It's tough being a busy, poor DUer ....

[amandae]

I've been a member since, I think, last Winter. Haven't posted much as you can tell. I'm a mom of three and graduate student as well as a GRA. Not a lot of time. All of those things also contribute to my lack of funds to donate to get that pretty little star next to my name.

Result? My posts go largely ignored. Each time I begin to post, I find I start from the outside of the circle that is DU. And I'm thinking that the absence of a star is not helping me any.

This isn't a pity post ... just a realization I've come to and thought I'd share. I wonder how many other DUers largely lurk and feel as I do ....

[SoCalDem]

1. I have more than my fair share of ZEROS too..

You just have to keep plugging along.. The lounge is a great place to get to know people, and it can't hurt the post count either :evilgrin:

In case I have not already said it... Welcome to DU :hi:

[amandae]

3. Thank you SoCal ....

:hi:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. We all get the big donuts sometimes

But if ot's any consolation I DO remember you from last winter. I know..the clientele seems to turn over fast...as far as the star goes..I know you are a single mom and are in college..you had posted as much before...if you would like a star just let me know and I will be happy to donate on your behalf..it would be my pleasure.

[Skittles]

2. amandae

as someone who has over 15,000 posts, I can say I have NEVER looked for a star as a requirement for ANYTHING on the DU. I'm sure I speak for most of us when I say if you can afford to give, then give. But don't feel bad if you can't and don't think you are being judged!

[amandae]

5. Thank you Skittles ...

when I first started posting here, there were a lot that didn't have stars next to their names. Now it seems as though everyone has one. Hard not to have a small complex. One day I'll be able to contribute, when my degrees finally pay off ... lol ... (translation: repugs out of office and there are jobs out there again).

Thanks again :hi:

[Red_Viking]

7. Plus, I think Skittles is the board "muscle"

From what I read. People like to threaten each other with a good, old-fashioned Skittles ass-whipping.

Gotta love a liberal woman who doesn't take any sh*t.

Rock on!

RV

[Skittles]

17. YES

may I add, anyone who upsets Amandae - I WILL KICK THEIR ASS. :7

[GAspnes]

31. what if someone just tips her over?

Y'know, like cow-tipping? Amandae-tipping? Wait, that's the actress on Stargate.

Please feel welcome, Amandae. I'm another one who never checks whether there's a star or not. There are many fine contributors who contribute time, thought and information instead of money.

[seventhson]

24. Somebody "sponsored" my star

Maddeezmom did.

Maybe someone can sponsor you.

I am broke and busy too, but I like the buzz here...

[WilliamPitt]

47. Ditto. It never occurs to me to look at stars until someone says

"Hey! I got my star!"

:)

[KG]

4. been here for 2 years , 7000 posts and

no star, for KG.

you could start a flame war in GD, or expose the more sordid details of your life daily in the lounge. that always attracts attentions.

or you could continue to post thoughtful replies to which others my be nodding in agreement in front of their CRTs.

either way, keep on postin'. :)

[amandae]

6. Thank you KG ...

:hi:

[trotsky]

8. Star, 1500+ posts, and what has it gotten me?

I've killed more than my fair share of threads. 'Course I've kept a couple of them going as well. ;-)

Just keep pluggin' away. To tell you the honest truth, I don't even notice whether someone has a star or not.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

16. See, and he did all that with an axe stuck in his head, too!

well, I guess someone pulled it out for this picture...

[trotsky]

50. Well, I got better... ;-)

n/t

[Philostopher]

9. Eventually, you'll hit on something,

if you decide to stick with it. I've been around since the summer of 2001 and only broke 1,000 posts yesterday. You're far from alone, in other words. I've been fortunate enough to have been able to contribute for a while, but the star really doesn't make that much difference to most people -- as long as I've been hanging around here, I know there are many reasons people can't or choose not to donate.

I'm an animal volunteer and have a menagerie here, and while I often hold back posting on other things I don't really know much about, I almost always post in animal rights or animal care threads. If you post about things you care about, even if nobody else recognizes your name, at least those who are here who also care about those things will recognize you. When you post something later, often they'll chip in even if nobody else does.

It takes a while to find a niche here. If you don't have time to post ten thousand times every six months (I clearly don't, either), at least you can find others who share your concerns and will jump in when you post about them.

[WWW]

10. Hey sista..

Been a member for at least a year-and-a-half and look at my measly posts. I have two teenagers, work at home (job and regular household responsibilities) and my 78-year-old mother just moved in with us. I have a 13-year-old dog who has taken to peeing in the cellar and five cats and a hamster. My only saving grace is that my computer is in the kitchen. I am cooking dinner as we speak. I really don't have much advise to give, except to say that you are not alone. (And that a $5 pledge will get you a star.) It appears there are about 1000 people who really post regularly and that leaves 32,000 who don't. But I promise if I see a post by you I will stop in to say hi :) okay?

