How much time do you spend on forums?

Riddil · 11-24-2008, 11:42 PM

Just curious to hear other people's opinion on this. In days-gone-by, even up til I was ~25, I could easily spend several hours a day on forums. (I include MySpace / Facebook in this... those are just glorfied forums where your profile serves as your dedicated "me" thread, and you have the ability to send mass-PMs). I eventually built a strong "community of online friends".

But in the past few years I find I just can't keep up the interest, or put in any real time to forums.

SoooOOOoooo... how much time do you put in on forums / social media, and what's your big motivator? What's keeps you coming back for more?

Aliantha · 11-24-2008, 11:44 PM

I spend most of my time on this forum with occasional jumps to facebook. I have it open most of the day and check back from time to time, but the bulk of my attention is just after I drop the kids off. I'll spend a couple of hours reading threads and responding in between having breaky and stuff.

I'm not usually online much over the weekends or in the evenings. Mostly only when it's just me at home.

I also spend a lot less time here now that I don't chat anymore. That can eat up hours like there's no tomorrow.

eta: I keep coming back because no one's banned me yet. lol This forum is well moderated and most of the posters are fairly reasonable barring a few exceptions who shit me to tears. It takes all types though. I know I annoy the crap out of some people too, but that's not really my problem...is it? lol

Treasenuak · 11-25-2008, 08:07 AM

I spend the good part of my free time here in the Cellar. The people here are moderately intelligent, capable of carrying on interesting conversations, and even the a**holes occasionally have something interesting to say. -shrugs- Beats sitting around doing nothing all day, or sewing my finger to the shirt I'm working on. Yes, I did that last night. No I wasn't drunk just really tired and not focusing too well. Yes, the bloodstains DID come out thank whomever.

Undertoad · 11-25-2008, 08:21 AM

We humans have a need to be social and this is one way to do it.

This is my only regular, although for a while I was on a forum of bass players (as was dar, I think?), and that was very nice because it was a remarkable way to get insight on the instrument from other players.

sugarpop · 11-25-2008, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

We humans have a need to be social and this is one way to do it.

This is my only regular, although for a while I was on a forum of bass players (as was dar, I think?), and that was very nice because it was a remarkable way to get insight on the instrument from other players.

hmmm. I wonder if that is the forum where my SO is a member, Harmony Central?

sugarpop · 11-25-2008, 08:57 AM

for me it fluctuates. I can let weeks go by without posting anywhere, or I can spend hours at a time online. It just depends. I am a member of several forums. I spend more time on some than others.

I keep coming back because I like to talk to people from different places, with different points of view. I have made some good friends online (my SO and I met on a forum), and I have made a few enemies as well.

Cloud · 11-25-2008, 09:16 AM

It comes and goes. I find I have an upper limit when it comes to the number of sites I can participate in at any one time. So, sometimes I leave forums for a while, then drift back and be active again.

Right now, my blog time is cutting into my cellar time, and I'm spending alot more time on piercing forums, since that's related to the subject of my blog.

Right now, I read and/or post regular on:
Cellar
Tribalectic
Poked (but it's not very active right now)
Steel Navel
IAMBME

Time? Dunno, I'm on ze internets all day until my eyes can't see anymore and my shoulders are tied up in knots

TheMercenary · 11-25-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarpop

for me it fluctuates. I can let weeks go by without posting anywhere, or I can spend hours at a time online. It just depends. I am a member of several forums. I spend more time on some than others.

I keep coming back because I like to talk to people from different places, with different points of view. I have made some good friends online (my SO and I met on a forum), and I have made a few enemies as well.

Well we met on a forum, and I value that friendship. I have met some great people on-line, many of them I have become friendly with. Few I have formed close friendships with but few I have as well. I love to converse with other people from other cultures and really enjoy the discussions with the folks from or living in other places, including the US. I have a few jobs that afford me a significant amount of down time so this is a great way to be social and learn about things I would be generally ignorant of. Thanks to all that make it worth coming back. The Cellar is a great place to be part of.

Undertoad · 11-25-2008, 10:04 AM

Yes indeed sugarpop, Harmony Central. What's your SO's handle?

Sundae · 11-25-2008, 10:28 AM

I'm pretty much faithful to the Cellar - I like the people here and I feel like I fit in.

I'm a member of three or four other forums, one I use mainly for information (fan site) and one I'm a long time lurker - there's too many posters for me to feel any real attachment to it. Oh and I drop in on some TV-based ones from time to time.

Until I move this weekend I'll be gorging myself on Cellar goodness. Once I have something else to do with my days I expect to cut back again. But I have real friends here so I expect it to be a regular haunt for a while to come.

Cicero · 11-25-2008, 10:43 AM

I like all kinds of forums, but this one serves as my real dedication. The main hub....I go to interest specific forums but don't certainly spend as much time there.

