Message Boarding [Archive] - QLC Message Boards

Winter Storm

02-24-2005, 09:27 AM

Does anyone else here know people that have never been on a message board, can't understand why people do it or don't like them. I swear I am the only person I know that are on these things and nobody can understand what is so great about them.

Half of the time people have never heard of them or say it's a waste of time. My one friend thinks they're not helpful and my other guy friend just can't sit and read through other people's responses or take the time to reply to something, so I'm the only person I know that is into this.

It's almost of if it takes a certain type of person to get into this. One that 1) likes to read, 2) likes to write, 3) can verbally express feelings, 4) is open-minded enough to read others feedback and 5) actually wants or values the opinions of others.

I've found these boards so valuable that I don't get why so many people don't get them. You can literally discuss any minute thing on your mind and people will jump in with their thoughts and insights. I mean where else can you do that?

pisces2473

02-24-2005, 09:32 AM

I completely agree with everything you said. :)

ErLeCa

02-24-2005, 09:36 AM

I have to agree too. Even my boyfriend who's so into computers doesn't go on to message boards. I think it has to do with number 1. He doesn't like to read all that much. Whereas I love to read and I have a ton of time (mostly at work when it's slow) to read through them and respond when I feel I can contribute. They're great.

wordsmith

02-24-2005, 09:48 AM

I totally have noticed this, too, winter. I think you're right in that messageboards appeal most to a pretty specific population...highly verbal people who are somewhat introspective and analytical, and, uh, happen to have lots of computer time at their disposal. It's also people who are generally super interested in feedback from as many sources as possible. Sometimes I think of QLC as an interactive advice column.

My graphic designer at work is a hardcore techie sort, and I figured she probably was a person who frequented messageboards. I was surprised when we were talking about it one night, and she was all, "I just don't GET the appeal of messageboards." She doesn't see the point at all. But, then, she's fairly opinionated, and the sort where she's not cool with her opinion being challenged, so I think she has a lower need for feedback than a lot of other people. I think she'd just get ticked off and frustrated on a messageboard. Whereas it totally matches my personality.

Tayl405

02-24-2005, 09:49 AM

Desiderata

02-24-2005, 09:52 AM

I always just say "some friends I was talking to online" can't be bothered to explain to most people WHAT a message board is, let alone how it works, etc. Just easier this way. And like you said, people will just dismiss it, and there's so much valuable info I get from here, I want to share it with others

wordsmith

02-24-2005, 09:55 AM

For me, I just leave it at "My friend said blah blah blah," because I can't be bothered explaining or defending online interaction. People who don't do it just won't get it.

Winter Storm

02-24-2005, 09:55 AM

I agree as well...it's funny, because sometimes I'll want to mention something that's been discussed on here and I don't know how to phrase it. It's almost like people don't take me seriously if say we discuess it on QLC. Like I'll say, "I was having a discussion today..." and they'll say "with who?" and then when I respond "on QLC" (to those who know what it is) they suddenly lose interest. It's so frustrating! Esp. since so many of the people who do that, would really enjoy the site!

Same thing here. I'll often say 'I was talking to some people about...' and when they say who and I tell them from a message board, I get weird looks. People really don't get how much info you can attain from these sites. I probably chat with you guys as much as if not more than 'real-life' people, but then again I'm one of those that's ALWAYS on a computer too.

ErLeCa

02-24-2005, 10:12 AM

I usually don't get looks because the people I usually talk to about it understand. For instance, my coworker. I'll be sitting here reading a thread that happens to be funny and when I can't help but laugh she'll ask if I'm reading something on the board! She has boards that she has joined too so she completely understands.

coll214

02-24-2005, 10:42 AM

LOL, now when i say something like i was having a discussion today w/ someone, they all just roll their eyes b/c they know it's from a messageboard. I've had a few friends who've looked here, but they say they can't be bothered w/ it... and don't get how so many people have time to look during the day b/c they've never had a job w/ a certain kind of downtime. Which is fine by me!! And the rest have no clue what they even are, so i'll just say a friend; just makes things easier!

Tayl405

02-24-2005, 10:47 AM

There are plenty of people who I tried not to even mention what QLC is to because I don't want them reading my posts. But everyone else, I couldn't care less.