[WWW]

11. come on you guys...make her feel welcome n/t

[Kamika]

12. Lol It's not whether you have a star or not

And I've found that there isn't really a circle here, which I'm very grateful for.. It's just that ppl that posts alot gets noticed.

Certain posts doesn't attract ppl others do..

I've posted posts that I thought I'd get TONS of answers to.. I got maybe 2.. then I posted some opinions about a 3 year old movie and got 40 answers..

And all my "alot of answers" posts was before I got a star

[WWW]

13. Thanks Kamika

I think our friend is probably off line, but let's give her something to blow her socks off tomorrow morning. Keep posting guys..

[brook]

14. Righty-o!

Great idea, WWW. :hi:

Let's give her a DUer welcome to remember!

My first post got me flamed to itty charcoal bits - but I came back for more. I don't post all that much - but it's the first & last place of the day I check out.

Let the *kickage* :kick: begin!

[WWW]

15. Thanks brook and Hi!

This isn't a "How long will this thread go before it dies" thread. This is about someone feeling welcome. Come on eveyone. Just hit reply and say hi! you newbies. (And Brook, I also got humiliated on one my first couple of threads. Very humbling!) But I keep going.

[Bronco69]

18. Hi, and Welcome to DU

You'll notice I don't have a star by my name either. I've been out of work for awhile, and when I can afford it I will contribute.

[nostamj]

19. i have nearly 10,000

and my threads (except, sorta, CARTOONS) drop like lead off GD

(and, if I post to a thread, say goodbye to that one!)

no, post count is not a guarantee any more than the little star is...

keep trying. the post you thought was nothing ends up going over a 100 while your BIG POST sinks without a single comment.

:shrug: such is the internet and such is DU

[populistmom]

20. I understand

I've been here just over a year and it's only been the last three months that I began posting a lot and I'm just barely feeling like I fit in a little. I think I've gotten lucky on a few threads I started, but I don't start a lot of them either. Many just never got off the ground. It gets better over time. Don't worry.

[asjr]

21. new

Welcome to our world Amandae. Glad you are here.

[Swede]

22. You should post more.

Put your two cents in,you'll find it theraputic. Don't worry about the star.

[xultar]

23. I was active, now I'm lurking...why...I think some of the DUers have

lost their fucking minds.

So I lurk and only speak when I must prove a point.

[benddem]

25. Just keep going

No one answers mine either. But I don't have much time to spend on board. Keep trying. :toast:

[many a good man]

26. Hi there, old timer

:hi:
I'm relatively new and I've only posted once, in the Lounge when my dryer broke down. I got a good handful of replies. You should try posting about appliance problems!

Do you really think there is a circle of DU that you can be outside of? Do you mean the star thing? I don't think anyone here gives a crap about stars. I've seen lotsa of the best stuff posted by non-star people. People ignore me just as much now that I have a star as when I didn't have one!

Good luck on yer studies and make sure you raise three good Democrats!

[shirlden]

27. Hi Amandae

Forget the star.....means nothing to most Duers. We are not money people here...we are all leftwingers of one degree or another.
I read many posts that I do not respond too....does not mean the post was not interesting and appreciated. Just keep on comin back...you are welcome here.

:hi:

[proud patriot]

28. Hey welcome to the lounge

Here's to friendship:toast:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

29. i'm nobody ...are you nobody too?

"the mouse of amherst"

[jbm]

32. Hi! nice to meetcha!

I hear what you're saying,but I think there's just soooo much activity at DU that tons of really good stuff winds up getting either missed,or read and appreciated but the reader doesn't always give a response. I've been here since the 2002 elections and I think the record number of responses to one of my posts is like three..lol. (Which is why I choose to believe that the activity is the reason many posts get few responses. :) )

[GreenPartyVoter]

33. Hi Amandae

In answer to your final question, I don't think I get ignored, but that's mainly because of the screen name I have.

You know at least two people are going to pop into any thread I am in, one to get upset over Nader, the other to ask if I am supporting Kucinich. *g*

What are your thoughts on Nov '04? Who do you expect to see on the ballot with Bu$h? (My gut tells me it'll be Dean.)

[Bossy Monkey]

34. Psssssssst... nobody cares whether or not you have a star

For one thing, it's not that noticeable. Just post more often; you'll get the hang of it, or develop a sense of humor about having threads with zero replies. I posted a poll this past week that not only had no replies after nearly an hour, it had no votes! It's here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=462495
It turned out pretty well after I edited the subject line. Remember that you can do so for 59 minutes after posting. Also remember that sometimes it just gets busy around here, and everybody's threads get lost in the shuffle. I've had some of the highest volume threads here ever, but nobody knows me from Adam, and I've had innumerable ones just plummet as well. Don't take it to heart when it happens to you; just have fun and keep posting.

