Are Pings Getting Out of Control?

ive asked not to be pinged with those sparkly things as some of us call them comment turds, Id prefer an email over a ping if someone has something to say. I usually dont even check pings i forget about them. Id much rather have a comment

It seems to have gotten better after they put a limit on the pings.

I don't allow them....

I rarely ever ping

thank yall - don't the people who send pings constantly see them as an imposition? I would. Salud

I know I'm not on your Sh** List because I hardly ever ping anyone!!

If I get pinged, I try to ping back. Otherwise, I do a private message.

I have pinged folks and they've pinged me to tell me something important so that's why I hate to block pings but lately it's been getting on my last nerve. Salud

Monica - you'd never be on my chit list - you're someone who has class...Salud

hmmmmm, a ping on your last nerve sounds like it might hurt.

I only ping when pinged first...and even then, rarely do I ping back. Some are just to say Hi; others are like a different way of doing an E-mail to you...that everyone else is able to read. I don't let them bother me, but I only get a couple a day if I'm lucky.

I'm with you. The only person I really ping is my husband. This isn't MySpace where the goal is to pimp one's page. I thought Gather was more grown up than that!

You're not the only one Phaedra - at first, I enjoyed them as anyone would but after a while, I had to wait forever for downloading - thanks for deleting them.
Rob - as I said - some are fine...
Heather - I don't have too many nerves so the last one is killing me - lol
thank yall I hope I don't sound like an old griping ogre. I am just trying to get organized in January. Salud

I ping new friends and a way of saying hello, just like I send my new neighbors in the neighborhood a greeting card, then every so often I will have someone on my mind and I will go to their profile and leave a ping, to just let them know I was thinking about them. I am not trying to gain points from them. The only problem I have is I rarely go to my profile to see my pings, typically I just stay in "my home".

Elle - that's different - your pings have a purpose and I'm sure you do not go overboard - I ping folks to say hello who I have not heard from but there's a difference and I believe it's because of some ping contest out there or folks wanting to be seen or whatever so here I am griping over something that shouldn't have begun anyway if people would have used their common sense. Salud

I don't use them often and it doesn't bother me to be pinged (even though I don't look at them that much) but I can understand if you have a slow download. It could be aggravating.
I don't know how you can get the message to everyone unless you sent a mass email or just turned them off.

Hi Lucky - yes, I think I'll turn them off for a while and if folks don't get the message then block them or whatever. It's amazing how folks brains work. Salud

Sometimes they are useful if someone wants to follow up on a post and they are afraid that you might not see their reply. Why people ping willy-nilly I just don't get? I don't think you get any points from that. I am not on MySpace, so maybe I don't understand the concept?

I think pings are a result of insecurity.

Hibiscus

Tinch - and I mean well too - and I'm not getting in anyone's face - I think that the willy-nilly thing is to get them seen Christine - somehow there must be a reason why folks ping - I think they are clever - truly I do but too many makes you not appreciate them as much - I think others feel the same way. Salud

Poddar - it's a lovely poem - I commented and I enjoy it - and I agree . Salud

Oops, sorry. I was the last one that pinged you. I don't normally make a habit of pinging, but the last couple of days I've been trying to catch up with old connections and new ones.

I did a few but quit, and turned mine off. They seem a waste of time, say hi and leave your thoughts in a comment. They were loaded with that glitzy stuff, maybe cute to the owner, but nothing creative to copy and paste a flashing graphic. Those odd things also appear in comments at times. Pings are a lot of valuable computer space that could be used for something better. I do use the email.

Would you like me to delete my two pings?

I started to 'ping' you but I changed my mind!!!!! :O) LOL

I didn't know you got points for pings. I thought pinging was a nice gesture, and a way to say hi without involving posting and commenting.

....Ok, now I'm worried. LOL. It won't hurt my feelings.

Hm... I love being pinged! its like "ooh, someone recognized i was alive today! yay!"

Oh Tamara - please understand that I'm not trying to be mean and other folks have complained - it's only a few who have gone overboard - I enjoy hearing from folks every now and then - it's nice to be thought of - However, I agree that pings are a waste of good computer space and Gather should maybe consider something else that doesn't take up so much space...
Salud

Krystal, bless your heart - we all love to be noticed and recognized - ok but after a while, it gets out of hand and I'm sort of speaking for a couple of others here but I'll take the ogre award. Salud

Don't worry, Mariana. We all like different things on here. I promise I won't leave you anything. I actually don't make a habit of pinging as I said. Tonight I went a little ping crazy thought. You're still my friend, and I am not offended in the least. I'm glad you are being honest about it. :)

I like what Krystal said

Thank you Tamara - you are so sweet and kind and now I feel bad because I really wasn't talking about you - and I know you know that - ok just wanted to have my little talk with folks because sometimes folks do not realize how annoying things are until someone gets mad - I'm not mad at all - just trying to make folks aware...Salud

Well, I thought that pings help get you points so, if that's the case, I understand why people ping a lot. However, even if they aren't getting us points, I think it's a fun way to just say a quick hello. I don't mind them at all. I don't do a lot of them because I do well just to have time to post and do a little commenting. However, if they bother you, Mariana, maybe you should just not allow them.

