What does it take to become a HT regular?

[bisexplicit]

Now, to slightly recast the question (or add a corollary): what advice would you give a lurker who would like to become accepted into the HT community?

Show us your tits.




Oh, um, wait, this isn't the GB, I forgot.

 

[silverwhisper]

yankee, don't forget the eilan corollary: for the love of pete, no cock size threads! :>

yankee queried
now, to slightly recast the question (or add a corollary): what advice would you give a lurker who would like to become accepted into the HT community?

more seriously: what's holding you back? nothing anybody says here is anything more than 0s and 1s in a server someplace in the US. nobody--and i mean nobody--has a monopoly on knowledge and/or experience. you almost undoubtedly have something to tell us, something important--and yeah, i mean you. just be you. we're all just folks here. ain't nothing scary about us. well, except for bi and her ever-present threats to rochambeau you. but besides that, i mean!

[hides trout behind back]

just post. that's all any of us do.

ed

 

[sassy_girl1963]

I first came to lit for the stories, but found the forum first, and in particular the am picture threads ( ), but I soon found HT and saw so much information that I never knew about. I've stayed around because of the community I see here and the humor - there have been too many days when I've needed a laugh so bad and I've come here and gotten it by reading the different inter-plays going on.

Now I would like to say that I am a regular, but have to say I do not think I have ever been trout smacked by ed before nor I don't think I've gotten any 's from Cate as of yet - but I am sure one day soon..lol. But I do hope that since I did show my tits for a while, that will make up for any of my short comings and I can be considered a regular.

Oh and yes - I would love to belong to the secret pussy pack club!

Edit to add - there are times when I don't post and go into a lurk mode - mainly because either what I could offer has already been said much better then I ever could, and also because I do have a habit of being wordy - guess I just love to talk and think my post may be too long........

 

[eudaemonia]

Shewt! What a great thead, MWY, and dammit it all I have to head to campus. So, more later ...

Why cum I haven't been invited into the Snack Pack? (Actually, I was thinking Snatch Pack might be more suitable, but it is a tad vulgar.) I want to become a card-carrying member, for -- as some of you know all too well -- it's all about elite status, baby!

 

[Eilan]

This is a good thread. I'm fascinated by the dynamics/interactions of online communities.

I do the vast majority of my posting here, but I lurk on some of the other boards. I've heard people say that this board is cliquish, but I think that's pretty much the case for all of Lit. That's not to say, however, that new members aren't welcome; I think we're a pretty welcoming bunch--most of the time.

There are people (bi, for example) who seem to do well crossing between boards. I'm most comfortable here, however, and I knew from my extended period of lurkerdom that this is where I'd be most likely to fit in.

So the question is this: what does it take to become a regular in HT? This is really a two-part question. First, what is it about HT that attracts a certain kind of person. Second, what do you think is common in the people who are regulars here that helps bind them into a community?

There was a thread (the "getting past the cervix" thread, I believe) in which some person made the comment about the "know-it-alls" on the board, but I don't think that people around here are know-it-alls. I was attracted to HT because of how people really seem to want to help one another. I like helping people, too, and I give advice hoping that someone can learn from my experiences or mistakes.

Now, to slightly recast the question (or add a corollary): what advice would you give a lurker who would like to become accepted into the HT community?

Don't start a cock size thread (or worse, solicit women's email addys so you can send them cock pics to rate) or ask us how to seduce/fuck your [hawt family member]?

Seriously, I'd say the best thing that someone could do is try to become a part of the conversation. That's what I did; I'd join the conversation and contribute without changing the subject or putting all the focus on me. I wasn't trying to be too cute or too clever at first because it's too easy to misinterpret what someone says without the benefit of nonverbal cues. I notice that some people make comments on threads, but they're not really putting themselves in the conversations, if that makes sense.

I was lurking at Lit when HT was unmoderated and most of the post weren't actual How-To posts. I think that adding a moderator has gone a long way toward making HT into a community.

