[bounceback]

Why do some posts get so many responses and others don't?

[Leah123]

Lots of reasons. Here are a few I've noted offhand.

1. How relatable is the issue?
2. How heartwrenching?
3. How easy to read? (Length and complexity both factor in.)
4. How familiar is the poster with the community?
5. When is it posted? (How busy is the forum at the time?)
6. How open is the poster to replies?
7. How engaging? (For example, it's easy to garner replies to polls where respondents can just vote and/or make a quick comment.)
8. How much does the poster seem to need help and how easy is it to give? (i.e. complex or simple issues, etc.)

[ensconce]

To be honest at times I feel like I may offend someone and it gives me anxiety.

[Ad Intra]

I would post responses more often but I feel real self-conscious when i do. Often I have no idea what to say.

[growlycat]

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding what people are asking or looking for.

I don't want to give advice if that's the last thing people want.

I have a hard time also when I try to help people but it ends up hurting them. It's never my intention to do so, but it has happened.

[growlycat]

ps and sometimes there is a post that sounds so delusional, I don't know how to be supportive. I'm sure someone in a delusional state isn't in a head-space to hear that they have broken with reality.

[Crescent Moon]

Leah123 really covered it good. It can feel weird tho if you post something and hardly get any responses. No doubt everyone has had it happen. I also think that the more a postet participates and people here get to know them... the more likely it is that their posts will generate responses.

I have wondered it many times i think some is what has already been mentioned and some i think is if people are friends with said person or if they share the same issues it is hard though because it can make you feel even worse when it seems like no one cares.

[ThingWithFeathers]

I'd also add two other possible reasons. I notice that the threads with a lot of posts are often kept alive by the OP, who takes time to respond to the feedback and support offered by other posters. I also notice that I find it hard to respond to others threads when I'm not doing so well, so I only respond to really simple request that I can answer easily/easily relate to.

I think Leah covered a lot of it but I also think it's a personal question that every individual will answer differently.
I will usually only respond if I am familiar with the posters story. Sometimes I am time limited so can't respond, other times I avoid threads that trigger me, on any given day there are lots of different reasons.
I am sorry if I had happened to you and it upset you but I think what helps to remember is that it's nothing personal (usually) .

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ruh roh]

I agree with TWF that a lot of times it keeps going because the OP replies and engages with posters. And some threads gain traction because they touch on a common fear or concern (will my therapist end therapy) or the OP has been sharing an ongoing struggle and people are invested in how it gets resolved.

I also agree with growly that it's hard to know how to respond or what the OP is looking for. Will they be offended by the wrong comment? Do they want honest feedback that is challenging but potentially helpful, or just some assurance?

[A Red Panda]

Sometimes a thread will get a lot of replies because it strikes a nerve with people - those are often the ones that get closed.

Sometimes the same topic comes up over and over and over, and people end up tired with the topic and feel like they repeat themselves in every thread, so they eventually stop. Which isn't so fun for a new poster who isn't aware of that.

Sometimes people get invested in a user that they've interacted with a lot.

Sometimes people reply because they want to spare newcomers from getting invested in something where the OP just reacts with hostility all the time.

Sometimes someone will reply because they want to mention things from the OP's past threads that seem relevant.

I know not all of that is very positive, or even seems supportive.... but those are some reasons why some threads get a lot of responses.

Usually if a thread doesn't get many replies, it's either posted at an unfortunate time, it's too vague, too convoluted, or people just aren't sure what to say.

[AncientMelody]

Here's another one: fatigue. There have been a few that I've been interested in and might be open to posting. But honestly I'm just too darn tired to really put together a coherent thought, and therefore I feel that the OP is better off without my response than a poorly worded one.

[CopperStar]

Lots of reasons as others have given.

However I will say it helps a lot if people break their posts up into small, separated paragraphs or chunks.

I don't mind long posts, but when I am tired, huge walls of text are daunting. I go for it when I'm up to it, but I will admit that broken up small chunks are so much easier than one huge essay wall.