I do not think you get any points for pinging. I had mine shut off for quite a while and only recently turned them back on. I rarely send them however.

There is a pinging contest going on this month sponsored by Dan T. He didn't say you had to send out lots but I know there are some people who are doing 100+ a day. Seems like a major waste of time to me.

I'd rather spend my time reading, looking at photos and commenting.

Yes, they've been out of control. I went to my profile age many months ago and disallowed pings, nor do Iping anybody. If you have something to say, we have perfectly good gathermail--and it has the advantage of being private! Some people abuse that with group spams, and those people I block. I don't know if any of them know I've blocked them, though, or whether they simply wonder why I never answer any mail they send.

Kimberly - most folks use common sense - it's sad that nice people always have to be the diplomatic souls that teach folks what they should already figure out - it's always one or two who just never get it.

Wilma Ok well I know why the pings have begun - enough said - lol. thanks Salud

I was going to leave another comment but I think I will ping you instead..............

Love ya,--
Miz Philly

Dorine - I didn't mind pings - truly - but then they started going overboard - it's only a couple of people and I think they got the message - same with groups - it's always one person who never seems to get the message that your groups are not for any and everything - and you have to waste good time explaining it...then they try to argue with you - oh well - that's life on Gather - otherwise, I love it here and everyone is wonderful - I'm even getting gather mail from people I've wanted to hear from for months...believe me, most folks feel as I do. Salud

Phylly - you can ping me anytime because I know you're sincere. Salud

Mariana..I think you are fishing for more pings!

well, I wish I could answer in the affirmative - I don't mind old friends saying hello but skip the glitter - lol - thanks De. Salud

I must admit that I use to ping about 30 people every morning, but it got to be too much and I just quit all together. On an off note, I didn't realize your internet was slow there as well. I know in franklin it's slow due to the dialup.
I hope this helps you with your pinging situation. Hope to see you in 5 months.

You do NOT receive points for sending or receiving pings.

However, at the end of the month you can trade them in for livestock. January is goat month on the ping calendar, so on January 31 you can really get someone's goat.

ha ha ha

...just kidding.

Hello Mariana! ?

To ping or not to ping? An interesting question.

When pings werew allowed, I was overwhelmed with 200 the first month. I was busy working and felt compelled to ping back. So I disallowed them. I ping now, and ping quite a few people, because I am usually sending an interesting graphic - I search high and low for a graphic that is out of the ordinary. People usually appreciate them.

But if you prefer not to be pinged, that's fine. I won't ping you anymore.

I also ping when I am too tired to read a story.

Or just want to keep in touch with people.

It is like a nudge, say hi...

You don't need to ping back.

ill take your pings! lol. i like feeling special. hahaha

From the resident PingKing of Gather - I bow and humbly apologise. I've been the worst offender on all counts here - and never even knew it.

I just never saw it this way - that people might be annoyed or irritated by my pings. I had no idea they brought points, for I've never cared for freebies and rewards through what I do.

I've always had a deep need to spread a little joy, a little love around, my friend - and I saw pings as being the fastest way to do that with all the people I love. Also, I've never pinged with any expectations of being pinged back - the "insecure, trying to get noticed " syndrome is, thankfully, not my problem.

But your post has made me glad I didn't ping you the way I ping others - I'd have been on your blacklist faster than you could say "Shaman Aman" ! That would have been tragic - for me.

And lo and behold - what I have just done but left you a very "graphic" ping - but it sure has a purpose, my dear friend. I apologise in advance if you find it unwarranted - I just never saw these issues in pinging. But my pings are never because I'm an insecure attention-seeker, I assure you.

I'll think about what you've said - I'm deeply disturbed now to realise that that some could have found my pinging an annoyance, and were too sweet to hurt my feelings by telling me so..and that I could have been so insensitive about others' needs.......

I really appreciate your candour and the affectionate way you've handled people's comments here, Marianna. Some truths can be hard to take even when one's intentions have been noble - but then, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions", isn't it?!

