Why is Writers Digest Forum so low on the Totem Pole?

[rosebud]

I suspect there are a lot more readers out there who lurk at the conversations the regulars have due to a possible fear of being ostracized if they make a comment. I know a lot of times I remain silent and observe the battle brewing in a thread.

[pls]

Two of the worst offenders are no longer with us. Post away, and if someone gets too jiggy, I'll deal with them.

[nhope]

This is the first forum I joined, about six years ago, when there were many more regulars and conversations. I noticed a big change when they opened the other WD forum.

This is my favorite forum because it really does feel like "Cheers". I can always count on an intelligent, well-thought out response, truthful, respectful, and also encouraging when necessary. Most here are around my age and I am more comfortable with that than with the teens and early twenty year olds that populate the majority of certain other forums, who have their futures mapped out and who know "everthing" there is to know about writing <sarcasm>. I like being able to sometimes be a goober and talk about Princess phones and '78s and not have to explain what they are then hear all the insensitive comments surrounding them.

I consider these people my writer friends and am truly grateful that when I need them, they are here for me.

[Pat Pechon]

Two of the worst offenders are no longer with us. Post away, and if someone gets too jiggy, I'll deal with them.

Ask for improvements to this place and TA DA!!!! One of those be careful what you wish for moments. Cool...

[pls]

Two of the worst offenders are no longer with us. Post away, and if someone gets too jiggy, I'll deal with them.

Ask for improvements to this place and TA DA!!!! One of those be careful what you wish for moments. Cool...

Heh, heh. Mad mod powers; ask and ye shall receive.

One was a spammer, and the other tossed a personal attack at him. Neither activities allowed per rules posted by Brian.

[deloughy]

I suspect there are a lot more readers out there who lurk at the conversations the regulars have due to a possible fear of being ostracized if they make a comment. I know a lot of times I remain silent and observe the battle brewing in a thread.

*me*

I think the last time I tried offering someone help, they acted like such a jerk. I said to myself, "That's it, I don't really see a need to offer advice anymore."

People don't have to take my advice, I don't get offended or insulted if someone disagrees with me. It's often the manner in which it is put that annoys me. A simple, "I don't see things the same way," works better than sarcastic comments. I also feel a lot of people have no humility, and that's a huge problem. How are you ever going to learn anything if you already believe you know everything? How can you be a writer (or any artist) and not handle criticism? It's a major part of the job. If I got angry every time someone said something I drew or wrote needed a little bit more effort in some areas, I'd take that advice into consideration and work on it, I wouldn't say, "Well, you obviously don't know what you're talking about," or, "I already write/draw well enough and I don't think I need to fix anything." People always stand to improve.

I'm no expert and I often take advice the more professional people give on here. Some of the people have established credit by knowing what they're talking about, whether they've been published, are teachers, etc. They're also the people whose posts aren't littered with typos and excessive punctuation, or lack or punctuation. They don't confuse they're, their and there (ugh). Those people are why I lurk (so I can still learn), and the rest are why I'm afraid to comment most of the time.

As far as it being low on the totem pole, I couldn't care less. I like that there are some people who stick around. It's more personal without thousands of people posting all the time. I don't think it has to do with arguing or people not knowing what they're talking about, because that happens on every forum. I'm not sure why there aren't more people on here, but I'm fine just as it is.

@Paul: Is Edward really banned? Because the time frame doesn't add up. Your comment that he was banned was posted almost a day before he posted a new thread.

[pls]

… @Paul: Is Edward really banned? Because the time frame doesn't add up. Your comment that he was banned was posted almost a day before he posted a new thread.

Without naming names … I gave someone a 30-day timeout (30-day ban) just before the-person-whom-you-named departed. And for the record, I've never posted names of those who have merited action, except maybe for outsiders who post spam about Asian escorts and land deals and such, who need to be bound securely to their PC and then made to walk the plank in shark-infested waters.

[TerryRodgers]

… @Paul: Is Edward really banned? Because the time frame doesn't add up. Your comment that he was banned was posted almost a day before he posted a new thread.

Without naming names … I gave someone a 30-day timeout (30-day ban) just before the-person-whom-you-named departed. And for the record, I've never posted names of those who have merited action, except maybe for outsiders who post spam about Asian escorts and land deals and such, who need to be bound securely to their PC and then made to walk the plank in shark-infested waters.

Now why did you have to go and banned Asian escorts. Now I'll never . . .

I was wondering how long it would take. I believe there are two reasons activity on the board has eased. One is the other forum soon to be closed down and the other was he who we shall not name who seems to have a knack for getting threads locked.

[pls]

… I was wondering how long it would take. I believe there are two reasons activity on the board has eased. One is the other forum soon to be closed down and the other was he who we shall not name who seems to have a knack for getting threads locked.

I am wa-a-ay too patient, Terry; I tend to lock instead of ban. Works with some, not with all.

[rosebud]

@deloughy - The greatest advise I received from a poster was from someone who said they looked in on my post just because it was me. She went on to say she could barely get through the first paragraph because of the run on sentences. That was a very helpful comment, and it was from someone I respected. So I always try to remain open, and if I ask for a critique I hope to get a variety of opinions. They always help. JMO