JPF Home Page Forums General Messages New Member Introductions & Helping Hands No replies to your posting?

I operate a small number of business related forums, and stumbled on this information, which I tailored and augmented for this community.

BTW, did you know that forums such as this are still more popular than Facebook, Twitter, Blogs etc???

According to the pros, there are several reasons for no replies.

1) Your post is well-written and needs no follow-up commentary.
2) Your post is awful and no one wants to waste the energy or bandwidth to even point this out.
3) No one read the post, for whatever reason.
4) No one understood the post, but won't ask for clarification, for whatever reason.
5) No one cares about the post, for whatever reason.
6) Writing a good reply would require too much time, which the reader does not have
7) The reader does not feel qualified to comment.
8) The reader is simply lurking and looking for ideas, thoughts, inspiration etc.
9) The poster has knowingly or unknowingly alienated the community via some violation of formal or informal rules
10)The poster has demonstrated they do not conform to formal or informal expectations.

It also may be that the forum doesn't get much traffic. I belong to a small SEO forum. It's hard to get an answer to a question. You would think that the moderator would at least chime in.
The group also may be a clique and rarely respond to outsiders with few posts.

Yes I was looking for additions to the list. I know we've had folks here leave because of this frustration. Thanks for chiming in.

John,

Another one might be that the post has just been beaten to death. To me it seems like there are some subjects that just pop up and you want to go "Oh God not again!" The poster might be new or just not have seen one before, but if you are around any amount of time to anything with new people joining all the time, it may be that the subject has just run it's course in many people's minds.

MAB

I've noticed here that quite a few people look at posts but few respond in many cases-
Especially when it comes to song/lyric submissions-the number of lookers is usually far greater than the actual crits posted-
Tim

I like it when here it says I've had say, 100 views, then soundclick or whatever site says I've had 3 plays for that song.

MAB, LOL!! too true.

Another one:

* - The poster failed to ASK A QUESTION, which may initiate comments, and indicate the desire for a response.

I believe #10 is the one most common around here.


We get a lot of the 1-post "spam and disappear" types.

We get a lot of posts up for reviews who do not go and review others as clearly requested in many places on the board.

Tim -- that's also common here, as MANY "viewers" are lurkers just reading along who don't comment, aren't logged in, or don't have an account.

I have {{ahem}} bumped my own Zero Reply topics before, answering myself, and sometimes that gets the thing going.
Sometimes it doesn't, but I don't mind talking to myself, shoot I do that all day long anyway

Therefore - another possibility -

* - no one wants to "go first"

...may sometimes be a factor.

Linda

I should add that while I utterly HATED the Facebook "Like" button when they first rolled that out, NOW I LOVE IT, because when I have no "comment" to make but enjoyed the post or just want to give a thumbs-up -- I click "like" and that person knows:

I read this post
I liked what you had to say
I agree

...it's a handy-dandy way to give feedback in a hurry.

There are lyrics here I could do that for (and posts).
Especially on things not asking for critique, OR posts that are just "Yeah! You said it!!" but I don't really have anything to add to it.

Linda

So..... I wonder what would happen if I just typed "Like" as a response here to lyrics/MP3s... LOL

People not on Facebook wouldn't get it.




Could save me some time though! haha!
Linda

Like

LIKE ! ! I totally agree Linda !

I vote against "Like" here. It is just too impersonal and has no depth -- some kind of depth is needed for song reviewing.

7) The reader does not feel qualified to comment.

That's me in many cases. Although I have written many, many lyrics, I have no formal training other than High School English. Who am I to tell others what they need to do to make the song better? In some cases, I do try my best to help, but always offer the 'in my opinion' disclaimer. Also, I think other people do not want to respond to posts because they do not want to offend the writer.

8) The reader is simply lurking and looking for ideas, thoughts, inspiration etc.

Or complete songs they can take and alter slightly to make 'their own'.