I'll email each and everyone of my friends to find out if my pings have brought them any misery. How I hurt to think I could have made life hell for anyone with my pings.

((((((((((((((((Marianna))))))))))))))))

Thanks for letting the light in - it's a crevice that needed to be explored.

I'm with ya. I don't ping very often. I don't mind the occasional one, but a constant stream of sparklies from people I don't even know can really get on my nerves.

Mariana, mine were sincere, to me it was just a quick way to say good morning, your on my mind and that I hope all was well. Sometimes people really don't get out much because of work, or other things that keep them in. When you start cutting the ties of communication, you never know what the ripple effect will be.

And really emails on Gather that's a joke, I really hate going through 30 or 40 read this emails to get to 1 that is actually someone trying to converse with me.

Just an addendum, for Kathryn in particular, but also for all my friends - I just love the pings you send me, dear heart, and the graphics are always so interesting and beautiful!

And to all my friends - I love pings to death, and can never, ever have too much of them! I'll die replying to them, if need be hahahaha So carry on Prancing PingerPongers! And if sometimes you're feeling overwhelmed, do let me know - because I'm both a very passionate man and always so excited like a child as soon as I'm in the presence of my friends here, I realise my persistent if playful pings could leave you overwhelmed. Feel free to ignore me whenever you so feel, okay?

I follow a precept of the Gita in everything I do in Life - I never expect anything in return. My love for you all is unconditional - so don't ever feel pressured to reply, okay?!

Hugs for all of you here.

The images are what kill pings. I think for short instant messages they're somewhat useful. I don't like having to send an email.

I totally agree. The same for email. I have over 10,000 unread email on Gather and it's such a pain to delete

Dear Phaedra, just saw your comment even as I posted my addendum - I was anyway going to ping you today to let you know that I've been noticing your beautiful pings a lot, and much admired them! You're not on my friends' list, so I haven't been blessed with your pings, but the moment I saw the first few, I knew you were a kindred spirit!

I feel the same way about pings as the sentiments you've just expressed - it's what I wanted to say, too, but you put it much more succintly and so much more eloquently.

But I must admit Marianna has set us all thinking - and its what a truly great mind does, doesn't it? Marianna, you could never be rude, dear soul - your eyes tell us all a different story! You've voiced such a genuine concern that struck me with its immediacy and honesty - all change for the better comes about through such candid expressions of genuine problems...

(((((((((((((((((((Ping-Lover Phaedra!))))))))))))))
XOXOXOXOOXOXOXOX

(((((((((((Candid-Commenter Marianna)))))))))))))))0
XOXOXOOXOXOXOX

I appreciate your candor as well Sis. I personally love pings and too feel thought of and loved when I receive them. I don't do them every day but opt to send them to people who I don't see as often and sometimes to reciprocate.

I do believe that in spite of the fact that there are no points to be gained by pinging there are the page views that one gets from doing so. I see the biggest pingers are the ones on the top of the most viewed list day after day.

I would hope that when I am on that list it is because of my posts and not because of any pings that I might send out.

I personally would hope that whoever did not like the pings would turn off their acceptance of pings option and or let me know that they do not like them. I would if they bothered me.

Have a great day!

I disabled pings long ago; too annoying to keep up with and I can send a Gather mail just as easily if I need to say something to somebody. Plus pings are open to public viewing, and if you've just sent a prospective client to look at your latest photo essay (and let's not forget that before Gather decided to turn teeny-bopper this used to be a site for adult professionals) it's embarrassing to have to explain that little sparkly teddy bear or butterfly with a "I just wuv your pix" at the bottom of the page. I'm sorry, but I just find pings to be infantile.

The other thing about pings is that certain evil-minded, egotistical types are known to use pings to harass people, plus pings have been used to cyber-stalk people as well. I just can't see anything good in them. Sorry.

In honor of an old gangsta movie...I heard some pings...(could not resist, sorry)

I don't get that many, so it's not a bother to me. And I rarely send one... but I'll be sure not to send one to you!

i'm not much of a pinger and only receive them occasionally, so i'm afraid i may not be fit to comment...

Personally, I think those sparkly things should be outlawed everywhere.

Phaedra and Walker, nobody needs to send out "read me" mails. If I care about you or like your writing, I'm already set up to get Gather-generated email telling me "Mariana T. has just posted an article", and I can click on the link to read it--and I do. The first time I get a "read me", I contact the person and say just that, so please do not gathermail me again. My true friends understand, don't send the mails, and still get my reading and coments because I get the automatic mail from Gather itself in my real email. The next time the person offends, I block him/her. That's how I keep my gathermail under control and just get real messages from real friends.

