Dealing With Post Posting Depression

[unionworks]

Am I the only one? Does anyone else feel bummed out and depressed, when you put a fair amount of research and effort into an op and it just falls like a rock, with maybe one response? Or when you post an op that is so funny it makes YOU laugh, but no one else? Is there a lonelier feeling in the world? Does it make you want to put "Fool On the Hill" on your turntable and bury your face in your pillow? Am I crazy?

[pipi_k]

1. This is one main reason

why I have not...and may not...ever post an OP.

If it sank without replies, or got negative attention, I would feel awful.

As it is, I see some of the really funny responses of other DUers and feel envious, so I'll think of something I think is hilarious. I'm laughing like hell as I post, and...

nothing.

Depressing.

Yeah...you're not alone.

[unionworks]

2. Aw,Pipi

You go ahead and post an op right here in the lounge. I promise I will post on it 20 times if nobody else does!

[pipi_k]

6. One day...

I may get brave enough to do that...

thank you!

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. What's worse is when you get a ton of views and no replies.

It's like being a street performer who gets mugged and everybody is looking but just hurrying along their way and trying not to get involved.

[unionworks]

4. you are psychic!

Over 200 views and 1 reply!!!

[unionworks]

5. 243 views

At last count and 1 reply. There was a song by Joni Mitchell, I think it was "Playin' real good for free" that addresses what you are talking about.

[pipi_k]

7. I know, huh...

I always wonder what's up with that...

Is the OP so good people can't think of anything else to add...

or do people think it's so bad they don't want to get involved.

I always feel bad for people whose OPs don't get a reply.

[unionworks]

9. Pipi, I meant what I said

If I ever see an op of yours, count on me.

[pipi_k]

21. Are you in the crafting group?

I almost thought of posting an OP in there...

[unionworks]

26. Haven't made it there yet

I'm more of a "car forums" type. What kind of crafting do you like? I'll drop in there once in a while to see if you posted yet!

[Wait Wut]

15. I do that.

But, I'll try to at least give some input. Other times, I'm just not sure what exactly to say. If it's a subject I'm on the fence about, especially. Funny threads, I'll at least say "something" if no one else has. I often feel a rec is better than one of a hundred "+1"s, though.

Most of the time I'm here, I'm at work. My work computer is ANCIENT, so I can't rec things.

[dimbear]

8. You can tell just from my facial expression that I'm laughing fit to kill.

Big advantage of the internet.

Feedback, the comedians call it.

[unionworks]

10. "He never listens to them

...he knows that they're the fools
They don't like him,
The fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
Sees the eyes in his head
Sees the world spinning round"

[UnrepentantLiberal]

11. It does make you feel like you got a rimshot

and dead silence from the audience.

[MiddleFingerMom]

12. Never.

.
.
.

.
.
.

[unionworks]

13. "I heard the sound

...of the clown
Who cried in the alley"...

[unionworks]

14. two seperate op's

One humorous, one dead serious. The humorous one - over 240 views, one reply. The serious one - over 140 views, 1 reply. Recs on both less than 5. Damn.

[Curmudgeoness]

16. I'm with pipi_k on this issue.

I rarely have posted an OP. And I have had them go both ways---drop like a rock and lots of replies. But I still have that feeling of failure when they drop----and I hate that feeling.

I just had to listen to Fool on the Hill.

But guess what, this is not one of those dead posts.

[unionworks]

17. thanks so much

....and I think we are both correct for loving that song!

[nolabear]

18. It's like the cool kids only talk to one another. I feel ya.

And man, The Fool on the Hill. Perfect. But here's another one to inspire you when that feeling hits:

[libodem]

19. Now you know why you don't see any

OP's from me. I also feel like a frequent threadkill, too.

[unionworks]

27. never saw any threadkilling properties

...in your posts!

[libodem]

32. Thanks

Friend.

[Phentex]

20. Only one kind of post makes me feel this way...

Milestone threads.

People say they like them. They say they miss them. But do they take the time to say congrats or happy birthday? No. And sometimes it feels hurtful (not to me but to the milestoner.)

I'm not cryin' and I'll keep tryin' but this is what I have noticed.

[fadedrose]

22. I always take it personal and feel bad

DU is not for wimps.....

But I never learn. I keep posting brilliant things and being ignored. Next thing you know, I'll need therapy all because of these damned boards.

[Chan790]

23. Used to, then someone explained it to me.

1.)Tl;dr. Too long; didn't read. when you write a really long post, many people won't read it. So...I always include a "tl;dr" upfront, a one-sentence summary or brief of the article. Even people who won't read the long post will debate the merits of your argument after reading the tl;dr. I mean they're wrong and usually arguing points I already refuted which they'd know if they'd read the whole thing...at that point, you've got them engaged at least.

2.)It's really hard to argue, debate or discuss a long, well-reasoned, well-researched post with references to data and facts. One that addresses and refutes counter-argumentation. What are they going to say? "Get a brain, moran! You and Einstein are wrong! E does not equal MC²!" I rarely write long pieces on DU, I mean I'm a writer...I'm not in the habits of giving away my labor for free. But when I do wrote long pieces, I tend to write long pieces that reference back to facts and which completely explore an issue; I was a parliamentary debate champion in college, I do some freelance work as a journalist...I enjoy mentally-dominating people, I'm not in the habit of posting half-assed long posts. From what I've noticed, neither are you. It's hard to get responses on something that is complete or near-complete...rebuttal means having write an equally well-researched and well-cited response and that's more effort than most people want to put in. They'd rather just start a new thread to post their wrongheaded opinion and pretend they never saw yours. So, a lack of responses means either nobody disagrees with you or more-likely...you're right and the partisans who hold contrary opinions don't want to get their asses handed to them or have to admit they're wrong. In this case, lack-of-responses is a mark of honor.

3.) It's hard to get responses on humorous stand-alone OPs. I mean I click, I view, I laugh, I move on. If you want responses, challenge your readers with audience response. Ask me something, court a response, engage your audience. Observe Applegrove...s/he's a master of it and should have Barbara Walters' job. They ask funny or thought-provoking questions and include their answers in the OP.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

24. That post needed a Tl;dr

[Chan790]

25. So don't read it.

Tl;dr: Smartass!

[HappyMe]

28. I rarely have anything of importance to say.

Let alone be amusing or smart enough to start an OP in the Lounge or GD.

So far, none have sickened or even croaked from my lack of OPs.

[unionworks]

29. I was searching frantically

All over DU for an OP by you last night! Suddenly I felt sickened at not finding one. The room started spinning and I fell over the bed.

[HappyMe]

30. lol! Aw crap!

MEDIC!!! MAN DOWN!

At least you fell onto the bed.

[unionworks]

31. the boisterous copulation

...of the couple in the motelroom next to me woke me at 6:30 a.m.. I think that is the only thing that saved me.

[HappyMe]

34. We will try to keep noise level down next time.

Our apologies.




edited to fix smiley mistake

[unionworks]

35. I owe you great thanks

You inspired me to write a new op in the lounge! I don't think you'll have any trouble finding it.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

33. Hey, this OP is a big hit.

Oh irony...

[Doc Holliday]

36. To give a semi-serious reply

to an OP which seems to be at least tongue-in-cheek, I imagine it depends on why one posts. As a Method actor might ask, "What's my motivation here?"

If you're looking for "applause", DU is in my experience a notoriously tough room. If you're simply doing it for the pleasure of throwing an idea out there or to share information, "applause" shouldn't be a factor.