Do I have cooties or something?

[RisiaSkye]

So, during the recent wave of hostility and bickering, I've read many times that there just isn't enough intelligent conversation (blah blah blah), and that when there is, it's all about partisan U.S. politics.

Thinking these people may have a point, I've twice in the last week attempted to start conversations that might interest people--once about child-rearing in a blame culture, and once about gender solidarity. Very few bothered to reply.

As far as I can tell, there are several possible explanations:
1. The paranoid explanation: People don't open threads because they don't know or don't like me.
2. The misanthropic explanation: People don't actually want to have intelligent conversations, they just want to bitch about the dearth of them and start fuck-fests, popularity lists and flame wars.
3. The self-critical option: I've chosen topics nobody else cares about, or I'm too verbose, etc.
4. The clueless card: I'm missing something.

Before you flame me for this, I'm not trying to whine or beg for attention. I'm honestly curious here: what gives?

 

[riff]

I didn't complain.

 

[RisiaSkye]

riff, I know--and you *did* respond. It wasn't directed at you, so don't take it personally.

 

[lilminx]

Hmmm... not sure if you have cooties- you'll have to rub up against me so I can determine....


Don't you know? There is no intelligent life on here! No one here wants to get into a serious discussion- they just want to post threads about masturbating techniques and bitching.

 

[LukkyKnight]

none of the above

It's the av, it intimidates us.

Personally, I've been seeking the lightest of threads myself, while trying to avoid those which are just a question lobbed onto the board for the sake of starting a new thread. I can't avoid all the deeper ones, but this place has very much been an escape for me lately, with the real world being such a bitch and all.

Well, ok, misanthropic #2 may deserve some consideration.

Nah, it's timing. When you strike a chord with the people who are present, the thread floats. When you have the misfortune to offer an insightful post amid a boatload of new threads 'cause one or two people want to see how many they can start and a handful of others are in a mood to hold tag team wrestling there's nothing to do but watch it sputter a few pages back awhile.

Never fear, Risia.

 

[lilfrk]

It's the bruises...you really should cover them up.


Honestly...the board moves slowly when I'm here and I get frustrated and go read. I miss the smart parts. Sorry.

 

[Wiggles]

I'm voting for the fuck-fest option.... wait, this isn't a poll?

I've seen your threads, I just don't have any answers/ideas for them.

If I'm logged into Lit. that means I'm on my PC. If I'm on my PC that means I'm home. When I'm home I'm lazy.

So, when I'm posting on Lit. it's on my lazy time.

I do appreciate your effort though, and I do think they are damn fine threads.

And no, you don't have cooties. Only boys have cooties silly.

 

[SweetBrat73]

I usually just agree with you and have nothing to add. If I could write about it the way you do, I would...you have a talent for good writing that I could never have!!!


Brat

 

[Dillinger]

So I pulled on her hair
Got her legs in the air
An' asked if she had any cooties on there
(Whaddya mean cooties! No cooties on me!) -- Frank Zappa, Dinah-Moe Humm

No. No cooties on you. I think I've actually participated in more than a few intelligent conversations lately - even with all the nastiness going on. But I've also had to limit, to an extent and despite my preferences, the time I've been spending online. I think sometimes its just a matter of hit or miss - time of day a thread is posted, who is around at that time.

I have had some threads die a quick and painful death in mere moments. Yet I have found in one or two cases that when attempting to revive one of those threads weeks or months later they all of a sudden pick up steam. Timing. Its often in the timing.

Do you remember my "Intelligent Conversation" thread? I offered to debate anyone on any topic. Or, if not debate, let them teach me something I didn't know. Or even try and answer any questions they might have had. As open ended as that thread was I didn't get many takers.

Provide links to those threads here? I will go read them, I don't know if I will have an opinion or something even worth contributing - but I will certainly check them out.

 

[SweetBrat73]

And no, you don't have cooties. Only boys have cooties silly.

LoL

She's right ya know


Brat

 

[cymbidia]

Do you think cooties travel through phone lines?
If they do, i'm screwed!



Seriously, R, my brain has been mush this week. If you'll look at my posts, you'll see that they've mostly been fluffy. It's because i've just been unable to be anything approaching coherently intelligent of late.

I love your stuff, R, almost as much as i admire and respect and love you. I'm sorry you're feeling...funny...about your topics.

b.

 

[Dillinger]

I usually just agree with you and have nothing to add. If I could write about it the way you do, I would...you have a talent for good writing that I could never have!!!