Roy, I also joined Gather because it was billed as a real professional site, while at the same time scorning MySpace and Facebook, the teeny-bopper junk. I was really annoyed when Gather started going teeny-bopper, and wish they'd go back to professionalism. The amount of junk and spam the change has generated is truly irritating, and it seems the only way to enjoy what Gather is supposed to be is to choose your friends well and block all the teeny-boppers. And of course, stay away from the post-anything groups!

I hope that if I ever post inappropriately to any group, the owner will send me Gathermail explaining how I missed the boat, giving me a chance to apologize and remove the article and not repeat the error. I try to post on topic!

That glittery stuff annoys me, too, and worse when it flashes. The flashing sometimes bothers my eyes so much I understand the claims some make that it causes seizures in vulnerable people. I wish people would stop plastering them all over!

Mariana, Thanks for opening the door to this conversation. Stuff that needs to get aired finally is!

And Aman, I hear what you're saying and understand your good intentions. That spirit is a good and valuable one. But for some of us, it's like giving candy to a diabetic. Ultimately not a favor! I appreciate why you do it, though. But 'fraid I still find it hard to take for me.

i love pinging! but if you don't want anymore, i'll try to keep that in mind next time i'm on a rampage! if you get one from me from here on out, i'm sorry in advance!

To ping or not to ping... hmmm.

If you don't like pings turn them off! Simple as that. No need to gripe!

I do not pay much attention to my pings, and I think I've only pinged a couple of times, if at all.

That's how much I pay attention.

I usually only ping if someone pings me first...if I want to talk to someone, I'll send them a message.

Thank you all - I turned my pings back on because I feel that the message I wanted to convey was sent, received and maybe those particular people will realize that those glittery things are really an imposition to some of us.

I did not want folks who ping me for a reason to stop pinging me. I occasionally ping someone to ask them something and I think most folks ping reasonably. I was only speaking to the couple who have recently gone overboard.

To Lesli - yes, there's a need to gripe - some people have to be taught things. Why should I turn my pings off when it's only a few who don't know the difference between being friendly and being imposing?

Thanks folks. Also, thanks for your understanding. You know I rarely whine, gripe, or rant but what the heck. Have a great evening! Salud

I had to laugh at Kevin's comment! I think I'd rather trade for something small and furry not a goat!

Wilma - I loved his comment and you know I love Kevin - he's smart, bright and truly an asset to Gather as he can explain things very simply and put them in proper perspective. Salud

Dorine - thank you. You have explained the ping thing perfectly and in a diplomatic style. I think your comment should be a post. Have a wonderful day. Salud

i only ping a new person who askes me to be there friend i have heard before you don't get points for pings so i go to post or photos to leave comments

I remember pings were brand new when I left last year and I didn't think much of them...but I have to admit I have gotten such sweet ones from some of my old friends since returning that I guess their pretty cool. THey've certainly made me feel welcome.

Ask me in a month how I feel about them and it might be different..LOL ;-) Most of all I appreciate your honestly Mariana.

I actually turned my pings off when they started...but a month or so ago I did allow them and I must say, my connections have not abused them.

And yes, ole Georgia Peach...I did Ping you when you reappeared!

Kevin is right....you don't get points for pings....and you just might get someone's goat come January 31st.

Hi Lena - thanks - as I said, this is the first time I have griped about this but I think I got the point across.
Thank you Rose - they are ok for hearing from old friends once in a while and I'm glad you are back!
Bob - that's great and lets hope it stays that way! Thanks all. Salud

Well stated, Mariana!

I just pinged Curt a HUGE ping. I ping sometimes when someone asks a question in their comment on my post. I will answer on the post and in a ping just in case they do not go back. I also send a big when I want to let someone know I am thinking of them. I do, HOWEVER, think when someone pastes the same ping to everyone on their friend list, it has no meaning.
I also ping sometimes to greet someone because it is easier than an email, and seems more appropriate than sending an off-topic comment on a post...tho I've done that. Some people find that annoying.

I also send a PING, not a BIG when I want to let someone...

....
Tomi

Serial pingers beware!!!

I ping folks to tell them something as it's quick - but one person was going around pinging everyone on Gather everyday - many folks I know just turned off their pings because of her - thankfully, she disconnected so I don't have to be dizzy when I look at my good pings. Pings are welcomed when they are sincere and just once in a while - who doesn't like a nice ping hello but not constant - Thanks yall. Salud