Forum etiquette question. When to stop replying.

Does it bother you when you post a reply to someone and they don't respond?

I ask because I never know when it's polite to end the conversation on a forum. When I start a new thread I try to respond to everyone who replies at least once, provided they're responding to me and are on topic and not trolling.
Then they reply and then I reply again.
I can't keep twenty conversations going on forever so I have to stop replying at some point. But I feel guilty, especially if they've written an informative or thoughtful post.

I know if I write a long thought out reply to a discussion and I get ignored then I'm not happy. In fact I'll chase the post author down and steal his cow bell (old Amish saying).
I've been on forums before but they were forums for people my age. It didn't matter so much if you didn't reply because everyone was so busy talking that no one was listening.

Yes yea I know. First world problems. But you know what- I live in the first world. I don't know how to rant about late grain shipments from the red cross.

P.S. Do you guys use the term "OP" for "original post" or "original author" like they do on other forums?

 

It's not an obligation to reply to someone when you're quoted. I usually post only a few replies in one thread to avoid the appearance of trolling. Otherwise you would ruin your reputation on this forum and would not survive here in the long term. Especially beware of name-calling in a heated discussion.

 

People here seem to be understanding it as original post for the most part these days. I don't see any obligation to respond unless a question is asked. But then I'm probably not the nicest poster around.

 

I don't even read responses once the topic/responses bore me, particularly if it relates to the NRA or the AGW cults. You will find quickly that there are posters that will drag conversations out 20 posts if you let them without actually contributing anything. Sometimes I will take people down the garden path for sport, but haven't done that in awhile.

 

I figure why start a discussion if you're not going to reply to the the responses. I never call people names. Well almost never. I called one girl on this forum a "nit" but it wasn't an insult because she is a nit. She talks to herself.

 

Like ThirdTerm says, don't feel obligated. If you feel you have something to say in response, then go for it. Otherwise, let the post stand. Either way, the thread may or may not have legs even without you responding very much. And that's what this format is about, right? Discussions. No one person is obligated to play a significant part, even as the thread starter.

 

You're not nice? Okay then. No birthday cake for you.

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If NRA and cults bother you then why are you in those discussions?

 

Why? Just so people can discuss it, and if it interests you, you can read the thread like everyone else, maybe jump in if you want.

You're over-thinking it all a bit, in my most humble opinion.

 

I know I'm not obligated. I was just curious as to what people thought. This is the first forum I've been on where everyone was much older than I am.
Well except I did spend time on a dating forum which had older people but those guys had ulterior motives so I didn't feel guilty ignoring them.

 

Do you only post with people you agree with? I didn't say I wasn't interested in the issues, but how many thousand "You can pry my gun out of my cold dead hands" or "You are retarded for not believing in our ever changing climate model of the day" posts from the same posters before you don't even need to read their response?

 

I'll decide how much thinking I do

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Ah, okay. I get it.

 

Still looking?

 

Funny you should ask. I just moved to Vegas and left my old boyfriend behind.

Just wait until they fix the picture thingy and I'll upload a pic. I'm thinking of uploading a pic of the ugliest woman I can find. I want to see if I get the same amount of post loves.

 

I use OP for original poster [proper noun]
and op for original post [common noun]

I invented this almost fifteen years ago and do expect royalties.

 

Those are interesting questions. I tend to stop responding when I think I'm starting to be a pain in the arse.


I left that space for someone to say, "that starts about your first post".

Now back to the issue. If I feel I'm and being a bore I leave it alone. I also stop when I haven't got a half decent response and my understanding of a thread has played itself out (also called ).

Sometimes I even acknowledge the white flag thing.

 

Post loves? Что это такое?

 

`
Понятия не имею
.

 

Как дела, соседка моя?

 

`
Let me put it this way, it's -14°C here at about 2:30 AM, CST. Major snowstorm headed this way. Cчастливого Рождества.

 

Depends on the topic and the poster. If the discussion is interesting I will reply. If I am challenged I reply however I am always on the lookout for trolls who just like to waste my time.

 

Heh heh. -15 with the snow already falling where I'm at!

 

Before your OP invention caught on people used TP, as in "Top Poster."
I remember that from the craigist political groups.

 

Oooooh, I thought this was some kind of reference to toilet paper and the quality of my post.

When I first saw LOL, I thought it meant, Lord oh Lord, a statement of regret or shock, because of how I saw it used. So some guy told me his brother had died and I responded LOL... A few days later I realized my mistake

 

"When I feel I'm ... picture of emoji hitting a dog in the nuts..."

I don't get it???

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Oh oh it's a dead horse. Beating a dead horse. I'm in bed using my cell phone. The emojis are tiny. It looks like a tiny upset dog.

 

I see TP, I think toilet paper. OP is what I've seen used elsewhere.