Some of the reasons I don't respond to some posts...

I read the lyrics, but I cannot get a beat in my mind as to how it goes or flows, so I get confused and lose interest. I think posters indicating a genre or timing would make it easier for many people to get a sense of how the tune is supposed to sound. (then again adding an audio file link would be best).

The format is not indicated so I don't know what is the verse, chorus, bridge, etc...

The lyric is massively long. I personally am able to come to the site from time to time (I wish I could spend more) and can't spend a lot of time on 1 piece. I like to read as many as possible.

In my opinion...

I think some people click just to see who posted and then continue on or quit based on whether it is someone they follow. I usually post my name in the heading so people can either ignore my post or check it out without wondering who it is.

Also there are so many lyricists here, they may just want to read the words rather than listen to the song. I am thinking about posting my future songs without lyrics so the reader has to listen if he/she is interested.

I think most are just lurking around, and don't want to get in trouble. Foras can get too demanding, when there are all sorts of demands or expectations before you can plunge in and write a post.

We need to be able to say "fart" to each other, before we get to "tart", in order to establish a safe space for dialogue :-)

So, I think by allowing the babble, we actually get to know each other better, and we get to the more serious stuff (if that's what we want).

I LIKE Linda's Idea...since, when ya get 50 "Lookers" and maybe TWO Posts (one..your Reply)..ya DO kinda-wonder if ya "earned" those little Flames that pop outta the side...

Maybe you didn't get a Post because ya had a NON-Interesting or CLICHE Hook posted that couldn't compete-well with "The Competition."

Maybe you've established a Reputation for mostly-penning "Downer" or "Attitude" Songs...

Maybe your Grammar..Punctuation..Rhyming..(Using Too-Damn Many Capital Letters?)..whatever...turns most folks off...

Note to Brother Colin: Maybe your song Sounds Fine, but I can't grab ALL the lyrics to it/don't wanna sound stupid when I make ya a Sug...

Oh..here's one: Maybe your LYRIC only sounds GOOD when there's MUSIC behind it...& you don't have any...

I think Good Ol' Reason #6 is the Biggest of "The Reasons".

Nice Thread, Brother Burley!
Best Wishes, Big Guy-Hug,
Stan

Hell Coalminer, I don't know how many lyric I read and did not realize there was a recording, some make it clear and some don't, I know my lyric is not perfect and love to get it right when someone speaks up and of course it makes sense to me, however, I have a pretty thick skull especially when I'm in a hurry because I'm busy with work or the wife or just plain folk'd out, folk'd up,folk'd over, folk'd with, over folk'd, under folk'd or just plain folk'd. So like Stan I'll say "JUST FOLK IT" and go with #6. (c) 2011 Robert Wynn. Folk'rs.

I love the idea of a "like" button for here...sometimes it's weird when your song gets 140 views and only 40 comments. It would be more comforting if you at least had some "likes" in addition to all the comments. That way, you at least know your song doesn't suck, people were just too busy to comment on it!

There were a few songs over the time I've been here that were posted that quite frankly, IMO, were badly written, monotone, and poor instrumentation. I didn't comment on them because I didn't want to hurt the person's feelings, but I also noticed no one else would comment either. So if you have quite a lot of views, and NO comments, your song might need a good bit of work. It's really hard to give constructive criticism on something that is so distasteful and hard on the ears, there's really no way to possibly sound kind, if you're being completely honest. And there are people who take ANY crits as an attack, even if they're put in the nicest way.

As far as subjects, like in the General Messages Forum for example, sometimes someone posts something that no one knows the answer to, therefore, lots of views, no posts. And that's okay, doesn't mean no one cares, it just means the subject matter is so obscure no one can relate to it.

We have a topic rating feature.. most people were against using it though because they didn't want people's feelings hurt.

There is no "like" feature and never will be.. it's a patented feature.

As for me, I have lot to say but for now number 6 applies.

