So, what do you get out of this forum?

[irfan]

So, what do you get out of this forum?

Do you find you get useful information? do you find you learn from other people's experiences? is it an "imagined community" with readily accessible "friends" with whom you can have conversations without leaving your computer chair?

I'm curious: I was just about to start work, going through my procrastination routine, then was just about to really start work, and then I thought, nah, I'll just quickly have a look at Steve Pavalina's forum. It struck me as slightly ironic that I could read about other people's personal effectiveness routines as a means of procrastinating. Is that what most of us do? or do some people use this forum consciously -- say, as part of a well thought out program of self-development.

Ha, it's still only 7:15 am here, that's not too bad. But time to hit Ctrl+W.

Have a great day, everyone.

[Bradshaw]

I've never really posted all that much, but I used to get much more out of it.

Make no mistake about it: Many people distract themselves and procrastinate by reading, reading, and reading some more.

That said, I've met several people from the forums personally. In fact two of them live in the same city. There was one in my hometown as well.

That's the greatest benefit of this forum for me--meeting interesting people in real life. Many of the people who gather in these forums tend to be quite different and unique.

I don't really read posts or random threads--I tend to simply check from time to time if certain favorite posters have posted anything interesting and I'll see what they have to say.

[pianoperformer]

I have definitely grown a lot due to these forums, and thanks to a few key members.

I am in a very different part of my life now. Much more confident, more sure of my spiritual path, more capable in many different ways than when I first came here three years ago.

Now I mostly try to share my own knowledge and experience and to help others as much as possible. Of course I'm still open to learning if the opportunity should arise.

[ZephyrusX]

Consciously, I get the most benefit by just asking forum members to provide me with references to resources pertaining to a particular area of my life. I prefer to read and process material on my own without having someone tell me how to interpret something. I started a few threads simply asking for books and whatnot and they helped me a lot.

On the other hand, I do use these forums as a means of community and making connections (no quotations - this community and connections are real), and by the shear fact that I am interacting with people, I find that I am unconsciously changing for the better. Actually, I'd say the Fun and Recreation forum has helped me the most as it has encouraged me to be more playful and relaxed around people. And yes, those qualities have transferred over into my life in other offline contexts.

Simply having fun with people on this forum is valuable too. Simply for the sake of sharing a moment with others. Playing with others can be therapeutic.

[elucidate]

As Zeph said, playing and having fun here has helped me to overcome being too serious and I am much more able to laugh in real life and just be silly, though it is still with people I feel comfortable with, not everyone.

I have also met up with some great people from here, one who lives in my town, and made some amazing contacts who have restored my faith in humanity and given me hope that there are some extraordinary people out there, and men who are willing to learn how to communicate effectively and be open and honest, whom I have formed very deep bonds with and am deriving much from currently.

It's been a place where I can share what knowledge I have and has shown me where my triggers are and what I still need to work on personally.

I have also become somewhat more motivated than I was, and have started my own business, which is something I've wanted to do for years.

My growth has been occuring in leaps and bounds, though I often don't notice it when it's happening.

I come here for the community and it's a laugh sometimes, some of the things I read, and getting to know the personalities of some of the more outspoken posters, and all their quirks, has been amusing.

I'm slightly ashamed to admit that I do bludge when I'm at work and come here because my day job is so frikkin' boring that I need to come here to be amongst interesting folk and be stimulated by conversations, as I don't get that when I'm working. I've become one of 'those' people who sneak a peek when no one is looking, and I've actually had my supervisor bust me and give me at least two lectures, and have even had a bar put on my computer from her, so I can't come here...which I'm not too happy about.

I never wanted to join the internet community, as I was pretty anti computers for a long time, but I'm so glad I found this particular one, and straight away.

I initially bought my laptop so I could do my online ESL course, and got distracted on the first day that I bought it home, and stumbled across this place, without even meaning to. I looked at one post and related to what the person said, and have been here ever since. I have hardly touched my course ironically in all this time...but I've had a different education instead.

