usenet ponder (& sick update)

[jinian]

I'm doing better, though I'm still really not feeling well. Thanks for the good wishes. Wim came by and brought a few necessities.

Why do people want to post that they've marked all posts as read in a newsgroup? I've never understood that. If I had to do that sort of thing (which I don't, generally, since I read very quickly), I'd just do it. It feels to me like people are assuming stuff is directed at them (and that therefore they are terribly important people, therefore presumptuous, therefore negative feelings from me). The way I see it, I've left the party to go to the bathroom, and if someone needs me for something they'll track me down. I'm sure people who do that sort of thing feel differently about it. Why do you or do you not tell people when you're absent from an online forum?

Extra credit: And is LJ different? It is for me because my friends are called by name and I'm careful not to let the list get above what I can be sure to keep up on. How do people with bigger friends lists feel?

Comments

[jenett]

I think it's partly a 'If something happened to turn up which you were sort of hoping I might reply to, please point me at it.' and partly a 'If you've made any announcements about good or bad changes in your life that you want to make sure I know about, I didn't see the post, so you might want to tell me again that you're getting married/moving/your cat died, whatever'

I personally don't much see the point if someone's only been gone a few days - but I can sort of see the point if it's been a few weeks or more, as a 'Ok, I'm paying attention again' sorta thing. Ä

[rosefox]

It's an alt.callahans thing. *)

I've got a big friends list, but that means I filter it. I've also got a busy life, which means I don't read LJ all the time, and sometimes I read more or less of it. My standing request is "If you want to make sure I see it, email me". I mention if I'm going away on trips, but that's because it's, you know, my journal and that's something I want to chronicle. *)

[jinian.livejournal.com]

You know, there is a correlation with alt.callahans people. That makes sense, and if it's a holdover from a closely-knit newsgroup I suppose I can understand that. Thanks.

I just always figure if someone particularly wants me to know they'll tell me. And I had assumed that my newsgroup settings would come into play if I got a big friends list, so it's good to know someone's making that work.

[elynne.livejournal.com]

I'm sleepy, and distracted by Dr. Who - but on newsgroups, I tend to let folks know if I'm going to leave, and that I've come back, but I don't generally announce that I'm marking all posts read. I also don't usually announce that I'm marking all posts read if I've just fallen behind on post volume.

Um... on LJ, I have my friends divided into two major groups. The folks I especially want to keep track of go into my default view, and I try to keep up on that regularly. Sometimes, I fall behind and miss some posts... but I don't usually announce it when that happens. :]

And yes, you're on the default view - you can tell by how often I reply to your posts. ;)

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

i do it if i'm back, after i've been gone for a while. for instance, after i got back from russia. i can see how the words would be read as you post above, certainly, but i meant it (in a totally only available from context and then likely only if you're me sort of way) as "hi! hi hi! i'm back and i missed you and there's too much to read here so i'm not going to but i'm glad you had fun while i was gone! hi hi!"

[jinian.livejournal.com]

On consideration, I actually think it's the cutesiness of "MR. MARK ALLREAD" (sarcastic emphasis tm snout) that bugs me. I don't mind knowing when people are back, so much, but that method of saying it bugs me for some reason. And now, having realized that, I will brilliantly go update my killfile.

And when you got back from Russia I was going yay! that you were back, so you're not a good example. :)