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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsDealing With Post Posting Depression
Am I the only one? Does anyone else feel bummed out and depressed, when you put a fair amount of research and effort into an op and it just falls like a rock, with maybe one response? Or when you post an op that is so funny it makes YOU laugh, but no one else? Is there a lonelier feeling in the world? Does it make you want to put "Fool On the Hill" on your turntable and bury your face in your pillow? Am I crazy?
pipi_k
(21,020 posts)why I have not...and may not...ever post an OP.
If it sank without replies, or got negative attention, I would feel awful.
As it is, I see some of the really funny responses of other DUers and feel envious, so I'll think of something I think is hilarious. I'm laughing like hell as I post, and...
nothing.
Depressing.
Yeah...you're not alone.
You go ahead and post an op right here in the lounge. I promise I will post on it 20 times if nobody else does!
pipi_k
(21,020 posts)I may get brave enough to do that...
thank you!
Gidney N Cloyd
(19,838 posts)It's like being a street performer who gets mugged and everybody is looking but just hurrying along their way and trying not to get involved.
unionworks
(3,574 posts)Over 200 views and 1 reply!!!
unionworks
(3,574 posts)At last count and 1 reply. There was a song by Joni Mitchell, I think it was "Playin' real good for free" that addresses what you are talking about.
pipi_k
(21,020 posts)I always wonder what's up with that...
Is the OP so good people can't think of anything else to add...
or do people think it's so bad they don't want to get involved.
I always feel bad for people whose OPs don't get a reply.
unionworks
(3,574 posts)If I ever see an op of yours, count on me.
pipi_k
(21,020 posts)I almost thought of posting an OP in there...
unionworks
(3,574 posts)I'm more of a "car forums" type. What kind of crafting do you like? I'll drop in there once in a while to see if you posted yet!
Wait Wut
(8,492 posts)But, I'll try to at least give some input. Other times, I'm just not sure what exactly to say. If it's a subject I'm on the fence about, especially. Funny threads, I'll at least say "something" if no one else has. I often feel a rec is better than one of a hundred "+1"s, though.
Most of the time I'm here, I'm at work. My work computer is ANCIENT, so I can't rec things.
dimbear
(6,271 posts)Big advantage of the internet.
Feedback, the comedians call it.
unionworks
(3,574 posts)...he knows that they're the fools
They don't like him,
The fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
Sees the eyes in his head
Sees the world spinning round"
UnrepentantLiberal
(11,700 posts)and dead silence from the audience.
MiddleFingerMom
(25,163 posts).
.
.
.
.
.
unionworks
(3,574 posts)...of the clown
Who cried in the alley"...
unionworks
(3,574 posts)One humorous, one dead serious. The humorous one - over 240 views, one reply. The serious one - over 140 views, 1 reply. Recs on both less than 5. Damn.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)I rarely have posted an OP. And I have had them go both ways---drop like a rock and lots of replies. But I still have that feeling of failure when they drop----and I hate that feeling.
I just had to listen to Fool on the Hill.
But guess what, this is not one of those dead posts.
unionworks
(3,574 posts)....and I think we are both correct for loving that song!
nolabear
(41,963 posts)And man, The Fool on the Hill. Perfect. But here's another one to inspire you when that feeling hits:
libodem
(19,288 posts)OP's from me. I also feel like a frequent threadkill, too.
unionworks
(3,574 posts)...in your posts!
libodem
(19,288 posts)Friend.
Phentex
(16,334 posts)Milestone threads.
People say they like them. They say they miss them. But do they take the time to say congrats or happy birthday? No. And sometimes it feels hurtful (not to me but to the milestoner.)
I'm not cryin' and I'll keep tryin' but this is what I have noticed.
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)DU is not for wimps.....
But I never learn. I keep posting brilliant things and being ignored. Next thing you know, I'll need therapy all because of these damned boards.
Chan790
(20,176 posts)1.)Tl;dr. Too long; didn't read. when you write a really long post, many people won't read it. So...I always include a "tl;dr" upfront, a one-sentence summary or brief of the article. Even people who won't read the long post will debate the merits of your argument after reading the tl;dr. I mean they're wrong and usually arguing points I already refuted which they'd know if they'd read the whole thing...at that point, you've got them engaged at least.
2.)It's really hard to argue, debate or discuss a long, well-reasoned, well-researched post with references to data and facts. One that addresses and refutes counter-argumentation. What are they going to say? "Get a brain, moran! You and Einstein are wrong! E does not equal MC2!" I rarely write long pieces on DU, I mean I'm a writer...I'm not in the habits of giving away my labor for free. But when I do wrote long pieces, I tend to write long pieces that reference back to facts and which completely explore an issue; I was a parliamentary debate champion in college, I do some freelance work as a journalist...I enjoy mentally-dominating people, I'm not in the habit of posting half-assed long posts. From what I've noticed, neither are you. It's hard to get responses on something that is complete or near-complete...rebuttal means having write an equally well-researched and well-cited response and that's more effort than most people want to put in. They'd rather just start a new thread to post their wrongheaded opinion and pretend they never saw yours. So, a lack of responses means either nobody disagrees with you or more-likely...you're right and the partisans who hold contrary opinions don't want to get their asses handed to them or have to admit they're wrong. In this case, lack-of-responses is a mark of honor.
3.) It's hard to get responses on humorous stand-alone OPs. I mean I click, I view, I laugh, I move on. If you want responses, challenge your readers with audience response. Ask me something, court a response, engage your audience. Observe Applegrove...s/he's a master of it and should have Barbara Walters' job. They ask funny or thought-provoking questions and include their answers in the OP.
UnrepentantLiberal
(11,700 posts)Chan790
(20,176 posts)Tl;dr: Smartass!
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)Let alone be amusing or smart enough to start an OP in the Lounge or GD.
So far, none have sickened or even croaked from my lack of OPs.
unionworks
(3,574 posts)All over DU for an OP by you last night! Suddenly I felt sickened at not finding one. The room started spinning and I fell over the bed.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)MEDIC!!! MAN DOWN!
At least you fell onto the bed.
unionworks
(3,574 posts)...of the couple in the motelroom next to me woke me at 6:30 a.m.. I think that is the only thing that saved me.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)Our apologies.
edited to fix smiley mistake
unionworks
(3,574 posts)You inspired me to write a new op in the lounge! I don't think you'll have any trouble finding it.
UnrepentantLiberal
(11,700 posts)Oh irony...
Doc Holliday
(719 posts)to an OP which seems to be at least tongue-in-cheek, I imagine it depends on why one posts. As a Method actor might ask, "What's my motivation here?"
If you're looking for "applause", DU is in my experience a notoriously tough room. If you're simply doing it for the pleasure of throwing an idea out there or to share information, "applause" shouldn't be a factor.