Posts that get replies (or not)

[Cindy C.]

Annemehr wrote:

> I'm going to take this opportunity to offer some encouragement to 
> lurkers and newbies to go ahead and post!
> 
> I'm not exactly and "oldbie" myself, having only joined this past 
> September, but often I notice people unhappy that their posts may 
>not be getting any replies.  Just know that there can be reasons 
>for that besides non-interest!

Oh, I really do agree with everything Annemehr said.  I don't know 
if I qualify as an olbie (we really need a definition of how long 
one needs to hang around to earn the title of "oldbie"), but I've 
been around since September 2001.  *Everybody* writes posts that 
draw no response on the list.  Really.  You really shouldn't get 
discouraged.  

Part of the problem is that posts that do nothing more than show 
appreciation for another post ("LOL!" or "I agree completely!") are 
frowned upon.  So if people think you said what you said 
brilliantly, it can be hard for them to post to tell you that.  One 
way to get around that is to send notes of appreciation off-list.  

Anyway, about this title of "Olbie" . . . I suggest that an "olbie" 
be defined as someone who has been a continuous and reasonably 
active member of the list for over one year.  'Cause under that 
definition, I get to be an "Oldbie!"  ;-)

Cindy -- who has a feeling that her proposed definition of "oldbie" 
isn't going to fly