It does bother me that I've posted so much, though I don't consider any of the posts I've made to be a real waste because I've gained so much from being here as well. Put it this way, I would have judged someone like me, in the past as being someone who needs to "get a life", but I actually have quite a full life. I'm amazed that I've managed to have so much go on in real life and still be able to post so much here.

[raykilleen]

Originally Posted by irfan

So, what do you get out of this forum?

Exposure to human consciousness that I seldom experience in daily existence.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by raykilleen

Exposure to human consciousness that I seldom experience in daily existence.

That's a really good and simple way to put it.

Oh, and I've witnessed good friends here fall in love and discover they are soul mates and "Ones" and all that cheesy new age stuff.

[irfan]

Cool. Interesting answers!

Originally Posted by ZephyrusX

On the other hand, I do use these forums as a means of community and making connections (no quotations - this community and connections are real) ...

Hehe ... Maybe I was a dog in my past life, I still think I have to be able to sniff someone under their tail before I can really be friends with them.

[Fred Tracy]

Originally Posted by raykilleen

Exposure to human consciousness that I seldom experience in daily existence.

This.

Plus, oddly enough, this forum is a great way to drive traffic to your website. All you have to do is give interesting, meaningful input and people will click your links.

So whereas I used to procrastinate by reading this forum, once I got a website it turned into a useful tool.

That being said, even if I didn't have the site, I'd probably come here and procrastinate still. So I didn't really solve my problem, I just integrated it into something beneficial. Which works for me.

[sk8joyful]

As a Christian, I came intentionally to this site,
because
Unfortunately 6 previous christian-sites drove me nuts.
There I was in my usual soulful, & joyful & youthful ways Inspiring & positively-encouraging other christians to continue exploring ways to personally-develop, & grow, & contribute BUT 99% of christians were "insulted & offended" oh my word! - They are so LOST, closed-minded, & downright sick.
______________________
Here, at least I can interact with maybe 20 people, who beyond understanding actually Appreciate what I contribute... so I participate a little here, because of my genuine LOVE: for God, for people, for animals, for plants, well, I simply love...

[raykilleen]

Originally Posted by Fred Tracy

This.

Plus, oddly enough, this forum is a great way to drive traffic to your website. All you have to do is give interesting, meaningful input and people will click your links.

So whereas I used to procrastinate by reading this forum, once I got a website it turned into a useful tool.

Ahh resourceful marketing.

[ZephyrusX]

In a way, I feel the same way as you do. I chose 'connections' and 'community' rather than the word 'friends' as I feel odd about saying that I am friends with someone that I never even met in person. But then, I do value the connections I make with others on here, so saying the connection is real is just a way of honouring the value that people bring into my life here.

Having said that, I have found that interacting with people on here is challenging my idea of love and friendship, which in the past, relied upon some form of physical proximity.

Originally Posted by irfan

Hehe ... Maybe I was a dog in my past life, I still think I have to be able to sniff someone under their tail before I can really be friends with them.

[momo3bur]

A social life...is that sad? LOL.

Seriously, I came here to search for people who might have answers to some of my odd problems and found a community with a wide array of people with very different ideas on life, spirituality, etc., which I've come to appreciate.

Quite honestly, when I saw the name of the forum was "Personal Development for Smart People" I thought it had to be full of idiots. But I was VERY wrong.

I don't post as much as I used to because quite honestly I think instead of answers here, I found that I needed to grow and find answers myself, but I still read and like to communicate with members. It's really nice to see all the different viewpoints, ideas, theories, etc., and it's really cool to meet people from all over the planet.

I've even made a couple of really nice friends that I talk to on a regular basis outside of the forum. That's been the best thing I've gotten out of this forum by far because I live in a very rural area full of very religious people who I can't exactly relate to on the same level that I can with a lot of you guys.

