A couple of days ago, I got to thinking about getting to know the people I am connected with better. I do pretty good keeping up when someone posts something, but I realized I haven't talked one- on- one a whole lot with the people I am connected with. I figured, what is the point of being connected with someone if you hardly ever talk with them; but at the same time- it seems like a huge task keeping track of who's who. So, I thought to myself; ok I'll go around and "ping" everybody to say hello. After a few people, I realized that I couldn't come up with something unique to say 180 something times, and was just saying the same thing basically; and if I'm going to just say the same thing over and over- I may as well be copying and pasting- which isn't as sincere to me.
I was also thinking about the fact that it's sometimes difficult to keep track of what I've commented on, so I've had the following situation: Someone will ping me, or otherwise thank me for commenting on their article; and I can't remember which one it was- so then I go to the person's profile and look- cause I don't want to look like a dumbass and reply to the person saying "uh, which article was that?" Does anyone but me ever think about or run across these kinds of issues? Do you talk directly to everyone you're connected with? or am I just having a blonde moment, and I'm the only one who has these kinds of issues? :-)
I'm just curious I guess.... do you consider it insulting if you're connected with someone, but rarely talk to them directly? Does anyone else have trouble keeping track of what you've commented on, so when someone thanks you; you're clueless? It be interesting to hear other's points of view on this, and I'll take this opportunity to say hello to everyone I'm connected with; and to thank you for reading my ramblings :-)
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Comments: 34
There's so much going on all the time with so many of us that we often times trip over our own metaphorical tongues and go huh? watchoo talking about. That's one of the reasons I actually like the new piggyback comment feature because it will permit me to comment on a specific comment and receive in turn.
I don't find it insulting if someone asks me what the he** I'm talking about lol regarding a comment, it's reality that we gather to such an extent that we often times forget what the he** we said an hour ago ;)
HI!!!!! *gastrosexual* ;)
What I've found is that there are some people that I've naturally gravitated toward and they to me. These are the people that I get to know and who know me.
I'm gravitating to you! =D cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuz
I GOT IT FROM MY MOMMA, AHA, AHA, I GOT IT FROM MY MOMMA *insert beatbox here* ;)
This is strange, must be a glitch they haven't worked out yet; but I just got a alert for you commenting directly to sharon's comment. and keeping better track of what I've commented on is one reason why I like the new comment feature too.
Oh, you're fortunate, i haven't been getting ANY notifications all day ;)
wow. Yes I have the same problem sept for now that we have the new feature. I am loving it because it reminds me what I had said. I try to talk to most of my friends there is allot though I have never gotten a chance to talk to but one day might :)
Thats why I like the chats. I like the hour ones but 3 hours is too much.
I haven't done too many chats, but they can be fun. I just feel a little left out when I've gotten into a bigger one, and don't know anybody.
I agree. I do like the new feature to reply to the comments.
I like it too Renee, quite a nifty little feature :-)
There are so many people on Gather that it is hard to have one one one conversations with everyone. I do my best to talk to as many people as I possibly can. I do not get insulted if they do not talk to me though.
Also I just realized just a few minutes ago that you pinged me and I apologize for not getting back to you. I am so bad at remembering to look at pings.
that's ok chris! sometimes I forget to look at my pings, and I don't notice them right away.
I'm glad I'm just not dingy, and the only one who's thought of these things lol
When I get to the point of not remembering people, I figure I have too many connections and I start deleting some. I try to only keep those that I know, and know "well".
I try to get to know people but it is hard like you said with so many connections.
Yes, there are so many people on here that it's hard to keep up with every connection. I just get on Gather whenever I have down time. Have fun with it, that's what it's all about.
I have connections for a variety of reasons, and not specifically for regular one-one-one time. Sometimes there is a topic of mutual interest that promotes more one-one-one time for short periods of time. That's always enjoyable. I guess you could liken it to real physical socializing. We all have friends and acquaintances that we touch in with personally as need and circumstances allow, but there are spaces of time when we don't "connect". Then we have clubs or some type of social activities where we come together during times of like-activity, but don't often connect with each other in the interim. I just allow the natural flow and don't worry about it. Certainly, though, when someone has contacted me personally here on Gather (and elsewhere), I respond to them. I would hope for the same courtesy.
oops...........one-on-one time, not one-one-one time.
There are several of my connections that I am beginning to know more about. Perhaps because they post a lot. I have made one connection who I now contact outside of Gather as well. Many times someone will thank me for commenting on their post and I do find myself having to go to their profile to refresh my memory.
I am with Purr on this one!
no
That's what friend sets are for, Ellen! I accept every friend request I get, but if I've seen them around and I know they have interesting stuff to read, I'll put them in the FRIEND set. I currently have about 34 in there and the rest are not in a set. These are the ones I read every time they post, and I try to comment (if can think of something pertinent to say) on each of their posts. The rest I don't really care too much about, I might stop by, but if they have a problem with that they can remove me. I have only in one instance removed someone from my list but I had a good reason. Because we're online we aren't really going to be best friends with everyone who sends an invite, but there are some people you naturally become closer with. Wow...too long? 8D
im not insulted because there are so many people on gather that its impossible to make connections with everyone. i do try and comment on their articles though
I don't mind it at all. There are degrees of knowing someone, and I prefer to keep relationships superficial unless I have a particular "spark" with someone. I have learned that straying from that rule just ends up with me aggravated... or me annoying someone else.
Thanks everyone for your insights, I was wondering!
Ellen, you brought up a timely topic for me. I enjoy the interaction on Gather a lot more than that on Facebook. Time is always an issue so I try to keep the connections on Gather down to the people who share my interests and/or write on topics I like. I don't feel compelled to comment on every post or photo but do rate them just to let them know I enjoyed the item. There are only a few people I consider friends I keep up with and then not too regular. On Facebook there are more real friends, ie. pals from HS, people I work with and relatives but the interaction there is very shallow. The interaction on Gather is much more rewarding.