Why is it some questions get 700 responses and some get 2 or none?

I've been trying to figure that out too. What i've started doing is going to the discussion search -- discussions with no responses -- it seems the posts there are more interesting. that's how I found yours (and most of mine for that matter!)

I think a lot of it has to do with the category you are posting in. There are certain categories that seem to generate more discussion than others, like MyLot, TV Shows, Music, etc. Sometimes having the right tags makes all the difference.

Zephory, you are very perceptive! I, too, noticed the same and commented about the situation. I think mylot and/or some watch dog(s) have intimidated too many people, so much so that people are afraid to get into decent or intellectual discussions that will result in very informative responses. Ask any silly or daffy question and you will see hundreds of responses! Either mylot and/or its monetary supporters are not interested in people being informed - they simply want to pacify the crowd and keep them ignorant. Yes, it was ignorance that got even church folks to unjustly support team George W. Bush into an unnecessary war with Iraq.

Lots of good points posted here, but here is another thought. I've found that what I think is relevant and interesting may not be to someone who is 35 years younger than I am and living in India...I'm in the US...just picked India since it seems there are quite a few mylots members here from India. I can't seem to find topics that are interesting to very many people and also...I have to spend quite a bit of time trying to find one worth writing an anwer to. Mylots has grown from 42,000 to 49,000 just in the last month. The interesting thing is...I've learned how much of a sheltered life I've lived and seen some interesting posts here.

Same thoughts man. I'm so very lucky 2 find at least one person who thinks along my way.Well what can one say. We can only rend a cry 4 the deteorating tastes of the people around us

A lot of these people are deluding themselves by answering the ridiculous posts. Eventually, myLot will find them and delete both the post and the earnings made from the in-violation discussion. Anyone who commented/responded to that discussion will also lose their earnings, valid response or not.

I looked over your discussions and I just didn't find anything I wanted to respond to. I have a hard time agreeing with a man that another on is hot or not and Tyra Looks like a woman to me and leave Ryan Seacrest alone he hasn't said he's a gay guy so don't spectulate or start rumors.

i would say you have raised your voice for a very good thing which i have been noticing too here on myLot ever since i joined it.Anyways i think your this post is being noticed and getting much more replies.

I think by building a network of individuals that seem to enjoy deeper and more moving conversations, you will enjoy your time here more. And the best way to accomplish this is by browsing thru the postings, when you discover someone with a common interest, invite him to become a friend, than you will be notified of his/her postings. This has helped me greatly, and I'm sure there are other ways of connecting. Don't give up,there is a lot of great info here, and really a lot of great MyLotters but you will have to do a little hunting first to discovery your niche...Good Luck..SS

Yep I think people are just completely lazy. Maybe they think thier yes or no answers are good enough but seems to me that the more you have to say in your answers the more you get paid. But I am in the same boat as you and am trying to figure out what people really like the talk about.

As everybody has mentioned, most of the people are here to make a quick buck. Post as many as possible in the least time possible and see what you have earned. Also I think real life stories, even though generate enough responses, do so not because people want to learn something out of those, but it makes their responses look meaningful. So that nobody marks them as having abused mylot. It is also my belief that most of these real life stories are actually not real. Though Truth is stranger than fiction, most of these are made up to generate such responses. This has been discussed in some of the eariler posts also where people have come together to condemn such discussions. But unfortunately, even they do not generate much attention or responses. I did a small test...posted a discussion on cricket stats (part of a series) and waited for a week to see if there are any responses. Even after a week, there are no responses. I am disinclined to post my research now. It is pointless. Further this is my first response after a week. I have spent a week in carefully analysing the posts and seeing what happens in general. I find that most of them are useless. I am now inclined to think - what the hell...let me also make some buck and forget it. What change can I bring about that others can't. but there is a way, we could request mylot to form communities as in Orkut that would bring together like minded discussions. The interests page here is not doing what the communities do in Orkut. So why not suggest them this ? Regards, Parttimer.

Only a few would read an article about global warming, but a lot would read an article about Angelina Jolie. Basically it also depends on how the writer approaches the topic. I mean if you are writing an article about global warming and how it produces climate changes and you are going to bombard readers with technical jargons and complex ideas then the average reader would not read/comment on your work. However, talk about how global warming can bring about armageddon and more people would be interested.

btw, nice way of getting many people to post on your topic ;). Not everyone here has the level of inteligence or culture needed to comment on a fancy topic. people prefeer to reply on more "day to day" events and things that they can easily relate to their personal lives than the big "abstract" discussions started here.

Hi there. I do face the same problem. What i have noticed is people are using mylot just for making money and not for quality discussion. Thats the reason that you may write a decent para and still people will not respond to u.

yeah ,i have felt that also, i have been creating logical and debatable questions and discusssions but the most reponses i have got it just 7, and look at that pepsi or coke topic, its against the rule and it has got 990+responses dunno why it happens

I think it is because there are way too many people on this forum that believe this is a quick money making scheme. So, they embark on a campaign to respond to as many discussions as they can in an hour. This means that if you take the time to write a quality discussion to hopefully bring meaning and intellect to this site, it will almost always be passed up for the discussion that is simple and requires no thought--just a "yes or no". Also, you really need to be selective and categorize your discussions properly, because if you stick your discussions in the general category, it gets lost amongst the poor quality discussions. You know the ones that are done by individuals that post a new senseless discussion every 3-5minutes. You generally have to weed through page after page of nonsense until you find something with meaning. Another good suggestion is to make friends with those who feel as you do, and then add them as friends. This way you can count on quality discussions and responses.

Ive noticed as well, people are attracted to questions they can answer fast and easily. I think thats why some succeed and others don't when it comes to discussions of various things. Topics like ps3 or xbox 360? They just have to pick one and some say why, some dont bother. Stuff like whats your thoughts on _____? they have to think and come up with an explanation.

I was thinking about this a few days ago. I keep on posting what I think are intelligent questions but I only get a few response. Maybe its the time zone we're in. I am here in the Philippines and its morning now while the rest of the world who uses mylot is asleep. Could this be the reason?

I actually posted a dicussion much like this one, but it never surfaced. It seemed to the one of those that never get more than 3 posts. I think that is the most I've gotten on a post, 3 people.

I am right with you on this one. I think a lot of padding must be going on around here. I see topics that have this headline and then one sentence that follows and it get's a ton of posts---some of the posts though are irrelevant, but I read a lot of them and I rate everything I read. Good topic; thanks for posting it! Maybe a few of us can get how we really feel off of our chest. It always helps when others feel the same and can relate.