When I found this place, I was feeling really isolated and almost as if I was in hiding about certain aspects of my life, so it's nice to have a place, even a virtual place, where I can express myself freely without having to worry about anyone gossiping around town. It sounds silly, but I have to live here, so I basically have to fit in. I think I already have a tiny "crazy lady on the hill" stamp on my forehead. For the sake of my childrens' social life in this small town, no need to make it any bigger. Not to mention there are people on here who actually take the time to UNDERSTAND what I'm trying to say and I don't have to watch their eyes glass over while I rant. Many times you guys actually help ME understand what I'm trying to say, which is even better.

Thanks for that!

[Agota]

Originally Posted by Fred Tracy

This.

Plus, oddly enough, this forum is a great way to drive traffic to your website. All you have to do is give interesting, meaningful input and people will click your links.

When you have a website and spend excessive amounts of time in this forum, you can always say "I've been working on traffic building for five hours today" when all you did was post in forums

[Self Exploration]

Other than the marketing issue, one is expressing emotions if this tool is used correctly.
Expressing feelings in itself is a great healing and therefore empowering tool.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by momo3bur

A social life...is that sad? LOL.

Seriously, I came here to search for people who might have answers to some of my odd problems and found a community with a wide array of people with very different ideas on life, spirituality, etc., which I've come to appreciate.

Quite honestly, when I saw the name of the forum was "Personal Development for Smart People" I thought it had to be full of idiots. But I was VERY wrong.

I don't post as much as I used to because quite honestly I think instead of answers here, I found that I needed to grow and find answers myself, but I still read and like to communicate with members. It's really nice to see all the different viewpoints, ideas, theories, etc., and it's really cool to meet people from all over the planet.

I've even made a couple of really nice friends that I talk to on a regular basis outside of the forum. That's been the best thing I've gotten out of this forum by far because I live in a very rural area full of very religious people who I can't exactly relate to on the same level that I can with a lot of you guys.

When I found this place, I was feeling really isolated and almost as if I was in hiding about certain aspects of my life, so it's nice to have a place, even a virtual place, where I can express myself freely without having to worry about anyone gossiping around town. It sounds silly, but I have to live here, so I basically have to fit in. I think I already have a tiny "crazy lady on the hill" stamp on my forehead. For the sake of my childrens' social life in this small town, no need to make it any bigger. Not to mention there are people on here who actually take the time to UNDERSTAND what I'm trying to say and I don't have to watch their eyes glass over while I rant. Many times you guys actually help ME understand what I'm trying to say, which is even better.

Thanks for that!

I've noticed this has been the case for many of us, and I find it really interesting that we all met here. Being different and more open to alternative lifestyles and viewpoints can be isolating when the majority view those things with suspicion and even contempt in some instances, so it's nice to know there is a meeting place where "oddballs" can unite.

I live in a town where oddballs ARE the mainstream, so for me it was not so isolating, but still really great to have a place with concentrated amounts of people who all are open to the universe and abundance etc.

[elucidate]

It's really really interesting to meet a self-confessed christian who recognizes this about his own people.

Maybe there is hope after all?

Originally Posted by sk8joyful

As a Christian, I came intentionally to this site,
because
Unfortunately 6 previous christian-sites drove me nuts.
There I was in my usual soulful, & joyful & youthful ways Inspiring & positively-encouraging other christians to continue exploring ways to personally-develop, & grow, & contribute BUT 99% of christians were "insulted & offended" oh my word! - They are so LOST, closed-minded, & downright sick.
______________________
Here, at least I can interact with maybe 20 people, who beyond understanding actually Appreciate what I contribute... so I participate a little here, because of my genuine LOVE: for God, for people, for animals, for plants, well, I simply love...

[Mr. Punch]

At this moment I use the forums for procrastinating on a supposedly difficult task at work and as an escape from a very real messed up romantic relationship. I have been a member since the forums were launched. I have posted very little but I have read a ton of posts - primarily as a means of entertainment, daydreaming or procrastination. In several ways I am the worst example of an idle selfdeluded PD-person - basically just wasting my time.