Intimidation
 

I would really like to get involved in this place, but I have always been intimidated by really big communities. I browse over posts in some forums and everything on the first page has about 10 pages of replies. Will what I say even matter?

Everything that could be said has probably already been said.

Hell, even this post has probably been said a dozen times already.

I guess the only way I can get involved is to start presenting some ideas that I really think are new, that people might start some discussion on...It's just difficult to predict the reception from other users.

Do any experienced members have any advice to give on how they got started here, and how they are able to have a really personal experience despite being surrounded by thousands of other members?

If you post it, they will reply. ;)

Seriously, even if you echo what others have said in the thread - Everyone's post matters.
Post some original questions, thoughts, observations or art/writing work...If this doesn't work for you, write in your journal? People definitely read those. :)

When I first started posting on TFP, I felt as insignificant as ever...until someone replied. If large threads are intimidating, post in smaller ones or create your own. I also realized that posting in threads that I had interest in (not just what was popular) and could relate to: TiltedParanoia, TiltedLiterature, TiltedPortraits and, of course, my Journal, proved to keep my interest and gave me plenty to type in my replies. Remain within the rules (respectful and tactful), but speak your mind.

I know when I joined, even though I thought myself a message board guru, I was intimidated as hell.....it took me a good 7 months or so before I felt like I really had anything to contribute.

Trust me there is MORE than enuff on this board to add your comments too....Many times Im of the same opinion as many posters on a subject so I try to add some "life experience" to my post as to why I have that opinion.

Yeah it took me a while before I didn't feel like I didn't have anything decent to offer. Once you find your niche you will fit right in.

The Whole reason this place is amazing....is because of people like you. I cannot even imagine how boring it would be in here if everyone simply regurgitated the same stuff, day in and day out. I have watched newbies become well respected members in just a couple months, due to participation, and personality.
Show us what 'ya got.

there's nothing wrong with having the same opinion as someone else. Feel free to post what you feel and think. We thrive on that. The fact that you want to add something new is exciting and will be well received..just make sure you use the search function first just to double check on the 'newness' :thumbsup:

Btw, don't worry about the intimidation. We were all newbies at one point in time

You have (at this posting) 417 posts and an avatar, obviously you've had something of merit to say. :)

And what Amnesia620 said is true, once you find a few forums that really interest you, you'll find you have plenty to post about.

If something you read interests you, then you probably have an opinion or something of worth to add. Don't try and just post to get a reaction or get people to reply to what you say. Of course it is always nice if you are acknowledged for your contribution, but I can almost guarantee that if you really post what you feel about something, it will affect another person here, whether or not they post back.

There wouldn't be any intelligent discussion here if it went the way of many other internet boards with everyone just posting whatever they think will produce a positive response from the populace.

I think you got it though...you post more than I do. :thumbsup:

:) Everyone has something different to offer . . . including you . . . :) make your voice heard . . . :)

Also, try PMing people who seem interesting to you . . . I've made some great friends that way :) just a friendly . . . "you seem cool, what's up with you" PM can get your started on feeling more included :D


Sweeptea

From your name, you obviously play tribes. Good game!

Just start posting replies in already started thread. That's how I got started and now here I am today with a stellar reputation as an annoying, obnoxious, raging anti-conservative who pisses half the board off at least once a week :D

It's all relative. You've got an Avatar for crying out loud! I've been posting on the board for months here and there and am still faceless. You've also got some heavy replies from the regulars for your thread! That's pretty good I'd say.

Thanks for everyone's input, I think it will just take some time and a bit of exploring on my part to really see what's available to me. :D

Plus, I think I have to work on lengthening my attention span and actually spend a few minutes reading interesting threads I stumble upon, and actually using my noggin, you know?

I must qualify this statement with an excerpt from our rules -

...speaking more to the board in general than people in this thread ... but still ...


:hmm:

I promise I only send unsolicted PM's to people wishing them a great day or weekend!!! :lol:

Amen Ham. I was pouting :rolleyes: that my thread was not getting many replies, but after reading what you said, it all made sense.

I mean, when you see a Van Gogh painting or a Monet, do you walk up and scrawl graffiti to 'add' to it? People see my genius (and modesty and humility) and they are so awestruck that they can't respond.

Now I can sleep at night.

And So.....I respond to BigBens post.....as the genius and Humility have inspired me.....heh

Seriously though....it is true, we notice people based on what they contribute to the TFP as a whole...and reward you accordingly.

Now.....who wants a cookie.

I think I deserve a cookie for all the things I've decided not to 'contribute' (on this board and others).

Its not about what you dont contribute... its about HOW you contribute. You can state even the most closed minded point of view in a positive non offensive fashion.

The thing about this medium is that many will take your words or feelings to heart and you will never know. You just have to accept that and remember when you catch yourself leaving a thread that affected you and you didn't post, you should post something so they can get their own validation. :)

i'm not much of one for starting threads myself... much more interested in reading what people have to say on a given topic and throw in my two cents, too. Though every now and again I come across a news story or such that I decide to share in the form of a new thread. Just do what comes easiest.
I found a couple of forums that I really enjoyed - Ladies' Lounge and the Journals for myself - and stuck with them. Eventually you decide to move on to another one, like Sexuality or General Discussion, and you have fun there, too. It's all about meeting people and learning new perspectives.

Enjoy it! No one is going to bite =)

You know what the weird thing is? I'm just the opposite. In real life there's something about talking to other people that I find intimidating, so much so that I almost never talk to people I don't know well. This, of course, makes getting to know people well difficult, so I end up stuck in that not knowing anybody well enough to talk to them phase perpetually. I suspect that there are people who are the same way on message boards.

The first time I signed up for a board, it was one quite a bit larger than this one and I felt as intimidated as I did my first day of college. I'd gone from a small, rural, all-white high school to a University with 30,000 students of a variety of ethnicities and backgrounds, and it was immensely intimidating. I let that intimidation keep me from fully engaging everything available, and never had the college experience most look forward to.

A community is partly what you take from it, and partly what you add to it. Don't worry about the latter; if you participate such that you're getting feedback and having conversations and getting something out of this place in that way, you'll be adding to it without even knowing.

Gilda