Irish79

02-24-2005, 11:10 AM

This is the first message board I've ever used, and I don't know any other "real life" people who use mb's at all. It took me a while to figure it out, and I still don't do quotes right half the time, but oh well! :huge:

biodork

02-24-2005, 11:16 AM

Yeah also my first message board, and im definitely addicted. Now i have to find time to alternate between here and video games :p

Kitty

02-24-2005, 11:27 AM

I have always loved online chatting and message boarding. The problem is that it is super hard to find good message boards. I used to go to this one for the longest time until I realized that the people there just weren't very nice and that when it came down to it I wasn't really friends with anyone there (although I did meet one person from that board that became a real life close friend, so I guess it was all worth it).

I've noticed that in general a lot of message boards are just places for people to get in fights and insult each other, so I enjoy the "support" aspect of this board.

coll214

02-24-2005, 11:37 AM

Sometimes I see this place as the support I never knew I needed. Sometimes it's just easier to mention something on here than to ppl in 'real life' because I know i'll get honest opinions, and that what i'm trying to say is actually being heard. Not to mention it's just freaking addicting.

biodork

02-24-2005, 11:39 AM

Its also getting unbiased opinions from people who don't know you. Sometimes I feel like friends just tell me what I want to hear rather than what I need to.

cornflakegirl

03-01-2005, 10:21 PM

I agree as well...it's funny, because sometimes I'll want to mention something that's been discussed on here and I don't know how to phrase it. It's almost like people don't take me seriously if say we discuess it on QLC. Like I'll say, "I was having a discussion today..." and they'll say "with who?" and then when I respond "on QLC" (to those who know what it is) they suddenly lose interest. It's so frustrating! Esp. since so many of the people who do that, would really enjoy the site!

bugsey gave me some recommendations for nyc restaurants. my mom kept asking "now where did you hear about this place". & then i had to tell some random people we met at a bar. yeah, i should just stick to a friend said . . .

try telling people that you met your bf on a message board. that's always fun

mishl982

03-01-2005, 10:54 PM

Some of my friends quite don't get the fascination of message boards. Before I found qlc.com I tried starting up one for me and all my friends who were also bored at work - it didn't work out so well.

I'll usually say "a friend said..." when I mention something off of qlc, but some friends know that I am referring to this website. They see right through me!

wordsmith

03-01-2005, 11:07 PM

pisces2473

03-01-2005, 11:54 PM

try telling people that you met your bf on a message board. that's always fun
Hehehe...so it's true...I was right... :)

Well, perhaps you and Shimmer can commiserate over what you tell people.

But yeah, I run into problems w/ the parentals...another board I'm on (it's much smaller, fans of this band that I talk about too much but anyway) we decided to have a baby pic week. I'm going through my pics at my parents' house and my mom's like, "Is it for work???" "No, mom." "Are you giving some to Chris?" "NO." Finally I told her I needed to show them to my friend Andrea. Jesus woman. LET. IT. GO. My mom's met Coll, and I still don't think she totally gets how we met. She knows we work at the same place, lol. At least she was okay with me meeting boys on the internet.

And yeah, I wouldn't like my real life friends on something like this...although my former friend (yes, THAT girl) joined once to post to someone who was suicidal. Upon her bitchy email, I banned her. HAHA Don't fuck with the moderator. And another friend from college reads the boards occasionally but she's cool :)

and1grad

03-02-2005, 02:15 AM

...another board I'm on (it's much smaller, fans of this band that I talk about too much but anyway)...
So...how many posts do you have on this board? Jus wonderin...:evil:

Deadend

03-02-2005, 03:00 AM

I believe my brother's exact words were:

"MESSAGE BOARDS HUH??? OH, so THIS is what you've been doing!! Mark my words, this will TAKE YOUR LIFE AWAY!!!"

Ya ya, whatever, he has a livejournal......

Deadend

03-02-2005, 03:06 AM

try telling people that you met your bf on a message board. that's always fun

Why don't you do what I do and say that you met when you were in europe? :razz:

shimmer728

03-02-2005, 08:02 AM

try telling people that you met your bf on a message board. that's always fun

I understand. It's going on a year later and I still have a tough time telling people how we actually met. I usually say "through a friend," which isn't totally untrue. My evil best friend/former QLC poster arranged a face-to-face meet-up between WB, me and her last spring, and that's what got the ball rolling.

