New Discussions Only Please
By Kimberley
@CynergyDiva (805)
Canada
April 7, 2011 2:19pm CST
Sometimes, when I'm looking for a new discussion to put my 2¢ in, I find a subject that is very compelling, and I feel I just have to chime in. Then, I'll notice that the topic is several years old with no new responses. It gets me wondering if I should bother answering because maybe no one would be interested in revisiting a discussion that's been long dead.
Usually, I end up putting a response in anyway because you just never know. I have found that it can go either way sometimes no one comes back to the discussion after I answer it, and sometimes my response brings in a few more replies.
It did happen once though that I was able to bring a topic back from the dead which not only brought back the original people talking about it, but also garnered some new respondents.
How likely are you to put in a reply to a discussion if it's already been done and dusted for several years?
xoxo
Cyne
4 people like this
18 responses
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
8 Apr 11
Even if a discussion is quite old, I will answer it, if I have something to contribute. If someone answers one of my old discussions, I will be glad to comment on your response. I actually think it can be quite fun to do so.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
9 Apr 11
That is true. I really do not mind re visiting my old discussions.Sometimes I find that my point of view might have changed or expanded, and it is good to be reminded.
1 person likes this
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
9 Apr 11
Hmmm. . . I don't think I've ever come across a discussion on which I've changed my perspective, but I suppose it could happen. I guess I haven't come across a reply that's made me rethink how I feel about it. At least not that I remember anyway.
xoxo
Cyne
1 person likes this
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
I'm the same GardenGerty. If someone were to dust off one of my oldies, I would answer too. Wasn't it an old topic of yours how we initially crossed paths?
xoxo
Cyne
2 people like this
@marguicha (223825)
• Chile
7 Apr 11
It has happened to me too, Diva. But before I answer, I also check the amount of posts the person who wrote the discussion has. If the amount is low, i conclude that that person is not an active member anymore so my answer will go down the drain. I don´t bother. If the person is still an active member, by all means I answer it with pleasure, even if it´s old.
1 person likes this
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
But then too, if the person is no longer active, he or she may become active again when they receive an email notifying them of your response to their topic.
When I initially joined mylot, I was not active the first 2 years because I had forgotten about it. This could be the case with others too. Maybe they just get away from it and then forget about it.
xoxo
Cyne
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223825)
• Chile
8 Apr 11
You have a very good point there. I hadn´t thought of that. I guess I´ll change my habits.
1 person likes this
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
I just try not to make any judgments. We can't know the reasons behind what other people do, so I try not to let it influence my own actions.
xoxo
Cyne
1 person likes this
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
8 Apr 11
What you say is true. I myself have started many discussions and some old topics were liked a lot by me when I posted them. But , for reasons unknown they would not have fetched many responses.
To your question--there is however a risk of not getting any counter comments for your response .You may have to check whether the particular user is active yet .
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
It's not important if I don't get response. You never know who you might have helped by sharing your ideas. People may have read them anyway. The number of responses is not an indicator of whose life you may have impacted with your words.
I don't always respond to every topic I read. Sometimes I feel it doesn't need a response from me, sometimes I just can't find the right words to respond to something that has impacted me in a great way.
I don't ever want the lack of reward influence my actions and keep me from sharing.
xoxo
Cyne
@ichipink (541)
• Philippines
30 Apr 11
It's interesting to know that my response could possibly have a huge impact to someone. I have never thought of my response that way.
Anyway, you’re right. There are some posts that don’t need a response anymore. And even if you try to reply to it, it would then be kind of distant...
I also want to try & make topics not expire (I mean unread for a long time) right away. But even though I like to maintain a discussion, make it longer & more interesting, it seems that I often don’t get more response anymore when it’s already a few days old.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
7 Apr 11
I won't care that discussion is a dinosaur age, I would still put my comments on it no matter what. I won't even care if people would interest to read it. It is up to me, because that is what I suppose to do in mylot, it is part of my duty, isn't it?
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
7 Apr 11
Well, I wouldn't call it a duty exactly kingparker. We all have a choice what we will or will not do here on mylot as long as we're within the mylot terms.
xoxo
Cyne
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
29 Apr 11
No ichipink it wouldn't be discussion without responses; it would be a monologue. But even those can be of value if it causes people to stop and think.
xoxo
Cyne
@ichipink (541)
• Philippines
29 Apr 11
CynergyDiva is right. We’re not really obliged to post comments. It’s our choice whether we want to post or not. Some post don’t even get rewards but for the enjoyment of posting, they still post it. I prefer topics which people would be interested to read & reply to. Besides, it wouldn’t be a discussion if nobody would respond to a post.
@zralte (4178)
• India
7 Apr 11
I do reply to some really old discussion provided that I find it interesting.
One recent one is that I responded to a discussion which is 5 years old and the discussion starter commented back straightaway. I was very happy to see that the Lotter who started that discussion is still active in myLot.
