WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ACTIVE A2K MEMBER?

Hmmm.................

I don't think that you can quantify an amount. I think an active member:

Posts regularly

Creates threads

Is around enough that the member knows what is "happening" on the site.

The member personally feels a connection to the site and other members.

Couldn't have put it better. I might add interests vary so one member may go to one thread only or maybe a few. It's unreasonable to expect someone is going to check a forum in which they have no interest at all. General seems to be the only forum which all or nearly all members would check.

Well, there it is possibility that a person reads the site a great deal and posts little. (I wouldn't personally do that, but can envision doing that.)

Those few posts could be jewels and memorable in a2k history.

So I don't think posting times matter. I do think it is very useful to check out the different categories rather more than one or two posts, and get to know folks there.

Recently I have been kiddingly attacking people who diss Pets and Garden Forum, usually as a cushioning, a purported respite for political thread folks. Well, maybe it isn't a diss in fact, but is used as a diss.

I don't doubt myself that the occasional person might become as pov tethered on Pets as on Politics, but usually that doesn't happen, people swann off to other spheres.

Posting is good, you get to start to air your points of view, and hew them, maybe even modify them. Most of us learn to say what we mean best with a bit of challenge. Sometimes, mid defense, we change. Not usually, but sometimes, and often some times later.

People who are here a lot get pretty chummy, which I know from experience is obnoxious to a new person...except a new person is pulled in fast if only he(she) knew.

Active, reads. I think someone who only reads a lot of the posts has a good start, only need a sentence or two to be active and get going.

Quote:
People who are here a lot get pretty chummy, which I know from experience is obnoxious to a new person...except a new person is pulled in fast if only he(she) knew.


True - people become real characters after a while, with distinct personalities - there are some really nice and interesting people here who are generous with information and help.

And I loooooooove all of these new folks, like you, Vivien. Glad the chumminess didn't throw you.

Mapleleaf
Mapleleaf, great question, which made me stop and think about why I'm a member of A2K.

I've always wondered why quantity over quality is a valid measure of participation. It seems to me that the test of a good post could be: The number of readers, the number of responses, and how long a thread continues on topic (probably with a few digressions).

For myself, there are some posters that I enjoy to the point that I will read everything they post. I may not respond if someone has already made a point that I had in mind. I really appreciate posters who provide a history, technical or scientific information relevant to their topic. I've learned so much from posters who take the time to share their wisdom by providing such information.

I also enjoy posters who have a wide variety of interests about which they post. I soon tire of "Johnny one-notes" who only initiate or respond to a limited number of topics, generally using the same arguments ad nauseam. I get bored with them and tend not to read their stuff after awhile.

A new poster may interest me if the title of their post is inviting and the topic attracts me. I usually respond to new posters to encourage them to continue posting.

I also enjoy posters who submit topics that are provocative but about which they do or do not agree. I often do this to provoke conversation. Some people take me to task for a post's position on an issue and try to tag me as agreeing with it. That usually doesn't work, especially by those who've gotten to know me well enough to be sure I wouldn't espouse such position.

In all cases, I try to be civil. Most importantly, I try, but don't always succeed in being an interesting poster. And that's my point: quality over quantity scores high in my posting ratings.

---BumbleBeeBoogie

Definitely quality over quantity, and you're definitely an interesting poster, BBB!

One of the best features of this site is the "Edit" button.

I've been off and about.... Interesting postings to date. Something I've learned while preparing WHO POSTED THIS game, there are a number of active folks of which I have no memory. One probable reason, they are involved in threads I do not frequent. Also, I've come across a number of members who were active on Abuzz, but register only 20 to 80 postings on A2K to date.