 

[manofsteel52]

This is a good thread. I'm fascinated by the dynamics/interactions of online communities.

I do the vast majority of my posting here, but I lurk on some of the other boards. I've heard people say that this board is cliquish, but I think that's pretty much the case for all of Lit. That's not to say, however, that new members aren't welcome; I think we're a pretty welcoming bunch--most of the time.

There are people (bi, for example) who seem to do well crossing between boards. I'm most comfortable here, however, and I knew from my extended period of lurkerdom that this is where I'd be most likely to fit in.

There was a thread (the "getting past the cervix" thread, I believe) in which some person made the comment about the "know-it-alls" on the board, but I don't think that people around here are know-it-alls. I was attracted to HT because of how people really seem to want to help one another. I like helping people, too, and I give advice hoping that someone can learn from my experiences or mistakes.

Don't start a cock size thread (or worse, solicit women's email addys so you can send them cock pics to rate) or ask us how to seduce/fuck your [hawt family member]?

Seriously, I'd say the best thing that someone could do is try to become a part of the conversation. That's what I did; I'd join the conversation and contribute without changing the subject or putting all the focus on me. I wasn't trying to be too cute or too clever at first because it's too easy to misinterpret what someone says without the benefit of nonverbal cues. I notice that some people make comments on threads, but they're not really putting themselves in the conversations, if that makes sense.

I was lurking at Lit when HT was unmoderated and most of the post weren't actual How-To posts. I think that adding a moderator has gone a long way toward making HT into a community.

I've been at Lit for a very long time, longer than most, probably. I've tried the gb, ht, playground, and I can honestly say that aside from friendships with a very few individuals, I have never felt welcome anywhere, even though I continue to reply to random questions in the occasional thread.

 

[Guest]

 

[Succulent-one]

It must be the relief of pressure from meeting a big deadline, but over the last day or so I've been pondering the group dynamics around here. I lurk more than I post here, though that hasn't always been the case. HT has been my primary forum at Lit for most of the two and a half years that I've been a member and during that time I've seen a number of shifts in personalities here. What seems to be common, though, is that the people who frequent HT seem to develop into a community even as people come and go over time.

I wonder why that is. So the question is this: what does it take to become a regular in HT? This is really a two-part question. First, what is it about HT that attracts a certain kind of person. Second, what do you think is common in the people who are regulars here that helps bind them into a community?

I just want the latte in your AV ~snort~ I have been around for awhile and have posted in almost every forum, but I am not a regular in any. I like to lurk.... but I do have favorite threads that I frequent more than usual. And I have asked the occasional question here in HT land.

 

[pleasteasme]

This means I am a regular?

Wooohooo! *refraining from using a nana or Cate will be upset with me*

Top Ten Ways You Know You're an HT Regular:

1. People quote your posts. Over at the GB I couldn't get quoted if I was on fire. If I showed my tits, maybe...

2. You acquire a shortening of your screen name, although this is not foolproof. Some screen names are sufficiently short.

3. You hang around long enough to be given 's by Cate.

4. You've been here long enough to remember the old-timers like Bobmi357, a Litster I miss greatly.

5. You feel comfortable enough to be a smartass. This is my favorite.

6. You acquire a reputation of some kind. Refer to ed's post above.

7. If you don't post for a day or two, your presence is missed.

8. You have multi-post interaction with someone, on the same thread, in a very brief time. EJ and PTM would be happy to demonstrate.

9. You get trout-smacked for the halibut by ed.

10. You form a secret males-only cult that involves non-responsive answers and consuming large quantities of gut-busting burgers.

I just thought of the 11th way:

11. You no longer start size threads, unless it involves gross exaggeration.

 

[Quoll]

Thanks for the replies so far (even the snarkiness, for that's typical here). So far what I've seen matches up with my own experience fairly well. People here respond to genuine interest in helping others and sincere responses when the subject matter is serious.

Now, to slightly recast the question (or add a corollary): what advice would you give a lurker who would like to become accepted into the HT community?

