I'm just curious, folks!

pointyearedbastard

Brain in a jar.
How is it that there are ALWAYS at least twenty 'guest' lurkers on this site, but no members logged on...except for the one guy who evidently forgot to ever log off? Have I simply misunderstood the intended purpose of the 'social networking site', foolishly imagining that the idea was to actually COMMUNICATE with each other? OH!, but you can't answer my question, can you? You're not logged on!
 
fear of commitment. 'If I'm a 'registered user' and the site is used by alien terrorists I might get sued'.
too lazy. 'I just want to skim some thoughts, nothing to contribute'.
DHS/NSA monitoring. 'Nothing to see here, move along'.
rival site snooping for ideas. maybe those pesky Subgenius types...
don't want the cookies on their work computers in case the IT people start researching. 'explain, Schumickatelli, why you were on the Vampire Vixens site 438 times last fiscal quarter?'
cruel captors tormenting victims. 'look, you can see all the comments, but gosh darn it, you can't reply! bwahahahaha!'
 
Truly witty responses all, screenersam, but you left out a few:

Physical disability:
"My cats broke all of my fingers so I can't type, but I can still guide and click the mouse with my...nose."

Parental controlling:
"My mommy says that sci-fi is 'of the devil', and I don't want her to find my secret stash of Super Friends!"

Personal lack of confidence:
"I'm afraid that screenersam might reference me as a 'pesky Subgenius type', so I'd better keep quiet."
 
yah, I'm referring to the entities that are afraid to post anything.
pesky Subgenius types, for instance.
(can you tell I'm bitter that they kicked me out? long story. Bob Dobbs is the antibeast!)
 
I've been kicked out of a couple of places myself, Sam...places full of power-crazed, egocentric, psychopathic morons who couldn't bear to hear the truth about themselves and just LOVED hitting that report button! I'm sure that Kevin would prefer it if I refrain from naming names, so just think: Big. Official. Trek.
(I don't know who Bob Dobbs is, but FYI, Colin Krapp is the ACTUAL antibeast!)
 
Touching on a few topics brought up....

As to activity volume, one of the issues that has come up is that for the most part forums have changed a bit to be more niche topic oriented. Part of it is Facebook pages, part of it is "news" blog sites with feedback comments, part of it, I think, is information overload. "Cool Sci-Fi" is an open discussion forum with a slant towards sci-fi but welcomes any conversation on different topics. That is different from many other forums these days that pick a particular niche, such as a movie, TV show, or author, and limit the conversation to just that subject with perhaps an Off Topic section for everything else. In the early days of the web generalization ruled, now it is the exception. I'm not sure what the answer is.

Another aspect slightly different here at Cool Sci-Fi is that we have a more mature average membership age than some other forums. Me personally, I'm in my 40's and I know that most of the authors that take part in our Books forum are also in that range & older. Not all, mind you, but most. That means there aren't a bunch of posts every day about how mean parents are, what school we go to, or looking for relationship advice. We don't do anything here to discourage those types of posts but we do not go out of our way to encourage them either.

When it comes to people speaking their mind, go for it as long as you can express yourself without having to resort to swearing nor having to 'trash' the person whom you might disagree with. As mentioned above, we are nearly all adults here. Speak your mind but be prepared for others who share different views. If somebody is so thin-skinned that they can't handle somebody posting something that is counter to their own views then, well, maybe being on the internet is not really for them. Along those lines if somebody has suggestions for additional forums for topics that might not already be covered just let us know. :smiley:

The account that seems to be always connect is @Watiro -- They are not associated with the site nor have they ever posted in the forums so I have not had a chance to ask them about it. My name is usually seen online as I usually do 'spot checks' when I can from my phone & other devices just to make sure the site is still up & running and no major issues are going on. I might not have time to respond to stuff at the moment but I am usually watching. When I get home or have a few minutes away from work then I'll respond.

Finally, some quick stuff... I only look at "Vampire Vixens" from the comfort of my home laptop :P, I have a dog, no cats, I'm not a conspiracy nut, and I have not visited Subgenius in a very long time. Did I miss anything? :cautious:
 
mmm..no, didn't miss nothing, except maybe the Whedon-directed Doctor Who with Johnny Depp as The Doctor.
(or am I bluffing?)
 
That means there aren't a bunch of posts every day about how mean parents are, what school we go to, or looking for relationship advice. We don't do anything here to discourage those types of posts but we do not go out of our way to encourage them either.

I had to really limit visiting one site I used to try and post on, because of this very thing. That, and there are so many times (less than 20) that you can give the same writing advice on multiple topics before you start wondering if anyone knows how to use a message board. :smiley:

As mentioned above, we are nearly all adults here.
Physically...I wouldn't go so far as to say emotionally...but that may just be me. ;)
 
I had to really limit visiting one site I used to try and post on, because of this very thing. That, and there are so many times (less than 20) that you can give the same writing advice on multiple topics before you start wondering if anyone knows how to use a message board. :smiley:


Physically...I wouldn't go so far as to say emotionally...but that may just be me. ;)


You're not the only one. I will say I'm responsible but never accuse me of being mature. :P
 
Physically...I wouldn't go so far as to say emotionally...but that may just be me. ;)
You're not the only one. I will say I'm responsible but never accuse me of being mature. :P
That makes three of us then. :D I might be bigger & older now but put me in the middle of store with lots of shiny objects and my inner kid reveals himself. When I was 10 it might have been Toys-R-Us, now it is Costco or Best Buy.
 
Sadly, I have to visit Lowe's more often...Best Buy would be nice, but they have horrendous customer service.

Best Buy is for window shopping; the real purchases are done via Amazon Prime. :coffee: The last thing I think I actually bought from there was our TV a few back but next one will be from the local Costco instead. We used to have to drive 25~ miles for Costco, these days there is a new store just a few minutes from the house.

And you reminded that I need to go visit Lowe's or Home Depot to get some more bulk bird food. For the past two mornings there have been a pair of ducks at the bird feeder. o_O
 
Best Buy is for window shopping; the real purchases are done via Amazon Prime. :coffee: The last thing I think I actually bought from there was our TV a few back but next one will be from the local Costco instead. We used to have to drive 25~ miles for Costco, these days there is a new store just a few minutes from the house.

And you reminded that I need to go visit Lowe's or Home Depot to get some more bulk bird food. For the past two mornings there have been a pair of ducks at the bird feeder. o_O


Amazon Prime is my guilty pleasure. Someone needs to start a 12 step program for Amazon addiction. I, of course, would fail miserable but smile while doing it. :D
 
you've probably heard this one...
Somebody in Microsoft got the Borg and the Ferengi mixed up and had the Borg do the marketing and customer service, and the Ferengi do the software.

(did this thread get a bit off track?)
 
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