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What is the point of forums for you?
LeegOfChldrn
Member Posts: 364
I thought it would be interesting to know what the purpose of communication in online forums is for each of us.
User-defined definitions for poll, with no restriction on the reasoning, rationale, or "why". One person may read the opinion of others to laugh at them for their enjoyment, while the next reads the opinions of others to enjoy community. Both would select the same primary reason.
Try to be honest, and pause yourself to look at your posts. Do you post with more energy voicing your opinion than the energy you feel reading others? Which makes you feel better? Are you lonely or bored and need company? Looking for a fight? Why?
The poll is vague, so let your posts be specific.
Comments
I will be the first to start. I definitely come here to socialize more than to voice my opinion (2nd) or read other's opinions (3rd).
I respect very few people's opinions, and even those I respect I rarely care what they have to say. However, I love reading other's opinions either to laugh at them, agree with them (and thus make myself feel better or more accepted), disagree with them (I enjoy the conflict, I like fighting), or just out of pure curiosity because I often feel I do not understand most people, especially "common" or "normal" people. You know, the ones who make up the "majority", or at the very least those who DON'T make up the outliers of thought or opinion. I typically find myself to be in the minority of most discussions or opinions, and actualy find it difficult sometimes to understand the "typical" person. Although I enjoy voicing my opinion (typically louder than others) and it's fun, it's not a requirement of mine to be heard or respected.
Instead, I find myself mainly coming here to socialize. A bit of everything, and typically when I have no one else to talk to (or no one to talk to about MMORPG's or ideas). I see every human as both intelligent and stupid, so even if I don't respect most people, I will often respect what they have to say. I also love to read other's opinions to expand my mind due to the one-person-limitations of thought, but I definitely come here more for the interaction (any type) than not. Whatever you'd want to call it; boredom, loneliness, joy and satisfaction of community; I just love my MMORPG's!
Actually, with my love of psychology and society, I change my mind. #2 is reading other's opinion, and #3 is voicing my own. I'd much rather read what others think than to ever speak my own mind. I actually just speak (typically loudly) to get even more response out of others so I can read more of what others would say. The minds of others are so different than my own, it fascinates me what others think.
There are some incredibly intelligent people out there who probably go largely unnoticed in real life. But their input is something which should be valued, and I do value it. And then there are others on the net who are tireless workers, and ask nothing in return for their efforts but an occasional thanks. They often save me large amounts of time or money (and I do try to remember to say thanks when I can).
But admittedly, sometimes I do just like to get online and spew. I find it cathartic.
All of the above. I just want to socialise and gather opinions.
I live in Germany (I travel back and forth between Belgium and Germany to be honest) and I have never been to the U.S. So I tend to hang around on U.S. forums or Asian forums just to get a broader view of the world.
(and it improves my English, which is an obvious benefit to me because knowing proper English gives you more respect and opportunities in places where the main language isn't English).
MURDERRRRRR
>.>
"The great thing about human language is that it prevents us from sticking to the matter at hand."
- Lewis Thomas
It varies over time, and largely depends on the subject.
There are times when I will actively attempt to dominate a thread, mainly occuring when I have a decent knowledge of the subject and either strongly disagree with the expressed opinions and/or feel that the other participants are at least partly going on ignorance.
On other occaisions, I simply observe, with little to no participation.
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
Hemingway
LOL nice!