I'm here all the time, it's no use counting the hours. I check on my other accounts but they aren't as active, because frankly, I haven't put as much into them.

I guess this is my social contact outside of the other people in real life that I hang with, that also use the computer as a social contact.

DanaC · 11-25-2008, 02:52 PM

Usually, if my computer is on then the cellar is up. If I am in...my computer is usually on...

I am a member of *thinks* six or seven forums. Of those, three are gaming forums one is a political forum and two are History communities. I only pop by most of them once in a blue moon, but one of the history forums and one of the games forums are semi-regular. I am only a part of the community in one other forum, and that's the games forum for the upcoming Darkfall Online.

None of those are the same as the Cellar. This is the only online community I currently consider an essential extension of my real life social circle. I used to be that way with the Ultima Online (Siege Perilous) community, and have kept in occasional contact with a few old timers. Once the game is no longer holding the community together and everybody's off in different worlds...*smiles* they were good times and good people and I sometimes miss them. I love that the Cellar isn't tagged to a game, and subject to the gaming winds of fortune *chuckles*

When stuff happens in my life, along with the thought 'must tell Mum/J/Martin etc' comes the thought 'must tell the Dwellars'. If something's been bothering me, or playing on my mind, I either come to you guys to talk it out and feel better, or I plan to tell you about it and in planning it I inadvertently talk myself through it. On the gaming forums, I have a persona, with the Dwellars I am myself.

Riddil · 11-25-2008, 07:32 PM

I suppose I've got a similar story. I've met several RL friends through my past forum jaunts. But it seems in recent years that the appeal of re-re-returning to forums will wane.

One idea I'm playing with is the general feeling for the lack of progress that seems to follow most forums. What I mean is that not only the sciences, but even Philosophy will ideas build upon itself. The history of what was discussed will add up and support future discussion. But typical forums feel like a never-ending loop destined to repeat the same content.

But who knows... maybe that's just part of getting older? Like when you're in college you love going to clubs, but when you're old and grizzled you prefer sitting in a quiet pub with your friends. You tire of seeing the ditzy blondes get too drunk to walk, and the freshman poser who snuck in with a fake ID and ends up puking in a trash can in the corner. After enough of that it's more tempting to sip on an irish beer while talking about a great new mulch you're trying.

Or maybe I'm just jaded.

*shrug*

Elspode · 11-25-2008, 07:47 PM

I spend a stupid amount of time waiting for stuff that interests me here.

Stress Puppy · 11-25-2008, 07:49 PM

I post frequently to three forums. This one, another one that's similar and a third at a magic website. I spend most of my time on the non-Cellar sites, since those share my interests more closely and I've ingratiated myself there more. A few hours a day, easily, between the three.

11-24-2008, 11:42 PM	#1
Riddil Management Consultant Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 165	How much time do you spend on forums? Just curious to hear other people's opinion on this. In days-gone-by, even up til I was ~25, I could easily spend several hours a day on forums. (I include MySpace / Facebook in this... those are just glorfied forums where your profile serves as your dedicated "me" thread, and you have the ability to send mass-PMs). I eventually built a strong "community of online friends". But in the past few years I find I just can't keep up the interest, or put in any real time to forums. SoooOOOoooo... how much time do you put in on forums / social media, and what's your big motivator? What's keeps you coming back for more? __________________ He who dares, wins, my son. He who dares! - SAS Boredom: the desire for desires. - Tolstoy

11-24-2008, 11:44 PM	#2
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	I spend most of my time on this forum with occasional jumps to facebook. I have it open most of the day and check back from time to time, but the bulk of my attention is just after I drop the kids off. I'll spend a couple of hours reading threads and responding in between having breaky and stuff. I'm not usually online much over the weekends or in the evenings. Mostly only when it's just me at home. I also spend a lot less time here now that I don't chat anymore. That can eat up hours like there's no tomorrow. eta: I keep coming back because no one's banned me yet. lol This forum is well moderated and most of the posters are fairly reasonable barring a few exceptions who shit me to tears. It takes all types though. I know I annoy the crap out of some people too, but that's not really my problem...is it? lol __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-25-2008, 09:16 AM	#7
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	It comes and goes. I find I have an upper limit when it comes to the number of sites I can participate in at any one time. So, sometimes I leave forums for a while, then drift back and be active again. Right now, my blog time is cutting into my cellar time, and I'm spending alot more time on piercing forums, since that's related to the subject of my blog. Right now, I read and/or post regular on: Cellar Tribalectic Poked (but it's not very active right now) Steel Navel IAMBME Time? Dunno, I'm on ze internets all day until my eyes can't see anymore and my shoulders are tied up in knots __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

