Journal Chacham's Journal: Making people read and respond 10
Just a couple things I noticed. I like it when people respond to my journals (makes me feel good, and given me who to discuss/argue with). So, it would make sense that I know what makes people respond to them. Problem is, if I actively use them with intent and others recognize this, people are likely to feel like lab rats. Oh well. Most people are.
Anyway, here's what I noticed. Talking about anything other than the Bible must be current events. Just theorizing on a topic may make someone comment if they just happen to be interested, and just happen to be in the mood of commenting, and just happen to have something to say, and just happen to feel like saying it to the poster.
That isn't so with current events. Take something like (/me grins evilly) the Democrats holding up the Republican-controlled Senate. That'll get people rolling. Usually, because it's current events, people are already interested, and, as with the US today, people are always in the mood of regurgitating someone else's comments on the topic, and people believe that their aspect is something that noone else knows, and *must* be said, and they feel like saying it to everyone, especially the poster.
Also, it must be short. The average person seems to get bored quickly. I know I do. I skim through many people's journal entries. If they're long, I don't really read them. Not that they aren't good, they are very likely to be. I just am reluctant to confine myself (that's how it feels) to read something that someone *else* has to say. So, I'm self-centered. I admit it. Though, I don't *have* to read journal entries, so the shorter the better. Unless it's a *really* good topic, or the poster has me enthralled.
State opinions forcefully. Absolutely. I guess I figured out why people think I "push buttons". I may not even mean to. I just am very confident in my opinions. When I mention ideas, I don't seem to get response. It must be that people are not that motivated to enter a discussion, unless they are somewhat offended by the poster's comment. I know that get's me at times.
BTW, And, I like to argue. "Discussions" don't excite me. They put me to sleep. A good challenge to my opinion invigorates me. It's an NTJ thing I guess. Oh well.
(n/t) (Score:1)
Oops. Wait...
How to get journals people respond to (Score:1)
Post something completely lame and run of the mill. Everybody will take offense to it.
I find (Score:2)
That's why, when I write a JE, I do it purely for ego reasons. I like to write. I don't get to do too much outside of research and documentation so this is where I blow off steam.
Such is life.
My Theory... (Score:2)
Hey! You reading my mind or something?
My experience, for what it's worth, is that people will respond to the following
One important point about responses - I try and resist the temptation to rattle off a half-thought-out reply. I use the Message Center to notify me of new Journal Entries, and usually read them as soon as they show up, but I'll leave the messages until the end of the day, so that I can go back and re-read stuff. More often than not, I find that I'm better able to formulate a response that way. Also, if I start writing something, and get stuck for something to say, I go do something else, then come back and start writing again when my mind unclogs.
Re:My Theory... (Score:3)
(falls down chute, lands in middle of no where) Who me?
If slashdot had a way to save a reply temporarily, I may write now and re-write later. However, slashdot doesnt have that, and it can be annoying to do it otherwise.
huh? (Score:1)
then why do you want people to respond? you want them to be confined to listen to what you have to say? are you going to listen to what someone else has to say if they respond? why interact at all? you can just get a soapbox and stand on the corner shouting your opinions. if you want listeners, you can just hire a couple guys with cattleprods to keep an audience around for you, at least until the police show up.
my guess is that you had another meaning in that statement that i missed. i've only recently become somewhat aquainted with this 'sleep' thingy so i might have missed something bleedingly obvious. maybe just that when the je is too long, you feel it is pretty much a monologue, not an invitation for dialogue.
Re:huh? (Score:2)
if you want listeners, you can just hire a couple guys with cattleprods to keep an audience around for you,
Not listeners, and much as challengers. Just saying something for me is boring. Well, unless I'm teaching someone, but even then. I like a good argument. So, if I can make a statement that I feel is true, and have it challenged by intelligent readers, it's great. A good argument, and an interesting topic! Just listeners, however, is rather boring.
maybe just that when the je is too long, you feel it is pretty much a monologue, not an invitation for dialogue.
Definitely sometimes. Though other times, it's as if the first part builds a foundation, and the second part builds on that foundation. But the foundation hasn't been tested yet! That leads me to believe that the poster doesn't care that much to hear others' challenges. Which is fine, I just am not interested.
Re:huh? (Score:2)
Re:huh? (Score:2)
Now, if I could only get a job and make even more cents.
reply (Score:1)
Yeah, the Bible's OK - I'd be just as likely to write about Alice in Wonderland, the only difference being that I don't have a copy within as easy reach.
But I'm unlikely to respond to current events posts - the way I see it, typically either the poster is grostequely wrong, in which case it's useless to attempt to undo the effect of years of misindocrination and thoughtlessness, or they make sense, in which case there's nothing to say (since I don't know the emoticon for clapping).