[HPforGrownups] ADMIN Re: Here's a very strange thought ...

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 16691

Celeste Chang wrote:

> > > >For all your 1100 members, this is a very cliquish, insular
> little group.
> > > >It's difficult for a new member to get a toehold.  New members
> who do post are rarely acknowledged.
>
> I might have disagreed with you, earlier on... but... *shrug*
>
> It was merely that after I brought up a certain subject, I got no
> responses that could I find. After reposting it, another person then,
> who seemed to be an older member of this list went back into the
> books, read up, and ventured her own reasons on why she thought it
> likely that my opinion might be true. She seemed to get a lot more
> responses than I did. Not a big deal.
>
> But I wouldn't call this group insular or cliquish. Just a little
> overwhelmed by the number of posts and posters. I have a feeling that
> people tend to form a certain respect for the opinions of some older
> members(I mean older as in 'having been on this list longer), and that
> to a certain degree, if the name is commonly seen and the person has
> well-supported theories, that person is more likely to have their
> posts looked at. After all, with so many posts, most members have to
> sift and filter through posts. But the longer someone has been on the
> list, the more time they have to gain the respect and attention of
> others. A new person may start out with a very insightful first post,
> and, thereafter be put on a reader's mental list of 'people worth
> reading', so to speak. But I feel this happens more commonly with the
> people who have been here longer, who have offered more opinions, and
> who most people are most familiar with.

Actually, what I've observed happening is that often someone throws a
thought out there, and several replies hit the waves at the same time.
For some reason, it always seems like only one reply is seized upon as
the "forum" for that thread. I think it's the flocking instinct or
something, but I've seen it happen a lot. Sometimes the other replies
get "revisited" later when someone's cleaning out their email files.

I've actually had this happen a lot, replied to something, and seen a
similar post from somebody else, and then the "thread" grabbed the other
post and ran with it. [Admittedly, it could be because I can talk the
hind leg off a donkey, and people don't want to bother with my
Binnsishness.] So don't feel alone.

> Sorry if I've offended anyone. *mutters* I'll probably regret this
> outburst later. Heaven hath no fury like the hormones of an
> fifteen-year old.

Wait til pregnancy, my dear. You have no idea. And I must say, for all
you on the list of this age, I can't tell from the posts. I'm so amazed
at your writing and expressive ability, and maturity! At fifteen, I
*think* I could string four or five long sentences together....

--Amanda


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