[CantExplain]

It used to be I would read every post on every thread. I'd fall behind during the week but catch up on the weekend. (It is my impression that people post more frequently on weekdays, but I haven't bothered to check.)

These days I "subscribe" to threads that interest me and concentrate on those.

But I also scan the "Last Post" column for familiar names. If a friend has posted on a thread it might be worth a look.

I seldom look beyond the third page of threads, because I've already seen (or ignored ) the older threads.

Originally Posted by CantExplain

It used to be I would read every post on every thread. I'd fall behind during the week but catch up on the weekend. (It is my impression that people post more frequently on weekdays, but I haven't bothered to check.)

These days I "subscribe" to threads that interest me and concentrate on those.

But I also scan the "Last Post" column for familiar names. If a friend has posted on a thread it might be worth a look.

I seldom look beyond the third page of threads, because I've already seen (or ignored ) the older threads.

This is a hard one! There are SO many threads started every day. Sometimes I think we start a thread before thinking about whether or not we really need to do it. I know I have done that and ended up deleting it. I used to post a new thread every other day. I try not to do that anymore.

I almost think that this forum has gotten so big that it needs to be divided up. Not sure how you could do that. I know that Social Groups can be formed. Hey! Why don't YOU start a group? That's a great idea! I am sure you would get a good number of people to join. I would join.

I would also like to be a part of a regular chat. Maybe someone will take the initiative to start one?

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by Squiggle328

Hey! Why don't YOU start a group? That's a great idea! I am sure you would get a good number of people to join. I would join.

I'm sure I'm much too humble for that!

Originally Posted by CantExplain

These days I "subscribe" to threads that interest me and concentrate on those.

How to you subscribe to threads? Is your wife okay with you spending so much time on PC? Just wondering.......

[pbutton]

I usually scan pages 1 and 2 to see what's new. There are a few people I will always read & a couple that I try my best to bypass.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by Squiggle328

1. How to you subscribe to threads?

2. Is your wife okay with you spending so much time on PC? Just wondering.......

1. It's on the "Thread Tools" menu.

2. She's fine. I've always had some obsession or other. How about your husband?

[BlessedRhiannon]

I usually scan the first two pages, and see what catches my interest. I'll hover over the subject of a thread and read the first line of the post, and then decide if I a) have time to read it and b) want to read it.

Often, my mood dictates what I'll read. Sometimes I'm easily triggered or easily frustrated and I'll stay away from threads that might do that to me.

Originally Posted by CantExplain

How about your husband?

He is normally on his computer in the other room, or I have already put him to bed. In the beginning, it bothered him alot. Of course, back then I was on here practically 24/7! I try not to be as obsessed as I used to be.

He has always been curious about what we talk about. He just doesn't get all this therapy stuff. I do understand that it can be complicated for those who have never been in therapy. I have been in therapy for two years and I still find it complicated!

When I am on PC, I normally have several windows going on at the same time. Mostly work related stuff. I flip back and forth alot. Its a miracle that I can keep up with which place I am in and what I write/do in each of them!

Originally Posted by CantExplain

1. It's on the "Thread Tools" menu.

Okay. I checked that out. So you have it sent to your email? Is that the way it works?

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by pbutton

I usually scan pages 1 and 2 to see what's new. There are a few people I will always read & a couple that I try my best to bypass.

This is my approach too.

[WePow]

I scan a lot whenever I am online. I tend to read a lot more than I comment because of my work. I usually come back to comment on something after I have read it several times and thought about the response.

When I first found PC I read a lot of 'relevant' threads from the archives, but mostly now I just check out new threads. I try to read as many as I can in this forum, even if they don't seem relevant or particularly interesting to me from the title - as the discussion within the thread can still be good, interesting, valuable.. or funny I also like to offer support if I think I can. Sometimes I check out the 'new posts' page to see if anything in the other parts of the forum catches my eye.. But I feel most at home in here - plus, I find it helpful to try and focus on/discuss the treatment rather than the illness/issue. Feels more constructive..

I'm a reader more than a poster (pretty obvious from the number of my posts as opposed to the length of time that I've been a member). It's not that I'm not interested but more about seeing that other's have posted what I might have posted and I don't want to be redundant. I know that I've learned a lot from reading here on PC. I'm always impressed and heartened by the community of support and caring that I see here. I genuinely enjoy and learn from everything that is posted here.

[critterlady]

I tend to scan it and the other boards I frequent a few times a day, as a way to take a little break from whatever I'm working on. A lot of days, though, I don't have the chance and then I scan the titles when I get home and read ones that interest me.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by Squiggle328

Okay. I checked that out. So you have it sent to your email? Is that the way it works?

I choose "No email notification".
It puts a tick on threads I've chosen so I can find them again easily.

Because I've already read or ignored the older threads because I've been here a while (and lurked for quite a while before that), I also just look at threads that have started or gotten replies since the last time I was on -- generally the first two pages. Sometimes if I've been away awhile, I will search certain people's names to be sure I haven't missed something important in their lives. Stopdog would be horrified to hear that I have gotten "attached" to certain people, including her, on the forum. hahahaha. [and note that I used "hahahaha" instead of an emoticon in your honor, stopdog.]

