Does it help to know how others are "feeling" each day?

[OneGrassRoot]

Many of us often post how we're feeling, wondering if others are experiencing the same emotions -- or situations.

This is something that has intrigued me for a long time, and I've previously tried to use the poll feature here at DU to give ASAHers a place to weigh in, and to see if there is something at least in our micro collective regarding how we're feeling (physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually).

The poll feature here is rather limited, as I feel it's important to address how we are feeling in different ways (physical, emotional, etc.), so I created a setup elsewhere to gauge things, but I didn't get much of a response, so I assumed I was the only one interested in getting a lot of people to respond and track the responses -- simply to be able to see how others are feeling.

I haven't researched it in quite a while, but at least as of a year ago I couldn't find anything similar available; I don't like to reinvent the wheel, so I try to find what I want before creating it myself...lol.

Of course, there's the Global Consciousness Project, but that's different: http://noosphere.princeton.edu/

Here's what I initially created, but if there is an interest, I'd get a better system set up according to what others feel would be of value.

http://www.wishadoo.org/pems-survey-page/

Just wondering how others feel about gathering such anonymous data and if it would be helpful -- both in the immediate moment and to reflect upon later on? Every time I see someone post here, or anywhere for that matter, saying how they're feeling and wondering if others feel the same, I think of this and how helpful it could be.

But that's just me. We all know by now that I'm odd.

:)

[Howler]

1. OneGrassRoot

I think it a capital idea.
I bookmarked your link.
Its very comforting to touch bases with other peoples experiences and feelings and seeing if there seems to be a more universal pattern or connection directly related to what an individual person is going through.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Hi, Stranger!

I likely won't do anything with it any time soon since not many are interested, but I'll be sure to let you know if I do decide to pick up the ball. What I'll instead probably do is ask this question periodically to see if interest in such a project increases. It doesn't do much good unless a decent amount of people participate so we can get a good sampling.

Thanks though! It's very nice to see you again!

:hug:

[SheilaT]

3. For me, no. In fact, I'm constantly amazed when I

see threads here where someone talks about feeling bad or depressed, or something bad has happened. I keep on wondering what that's all about. But then, I tend to be consistently optimistic and assume the best of everyone and everything. I honestly believe that if you spend your energy focusing on what's gone wrong, that's all you'll be able to see in your life.

[OneGrassRoot]

4. Hmmm.....that's interesting

I honestly believe that if you spend your energy focusing on what's gone wrong, that's all you'll be able to see in your life.

I couldn't agree more, and what I'm asking about doesn't focus on negativity, or positivity; at least, that's not my intention. It's simply a poll to reflect how a group of people are feeling each day, on different levels, to see if there is any sort of trend or pattern.

So you think that if someone sees a poll which indicates that others are having a rougher than usual day (no details given), that it may make them down or negative?

Conversely, if someone is influenced by others' moods, if they see a poll that shows others are in a good mood that day, it could lift them.

:shrug:

:hi:


Oy, rough, rough day in DU-Land and the world at large.

Sweet dreams, Everyone.

[SheilaT]

5. For some people, yes. For others, no.

I can really only speak for myself, and I know if I see a poll where a bunch of people are having a negative day, and I'm not, I just sort of wonder if I'm the weird one. Especially here, when a bunch of people chime in with reports of their negative experiences.

I'm also very apt to forget the down times, and recall the good stuff.

If I'm around others who are in a crabby mood, the main way it can affect me is for me to think, "Jeez, that person should lighten up." I don't usually take on a down or negative mood from someone else.

And are you expecting that such a poll would show an overwhelming consensus in one direction or another? I'm inclined to think that a good poll with actual random sampling, will show a large range of emotions on any given day. It could certainly be interesting to do and see what comes up.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. Gotcha

Thanks for explaining. :)

Yeah, we'd all probably look upon it differently. My initial reason for even thinking of this, and wanting such a tool myself, personally, is that if my day starts off with me in a very specific mood for no particular reason, I'm curious if others are experiencing the same thing.

I often wonder if there's a certain emotional "wave" going on in the world. (I think I'm more interested in the emotional aspect, even though I'd break it down by physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.)

Thanks again, SheilaT. :hug:

[get the red out]

8. "emotional wave"

I like looking at things like this. My sister and I both noted that one week apart we were both raged at by people we didn't know for no good reason and it led us to wonder if something was up in the world at large during this time.

Sometimes it helps me sort things out if there are just numerous people around me having stuff suddenly hit them.

To be honest, I just realized that I had a sense of dread for no reason on Monday morning and that was the day my sister was raged on at her workplace by a tea partier who obviously (by things he said to her and her staff) just wanted to find some state employees to treat like dirt that day. See, I just sorted that out!

[Why Syzygy]

9. I wonder how

an emotional tag cloud would work for what you have in mind.

http://www.wordle.net/

Sorry I usually look at the nuts and bolts of your questions/comments :silly:

It might be fun to see a tag cloud and click over to short (twitter-ish size) comments linked to those emotions, typed in
by participants. It might have some drawbacks for time sensitivity. But there very well could be a way to refresh it
after a given time limit (day/week/month).

There was something else on my mind; but now there isn't. (drat! 'mature' brain)

edit to add link:
http://affirmyourlife.blogspot.com/2009/07/emotion-affirmations.html

[OneGrassRoot]

10. THAT IS SUCH A BRILLIANT IDEA!!!!

I LOVE that, Why Syzygy!!

:bounce: (obviously it doesn't take much to excite me; but geeky things, even though I'm not a techie, excite me tremendously...lol)

I actually have an animated word cloud I wanted to use for SOMETHING, and if I could figure out a way to incorporate a twitter clone in the site and connect to the cloud, I think that would be awesome.

I'll definitely look into it. I'll check out the other link in a bit, too.

Thanks much. :hug:

[Why Syzygy]

11. Sha-Zam!

I am crazy about people who like my ideas! :think: Just one of those things :D

Keep us posted.

[Kind of Blue]

7. I know exactly what you mean.

I used to respond to such threads with no - I'm feeling alright, and grateful that right here right now I'm Okay. But soon enough something would go wrong. It was like clockwork. But easy enough of a fix, stop responding, stop my mindless absorbing :rofl: