nonesense

To be fair, sigalit, nearly half of those comments were my own...but that no less supports the point I was trying to make (and that you are understandably frustrated by): ostensibly productive features on Gather such as commenting and private messaging can easily be--and are frequently--abused by the most self-aggrandizing members so that the same few people can see their own contributions rise to the top of the heap,and stay there, while the voices of the vast majority are drowned out.

This website is due for a revolution.

a big apology!
hats off to you !

No apologies necessary. REVOLT!

There is so much good stuff on Gather... some serious, some trite, but it's just hard to see it all. I wish there were categories that did not "count" towards popularity. For example, writing about the site - Gather -should not garner points. Same for silliness, and getting-to-know-each-other stuff.
Ah, well, this stuff ihas been beaten to death and then some.
The best way to get good things seen is to post them to a specific group.

I have published a number of travel articles that, with all due modesty, I thought were pretty good. Doing a travel article with a lot of images is a LOT of work because the Gather editor software is so lame. Well, maybe that's not fair, but everything I publish requires a lot of editing after I upload it because I use MS Word, and according to Gather management, they just can't get their editor to work with Word. So, I screw around and finally get a travel piece posted and then....nothing. Some of them finally got a few comments after I shamelessly promoted them by a mass-addressed message. Many of my other pieces on fairly serious subjects have been largely ignored.
It could be that my writing is just not very interesting. I could accept that, but I look at the things getting hundreds of comments...not yours, Johnny, that was a good joke and satirical comment on what's happening here.
Now this is going to sound elitist, but a lot of the stuff that gets attention here belongs in a blog. I thought Gather was supposed to be for writers. Now, don't get me wrong...there are a LOT of very good writers here, and most of their stuff is a lot better than mine. But a lot of their good stuff is being ignored too.
I got so discouraged by this that I have pretty much quit writing for Gather. The last couple things I have done probably belong on a blog too. I just posted other people's stuff. It takes very little effort to do that, so I don't care if nobody comments.

glad to be in good company..
perhaps it is good just to publish..i don't know ..
i just think something has got to change..
i have an idea how about limiting comments to 5 ?
that should balance it.
anyway rome was not built in a day..
there is a lot of good stuff written and even a good story about a sad childhood or a loved pet or grandma can be great it is the 200 comments on breasts that baffle me..

Bert you are very conscientious..please continue to write about making a difference, you do! who else can fight the lack of separation between church and state? only you!
continue to write. don't let the maddening crowds win.

Thanks, sigalit. I probably will continue to write and comment on that subject because I feel very strongly about it.

Remember we also reflect the readers out there.

Sigalit and Bert, I share the frustration. I'm sick to death of making the comment that Gather promotes the 'top members' and leaves everyone else to sink into the postings quagmire - that there is no equality, no fair go, in bringing all writers to the attention of readers. I've even suggested a methodology for doing so - largely ignored because it was not featured.

Johnny 5000, I owe you an apology. I received the bulk email twice, but thought it was more 'shameless' self-promotion - my email box cannot cope - and I sent you an email to the effect that the mail out was akin to spam. I withdraw that email to you. So sorry.

Anita, one of the few comments posted on my methodology was from a reader who endorsed what I said and added that readers want a diversity of writers. This particular person remarked that he/ she no longer reads any of the output of 'top members'.

Magi

I agree, Sigalit, that much which is posted is just an aimless thought trying to generate responses. Your work is excellent, and I try to get to it when I can, but I work full time and love to sleep (not like some here!!) so I miss alot. Your point is valid, lots of energy wasted on goofy stuff and not enough on quality writing. what to do?

AH! YES,,,, again we lament the Gather 'commentators'. I'm with you sigalit, and have just resigned myself to the "JUST SHUT UP AND WRITE"
mentality. I may be the only one who didn't receive Johnny's E-mail. I did go find out why it caused so much commotion. Where do I sign up for the REVOLUTION group??

All of you that have posted here on this article are writers that I sincerely respect and like to read your posts. Johnny, I was definitely laughing at your joke of the email post after another one did the same. Sigalit, it did seem rude, but it was a point well made. And you are so right about the chat room stuff that goes on here. It is discouraging, and I generally do not comment if it looks like a fishing trip for chat time or comments. Yes, important articles are continually overlooked.
I find I just am going to read posts from the groups I started, and to people who make reasonable comments to my or other people's articles that I've read. Do continue to write, Bert! Please. There is a group of us who do appreciate you all.

I feel that I am lucky to have come across Sigalits work, and though I am not a poet nor try to pretend to critique poetry, she has a lovely voice. Please avoid the frustration and keep creating here.

"is our brain getting so tiny as a result of too much t.v. or is it the monkeys that do not want to see or hear or talk about it.."

I think we all have a different brain, and perhaps are looking for different things when we come here? I get upset too, when I see everyone ignore articles about what I think are the most improtant topics. But when I stop and think about my own pattern here, it puts things in perspective a little. I usually come in and read the political articles first. The topics usually upset me, then I wonder why so few are reading, and go from there to wondering what in the world is wrong with our society. Next, I look for a few serious essays about life and social issues, which also bring me down. And then, I spend the next couple of hours playing, to balance myself again.

sigalit- I want to thank you for your outstanding contributions to Gather. I also support separate categories for rating on the main pages, so that good writing doesn't get buried by good jokes. I think there is room for all kinds if arranged properly. I hope that it eventually happens for you.
Sometimes we all need a diversion from the seriousness of life. It doesn't make your articles any less important. I bet many people, like myself, read your articles but may not comment. Sometimes I agree with peoples articles and have empathy, but am not sure that I can add anything worthwhile that hasn't already been said. Keep up the good work.