Are these forums a waste of time? :-)

[stevo75]

I've found that threads get more action if the title catches people's attention. I should have added something about "global warming" or "relationships" if I really wanted some action.

Anyway, I'd like to get some feedback on this. I joined these forums because most of the friends I have are not very interested in achieving financial independence (or at least aren't pursing it), personal development, or spirituality. All of these topics are really important to me and so I'm looking to meet new people who share the same interests. This is inspired by Steve Pavlina's "love" section of the truth, love, power model. I agree with him that its important to have social support for achieving goals.

Here's my problem. Since joining these forums I have met some great people. However, my productivity has taken a nose dive. These forums are addictive! Maybe its my fault for getting involved in threads on climate change (which I found is a pointless debate) and relationships. Its easy to connect with people there (well maybe not climate change) because there are so many posts by so many different people. But it takes up a ton of time to stay active.

What do you do? How do you use these forums to connect with like minded people without losing productivity or getting addicted to them?

[Daffy Duck]

Forums killing productivity is a common issue. I've had this problem at times too. The easiest way I've found to handle it is to only let yourself post for a certain amount of time a day.

For example, don't allow yourself to spend more than 30 minutes a day on the weekends, or 10 minutes a day on the weekdays. I've used this technique before.

I've found a nice natural balance with this forum. Sometimes I'll feel like posting a lot and maybe I'll spend an hour of my day on the forum. Other times I don't care to post or read much at all, and I'll only spend 5 minutes of my day here.

For myself, I try to keep my limits within 20 minutes on average, but I'll stay on longer if something really perks my interest.

[cacheborn]

It's a common problem, not only with this forum but all forums and with the internet too. If you are not careful, it is very easy to become addictive. Sometimes, we may substitute it in place of real socializing.

[CoolBee]

One way to do it is make things do double duty. For example, I have discovered that if I make a lengthy post on here at the moment, I can copy and paste it in to my nanowrimo and up my word count by a couple of hundred (depending on how much verbal diarrhea I have inflicted on you, my audience ) and be 'productive' at the same time as 'enjoying myself'

Seriously, though, Daffy is right. The way I do it when I'm focusing on 'productivity' is - I set myself a target of, say, 30 productive hours of work a week - and I have definitions of what is and isn't allowed to be included as work.

Now, the issue comes with emails and forums which have an element of both in them.

So, the way I decided to tackle that, back in the dim and distant, was to assess that up to 30 minutes a day could count as 'productive'. Anything above that was UNproductive and not allowed to score as work.

So, I could spend 12 hours if I liked skulking round forums and emails and blogs and so on, but only half an hour counted as work! So I would still have to achieve my 30 hours a week somehow.

As I logged my time half hour by half hour - it became progressively more easy to achieve the 30 hours a week of productivity and therefore releasing maybe a whole day of time I could skulk as much as I liked

PS I picked 30 hours because if you work in an office, out of your working life you will waste many hours in meetings, interruptions, 'fresh air' breaks (why should the smokers get all the breaks - eh - the outside smokers groups is one of the best networking places in a business - get your asses out there you non-smokers!), broken IT, and all that kind of stuff, so I figured 30 hours productivity working alone was probably superior to a normal 40 (or more for me) working week in the old corporates.

[runningbird]

Yes, forums are mostly a waste of time for me, although I do learn some things and hopefully help some people with other things.

CoolBee, isn't nanowrimo just for novels? No offense, but it must be a pretty crappy novel to have random bits of SP forum posts interspersed.

It sounds like something I should have done though, I am WAY too meticulous (<-- I just spent like 2 minutes deciding between one "way" or two. Decided to go with the all-caps).

[CoolBee]

Yes it is a totally crappy 'novel'. It is like Ulysees on Speed

Edit: thank you Runningbird, you just helped me pick a title

Title: Hestia - A surreal journey around 5 days in the internet life of Leona Flower.

Synopsis: Random stuff from 5 days of life on the internet.

[Kindred]

I have an add-on for Firefox called LeechBlock that prevents me from staying too long on forums and going on forums during work hours. Quite useful!

Sharing ideas on forums is fun and informative, but it turns out more of a waste of time than anything if I stay too long.

[runningbird]

Hehe

Maybe I shouldn't talk. Utter randomness could have been Joyce's technique for all I can tell.

[cacheborn]

Originally Posted by CoolBee

Yes it is a totally crappy 'novel'. It is like Ulysees on Speed

Edit: thank you Runningbird, you just helped me pick a title

Title: Hestia - A surreal journey around 5 days in the internet life of Leona Flower.

Synopsis: Random stuff from 5 days of life on the internet.

I like that, Ulysees on Speed

[ballhit2]

Please name five things which aren't a waste of time, by somebody's definition.

[MidasGirl]

They can be. I went through a phase where I knew I was using my productivity time to post here, especially when I got into back and forth debates. So I decided I come here only at night (my down time) or the weekend. Throughout the day I won't come here. Some days I don't come here at all, or even for a few days. It's tempting to post. I feel pissed off when I fail to be productive because I was arguing over lame stuff.

[brendannz]

another great technique for restricting your usage, is to ask for a temp ban.

They cost 50 cents a day though.

On a serious note;

Yes, these forums are highly addictive, but it's up to you how you use them. it's easy to implode on here (I have several times, I'd say) but still it's up to you how you're using them, so I'd suggest you try and be honest with yourself of how you're using the forums, whether you're really sharing anything or learning anything from here, or if you're just getting lost in your own thoughts.

As well, I'd recommend you adopt strategies for restricting your usage.

[Marko500]

Originally Posted by stevo75

I've found that threads get more action if the title catches people's attention. I should have added something about "global warming" or "relationships" if I really wanted some action.

