can the popularity contest threads stop?

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I actually agree with what TeaEarl is saying. There have been threads here I didn't understand and guesswhat, I don't participate in them. To me it's all spam and garbage and pointless but I do not go complaining about them. I just don't read them. I do not understand lot of the stuff in the PPR section so I don't go there and it's boring anyway and politics and religion doesn't interest me. It goes over my head and I do not complain about that section asking if we can get rid of it because "it makes me feel so stupid I can't comprehend what I am reading on here."

So if these people don't understand these popularity threads, they can stay out of them just like I stay out of threads that bore me or that I can't even comprehend what I am reading. I guess I am being silenced. Where is my support? (sarcasm)

So because of my learning disabilities and ADD that makes it hard for me to comprehend what I am reading, should the other members have to suffer because of people like me? Should they have to be silenced as well or else people like me might feel bad about ourselves because we cannot understand what the thread is about or what members are saying? Note: I don't actually feel this way but this is just an example to illustrate a point about how people with LDs and ADD may feel bad about their reading comprehension but the other members sure shouldn't have to suffer by not being able to post threads just to cater those people. So I can understand where TeaEarl is coming from and what she is saying.


DW a mom, you say you avoid those people, how is that any different avoiding those threads here? I usually avoid them because I think they're stupid but sometimes I will participate in them because there are some members I really do enjoy. I have tried doing some member threads in the past but they all failed so I don't really do them. It be rare if I do. I recall doing a few in the past about myself just to jump on the bandwagon.


Popularity threads count as spamming? Well I see stuff here and have seen stuff here in the past I would consider spamming but probably isn't considered spamming according to alex or other mods so that spamming be acceptable.

When I mentioned spamming I wasn't referring directly to the popularity threads, the discussion evolved towards other related behaviours.

Since we're generally rather lenient with these specifications some people forget what the rules actually are

Okay now I am lost. Maybe I need to read the whole thread to see what you are saying?

I do see lot of pointless threads here but that rule is vague because what do they mean by pointless? So I have to watch what other people post to see what is acceptable. But they are sure not anywhere pointless as the ones I see at I2.

I re read your post and saw you were talking about threads going off topic, is that what you were talking about spamming?

I just looked at the TOS here and didn't see anything about spamming.

Because autism doesn't make that difficult at all, especially in the type of hypersocial threads that are being spoken of here.

After reading all six pages of this nonsense I have noticed that this thread is entitled "Can the popularity contest threads stop?". Has anyone actually answered the question? If it is indeed true that members are leaving because they feel marginalized then I don't think it will kill us not to make anymore 'popularity contest threads'. As for flirting, banter and in-jokes, well that happens on every forum and will never go away. And never should:)

^ Yeah that

First off hyperlexian this fresh face to WP thanks you for making feel welcome there, your benchmark of social inclusion is what others can aim to aspirer to.

I think the key issue is awareness (self, & group) of how groups and personal social networks function, as in the power/popularity hierarchy, group dynamics, group roles, culture (The way we do things around here) & social network structure.

Awareness is the walk up of the sleeping change agent to take action, then Gladwell's The Law of the Few comes into play!

I feel Mahatma Gandhi best sums the approach to take with changing this issue.

You must be the change you want to see in the world.

Well put.

If I am understanding Tea correctly, as she is acting in the capacity of that group's spokesman at the moment, she feels that banning those types of threads will cause members to leave. Whether she will say so right now or not (she has said so in the past) I believe she feels that the members who would leave if this practice was banned are more important than those who leave because they are allowed, as they contribute more posts.

From a strictly revenue-based, lining-Alex's-pockets stance, she is correct.

Last edited by MidlifeAspie on 21 May 2011, 11:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

that's why it's been said to death that he can participate where he likes, or create threads where he wants.

*yawns*

I wasn't clear. The only way to do my real life equivalent on WP would be to not come here at all, or to avoid full boards in their entirety (thank God no one does this stuff on parenting!). I don't see how that is the right answer for Wrong Planet. It's one thing to volunteer on committee X instead of committee Y, and another to feel you have to avoid the one place you thought you would finally fit in. Is that really what you want for the most vulnerable members, for them to leave?

WP is not likely to ban the threads. Already stated. But why is it so hard for members to just admit they can be hurtful, and say they will work with their friends to tone it down, and will try harder to make sure they are responding positively to everyone, and not just friends? That is the only answer to this thread, in my opinion: "we weren't aware people felt that way and I'll do my best to act more inclusive.".

Wrong answer, IMHO.

Better answer: "I am sorry he feels that way and will try harder to make sure he is acknowledged if we're posting in the same threads."

Why is that so hard?

I believe the answer is that it would be very much appreciated if the members who like to do that sort of thing would accept they are hurtful and make the choice not to do them. The threads are not, at this time, considered to violate the TOS, which as an official matter makes it a members issue, not a moderator one.

I agree, it wouldn't kill anyone to stop making those types of threads, so I fail to see why they are being so strongly defended.

WTF... I give up.

That's precisely why they irritate the crap out of me. But, they're not against the rules. Besides, how *could* anyone stop them? How would anyone even go about it? I just think it's so strange that people who have been marginalized so much in their lives are now marginalizing others...and, on the days when I'm feeling particularly bad, it just p*sses me off.

~Kate