WeirdBrake

03-02-2005, 08:08 AM

Evil FORMER best friend.

shimmer728

03-02-2005, 08:14 AM

Ah, good point.

Winter Storm

03-02-2005, 08:26 AM

I personally wouldn't like a messageboard with my real-life friends. One of my other boards is a private board, and some members have invited real-life friends, but I've never had the desire to do that. Part of the appeal for me is the fresh perspective. And having a place that's "just" mine.

Exactly. I don't like saying what boards I'm on because I don't want my friends joining or reading my posts. I reveal a lot of these boards, some things I don't tell my 'real-life' friends and I enjoy the anonymity and privacy.

biodork

03-02-2005, 08:29 AM

mishl982

03-02-2005, 08:59 AM

For me there's certain friends i definitely wouldn't want reading things I post here (and this actually includes my bf, I need to vent about him from time to time), but I've decided Michelle is ok. :rolleyes:

I'm the one that brought you here!!

I agree with you guys about not wanting to share this board with friends. My other board I tried to create was just a "I'm bored at work, let's post online!" type thing. I wouldn't invite any of my friends to qlc (well Elyse was lucky) because sometimes I vent about them. I like how this is "my" board and my place to vent apart from them.

biodork

03-02-2005, 09:01 AM

I know! I'm sayin that ur ok that's why i decided to post here :huge:

J-girl

03-02-2005, 09:44 AM

I totally have noticed this, too, winter. I think you're right in that messageboards appeal most to a pretty specific population...highly verbal people who are somewhat introspective and analytical, and, uh, happen to have lots of computer time at their disposal

I agree with that. I am currently taking Public Relations classes and everyone openly discusses things that go on message boards and the information absorbed etc. And usually PR people are highly verbal (I am one of the loud mouths in the class).

Also I would never tell any of my friend about QLC. My ex bf got me to start posting on a message board a couple of years ago. Well actually I saw him posting and I used to wonder what the hell it was, so I registered and there was no turning back. But he was the biggest idiot he would post all our arguments etc on there and it got really out of hand cuz the board had a huge population from my region and we knew half the people personally. Things really got out of hand. And if I tried to address shit he posted in person he would say "why do you care its just a message board". JERK!

pisces2473

03-02-2005, 09:59 AM

So...how many posts do you have on this board? Jus wonderin...:evil:
HAHA! I am NOT the #1 poster there...oh wait, am I?

*runs to check*

Nope, I'm #3 there. Out of 32 members.

coll214

03-02-2005, 10:23 AM

My mom's met Coll, and I still don't think she totally gets how we met. She knows we work at the same place, lol. At least she was okay with me meeting boys on the internet.:)
LOL, that's usually how i phrase it... a friend of mine who works in the library... b/c explaining a message board to my father would take until i retire and my mother just thinks it's odd. oh well, their losses! And I hate to say it, but i'm glad my friends don't usually have time to come in here during the day so I know they don't see what i'm posting, not that it isn't stuff they don't already know... sometimes it's just easier to express things here than to them. and i know how they love it when i start saying something like, 'I had a discussion today...' or 'I know other people our age who agree w/ me too...' cue the eye-rolling and the oh brothers... :rolleyes:

Deadend

03-02-2005, 03:08 PM

Evil FORMER best friend.

Oh that sounds like a story to tell.

Anyways, I too would never really talk to my friends about this message boads. My roomates have seen me fooling around with it a few times, but honestly I hit the f11 key whenever I can to prevent shoulder surfing. A few incoherrent mumblings about "QLC" when I was completely loaded was about as close as I got. I got laughed at, but I think that was more or less because I wasn't making any sence at all.

wordsmith

03-02-2005, 04:33 PM

Most of my local friends know I'm a messageboarder, but they're not interested enough to actually check it out themselves. I guess if one of them wandered on to QLC, well, I couldn't really do anything about it, but I wouldn't invite them, either. My other board I post more personal stuff, because it's invite-only and multiple password protected, so it's not possible for anybody to just "happen" onto it, anyway.