Popular, yet unread threads

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I remember the olden days of NazNet when everyone read every post. I was, I imagine one of the last to give it up (of course, for a long time I was one of very few moderators and, at the same time neither the software or the users were as sophisticated as now).

These days I read less and, in general, enjoy more of what I read.

Often I look at a thread title and decide I'm not interested or that I've already said all I know to say on that subject and never bother to take a look.

I'll keep bypassing the thread until I notice that there are over 100 or so replies and then, out of curiosity, take a look. Often, I find that the original topic has morphed into something else that turns out to be more interesting than the original.

Sometimes, I get drawn in late but often I don't have the energy to go back and read 100 posts to find out how the discussion arrived where it is, so I continue to let it go.

It reminds me of Yogi Berra's supposed statement that a restaurant was so popular that no one ever went there anymore.

Active threads seem to follow a similar pattern:
1. Original conversation
2. Diversion to just one aspect of the original - maybe to the root of the issue
3. Someone disagrees with someone else (not necessarily in a negative way)
4. People take sides
5. Most people run of out gas on the topic
6. A few begin circular debates in which they say the same things over and over
7. Things die down
8. Another thread catches fire and this one drifts down and into obscurity
9. A few actually get resurrected when someone "discovers" the old conversation and wants to add their point of view

What do you think?

[Hans Deventer]

I guess I'm one of those that for a long time have read all of NazNet as well. But like you, for me these days are gone. Though I still read a lot, perhaps too much.

Your analysis seems pretty accurate to me.

[Pete Vecchi]

Scott, I am much like you with how much I now read compared to what I used to do. Of course a LOT of this has to do with the growth of NazNet. I still remember the days in the 1990's when I would go to the public library to get on the internet--primarily to check out NazNet. If 10 topics a day were started that sometimes seemed like a lot. Then a couple of new forums started, and then eventually things got to where they are with multiple forums and often many posts per forum with many of the posts having several (or many) replies. There's just too much to try to read. Also, as you mentioned, a number of topics have been discussed more than once over the years, and I often don't feel as though anything new will really be said--even if it's by entirely different people than those who discussed it originally.

[Dana Grant]

Yes, I remember when I tried to turn all of the posts from blue to pink or whatever those colors were in those days -- now I just kind of skip around and read here and there. I don't feel like I really know many people here anymore....

[John Reilly]

There are a lot of threads.

[Susan Unger]

Being more recent newcomer, I never tried to read it all. I really avoid the current events forum but will from time to time. And if certain people post, I will either ignore or look forward to reading it with anticipation.

Usually the round about way that the chats go is interesting to me.

[David Parker]

I do read every post in Current Events and at least scan every thread in General Discussion. I also scan the topics in Theology and read what looks interesting.

Not much time to post after all that... :ihe_cowboy:

[John Kennedy]

I pretty much read whatever shows up on the board. But don't tell my wife - she'll start addin' stuff to THE LIST.

[Susan Unger]

I pretty much read whatever shows up on the board. But don't tell my wife - she'll start addin' stuff to THE LIST.
I'm picturing the list in my mind right now :smilies1722: it resembles the list my dad is supposed to be following!

[Gina Stevenson]

Yes, I remember when I tried to turn all of the posts from blue to pink or whatever those colors were in those days -- now I just kind of skip around and read here and there. I don't feel like I really know many people here anymore....


Yes, a "successful" i'net day ... turning all those posts to the "already been read" color. 'Remember those days, too. ;)

[and that was in text-only/black-white mode back thenm too]

[Susan Unger]

So who were some of the original posters? Scott Cundiff, Dave M, Dana, Gina, Hans...who else?

[Hans Deventer]

So who were some of the original posters? Scott Cundiff, Dave M, Dana, Gina, Hans...who else?

Not me. I joined later.

[Jen Blackburn]

I used to be a lot more active on Naznet too.. I remember finding Naznet in the mid 90's when we were living in New Holstein, Wisconsin and my son (who turned 17 yesterday) was just a toddler! I read more and posted more back then.

Today, I visit every 2 or 3 days, click "new posts", scan through post titles, and if a post title looks intriguing, I'll hover over the title to see what the first couple of sentences are of the original post. Some I will open, some I will not... On average, I think I only open and read about 8-12 threads when I visit. I click "mark forums read" after I'm done browsing so I can start fresh the next time.

NN has changed, the people who read & post have changed, but praise be to God that He hasn't. :)

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

So who were some of the original posters? Scott Cundiff, Dave M, Dana, Gina, Hans...who else?

NazNet was connected to a Prodigy discussion group - I wasn't in it. Bryan Merrill started it and, although he doesn't post, he's still a member of NazNet today.

Here's NazNet from March of 1997.

http://web.archive.org/web/19970321235824/http://www.naznet.com/wwwboard2/

[Susan Unger]

NazNet was connected to a Prodigy discussion group - I wasn't in it. Bryan Merrill started it and, although he doesn't post, he's still a member of NazNet today.

Here's NazNet from March of 1997.

http://web.archive.org/web/19970321235824/http://www.naznet.com/wwwboard2/So when did NN start out? Too bad I didn't know about y'all back then - I could have used NN. The 90s were not my stellar decade.

I recognize from this page: You, Dave, Carolyn, Paula, Alisa, Marsha, Dennis, Joe, Wanda, Roland, Carmen, Doug, Jim, Chuck, Wilson, NEB, Lee, Jerry, and Brad. Kim, Mike, and Beth seem familiar but I can't be sure if they posted later on.

Interesting - I wanted to respond to some of the posts and avoid some as well - just like today :)

[Marian Schwaller Carney]

NazNet was connected to a Prodigy discussion group - I wasn't in it. Bryan Merrill started it and, although he doesn't post, he's still a member of NazNet today.

Here's NazNet from March of 1997.

http://web.archive.org/web/19970321235824/http://www.naznet.com/wwwboard2/

Thanks, Scott, gee, internet has come along way since those days. I wonder if anyone even uses a BB anymore? and 'News' groups.

[Susan Unger]

Thanks, Scott, gee, internet has come along way since those days. I wonder if anyone even uses a BB anymore? and 'News' groups.

NBC online until these past two months used newsgroups. I think we are now being encouraged to try scribe.