How much does the OP matter?

[Deleted]

OP plays no part in my decision to post. Usually I reply if I find the title/preview interesting and feel like I have something to say. Generally I stay away from post that are already several pages long though because I feel like most people don't read through all the replies anyway. Or will get repeat advice.

[definitelyO]

I usually read most posts. But will only respond if I feel I have something relevant to contribute and if the tread isn't already 4 pages long (as by that point it's usually just piling on).

[curbsideprophet]

For the most part the OP does not impact how I reply. Topic plays a larger role. However I did often try to avoid posts by Bliss.

[dexteroni]

I don't base whether I answer on the OP, but if I know the OP's history, that might affect what I say in my answer. The only poster I ever decided to avoid completely was Bliss.

[cairo]

The mobile site doesn't show who started the post. I reply when I feel like I can add to the conversation, and sometimes even when I cannot.

[dexteroni]

Feb 22, 2014 22:36:08 GMT -5 @kjewell said:

OP plays no part in my decision to post. Usually I reply if I find the title/preview interesting and feel like I have something to say. Generally I stay away from post that are already several pages long though because I feel like most people don't read through all the replies anyway. Or will get repeat advice.

Me too. If a post has more than 4 or 5 pages when I first read it, I typically don't bother responding unless I have something relevant to say that hasn't already been said.

[cosmos]

Yes. Especially now that I'm rarely on.

[M]

OP doesn't matter to me. I'll open if the title sounds interesting. Responses depend on my mood. If I feel like I have something to contribute or say then I'll post. Also if I'm feeling lazy then I probably won't post either.

[lime]

Another vote for only avoiding Bliss.

If I am somewhat invested in someone's posts then I will make a point of opening those first. An example would be someone doing a job search or interviews with updates.

[belovedbride07]

OP doesn't factor into what I read, but there are a couple (e.g., Bliss) to whom I won't respond.

Other than that, whether I respond basically depends on if I feel I have anything of value to add. (I only visit from my phone at work, and don't have time for long replies, and by the time I get home in the evening it often feels like everything useful has been said.)

[Deleted]

I guess somewhat. I'm more likely to open a thread if it's started by someone I know and like. But that doesn't mean I avoid threads by those I don't know, I just might not open them unless they have an interesting title/topic.

I don't have an interest in reading every single thread so if the person or topic doesn't catch my interest I probably will pass on it.

[rubytue]

Feb 22, 2014 23:17:34 GMT -5 M said:

OP doesn't matter to me. I'll open if the title sounds interesting. Responses depend on my mood. If I feel like I have something to contribute or say then I'll post. Also if I'm feeling lazy then I probably won't post either.

Yup.  Same here.  Response liklihood is based on how much I feel like typing and which device I'm on.  Usually, during the day I'm on my phone in short doses, so usually by the time I've gotten through reading the responses, my short dose is over.  Sometimes, its worth typing out a response.

[flatlan]

I open and reply based on the topic/preview.

[Deleted]

If the title interests me, I will read it.

[Deleted]

Feb 22, 2014 22:52:42 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

I don't base whether I answer on the OP, but if I know the OP's history, that might affect what I say in my answer. The only poster I ever decided to avoid completely was Bliss.

This exactly.

[ECB]

Feb 23, 2014 4:52:29 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

I think OP matters A LOT on all the boards (which I think is really stupid). And honestly that is my threads like "should I eat this?" or "how often do you poop?" get thousands of clicks and tons of responses and real MM or whatever the board topic is questions/topics may get none. And then people complain about the lack of board relevant topics. And this isn't just a Bliss thing. For example, any topic that miso (and this is not a dig at her I promise I just think she is super popular here) starts automatically gets 100 replies, no matter what it is. Another poster who is less popular can ask a similar question and no one will respond, even if they do actually click on the post (which they probably won't). And if you post something specific to one person and your title is to them, you will see that "popular" people will get thousands of clicks just to see what they are being asked, but a less popular person will get none because no one really cares.

It is like HS in that manner.

Like flatlan I will read/post based on the topic/preview.

I think there are enough people here that balance this out, but I have noticed this.  And the thing is - ignore the new people/ the people you don't know?  Eventually they'll go away and there will be no new blood.  If we want this community to survive, we need to make an effort to reply to everyone, just not the "cool kids".

[scout8]

I am fairly new here and started a thread yesterday. It was a specific topic and only got 59 views. (I did not pay attention to this. I only looked now after reading this thread). Anyway, I knew it wouldn't get much activity because of the topic and my "newness" here, but it doesn't bother me. If I want to be more "popular" on this board, then I need to stick around and respond to other people's threads often. Just like IRL, people need to get to know you before they pay you much attention.

[Deleted]

Now I am going to be super aware of who I reply to for a few days . Seriously, for me, I would say the influencing factors are:

Page placement: way more likely to respond to the posts at the top of the first page
Topic: money questions and budget are my favorite, updates from prior questions and home improvement questions, animals, and travel my second fave categories. (I realize that is 5 categories!)
Poster: There are some posters I feel like I "know" a little better so I do consider that, but not as highly as others.

I try to avoid the "would you eat this" because I almost always think "hell, why not," and then feel dirty!

[rbp]

I reply to post titles that seem interesting OR to posters I find interesting. If someone I don't know (or I know to consider boring LOL) posts a thread with a title I'm not interested in, I'm not reading it.

[Deleted]

I think the OP matters a lot on this board. Sometimes I see a post with minimal responses and think to myself that a lot more people would be responding had the OP been a more popular poster.

I try not to post based on the OP. I am much more likely to respond to the threads that have been bumped to the top of the screen because I GBCN from my phone and don't scroll down past the first set of posts.

I generally don't respond to financial posts because I think other posters here can give much better advice.

[Deleted]

A little bit. There are certain people I find interesting so I'll read their OPs even if the title seems boring or not really relevant to me. But a title like "need vacuum recommendations" isn't likely to be read by me, lol. 

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2014 8:34:02 GMT -5 @shoegal said:

I try to avoid the "would you eat this" because I almost always think "hell, why not," and then feel dirty!

Lol, I always ignore these too but for the opposite reason. If you have to question it, there's a reason for that! 

[Deleted]

I'm on MMM much more and there is only one poster there that I skip completely based on the simple fact that I don't like her. Anything else on any other board is fair game for me.

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2014 9:05:31 GMT -5 @libgrl said:

I'm on MMM much more and there is only one poster there that I skip completely based on the simple fact that I don't like her. Anything else on any other board is fair game for me.

Tease! I'm dying to know who it is. Is it me?

ETA: haha pennypenny and I had the same thought at the same time.

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2014 4:52:29 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

I think OP matters A LOT on all the boards (which I think is really stupid). And honestly that is my threads like "should I eat this?" or "how often do you poop?" get thousands of clicks and tons of responses and real MM or whatever the board topic is questions/topics may get none. And then people complain about the lack of board relevant topics. And this isn't just a Bliss thing. For example, any topic that miso (and this is not a dig at her I promise I just think she is super popular here) starts automatically gets 100 replies, no matter what it is. Another poster who is less popular can ask a similar question and no one will respond, even if they do actually click on the post (which they probably won't). And if you post something specific to one person and your title is to them, you will see that "popular" people will get thousands of clicks just to see what they are being asked, but a less popular person will get none because no one really cares.

It is like HS in that manner.

Like flatlan I will read/post based on the topic/preview.

I totally agree. I post a lot on MMM and am trying to post more here since you guys want more new blood. But, I either get ignored b/c I'm new, or flamed b/c I'm new (or say something unpopular). Not very welcoming

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2014 9:28:19 GMT -5 @supergreen said:

Feb 23, 2014 9:05:31 GMT -5 @libgrl said:

I'm on MMM much more and there is only one poster there that I skip completely based on the simple fact that I don't like her. Anything else on any other board is fair game for me.

Tease! I'm dying to know who it is. Is it me?

ETA: haha pennypenny and I had the same thought at the same time.

HA! No. You and pennypenny are safe. I'm not mean enough to name names but it's really no secret and I'm positive this person knows I don't like her, feels the same about me, and neither of us really cares, lol.

[sporky]

I reply to pretty much whatever topics I'm interested in or feel like I have a helpful answer to. There's only one former poster whose posts I finally stopped responding to, but other than that I never even really notice the poster until I've read through the post.

[Deleted]

Title/subject matter of post is what usually draws me in. Or if the title doesn't help, maybe I'll pick based on OP (although it isn't a like/dislike thing -- posts by people who irk me are often as interesting as or more interesting than those by people I like).

And if there are a ton of replies to a post, I'm likely to open it just to see what the fuss is about!

[Deleted]

Doesn't matter much. I do pay special attention to read posts that were started by or lasted posted in by the girls I know from here in town.

[thatgirl2478]

Feb 22, 2014 22:36:08 GMT -5 @kjewell said:

OP plays no part in my decision to post. Usually I reply if I find the title/preview interesting and feel like I have something to say. Generally I stay away from post that are already several pages long though because I feel like most people don't read through all the replies anyway. Or will get repeat advice.

This.

Though, if I'm looking for time killers I'll read the multi pagers.