Apart from what has already been said, try not to use generalisations or "this is your problem/answer" unless of course you happen to be a specialist in your field and can back it up with documentation and referrals from several clients.

Oh yeah, as was mentioned in another thread the phrase "Come see me I can fix all your problems" really isn't helpful, it's been done so many times that it just makes you look stupid even it seems funny at the time.

reply to random questions in the occasional thread.

This could be your problem, don't be so random and don't be so occasional, at five posts a day spread out over lit it's going to take awhile for people to recognise you as a regular anywhere, post more.

 

[wicked woman]

I've been at Lit for a very long time, longer than most, probably. I've tried the gb, ht, playground, and I can honestly say that aside from friendships with a very few individuals, I have never felt welcome anywhere, even though I continue to reply to random questions in the occasional thread.

I think you bring up a good point though...when people post and no one replies to it, you sometimes get the feeling you're being ignored. It's really not fair...people definitely read it...some may have even idenitified with it or found it helpful...but because there was no post off of it we think not only the post, but 'we' were ignored. Not necessarily the case, but may appear that way when it's obvious that others are so friendly with each other.

 

[Guest]

 

[midwestyankee]

good point. one of the benefits of posting regularly is that people get to know your style, and may be more willing quote your post. And even if they quote you and use it in a humorous way, it's an acknowlegement of your existance

[self-hijack]This must be why I find it so endearing when GG quotes my typos. [/self-hijack]

 

[silverwhisper]

manofsteel: i know i've seen you post, but as eilan said, just start talking.

sassygirl: [trout-smack]

one down, one to go...

ed

 

[bobsgirl]

I think you bring up a good point though...when people post and no one replies to it, you sometimes get the feeling you're being ignored. It's really not fair...people definitely read it...some may have even idenitified with it or found it helpful...but because there was no post off of it we think not only the post, but 'we' were ignored. Not necessarily the case, but may appear that way when it's obvious that others are so friendly with each other.

Precisely what I find so difficult about the GB.

 

[bisexplicit]

Precisely what I find so difficult about the GB.

You either luck out, and find someone who talks to you, or you have to keep posting until people get sick of ignoring you.

It's a difficult place to break into.

 

[silverwhisper]

oddly, i find the AH a bit difficult to get into. but then again, i get the feeling they're a pretty tight bunch over there.

[shrugs]

ed

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

 

[silverwhisper]

scalywag: good point. hm. perhaps i should spend more time over there.

ed

 

[midwestyankee]

As the thread starter, I assume the right to say something that could be offensive but that others may have avoided saying for that reason.

To be accepted in the HT, it does help to write in complete sentences (cogency is like dessert: nice but not always required) and with the occasional use of the paragraph to break one's thoughts into discernible chunks.

People who write in text-message style or who run three or four ideas together in one faux sentence, or do both in combination, tend to drop off my radar screen like someone pulled the plug.

 

[TBKahuna123]

of course, some might say the same thing about us

Funny, I didn't find it this way at all. Remember, I've only been posting here about 6 months. I just sort of eased into a few threads and kept posting. The way people here responded to my posts, even when they disagreed, made me feel very comfortable and that's what drew me in.

I think the biggest thing for new posters is to post your thoughts with maturity, be genuine and be coherent. Even if you have what you think is a silly question, even if you are and 18 year old virgin who's asking the most basic and naive question, you can phrase it with maturity.

 

[Norajane]

oddly, i find the AH a bit difficult to get into. but then again, i get the feeling they're a pretty tight bunch over there.

[shrugs]

ed

Not at all! You just have to hang around the AH more often.

Start an intro thread: Hi, I'm ed and I'm addicted to reading/writing porn.

You'll get plenty of welcomes! It's just a bigger group, so it takes a while for people to get to know each other.

 

[Guest]

 

[silverwhisper]

norajane: good point. you're right, there's definitely more folks over there. thanks! :>

scalywag: OK, shut up, you were right.

[trout-smacks scalywag]

ed