My Gather Experience - Taken from Renita's post, thanks Renita

Renita posted a piece on My Gather Experience, and invited us to do the same, so have copied the questions from her post, and added my own answers, it was kind of fun to do, so why don't you give it a try, I have read others too, such as Rob Appells', which was great.

1. Do you write more than you comment or do you comment more than you write?

1. I write lately, more than I comment, due to family obligations,but try to keep up writing because I need to let my hair down, and this is the place I do it.

2. What would you do if the GATHER site were, for some reason, to shut down?

I'd probably go a little nuts, I love reading what others write, and learn a lot about life and others' experiences on this site.

3. What was the highest amount you cashed out for on GATHER?

$200.00 in Macy's gift cards about a year and a half after I began to write, amazing I had that much, never have since, I was spending every waking minute on here at that time,my husband had just passed away and Gather was my salvation.

4. What do you think about GATHER now compared to when you first got here?

I really liked the first format the best, it was very easy to navigate, I have gotten used to the different changes, but always takes me a bit of time, am rather lost right now, but beginning to get around again.

5. When do you think is the worst time to post on GATHER?

I don't know. I put things up as I do them sometimes in the middle of the night, usually then, as a matter of fact, either people who are night owls like me catch them then, or some may catch them later on.

6. Have you ever thought about quitting GATHER?

No, feel like it is my safe spot to go

7. Did you ever rate an article lower than '10'?

Once accidentally, my mouse slipped but I told the person in the comment. Hit a 9

8. How do you think GATHER could improve its site?

I'd like to see a way to group the groups I usually post to and have one button to click, and I would also like to see away to add or remove group, possible in the group listings, as I have some that are not in existence any longer, like , November 2007. I know I can go and remove them one by one but when you do that now, after the one you removes it starts you over. If they can't put an add or remove, maybe they could return you to where you left off, or have a box by those you want to remove, and just at the bottom of the page , a box saying remove those checked.I also used to like it when things my friends wrote popped up on my home page, so easy that way but that is gone forever I think.

9. Have you ever flagged an article?

Yes, only one I wrote myself, because it was an email I think and had some swear words in it. If I don't want to read something, I pass it by.

10. What is your response if you see something you don't like?

I don't respond, I pass it by.

11. What is the thing you dislike the most about GATHER?

The times they upgrade, that make me learn how to get around it again, I think my age may have something to do with that.

12. Is your aim on GATHER to get all the points you can?

No, never keep track of my points unless someone is talking about theirs and I may go and look, and if there is enough there, I usually cash out, it takes me awhile to accumulate points lately as I am not on as much as I used to be, taking care of a “family” again, not just able to sit here.

13. Did you ever meet anyone from GATHER?

Yes I did, A fellow gatherer and her mother came to see me last summer, It was very nice and she was a lovely person, still see her around and correspond with her. I have a lot of friends on Gather that I do talk on the phone with and correspond with outside of gather. Really close relationships have formed, almost like family.

14. Would you like to meet, in person, more people on GATHER?

Absolutely.

15. What do you think you ought to spend more time doing on GATHER?

Commenting back as soon as I get “me” time again, I usually get on the computer about 12 AM, and I am typing this at almost 1 AM, so no time for getting around.Even I have to sleep sometime, lol

16. How do you get the ideas for your articles?

Usually I think of things that are sentimental about my family or my life while I am alone and driving, and then write later on about them, and I belong to groups that give prompts, I love them because sometimes I haven't got a thought of my own, like this thing I am doing, but it is still fun.

17. Do you think one day you'll be discovered and be an overnight sensation when your work is published?

No, I have had one poem published in another Gatherer's work, and am proud of that, I don't have enough ambition or think I am good enough to be published. I am a homespun writer, and most of my pieces are very family oriented, and don't think many people out side of Gather would be interested in them, people here are kind because they feel we know each other.

18. Do you think others here have a chance of being professional writers if they aren't already?

Yes, there is definitely some writing talent here.

19. Has GATHER changed your life?

Yes, I came on right after two big loses in my life, my daughter three years before my husband, and I began writing after seeing an ad for Gather on Amazon.com, looking for essays, so I wrote my first piece and put it up. I got so excited when one person saw it and gave it a ten, I thought I must be great , I think maybe 4 or 5 people have read that, or have read it and left comments. I needed an outlet and this was so wonderful to me, people began commenting, and I commented back and we became like buddies, sort of, and friends that might never meet, but that cared deeply about each other. I think Gather saved my sanity at that time.

20. Was it your life dream to become a writer?

No, but I have always like to write, wrote poetry in a note book as did my mother and my daughter. I did it at work, wrote character poems and read them at retirement dinners, I was the poet laureate where I worked, lol. But it was fun, Now it is an outlet for my emotions , good and bad, if you are reading this you know that, Can't keep anything to myself.

I hope some of you will decide to share your answers as well