by
Ky V.
Member since:
July 9, 2006
If its true that Gather has "thousands of members", why do I see the same 10 people commenting on every article?
September 01, 2006 05:33 PM EDT
views: 262
|
comments: 92
Just an article of curiosity, upon browsing around a bit, I see the same 10 people or so on every article!! If Gather indeed has thousands of member, the probability alone would rule this out!! So how many members does Gather have???
Please provide details below to help Gather review this content. If it is found to be inappropriate and in violation of the
Gather Terms of Service, action will be taken.
You have successfully submitted a report for this post.
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 92
I can read and maybe leave a comment every now and then so, if someone asks me to connect, I usually do ... with the hopes that they are not looking for too many articles from me. ;-)
I kinda like being connected to a zoo and a collection of comic book character and masked men. Makes life interesting.
(On a serious note, I do believe it is a good idea to check people out before connecting. I've seen some in the last few days that I would hate to be associated with in any way)
Meow.
You can make that 47 if I pass muster.
I do think that some of us are more obsessive than others...
Innumerancy once again raises it's ugly head.
Kevin -- Sandy's same person but different
=+) so I guess they are all Sandy.... thought I dont remember her being a baritone with the deepest Tan I have ever seen.... no not being racial just funny...
But, we really do not know how many are inactive. No delete account feature, which has been mentioned before.
Sandy is right, it's a good idea to check first before connecting.
I'm also not asking others to connect with me, just to add to my list... unless I am really convinced I want the connection!
Or maybe I'm the only one on here, and y'all are figments of my imagination.
and it wouldn't matter how connected I am becaue everyone knows that porcupines are solitary prickly animls that just gnaw on wood.
can't say that I have ten people who constantly cmment on anything I produce or that my stuff ever gets the raves or long strings of comments -- but then, porcupines are anti-social
and what are your gripes--there's 57 comments on this page--an I think I scarcely get an eyebrow lift much of the time, regardless of how beautiful the pics might be or the hours wasted on fighting with downgrade orange
so gather is clubby, but nothing new to me.
It is a pertinent question, though. One can easily notice that the frequent commenters are the same few people that we come across again and again. It is an obvious anomaly for a website boasting of more than 20,000 members.
Or, has the culture of commenting on articles not caught up with the members? Some get an idea that Gather is an elite writers' club. Some are hesitant to get exposed of their weakness in language, grammar, punctuation and spellings. Why should one be a laughing stock of others by making a flat comment on sublime articles and poetry? It is much safer not to stick one's neck out and to stay away from avoidable spotlight. Some like to express their opinion through private email rather than put it in full blast of a comment block.
When an article gathers 50-60 comments or more, it becomes a bit unwieldy because of increased loading time. That is another self-limiting factor that controls the number of comments that a single article can attract.
Forget the comments; I am curious to know how many of such a sizeable membership base, at all, read the interesting articles that appear on this site. If unique page views are indicated on each article, it would give us a fair idea of the readership.
I can see how many might feel a bit intimidated by the more blunt "frequents". I doubt, for instance, that there's much confidence in a casual Bush supporter about laying something out for Clark Kent to shred, with full documentation, in under a minute (I hear he has four arms and can swivel his eyes independently to read two screens at once).
Also, it took me awhile to get used to the speed at which the conversations move, as well as the way they die out completely for hours at a time, then take off again in a flurry of comments. At first I really wasn't sure I was speaking to anyone half the time, so why labor over a careful statement that's just going to sit at the end of thread in virtual purgatory forever?
My guess is, there's many members who watch Gather occasionally as a form of T.V. reality show, to see if anyone eats crow or gets driven off the island.
I also just assumed there are more people commenting on other threads I don't pay attention to.
From other comments here maybe my assumptions are wrong. LOL
I think a lot of people join and then don't participate much. There's a lack of customization on the site whereby you will either get sucked in and participate a LOT just by being in the thick of it, or you are just disconnected in a sense with a lot of random stuff being thrown at you.
More and more I'm thinking it's the bully thing
Did you see the crap J5K threw in my face near the end of Lyrical's 'I Believe'?
John, I'm confused...did I miss something?
It's something I think represents the "bullying" that I wanted Sandy to discuss.
Just what options do you think I have there? I'm not about to join in a debate on his crude behavior, and ugly up Lyrical's touching article. And I'm a real live Christian, and that means I can not fight that fire with fire. I have to just sit and take it, while trying to reason with him. Does it look to you like there's any point to that?
No, the real bullies are the people who slam articles with low scores without leaving any comment, those who's comments have no inherent value except to elicit shock in the way they display their displeasure, and those who seek out the vulnerable, pounce on their every word, and then find it entertaining to write articles about them.
And I'm sorry for veering off course Ky, I know that's not what this article is about.
I think were right on topic
In my opinion, the person who creates an identity for the sole purpose of harassing and threatening others is a bully. I've seen few of them, but they are here.
I think the mail idea is good.
"those who's comments have no inherent value except to elicit shock in the way they display their displeasure...... and then find it entertaining to write articles about them."
Don't know about the word "vulnerable"?? That doesn't fit me in the least.. I have never understood why these so-called bullies cannot have a good honest debate. It seems to always end up with name calling, nasty insinuating remarks, personal insults. This is what "irks" me...and the reason I very seldom write a controversial article or even bother to comment. Its not worth the fight, I have better things to do...
I also see alot of new faces which I have not seen on other threads!!! Great!
Yes, I love architectural creations!
It also helps to read the articles of the people with whom you are connected to, along with other articles that interest you. The more you comment & read, the more names you are likely to see and read about. Reading the comments is also a good indication of the type of people that you may or may not want to connect with.
This sheep I'm holding was on an Irish farm. I made them stop the tour bus and take a photo of me holding the lamb. The farmer assured me the lambie wasn't slated for the dinner plate.
But for most, I have never seen comments
I can personally vouch for about 200 people.
I note that now you have 97 pages of connections. I guess you found the other members, huh? :)