by Eric D. Goodman
Member since:
January 17, 2007

Why Do You Gather?

January 23, 2007 09:54 AM EST
views: 74 | rating: 9.9/10 (10 votes) | comments: 33

Why are you here?  That is, why did you become a member of the Gather community and why are you here on the site now?

 

I’m sure there are as many reasons for becoming a member of Gather as there are people who participate in the conversations here.  Or perhaps we’re all here, when it comes down to it, for the same reason.

 

So, what’s your reason for Gathering?

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Comments: 33

Debra H. Jan 23, 2007, 10:10am EST
I joiined as a Bzz Agent and like it so much I stayed. 10
Joe T. Jan 23, 2007, 10:10am EST
I enjoy the interaction. This writing stuff intrigues me. I especially like to read what people think about politics and religion. I read a few people's short stories. Frankly, it's better than watching TV.
Janet Somewhere Up On The Mount Jan 23, 2007, 10:13am EST
I learned about Gather through Bzzagent, I decided I liked it and stuck around ever since.
I hope you enjoy Gather Glad to meet you.
Olin Elliott Jan 23, 2007, 10:14am EST
I have always written insatiably since I was a child. My problem is that I'm an extroverted person, and I don't do well with long stretches of solitary work. The instant feedback on Gather is very stimulating.
☀ Aunt Shanny Jan 23, 2007, 10:18am EST
Same reason as Debra H. I have "met" a lot of great people too.
~*Jackie Ferrari*~ Jan 23, 2007, 10:21am EST
For me...there are several reasons. I love to see what people think on a variety of subjects. It is so interesting to see so many different minds thinking away.
I am not a writer or poet, but I like reading what interests me. I also LOVE looking at the photos that are posted. Meeting nice people is also a perk!!!

~I think Joe T. pretty much summed it up~

Welcome and how about you answer your own question, Eric??
:O)
Kathleen S. Jan 23, 2007, 10:21am EST
I joined because I love to get my words out, and see if anyone likes to read them. I also enjoy reading what everyone else has to say. I am tired of all the news in the papers and on TV, I can't get out to the library, so this is a perfect place to sit back and just enjoy, and feel that I am visiting with a great bunch of people who have alot to get off their mind.
Marianne R. Jan 23, 2007, 10:21am EST
I too joined as a bzz agent and liked it so much, I never left :)
♯ ♪ Jan 23, 2007, 10:28am EST
Same reason as all of the above. Then I discovered I hadn't lost my will to write creatively. Gather jump started my juices, and for that I'm grateful.
Eric D. Goodman Jan 23, 2007, 10:41am EST
All great reasons. What is a Bzz Agent?
Audrey F. Jan 23, 2007, 10:51am EST
I am here for many of the reasons already mentioned in the comments above, but my invitation came from Borders (the book and music store). I was very excited to find Gather. Like Joanne H., joining gather started me writing again after a long period of not writing. I stay for to benefit my own writing, to read and learn from and enjoy others' writing, the many amazing writers and artists here and the connections and friends I am making here. I also enjoy getting the feedback and support through the comments I receive on what I post.
Marianne R. Jan 23, 2007, 10:52am EST
Eric, it's a word of mouth marketing company basically. Members are offered various campaigns to join and in a nutshell, spread the word about a particular product or service. Gather.com was one of the mini campaigns offered in August.
Robin"Buffy's Stunt Double" D. Jan 23, 2007, 11:16am EST
I was originally a buzzagent invite too but didn't really do much at the site until I got an invite from someone from one of my other writing places.
Mary McCartt Jan 23, 2007, 11:41am EST
I joined to read and share my writing. I have met a lot of great, talented people. Its good to connect to the rest of the world and it gives me a sense of belonging to a great humanity.
John S. (arizona) Jan 23, 2007, 11:50am EST
I like to read the diverse topics, see the photography, and interact with the people here mostly. Occasionally publishing an article or image can be fun as well.
I sometimes think of this place as a cyber magazine I can interact with, or contribute to if I want. How's that in a nutshell?
Take care.
Sue * Jan 23, 2007, 12:29pm EST
BzzAgent led me this way as well. I was at first overwhelmed by the "writers" on the site, and I didn't participate at all. Several months later, I returned and tried my hand at the restaurant reviews that I have always longed to write. I found my self enjoying the poetry (who knew?) and the free verse. Somewhere along the way, I sucked it up and tried a few creative articles of my own. It felt so great to "step out of my comfort zone" and try something new. I just keep plugging away at it. I also enjoy the people I have gotten to "know" and I'm surprised at the level of concern that we have for one another. Yes, there are some negatives...but, I try to stay clear of the bad stuff, and enjoy all the great opportunities here.
d g. Jan 23, 2007, 1:12pm EST
Interesting. I wonder if know will will say what a Bzz agent is if it is something like selling Amway?

