you - working on my writing as well as earning more for the quality. I don't waste my time responding to the trivial any more although at one time my challenge was to write a 'quality' response to any and all discussions no matter how trivial. LOL What's your favorite ice cream? Wrote 3 paragraphys on that one :)
Now I'm really here more for the friends but funny thing is most of my friends are excellent for posting quality discussions - ok I'm particular about my friends :)
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
11 Sep 09
I find I am very choosey in the discussions and sometimes all I do is to just comment, because I cannot find that many new good quality discussions. I think that some of the members here are so afraid that they would be thought that they are here for the money, that they put in discussions that will only get them a pittance just to prove that they are only here to make friends, to which I think, they could have easily joined Facebook or a sight like that.
@tjades (3591)
• Jamaica
24 Jul 09
I really stay away from the simple posts but I find that mylotters who are learning english tend to answer them a lot. At least that was my observation some time ago. I guess the simplier a discussion is, with not too many words and requiring short responses the better it is for these persons.
I go for more meaningful discussions but I have found that at least some of the simplier ones serve a purpose here.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Aug 09
Well I do not go for the "what color is your hair?" I mean if they come from non-English speaking countries, they could bring us some very interesting discussions instead of washing your floor, etc.
@gypsywoman344 (214)
• United States
25 Jul 09
IN MY OPINION, everybody thats here are for their own personal reasons. Some are here just for the money, some for the social, some because the want to grow intellectually, some just to have fun, and some (like me) are here for discussions that peak my interests. It dosn't matter how small or large the discussion. Just that it sparks a respone in me.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
14 Sep 09
I sort of feel that if you are here for the discussions, or to import knowledge, you will be able to answer more discussions and start posts that more are interested in. It gets rather boring asking how many times a day a person has a bath which if the one who answers lives in India, Pakistan, or the Philipines it shows how hot it gets out there, but if someone lives in Nome, Alaska, they feel rather upset.
Now if you are here for the money as well that is all right. I am here for both the writing and the money, but if you are just for the friendship you will probably avoid long discussions in favor of feel good ones and perhaps lose out on a lot of things.
@ravirai8616561 (824)
• India
25 Jul 09
what i fel is taht the quality discussions means taht u are not spamming out here.it also means that u are also not giving low grade answers to the sarted discussions just to get ur your ranking up.have a good day
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
14 Sep 09
I do not worry too much about the ranking, but I sure get angry at people who minus anyone who disagrees with them. I also like to write, but feel it cannot be mundane or just to make people like you. After all, if you are here for friendship, they have Facebook for that.
@dfinster (3528)
• United States
24 Jul 09
I like being here for all the reasons you talked about in your post here. I like to write and I like to have good quality discussions, but sometimes it's fun to answer some of the simple question type discussions. Depending on what they are of course. I also enjoy the people I have come to know here and am thankful for a lot of really good advice that I have gotten from them in the past. I think the money part is alright, to me it is just sort of a little added bonus. I know I'm not going to get rich on Mylot, but I don't think it should have to simply be one way or the other. I also think it's just fun to be here and see what is going on and see what answers I have gotten in my discussions.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
26 Jul 09
The trouble is that I am a pensioner and on a fixed income, so this myLotting is rather supplementing it and I feel that I have to make quality discussions and responses, but it seems that I am not when I look at the amount on top. So I get rather depressed especially since now that we are paying for our house renovation. I do like to give a detailed answer to posts, but it is hard to find one where I can go in depth to.
@jellymonty (2352)
•
24 Jul 09
I personally can't stand one lined discussions as I think the person does not really want to start a discussion they just want to be paid in my opinion.
I am more interested in quality discussions and that is what this place is suppose to be like. Of course making friends is great and I have lovely friends here but I am more interested in quality discussions and will not respond to one lined discussions.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
26 Jul 09
I would rather that someone think about what they want in a discussion. I know that I am not one who goes off in a tangent and makes long involved discussions, but I hate it when someone just uses a short sentence or a question without going into detail. There is no background or reason why she or he asked it. I know there are some that goes into so much detail, but could there not be a happy medium?