= )

Brian

Good comprehensive list being built here.

Hope people find it useful. I remember people lamenting the fact no one was looking at their stuff, and they took it quite personally.

This says discussion points out that it is usually something else entirely

Focus is everything for each of us, otherwise we couldn't eat and pay the bills, I do enjoy the topics as much as I possibly can and more than I deserve as my lady would like to remind me. Thanks everybody!

Also, have you ever googled yourself and found that your posts here show up? They also have a "cached" snapshot of the posting... That was made by a 'bot' which trolls the internet constantly seeking out content which keep the search engines up-to-date with the latest info... There are probably millions of 'em too... I'm sure several of your 'views' can be attributed to those as well. And they ain't leaving reviews

I want a Dislike button in Facebook.

I have a creative way around that, Mark... (probably already been done by someone) but create a facebook profile under the name 'nobody'... then 'like' everything you actually dislike... (as long as you are the only one to 'like' the said item, beneath the item it will read 'nobody likes this')

Like - to the dislike button

Like - to IdeaGuy's idea

LOL

Ahhhhhhhhhhh PATENTS!

Well --------- maybe we can all "improve" just saying "I liked it." When we do, but have nothing else to say?

And improve on the topic ratings.

I have never been sure how to "rate" a topic... is it the initial post or the whole thread??

Guidelines.... Here's a thought?

May we establish a guideline to, when reviewing on MP3 or Lyric Boards, to give the piece a rating?

Uh.... except that'd make the 1-stars feel bad... and it's all shades of the Lorax again isn't it.... LOL

Well - maybe I will give out 4, 5 stars when I really really like it.

I'll get better at just saying "liked it."

Like Polly, I don't like saying "didn't like it." or "bleeeeh" or "my eyes glazed over by the end of the first verse sorry" or "wow I had to turn that off whew"


LOL

I like to keep my Simon Cowell had put away in the back of the closet.

Bad experiences in college giving "too honest" reviews to others in writing classes. I made people cry. Then when it was my turn at bat they sure as **** made sure to make ME cry.

No need to go through that again.

Not everyone is shooting for chart hits. Some are just having fun & enjoying being part of the beauty that is Music.

That said it's safe to say that regardless of skill/talent level, everyone is trying their best.

Whether we're creating 6-year old fingerpaintings or established Picasso, Michaelangelo masterpieces.

And all art is subjective -- not everyone enjoys Picasso either ...but there's no doubt of his genius.


Linda


PS I am LOOPY tired today, I have no idea if any of the above makes any sense at all............. yeeeeeeek.

dislike = IdeaGuys' avatar --- LOL

The sexiest JPF man alive contest is WAY over!!
Can you please put on a shirt now?

ROFLMBO

Linda

please, no ratings. If you like the song, leave a comment. If you don't like it, leave a suggestion for improvement.

Sorry Linda... I forget the effect I can have on women...It's really a burden being SOOOO DANNGG SSSSEEEXXXYYY! It's a good thing you can't hear my lilting brogue!

I'll try to tone it down soon

This site has such a comprehensive history, which can be utilized through the search feature, that I'm always afraid of typing something that has been typed before. For example, someone may have typed this already. So I'll stop now.

Dear Idea Man...Man you got to get a new image here...this made me laugh !!!

Okay we all agree you are the sexiest man alive LOL

Sandy

Hey John,

Nope, you got it wrong.

It's just that no-one likes you......you're boring...... no-one loves you,.... you were adopted...... and only because you were the last of the litter. ( as my kids say )

Now you can sit at the bottom of the garden and eat worms. Well, that's what I do when no-one replies.

cheers, niteshift

Nope, not the last of the litter,... in fact,
I was found in a garbage can
So I became a peculiar man
I gotta be talked to
I gotta be seen
You know it grabbed a hold of me
and it wont release
ahh please
word are important to me

Cool I like creative rebellion!!