[MUAD_DIB]

35. Welcome amandae!

I don't think that a gold star matters that much if you have something to offer.

Cheers!

-Muad

[Zomby Woof]

36. don't fret about the star

No one here judges you because of that, or post count either. If they do, alert 'em! We don't need those kinds of people laying burdens like that on good people.

The best thing to do is jump right in, as often as possible - eventually you will make new friends. :-)

We all started with zero posts and knew no one once. It can take time, but is worth it.

[RainDog]

37. Hi Amandae

what are you studying?

I sympathize with the mom and studying part...I worked when my (now ex) was in grad school and then went to school when we moved to where I live now.

two weeks into my first semester, I found out I was preggers!

When I did my ugrad thesis, I had my (also ooops!) second child and my thesis advisor used to come over to my house, sit on my toilet, and talk about Jane Austen and Mary Wollstonecraft while my then hub was out of town and while I was giving my one month old a bath.

ah, the joys of the life of leisure...

we've all had posts that sink...more of mine than I would like to admit, but don't let that discourage you.

I'm starting back to school again soon, so I may be asking you for survival tips.

[nuxvomica]

38. Welcome, amandae

I'm sure I've seen your posts cuz your name sounds familiar. Perhaps I've killed a few a of your threads as I have that tendency. I commend you on the challenges you've taken on in your life and will look forward to your future posts as those by someone who writes only when they can squeeze out the time. :hi:

[brook]

39. Keep coming back, Amadea.

Nobody here cares about stars. We're young and we're old , working, studying, getting by one way or another - and we're all connected because we care - about the country and very often, about each other. Your voice counts.

Heck...I might get your nick right soon!

[WWW]

40. kick

kick

[Old and In the Way]

41. Welcome aboard amandae!

Don't feel bad about low post counts or responses. I think I average about 1.345 posts per thread I start....and that includes at least one kick on my part!

[salin]

42. we have all been there

I posted for a long, long time before anyone seemed to notice. The thing is, after awhile, I found a few folks (also newish at the time) with whom we tended to write on the same threads (as in, similar interests) - respond to one another's take on things... sort of slow to build 'familiarity.' Don't feel alone... because in some ways we are each alone, and we are each in a large community.

Kudos to you for keeping up on what goes on (news etc.) on here... while balancing such a very busy (and I imagine demanding) life in the real world. :thumbsup:

[proud patriot]

44. Well put Salin

:hi:

[travisleit01]

43. Welcome Amandae!

And don't worry about not having a star - most people don't even pay attention to that! And as the admins have pointed out before, lots of times it's people with stars who cause the most trouble. But welcome, hope you enjoy it here :)

[Leftist78]

45. I'm a thread killing machine

just watch this thing go down :evilgrin:

I know exactly where you're coming from. There is an insider thing going here. Not that that's a bad thing, but it can be difficult at times. Nothing to do about it really but keep posting and eventually you and me will make it into that coveted DU inner circle. :)

[Lizz612]

46. I've been here since early '01, look how many posts I've got!

And post count doesn't matter, its mostly about what you post, and a little about when. (3 am posts sink pretty fast in the morning.) My star is from a donation of 10 measly bucks, before that I was sponsored. (Shout out to E. G.!) Stars don't matter much either.
And lurking is easy and informative and thats what DU is there for. Some of can contribute more to the conversation, some just think they can :eyes: but ideas are whats important. Ideas that float around, not just online but in the world around you. Meme theory; what you read on here you will spread to people around you and thats the most important part.

Hey! When did I break 400?? Thats weird.

[newyawker99]

48. Hi amandae!

Don't worry about the star. It just indicates that some donated to this site. People aren't judged by the star. They are judged by their opinions. Keep posting. We have all had our share of goose eggs.

Welcome to DU and let your voice be heard! :-)

[Nihil]

49. Yep

I've started to write recently rather than just lurk and nod my head.
There *is* sometimes an impression of being "outside the circle" but
I suspect most of that is down to me (i.e., my interpretation) not
the way in which anyone here has consciously treated me.

I've really appreciated it when someone has replied (or PM'd) to help
sort out a question or misunderstanding so I'm sure that (nearly) all
of the people here are fair-minded, loveable folks who'll only ignore
you (or stomp on you) by accident rather than by design.

Best of luck with your studies: I only managed a degree after many
years as a working+studying Dad - it *can* be done but a little
TLC and support really helps! :-)

Good luck!

Nihil