[SpiritRunner]

My first few months last year, I was obsessed, yep. I felt like I had to read every thread all the time and respond to as many as possible. But that took a LOT of time! But seriously, I felt like I had some sort of obligation to do as much as possible ...... eventually, I had to put a few boundaries on myself and tell myself it was OK if I didn't read every thread/post and that it was OK to not respond if I didn't relate to an issue, concern or whatever on a particular thread or actually have something valuable to add.
So now, I have to confess, I don't read every thread ..... and I try to post on the ones most revelant to me/my experiences or the ones that really intrigue me intellectually or really tug at my heartstrings ..... and there are some whose threads I always find intriguing (stopdog, that's you, for one...)
I know some of my posts get long and windy (and eh, preachy or pretentious sounding, I'm sure), so yeah ...... maybe posts like that sometimes get avoided or skimmed over. I have got to be more concise, less wordy ...... but being short-winded when writing seems to elude me. So thanks to those who get thru my posts without eyes crossing or glazing over....

[Snuffleupagus]

I surf capriciously with no real method to my madness. It depends upon my mood and how much time I have. I respond if I think my experience can be helpful. I start a thread when I need an outside check on my perceptions. I'm quite puzzled by the way people engaged the therapy culture thread. Each post only bumps up an irksome thread (if you found it irksome). I'd rather ignore the troubling thread and watch it disappear into the bowels of PC. It's one of the few times in life where ignoring something really does make it go away--a kind of fantasy fulfillment for me.

[kaliope]

I pretty much hit PC everyday. I used to read most everything on the New Post forum and comment. I made sure to welcome all the new members. Then it got to be that I felt what I said had little value, so I stopped. I got involved with games instead. Now I check into New Posts now and again when there is no game activity. I generally only look at posts that nobody has responded to yet because I dont want the poster to feel neglected or alone. Or if it is somebody whose name I recognize, I will take a look. Or a lot of responses may catch my eye, wondering what is so interesting. So it is kinda hit and miss with me. I will subscribe to a thread if i find it interesting.

[SpiritRunner]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I surf capriciously with no real method to my madness. It depends upon my mood and how much time I have. I respond if I think my experience can be helpful. I start a thread when I need an outside check on my perceptions. I'm quite puzzled by the way people engaged the therapy culture thread. Each post only bumps up an irksome thread (if you found it irksome). I'd rather ignore the troubling thread and watch it disappear into the bowels of PC. It's one of the few times in life where ignoring something really does make it go away--a kind of fantasy fulfillment for me.

sometimes I find it hard to ignore the irksome threads, though, even if I don't respond....sometimes because the back and forth is sort of entertaining! as long as nothing gets too out of hand, that is.....
but true, not all arguments are productive ..... and if a thread is a non-productive argument, and it doesn't seem valuable to me to get drawn into the debate, or actually gets me feeling more heated/triggered than is healthy, I step away from that thread.....

[sunrise]

I used to spend more time here and read more then. Now there are so many new threads each day. What determines if I read a thread is the title. If it sounds like it is interesting, then I tend to read it. Or if the thread is from someone I'm particularly interested in hearing from, I may choose it also. Once I've responded within a thread, the thread gets a check mark showing my presence in it, so that makes it easy to find threads I've posted in and want to return to for possible discussion. Lately, I come on PC once every day or two, and read 1-3 threads in 1-2 forums.

[ECHOES]

I seldom look beyond the 1st page, unless I am looking for a particular thread.

Sometimes I read a thread because someone whose posts I like to read has posted. By the same token, I will avoid a thread when someone whose posts I don't like to read.

Sometimes the title catches my interest. Other times, a title tells me to stay away or that it is something that I can't relate to in my therapy or in my life.

Sometimes I see and unanswered thread heading for page 2 and I post what I can to keep that from happening.

I've rarely been able to follow someone's running story, so I post what I can when I feel like I have something to add. And sometimes I type then erase because I'm not as involved as some, so I decide that no one wants to hear from me.

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

And sometimes I type then erase because I'm not as involved as some, so I decide that no one wants to hear from me.

I always like hearing from you. We may not always agree or approach things the same way nor do I always understand, but I always think about what you post.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

so I decide that no one wants to hear from me.

Don't you go deciding what I want! I want to hear from you!

I go for timed immersion reading; I'll be on PC for an hour or more and just read threads that grab my interest, usually all posts in a thread to make sure I have the gist of what's happening (I hate saying the same thing someone already said ahead of me :-) There's usually enough interesting posts I haven't seen since the last time I was on or a thread I'm still interested in and want to keep track of over time that I don't have to go "searching" for more to read; when I start searching for something to interest me, going back pages, then I know I've been on here long enough this visit.

[vanessaG]

I usually click on the threads that the titles catch my interest or that i can relate to OR stay away from. I do click on the threads of the names im familiar with here since im usually in this forum.
I try to respond when i feel i can offer support or helpful advice, but ill refrain if what i want to say has already been said....and sometimes im just at a loss for words, but i do read A LOT on here..