Zero Replies <=== :) I know everyone is busy but.....

I wonder how many people fail to post their thoughts and Ideas because they fear being laughed at or ridiculed?

I also wonder if the people that have Zero Replies start thinking self-consciously that....(feel in the blank)

I like going there to see if I could help someone, not that I know anything. But I try to mind the "no hostility" vibe of the forum.

I notice I use "I" quite often, hmmm does that make me self-centered?

Fear of being ridiculed? That use to be me once upon a time. But no more. I'm old enough now that I don't give a s... what people think of me. I decided about 12 years ago that I had thrown enough of my life away being a slave to other people's sensibilities and that now it was my turn. So if you don't like my opinions, how I choose to do something, what I wear, what my house looks like, it's your problem not mine. So now I'll ask questions even if someone else thinks they are dumb ones and I'll try things that others might laugh at. It doesn't bother me because I'm now living for my own life, not other people's.

So go ahead everybody, ask your questions or pose your problems! People are here that will take you seriously and offer help.

Zero replies? Perhaps you've posed a good one! Perhaps no one else has the answer or experience. Maybe there is no one here that the topic pertains to. Award yourself a star for bringing up a good one.

Use of "I"? Guess it depends upon in what context it is being used. If I'm relating my own personal point of view, my own experience, then it makes sense to use "I". On top of that I don't feel that I should be telling anyone how to live their life, how they aught to do something. I no longer accept that from others so I won't impose my rules upon other people either. In my book it's better to go with "I did" than "you should". Self-centered? Heck, we all need to be a bit of that. How else would we get to live our own lives? But if nobody listens to you anymore or they all avoid you, then perchance you're coming on too strong with the self-centered thing.

Mike Feddersen wrote:I wonder how many people fail to post their thoughts and Ideas because they fear being laughed at or ridiculed?

That certainly never stops me; I'm well aware I often talk rubbish
I do avoid answering posts where the op needs important info and I don't know it
especially with technical things like design, fencing, cattle...

Mike Feddersen wrote: I also wonder if the people that have Zero Replies start thinking self-consciously that....(feel in the blank)

I think quite possibly-I know I've felt a bit plaintive when a question (or more likely what I thought iwas insightful, fascinating, whatever but is actually...rubbish)

Mike Feddersen wrote:I try to mind the "no hostility" vibe of the forum

Since 'be nice' is the only rule, it's easy
I'd say asking people with unanswered posts friendly questions that get them to define what they want may well bring more help.
The subject line can make a big difference. Maybe hit 'report' and suggest the staff edit the subject line for clarity?
*Note* the staff do not edit people's actual posts!

Mike Feddersen wrote:I notice I use "I" quite often

I use it constantly. Paul strongly encourages it, partly because it emphasises that we're talking about our own experiences/understandings
Not 'The Truth'.
There's a few thread about it around the place...