Brat

Actually that's a pet peeve of mine! *lol* I've sometimes bitched to friends off the board about a thread here or there that I started that got little to no response and was told that there really wasn't anything to add! In a way that made me feel good, that I said something that well. But, at the same time, without any feedback I don't even know if anyone saw it, had an opinion one way or the other, or just thought - "there goes Dill again speaking in tongues..."

When I first came to Lit I recall a discussion that basically centered around people asking other people why they would bother to respond to a thread just to say "amen." Believe it or not, this was a big issue. A lot of people thought it just cluttered up the board and was unnecessary.

Perhaps, when this board was much smaller, they had a point - because even a thread that had no responses could stay on the first 2 or 3 pages for weeks. Nowadays a thread can be buried 6 pages down within a couple of hours.

So my answer to: "why bother to respond to a thread just to agree" is... a nod of approval, a nod of thanks, a high five, giving some props.

Or just to say thank you to someone who said something that you appreciated.

 

[RisiaSkye]

Thanks for the reality check, everyone. I guess I just lose my sense of perspective once in a while. Damn but I'm narcissistic sometimes.

lilminx--yeah, I noticed. LOL
lilfrk-- Shh!!!
Lukky--very well said; thanks for the reminder.
Wiggles--I hear ya, I'm often in the same boat.
Brat--you live up to at least the first part of your name. Thanks, darlin'.
Dill-I think you know this already, but you rock my socks. And a Zappa quote to boot. Bless your heart.
cym--so you say. Yet, you managed to talk me out of a blind rage. Perhaps *I* turned your brain to mush?

 

[lilfrk]

Oh Sorry...I'll keep quiet.

 

[SweetBrat73]

I see your point Dill. From now on I'll post that I agree and have nothing that I can add because you are so wonderful and wrote what I wanted to say so well! Good enough LoL I will try to let them know...now that I think about it...I would want to know that too. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.


Brat

 

[kiwiwolf]

No cooties that I can see... I was on a Lit holiday but would have and still probably will respond to the child rearing thread... It's one of my favourite subjects. I will track it down after dinner.

For the record I have always admired your posts.

 

[lavender]

 

[RisiaSkye]

SweetB--I understand. I feel like a tool showing up to say "right on," too. At least I did, until I realized how badly I wanted people to respond to my attempts to start a conversation.
kiwi--I'm kinda stunned, but very flattered. Thank you.
lavvy--glad you're gonna join it. I've been hoping you'd add your thoughts.

 

[Dillinger]

I see your point Dill. From now on I'll post that I agree and have nothing that I can add because you are so wonderful and wrote what I wanted to say so well! Good enough LoL I will try to let them know...now that I think about it...I would want to know that too. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.
Brat

When you put it that way it sounds so... so... pompous of me! *lol* Not what I meant, of course. Just helping Risia get some validation is all... not that she needs it.

Now me... that's another story... bring on the validation! *grin*

 

[SweetBrat73]

When you put it that way it sounds so... so... pompous of me! *lol* Not what I meant, of course. Just helping Risia get some validation is all... not that she needs it.

Now me... that's another story... bring on the validation! *grin*

LoL no not pompous at all I understand what you were saying


Brat...who is tracking down threads by Dill to give him validation

 

[sexy-girl]

no no cooties

i think literotica is about timing more then anything when it comes to posting threads ... i've posted stupid threads that i have thought would die right away and they've had lots of replies and totally surprised me

i've had other threads where i've put a lot of thought into the post and they havent had hardly any replies



im sorry if i missed replying to your threads you started i think i've missed a lot of good threads recently though i've been busy some

 

[Svedish_Chef]

Sexygirl... you pomised me, THAT ass, and THOSE boots would be back.

 

[Cheyenne]

Yup, it's the timing. At night, I'll usually start back on about page 3 and look at threads posted during the day to find some I'm interested in responding to. That bumps some of the ones that died at about 10 am back to page 1. Sometimes they take off, sometimes they fall right back down to the back pages. Timing and hitting it just right to find someone interested in the same topic- both are important.

No one says you can't bump your thread to find an audience at a different time of day, too!

 

[RisiaSkye]

sexy-girl & Cheyenne: thanks, ladies. I know what you're saying is true. I think what surprised me was that even with a full day lag and a midday bump to each, nobody wanted to talk about it. Once, I would expect. Twice on two different topics I found surprising.

Of course, I rarely start threads, so my expectations are probably all whacked anyway.

 

[*bratcat*]