I've been receiving emails - well, technically, two emails so far - regarding whether or not I am a member of the community. The original point, as near as I could tell, was that 'I rarely write comments'. This was bemusing to me, but what clinched it was the statement that the person in question was going to ask their group members not to comment on anyone's articles unless they received a comment from that person first. The reasoning offered was that 'people want feedback from articles they write' and 'it's a matter of common decency.'
Everyone wants comments on their work - I understand that and respect that. After all, I want comments on my work, too. But frankly, I find it offensive when someone tells me I'm required to comment on their work. Frankly, I comment on articles when I find them interesting, and although I do try to help people get comments on their work, I don't think that making it a mandatory part of being a member of a community is very ... well, decent.
So I replied as such, and got another reply - this time, a claim that I was just trying to weasel out of being courteous, along with another claim that I almost never comment, a claim that letting people do what they want is selfish behavior, and an accusation that I don't have any interest in being part of a community, or helping people.
I run four groups that regularly feature articles from their entire member base. I actively maintain and/or moderate thirteen groups (as well as three groups that do not require significant intervention, and one group that regularly features articles but does not otherwise require significant intervention.) I post, rate, and comment regularly, whether it's on articles by people who've commented on my work, articles from members of one of my groups, or articles that I see somewhere at random and just feel like reading and commenting on. (In fact, I've made more comments on people's work than the accuser, who's been on the site several months longer than I have.)
What more does one have to do to be considered a part of the community?
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Comments: 49
Although a community can prosper and enjoy the benefits that each of its members help to provide through diversity of ideas and diversity of spirit I do not think that a community can truly prosper when there are vast differences in morality. If one cannot distinguish right from wrong, there is a good chance that his or her errors would impede the combined efforts towards happiness in the community.
The "family unit" has become much more mobile in today's society than in other societies. The implications of this mobility are such that the further development of our moral conscience is dependent on our adaptability to the extraneous circumstances that exist.
Fragmentation of the family, through divorce or less noble means, such as abandonment, drug abuse, alcoholism and other means of negligence has had a greater impact on our community than we may be willing to accept. Being able to adapt in a world where the fragments of disenchantment beg for reconciliation is an undertaking that we cannot ignore. We must not close our doors to the disenfranchised, because if we do, we would only help to perpetuate the illness that already exists. Since families are the main components of our communities, the break-up of families through flagrancy is a direct insult on the community, therefore hampering the progress of the community.
What I have witnessed as a flagrant disregard for each other, through the actions of gangs and the like, I can then realize the full implication of this fragmentation. It is a sad state of affairs when our potential to do well and contribute to our community is diminished by the acts of radical withdrawal. We have to reconsider the importance of our roles as members of a family, members of a larger family called community and the interactions that combined, provide a better world environment for all of us. It is a great commitment but one that would offer a more civilized world for our children to enjoy."
Authored by: Ricky J. Fico
I too look for articles that interst me. If I'm interested in what it says, I will comment. Sometimes, if there is an article that is too controversial, or if it's something I won't be able to say anything nice about, I just won't say anything at all.
I think that if people have that much time on their hands to complain about the lack of comments on their articles and try to REQUIRE people to comment....then they need to take a step back and examine themselves. Such behavior is rude and juvenile and if I were you I wouldn't associate with those people anymore.
At least that's my theory on message boards. It seems to ring true considering how when I am gone for a long time and come back I get far less comments until I start rebuilding those relationships.
But, at the same time if you aren't commenting on their stuff you shouldn't sent them multiple posts asking them to comment on your stuff
I think people have too much free time if they are busy auditing everyone else's comments. I have a lot of free time, but I like to spend it doing other things, like reading and writing.
I know I should be more thickskinned about this sort of thing, but I haven't developed that yet, I'm afraid.
Your community is what you make it. Obviously, that person is not part of your community, nor should you consider yourself part of theirs. (Dude, consider the source!) If they don't want to be part of your world, there's no loss that I can see.
It makes sense to me..
Raven G.
DON'T BE UPSET. That is a suggestion for the control freak who demands payment for commenting.
This was the first comment on the etiquette of gathering that I fully agreed with. Who you are is who you are.
I've just started posting here (officially joined in November) and I'm uncomfortable with the pressure to comment for the sake of boosting someone's point bank. It is difficult to comment on something that holds little interest for you.
I don't give a damn about how many points anyone has/gets/wants. I wondered about the rating system when I first started browsing around. Every article was rated a 10. I ass/u/med everyone was a brilliant writer of staggering talent. After reading a few articles, I saw this was not the case. I then assumed everyone was just easily impressed. Then I saw comments like "I always give you a 10" "Help! I need X number of points to get________" and I realized the ratings were fraudulent and meaningless.
I'm a poem and prose guy. A "10" I don't deserve is insulting and does not help me. I'm not here to earn rewards cards. I'm here to get input and have another set of eyes apprise the weaknesses and strengths of my writing. Real commentary, even if (especially if) it is harsh, is of a lot more help to me than a fake 10 and a "good job!"
Community? If by that you mean community of rating hungry mutual enablers, no. I do not wish to be counted among such. If on the other hand, if you mean a community of writers struggling to winnow the chaff from the wheat, that would be the community I'm looking for.
Tell me, is it in here somewhere? Link me.
Personally, I don't have a lot of time for stuff here, but then again, I don't expect a lot from others, either.
Thanks for requesting an add, btw.
I thought you WERE the community.
My bad.
Ignore the pushy people. Read what you want, comment on what you want, and rate what you want.
Namaste, Wayne
I think that we all Gather differently, and that guy's just got his head up his... word that I likely shouldn't say in a comment, so let's just say he's got his view skewed.
You comment on the articles you fell like you have something to say, so if someone requires you to comment on their article because they commented on yours, then you should drop that connection.
Personally, I connect with people because I like to read what they post. But that doesn't mean that I comment on every single article. What I like about Gather is the diversity of thoughts that are posted, and when I have something to say, I do it. But sometimes, even if I want to, I just can't comment on every article my connections post. What I try to do, is leave a comment that says I was there, and I read it, just to let them know I'm still interested in their connection. Meeting new people, and making friendships is what Gather is about, not points (well, to me anyway).
what a looser, forget that jerk!! and thanks by the way, for some great groups and articles.
Hey Larry H.- you crack me up! you always say," thanks for sharing". I think its funny. I'm not being an ass, i really think its funny.
Gather is like life...you are never going to please everyone.
I read what interests me, I star everything I read. I comment unless my thoughts have already been done to death - why reiterate?
It's like everything else on GATHER - someone has always got to be bitchin or they're not happy. Let's see, who's turn is it for me to tear down today mentality.
If I have nothing to say, I'm not just going to make one word comments. And if I've nothing nice to say, well...often times I curb myself and refrain from commenting altogether--knowing full well that I'm passing up an opportunity for accumulating points. I want my comments to reflect my writing as much as my articles.
Austin, it seems to me that you are a contributing member of the gather community...too bad for that person who feels the need to not only troll for responses...but to call you out if you don't respond in the way they want you to? Ridiculous.
A huge thank you to you!
God bless you.