Whenever we respond to a discussion, it brought the discussion back to 'Recent Discussions'. There are some Lotters who are keeping a tab open for 'Recent Discussions', so they see that and started responding back or commenting on it.
I think it is great, that is to bring a discussion back from years gone by.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
7 Apr 11
I like when that happens too zralte. I think the oldest discussion to responded to was 3 yrs old.
I didn't know that replying to the oldies brought them up to recent discussions; that's good to know. I usually find these old topics by doing a search on a topic I'm interested in and then see what discussions come up.
I don't use the recent discussions at all, as it's not really reliable for finding things within my interests.
xoxo
Cyne
@zralte (4178)
• India
8 Apr 11
Keep a tab open and refresh it like every two/3 minutes. You'll be surprised at how many interesting (and not so interesting) discussions crop up. Sometimes I find discussions of my interests but are listed under well, same interest, but different...For example, mylot interest can be under, Website I visited regularly or Websites I like to visit.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
I'll have to try that. I usually just do a search for stuff because I find I'm interested in something new every day, and I like to see if anyone is talking about it.
xoxo
Cyne
@jennyze (7028)
• Indonesia
8 Apr 11
When someone is digging my old discussions, I would go back and commenting. Does not matter how old they are, it just showed that others are interested in them.
When responding a discussion, I rarely check when was the discussion made. I guess that's why I did not get some comments back.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
Yeah sometimes I don't get any comments back either, but just as often I do get some. Even if I don't get comments, I like to think that it was read and that I've possibly given someone something to think about.
xoxo
Cyne
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
Do you ever wonder if maybe you are spiting yourself? You could be missing out on some very thoughtful topics. That person probably doesn't notice that you've skipped over his or her topic, but you could be denying yourself the opportunity to share your ideas.
xoxo
Cyne
When I see some members who almost never commented back on responders, I would skip their discussions.
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
9 May 11
There are many times I will bring back an older discussion that someone has started and respond back to it. Personally unless I know the person is no longer an active member here, it can regenerate a response back from the starter of the discussion and usually end up generating some New responses there as well. I always tend to think that if a discussion sounds interesting enough to want to respond back too, go for it and hope for the Best.
@kris182_2000 (5469)
• Canada
7 Apr 11
There are tons of old discussions lying around that could be revived, if only everyone would look at them all.
I go back several pages in the discussions with no responses, you never know what there is, even if they are 5 years old.
Finding something old and reviving it can be good, if someone else happens to find it, then it could bring the topic back to life.
@kris182_2000 (5469)
• Canada
7 Apr 11
I enjoy it. Who knows, maybe I'll find pages of discussions I want to respond to. I've already found a few today, so hopefully that keeps up.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
7 Apr 11
Hopefully it does kris. Do you use the search feature to find new topics in your range of interests?
xoxo
Cyne
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
7 Apr 11
Yes kris, I've had it happen to me that I was able to bring a topic back to life. We all have a different perspective on things, so I don't think people should discount the older topics.
As zralte said, a lot of mylotters keep the tab for new discussions open. I think this leaves them closed off to a gold mine of discussions by only looking for what's new or "hot" as they say. Our obsession with the new means you can be missing out on a lot.
Like you say, "if only people would look at them all." Maybe that's just too much work. I find it's like being a detective kind of and rather fun.
xoxo
Cyne
@mermaidivy (15394)
• United States
8 Apr 11
I often receive some responses in my old discussions that I created few years ago. I always check the discussions that I started so when I see there is new response, I tend to throw in a reply and mark the best response as well if I didn't. Sometimes I go search for discussions to respond, I still put in the responses, I doubt I would get reply but I still do anyway like you do.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
There's something I hadn't thought of; chequing my old discussions for new replies. I generally rely on the email notifications to know when I have gotten a new response or comment. I wonder if I've missed any new answers like that.
Thanks for bringing up that viewpoint.
xoxo
Cyne
@ichipink (541)
• Philippines
7 Apr 11
If I can relate to the discussion, I still reply to them even if its already an old one. But before posting my reply, I first make sure that the person who started that certain topic is still active. And if ever the person is not active anymore, I'll create then a new topic to revise the old one. I actually haven't tried the second option yet, but it's just a back up plan in case that instance will happen. heheh..