Anyway, I'd like to get some feedback on this. I joined these forums because most of the friends I have are not very interested in achieving financial independence (or at least aren't pursing it), personal development, or spirituality. All of these topics are really important to me and so I'm looking to meet new people who share the same interests. This is inspired by Steve Pavlina's "love" section of the truth, love, power model. I agree with him that its important to have social support for achieving goals.

Here's my problem. Since joining these forums I have met some great people. However, my productivity has taken a nose dive. These forums are addictive! Maybe its my fault for getting involved in threads on climate change (which I found is a pointless debate) and relationships. Its easy to connect with people there (well maybe not climate change) because there are so many posts by so many different people. But it takes up a ton of time to stay active.

What do you do? How do you use these forums to connect with like minded people without losing productivity or getting addicted to them?

You set your goal. "To connect with like minded people". Then, determine the time that you devote to forum, 1 hour for example.

See what people write and connect with those whose writing what you like (like minded people).

Therefore, you determine 1. the purpose and 2. limit the time spent for work on purpose. That I do at forums.

good luck

[ohTen]

too much of anything is bad, even a good thing. but i find that short, regular trips to these forums motivate me tremendously. I think the crowd here is intelligent, polite, driven, and helpful. Reading what people with these qualities have to say helps me in my own journey to achieve my goals. the key is moderation, as it is with everything.

that said, i'd rather waste time in this company than on youtube or the like.

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by Marko500

You set your goal. "To connect with like minded people".
Then, determine the time that you devote to forum, 1 hour for example.
See what people write and connect with those whose writing what you like (like minded people).

Therefore, you determine 1. the purpose and 2. limit the time spent for work on purpose. That I do at forums.
good luck

Yeah, you got that right: "Like-minded" people, now where are they?

[cinnabar]

If these forums were truly a "waste" of time, would any of us be here? Not only are there dozens of interesting conversations going on, but I've found links to other great places such as Glowing Face Man and FLYLady. Sure, anything can be addictive. But at least a forum dedicated to personal development may help you to recognize the addiction, and inspire you to find out what is really causing you to spin your wheels for so long online, if that has become a problem. (Not "you" personally... just a general "you/one/me/us" kind of thing.)

[Orca]

Hi,

To answer your question, I think it depends.

I think forums can be great if the folks who write are coming from the heart center. I also think forums can be a tremendous waste of time if the folks who write are more interested in being Right than being Helpful.

BIG difference. Anyone can spot it in an instant.

I don't waste my time with discussions where it feels like people are caught up with telling other folks what their real problem is, or how to be more "evolved". It's as if they're posting out of an need to be seen as being spiritually evolved or something. Because if they really wanted to help, they'd spend less time lecturing others on what they think they're doing "wrong" and more time genuinely listening from the heart center.

Conversely, I will spend lots of time on threads and forum topics where I feel people are truly being caring and respectful of others, no matter where someone might be coming from. The ability to truly listen without judgement is sorely lacking in this world. Even and especially among spiritual seekers, ironically. I think spiritual seekers are sometimes the worst listeners because they are often so convinced they have the one answer for everyone, they just want to convince you they are right, dontchaknow. And if you don't agree with their pov, by golly it's becomes a big, combative thread, rather than a respectful, thoughtprovoking one. Who needs that? It's no different than what happens with religious dogma, except now people think they're being spiritual...lol.

The heart is the only way anything really shifts, including healing and manifestation. It's where the real gold is. And it's never a waste of time. The rest of the stuff? It's often just egoic mindgames or the need to be seen as more spiritually wise than the next bear.


My .02.

Orca

[PerDev]

Yes, Forums can be very unproductive if we don't observer it conciously.

I think its better if I use the forum for limited period of time
say 6-7 days (2-3 hours each day ) for each quarter

so spending around 10-20 hrs each quarter.

with having specific purpsoe like ..

Giving value: Providing all the learnign you have internalized in quarter and also provide help to people with your best effort.
Receiving Value: whatever resonate with you.

So it will not be addictive.

[cinnabar]

On second thought...

I think I do spend too much time on here. As great as this place is, one reaches a point of diminishing returns with value gained. And value given? I still often find it difficult to actually create threads and participate in discussion.

Taking a break for a while suddenly seems like a good idea...

[stevo75]

Thanks for all the ideas everyone!

It does seem like it takes a ton of time to keep up on some of the threads that are very active. So maybe I just need to set time limits and not be concerned about the fact that I may have to let a particular thread go if it's taking up too much time (and if it's not all that productive).

Also, paying attention to the quality of the thread will be good for me. On some threads it's obvious that most people just want to make their opinion heard and are more concerned with being "right". I can get really caught up in these but they're probably not all that productive...

[newmark]

How much time is too much time? I spend about 40 minutes a day, or every other day here. Sometimes I think it's too much, but I enjoy reading many of the posts.

[WorkitSmart]

One way to cut back on excessive forum fun, is to multi-task.. Like I want to see O'Reilly every week night... so I can post during the commercials.. Then turn it off! Both the TV and the forum..

Cause otherwise, I can literally veg out in front of the computer and waste a lot of time. I mean, we're connecting.. in a virtual way, but what about our families? Right now, I'm hanging here, and my husband is off in another part of the house, in his world.

Hey! I think I'll go join him..

[craftyjake]

It all depends on if your purpose on here is to learn to be productive. Some people forget that they came here to learn, and thus end up falling into typical forum habits. If you remember that this forum should be a tool first and social network second, you'll make the most out of the information you get. Knowledge isn't power. The implementation of knowledge is power :-)