Poll question about message count.

[yebrent]

Poll question: Poll question about message count.

It seems that many responses to threads are nothing more than stating the obvious in one-lined responses that really add nothing to a discussion, like "Dean rocks", "Jomentum blows", or "The Iraq War is a lie" Or they consist of reactionary responses where it is obvious that the responder has not taken the time to read the thread, or else they would have noticed that their concern had been thoroughly addressed, often many times.

Surprisingly, I've read a few times people chiming in on the importance of increasing their message count total.

So, on to the question.

When you decide to make a post that adds nothing to the conversation, what is your motivation?

[Roland99]

1. To kick a hot topic!

[yebrent]

5. now that makes sense.

Yea. Another message to my totals. :bounce:

[davidinalameda]

2. is it time to go home yet

:shrug:

[yebrent]

3. soon.

thanks for allowing me to add to my message count total. ;-)

[VOX]

8. .

Just to show that minimalism is alive in this thread. :evilgrin:

[yebrent]

14. yep.

now it is time to go home.

good evening DU!

[undeterred]

4. Sometimes I come to DU just to count the messages...

[darkism]

6. Clark for President!

[VOX]

7. Other: I usually have something significant to add, but by the time...

I read the entire thread, I see that some other good DUer has already posted an identical, or similar point.

Alternate: I usually have something significant to add, but by the time I can get around to some serious posting -- late at night on the West Coast -- most of the significant thread-points have been made.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. That's the ticket.

Damn! Was that too short and pithy? Should I keep typing...?

[LisaLynne]

9. I'm usually just being nice.

I don't want people to feel left out or like nobody cares about their thread.

[dweller]

12. then you've obviously not

read my threads...

:hi:

dp

[Catbird]

10. Conversations

There is nothing wrong with communicating something like the following:
a. I have actually read your post and agree with you.
b. Your post did not simply disappear into cyberlimbo.
c. I am keeping my channels of communication open.
d. I think your post is important.
Sometimes what a post adds to a conversation is not a new opinion or fact. This is how human conversation works, even though we may still be trying to work out the adaptation to the Internet. Just watch people at an office discuss today's weather or the latest football game. Everyone who has gotten to work knows what today's weather is and doesn't really need to know the last time it was this hot or rained this much. But we talk about it anyway. I am sure a sociolinguist (which I am not) would have a lot more insight into what is going on.

[yebrent]

13. ok.

I've just noticed an increase in the frequency of these types of posts, and I just thought I would bring it up in a somewhat humorous way. I love DU and don't want to see it turn into a progressive version of Freeperville, where one person starts a thread and a echo chamber quickly ensues. DU is a LONG way away from that, but it is something that we might want to keep in mind. Plus, I was a bit shocked to read a couple of comments on the importance of high message count a while back.