Came here to share. Sometimes I am an active writer and sometimes a reader. I have made some good friends and like being challenged with ideas and struggle to be a better writer.

Why are you here?
Eric D. Goodman Jan 23, 2007, 1:45pm EST
Well, Jackie & d.m., I thought about answering the question right in the post ... but I wanted it to be about YOU instead of me. But here's my answer in a nutshell.

I joined for many of the same reasons. I'm a writer, and I want to share my writing -- including tips for writers from writers, stories about authors I've met, even a bit of my own fiction.

I've published a literary blog, www.writeful.blogspot.com, for years. But I've only been here on Gather for a week and I find it much more interactive.

I enjoy the conversations and comments, and like reading your posts, too. So I came to share my own writing -- and find I'm spending even more time enjoying yours.
Sue * Jan 23, 2007, 1:56pm EST
BzzAgent.com is a website (anyone can sign up) that offers Word of Mouth marketing campaigns to various companies (I assume for a fee) by sharing their products and information with a select group of people they call Bzz Agents. I signed up 2 or more years ago, and it was months before I was offered any campaigns to work on at all. They send you a product (I just signed up for a Scrubbing Bubbles campaign) or link you to a website (such as Gather, more recently AOL) and you are asked to try it out, and tell other people what you think. You make written reports to the Bzz website, are rewarded with a few points, which you can eventually trade in for rewards. The plus to the company is that their product is discussed, the plus to bzzagent.com is the company pays them, the plus to the bzz agent...free products, and eventually a gift card or product. You are also encouraged to let them know if you don't like a product. I guess when Bzz Agent first notified us all about Gather, there were some discussions here concerning the bzz agents. I wasn't active here until the bzz campaign was over-so, luckily I missed any problems. It is nothing like Amway-believe me.
K D. Jan 23, 2007, 3:58pm EST
I joined via invitation from American Public Radio. I've come to enjoy interacting with people. Also, I like to read and this is a place were we can read about everything.
Jennifer N. Jan 23, 2007, 7:20pm EST
I'm here to have other like minded people to share and learn from each other. You can always learn a thing or two on sites like this be it a new photography trick, a new interest in something you once loved, but became uninterested in over time, etc.

I like that the people here as a rule hold themselves a lot better than other sites, and the photography portion of the site really appealed to me.
John Harris Beck Jan 23, 2007, 11:54pm EST
I met a nice young guy who worked for the Gather outfit, heard it was public radio-connected (a previous life of mine), and decided it might be a place to learn some "social."
Deb O. Jan 23, 2007, 11:58pm EST
I once took some online writing courses at BNU (Barnes & Noble. com) and it was such a positive experience. I love the feed back and the "side tracked" conversations, too. This led to me starting a journal and hopefully my memoirs.

Then I did a book reading course online. I read the DaVinci Code months prior to the movie and I have a huge binder of things suggested by the people I met there.

I happened on this Gather site while looking for pod casts on the MPR website. This is my second week and I love reading all the other comments, all the short stories. I also look at the posted art works.
Mariana T. Jan 24, 2007, 12:57am EST
Hello my friend Eric! I got on here because I wanted to communicate with a variety of people as I've done all my life. This offers me an instant way to socialize, add zip and drama to my life all while doing a few other things. I love it. I'm meeting some great folks! Thanks for the question! Salud.
Shawnee G. Jan 24, 2007, 1:54am EST
I originally was referred to gather to gain gift cards, thought if it worked it would be nice boost to gift baskets, and christmas shopping. After I got into it a little, I really like reading all of the diverse ideas and opinions here. I also like connecting with people all over.
Janet Somewhere Up On The Mount Jan 24, 2007, 6:48am EST
Eric are you near Townson? I Have relatives there.
d g. Jan 24, 2007, 12:36pm EST
Thank you for sharing. I do appreciate an article like this at times. It's a nice way to get to know each other a little. All these comments are gold.

I started using Gather at the suggestion of the infamous Little Red Haired Girl that dogged my heart. She's on her own now (always was?) and most of my Gather friends are still around.

Welcome to Gather.
Melissa M. Jan 25, 2007, 4:08pm EST
I joined to meet and converse with like-minded people about subjects we share an interest in.
Eric D. Goodman Jan 29, 2007, 12:38pm EST
Thanks for the comments, everyone.

Janet, am I near Towson? I'm IN Towson! You'll have to invite them to my next fiction reading event.

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