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
You're the second person to say that she cheques to see if the original topic starter is still active. You have an interesting strategy in the event that the person is no longer active. For me it doesn't matter because the other people who replied to the topic may still have an interest if they see that someone has replied to the discussion.
xoxo
Cyne
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
3 May 11
Sometimes the more you think about a topic, the more ideas you get and sometimes, you might even change your view point altogether.
xoxo
Cyne
@ichipink (541)
• Philippines
29 Apr 11
That’s exactly what I’m trying to do right now. I’m checking old discussions, like the other mylotters you have encountered. It’s actually fun to check old topics I have responded to. It brings back the ideas I had while responding to that topic. I even get to add new ideas then from my previous responses.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
30 Apr 11
Constantly as long as it draws my attention and or interest I will reply. I would hope to get a comment back, but not really the reason to respond to it or not because I feel if I revive the discussion, many other newer members and or members who did not see it at the time can benefit from the information.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
30 Apr 11
Somebody else had mentioned that whenever there's a new response to a older topic, it brings it back to the top. That was something I hadn't known prior, so yeah, it feels kinda good to bring topics back to the fore to give new people a chance to see them.
xoxo
Cyne
@sweet_pea (3322)
• Philippines
3 Jun 11
I do reply to old discussions, some 5 years old and as I was digging through the archive I saw some with no responses and are more happy to respond to them as long as their topic interest me.
At first I was hesitant because answering to old discussions seems to be walking to an empty room. Everyone had participated and there is no one there anymore. But based on feedback by the veterans here about responding to old discussions, I learned that no discussion would be too old to participate. And so I started participating to old discussions. What is nice is some of the discussion starters still comment back to their responses. To me that is so cool!
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
3 Jun 11
I've responded to a couple as old as 5 yrs too. I never realize though how old a discussion is until I'm about to hit the post reply button; that's when I see the age of the topic. I go strictly by interest and whether or not I feel I have something of value to add.
xoxo
Cyne
P.S. I like your metaphor, "like walking into an empty room."
@sweet_pea (3322)
• Philippines
7 Jun 11
Thanks Cyne!
I always feel that way whenever I participate in old discussions.
It's like I'm talking to myself until the discussion starter responds back, and I feel I am not alone anymore. Thanks for replying back. Not a lot of discussion starters come back to their responses even if the discussions are really new. Keep it up Cyne!
@surekharathi (14146)
• India
30 Oct 12
Yes I like to respond on old discussions because I know old is Gold and old discussion was very interesting than new. Yes I also notice this my last year discussions get the respond this year because I comment on it and that discussion was active on first page so get new response.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
31 Oct 12
Well, how about that? My topic about old discussions is now an old discussion! Thank you surekharathi, not only have you revived my old topic, but you have gotten my attention and brought me back to mylot; something I haven't done in a couple of years.
@polaris77 (2039)
• Bacau, Romania
8 Apr 11
It is possible to find discussions with interesting topics which didn't receive the attention they desrved a few months or years ago when they were started,and I think it's worth trying to bring them back to surface because there are new users who might find them interesting and suddenly a discussion abandoned a long time ago might lead to some interesting debates,so if I don't find any interesting discussion at present or run out of ideas I will try to travel to the 'past' and try to revive a long forgotten conversation;it might have surprisingly good results.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
MyLot time travel; great idea. And I love debate. My Nana always used to laugh at how I would take a stand on a topic even if it's opposite to my real viewpoint just to engage in a debate with someone. She used to say, "I love to watch you in action," because inevitably, I would say something totally outrageous to have my opponent come back with, "do you really believe that?" And I would say, "no." Sometimes I like to argue opposite to people just to yank their chains. 
xoxo
Cyne
xoxo
Cyne
@sunny5u (2069)
• India
8 Apr 11
Hi cynergydiva, if i'm mood of responding, then i'll respond to all top new discussions, if not i'll choose the most interesting topic to me.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
Respond to all top discussions? Do you find it easy to have something of value to say in each and every one? For me I find if I'm to say something meaningful, I have to have an interest in it.
xoxo
Cyne
@katie0 (5203)
• Japan
8 Apr 11
Well as my favorite subject here is paranormal as I love mysterious things, I have to go back many times cause today I wanna hear some opinions or give about aliens, other days are about atlantis, there are days I feel the urge to read these things. I specially love sci-fi, I don't know if these things are true but it's so fun to discuss cause it blows my imagination.
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
And so I'll bet you don't mind if the alien discussions are from years ago, right? It's all about the chance to discover something new on a topic that fascinates you. And isn't it satisfying when you have something to add that might bring new knowledge or information to others who share your passion?
xoxo
Cyne
@katrinapaz (2436)
• Philippines
8 Apr 11
hi there cyne! as long as i am interested with the discussion and hope that someone out there can read my comments to discussion started months ago, I still put my comments. We never know, maybe we can find friends or get on to another connected topic. I just commented on a discussion 8 months ago. Hope someone replies to my query :)
@CynergyDiva (805)
• Canada
8 Apr 11
I find that I get connected to topic after topic like that. And yeah, the more you dig, the more opportunity for finding new friends. Some might think it's about as likely as winning the lottery, but like the lottery, you can't win if you don't play; right?
xoxo
Cyne
@porwest (92666)
• United States
5 Nov
As I respond to MANY older discussions, and often even to members long inactive, it has happened that someone has come back who left the site long ago. I can only assume a notification pops up in their email if they have that turned on. Responding to old discussions, even if you never get a response is still fun, and in an odd way, I think still benefits the site.