11-25-2008, 10:43 AM	#11
Cicero Looking forward to open mic night. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,148	I like all kinds of forums, but this one serves as my real dedication. The main hub....I go to interest specific forums but don't certainly spend as much time there. I'm here all the time, it's no use counting the hours. I check on my other accounts but they aren't as active, because frankly, I haven't put as much into them. I guess this is my social contact outside of the other people in real life that I hang with, that also use the computer as a social contact. __________________ Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.- Carl Jung

11-25-2008, 02:52 PM	#12
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Usually, if my computer is on then the cellar is up. If I am in...my computer is usually on... I am a member of thinks six or seven forums. Of those, three are gaming forums one is a political forum and two are History communities. I only pop by most of them once in a blue moon, but one of the history forums and one of the games forums are semi-regular. I am only a part of the community in one other forum, and that's the games forum for the upcoming Darkfall Online. None of those are the same as the Cellar. This is the only online community I currently consider an essential extension of my real life social circle. I used to be that way with the Ultima Online (Siege Perilous) community, and have kept in occasional contact with a few old timers. Once the game is no longer holding the community together and everybody's off in different worlds...smiles they were good times and good people and I sometimes miss them. I love that the Cellar isn't tagged to a game, and subject to the gaming winds of fortune chuckles When stuff happens in my life, along with the thought 'must tell Mum/J/Martin etc' comes the thought 'must tell the Dwellars'. If something's been bothering me, or playing on my mind, I either come to you guys to talk it out and feel better, or I plan to tell you about it and in planning it I inadvertently talk myself through it. On the gaming forums, I have a persona, with the Dwellars I am myself. Last edited by DanaC; 11-25-2008 at 03:13 PM.

11-25-2008, 08:07 AM	#3
Treasenuak Multiorgasmic and wrapped in plastic Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Central Tennessee Posts: 483	I spend the good part of my free time here in the Cellar. The people here are moderately intelligent, capable of carrying on interesting conversations, and even the a**holes occasionally have something interesting to say. -shrugs- Beats sitting around doing nothing all day, or sewing my finger to the shirt I'm working on. Yes, I did that last night. No I wasn't drunk just really tired and not focusing too well. Yes, the bloodstains DID come out thank whomever.

11-25-2008, 08:21 AM	#4
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	We humans have a need to be social and this is one way to do it. This is my only regular, although for a while I was on a forum of bass players (as was dar, I think?), and that was very nice because it was a remarkable way to get insight on the instrument from other players.

11-25-2008, 08:57 AM	#6
sugarpop Professor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: the edge of the abyss Posts: 1,947	for me it fluctuates. I can let weeks go by without posting anywhere, or I can spend hours at a time online. It just depends. I am a member of several forums. I spend more time on some than others. I keep coming back because I like to talk to people from different places, with different points of view. I have made some good friends online (my SO and I met on a forum), and I have made a few enemies as well.

11-25-2008, 10:04 AM	#9
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Yes indeed sugarpop, Harmony Central. What's your SO's handle?

11-25-2008, 10:28 AM	#10
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I'm pretty much faithful to the Cellar - I like the people here and I feel like I fit in. I'm a member of three or four other forums, one I use mainly for information (fan site) and one I'm a long time lurker - there's too many posters for me to feel any real attachment to it. Oh and I drop in on some TV-based ones from time to time. Until I move this weekend I'll be gorging myself on Cellar goodness. Once I have something else to do with my days I expect to cut back again. But I have real friends here so I expect it to be a regular haunt for a while to come.

11-25-2008, 07:32 PM	#13
Riddil Management Consultant Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 165	I suppose I've got a similar story. I've met several RL friends through my past forum jaunts. But it seems in recent years that the appeal of re-re-returning to forums will wane. One idea I'm playing with is the general feeling for the lack of progress that seems to follow most forums. What I mean is that not only the sciences, but even Philosophy will ideas build upon itself. The history of what was discussed will add up and support future discussion. But typical forums feel like a never-ending loop destined to repeat the same content. But who knows... maybe that's just part of getting older? Like when you're in college you love going to clubs, but when you're old and grizzled you prefer sitting in a quiet pub with your friends. You tire of seeing the ditzy blondes get too drunk to walk, and the freshman poser who snuck in with a fake ID and ends up puking in a trash can in the corner. After enough of that it's more tempting to sip on an irish beer while talking about a great new mulch you're trying. Or maybe I'm just jaded. shrug __________________ He who dares, wins, my son. He who dares! - SAS Boredom: the desire for desires. - Tolstoy

11-25-2008, 07:47 PM	#14
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	I spend a stupid amount of time waiting for stuff that interests me here. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

11-25-2008, 07:49 PM	#15
Stress Puppy Elite Elitist Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 359	I post frequently to three forums. This one, another one that's similar and a third at a magic website. I spend most of my time on the non-Cellar sites, since those share my interests more closely and I've ingratiated myself there more. A few hours a day, easily, between the three. __________________ ~Stress Puppy~ Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur

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