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Contact list, do you actually use it?

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by oz_media

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I have read several posts referring to kicking someone off of your contact list or liking someone and adding them to your contact list.

With the immense number of ways to navigate TechRepublic, nav bar, my discussions, hot discussions, etc. which all tend to lead to the same people and posts, do you actually USE your contact lists to follow what others say and then find topics you want to reply to?

I don't see the relevance.

JD for just one example, I love talking with JD about SOME topics, I can't stand others.

I find that while we often agree on some things we are abolute opposites in other views. Funny how I usually find common ground with poeople when it comes to music though, even those I generally oppose have similar musical tastes in many ways. "If music be the food of love...play on"

My point being, just because I liked a persons posts in one thread, why would I follow their threads and actively look for other threads that may or may not interest me ? I can browse forums without following a peer through the site

If I search discussions and find a topic that interests me, whoever plays in that forum is fine by me, I don't seek out individuals to agree with or find a need to oppose people's comments by following all their threads elsewhere.

So I guess, I choose to surf TR by finding topics that interest me and then discussing it with whoemever participates.

I see others though who seem to use their contact list to join discussions that other contacts have joined. In that case, the "I'm cuttingng you off my contact list" apparently means something. Like the pick 5 friends BS from the phone company (my take is the fewer people who's 5 friends list I am on, the fewer people that bug on the damn phone!) "PLEEEEEASE pick someone else to call most often!"

Which are you? A browser (one who seeks out threads of interest)or a follower (one who seeks out peers of interest)?

27 replies

by boxfiddler Hot topic

I don't use it for tracking people I agree - or disagree - with. I seek out people of interest, no matter their viewpoint on any given subject.

I also follow those I think 'expert' in that practical, tech area that draws us here in the first place.

Then there are those who are just plumb fun. Definitely bookmarked. ;)

edit: In no way is this 'categorization' one of mutual exclusivity.

by boxfiddler Hot topic

that I start out cruising the Discussions, then go snooping about to see what my Contacts are up to.

by jdclyde

I do also look at the discussion being posted to, and decide from there.

I stopped using the other lists when TR started manipulating what is on it and what is not, as well as the order.

Edit to add: like boxie, the contact list isn't just a list of on-line buddies. It is people who have posted things I felt were worth reading, so I will seek them out for more.

I also have the TR members that start the tech "stuff" like Mark and Jason, so it gives me a little of everything, tech and personal.

by oz_media

With teh contacts list I didn't mean to suggest it was for buddying up with poeople, but as you have said, you like what one person said so you will track other posts they make.

As I said myself, I find that while I like what a person says in one thread, we could have extreme opposite opinions on other matters. So I don't track people, I track posts. 'My Forum Posts' gets worn thin until I go dig for something new to discuss.

by jaqui

the way I do it.

the most recent comments list, if anything catches my eye, then my forum posts then posts from my contacts then new posts.
[ in order of use. ]
and if I have a lot of different threads in my forum posts I tend to stop there and not hit the last two.

by charliespencer

I add people more for their benefit than my own. To me it's an easy way to let someone know I think they make sense on a regular basis. I rarely use it for anything else.

I use the "Contacts Online" tab on the right side. It lets me know if I can expect a quick response to a comment.

I'm amazed by the number of people I've never knowingly interacted with and yet have selected me as a contact.

I'm glad the contact system isn't more extensive. While there are probably many members who would like more "social" functionality, I don't think I want the extra interaction.

by oz_media

That's exact;y what I think too. I often find it kinda neat ot se ewho is online, especially late at night if I am browsing through TR. Sometimes it' sworth a quick HELLO post to say hi to someone who you post along with at busier times when there is too much going on to steo back and say hello.

I was thinking it would be nice to have a SMALL chat style window, perhaps even just one line comments you can send to an online contact to say hello, hows things, etc.

That is not what brought me to post this thread though, just curiosity after seeing people say X has been deleted from my contacts now. As if it is something bad or good ro something, I dunno.

It's neat to see who counte you as a contact, a bunch I've never spoken to or have any idea even existed before.

I don't care fo rteh emails though, where online they are 12432999@yahoo and you get an email saying "Great post on Iraq, Oz. I thought Jimmy was right on the money, what's your phons mnumber?"

No signature, some personal address that I can't link to being 12432999@yahoo etc.

I don't know WTF you are, introduce yourself.
People often come across as if they know you but you don't have a clue who they are.

by charliespencer

I leave the Discussions Forum open all day and refresh it every hour or so. Once a day at lunch I hit the TR home page and review any new content that hasn't already generated a discussion.

by jellimonsta

When I intially joined, I don't even remember if 'off topic water cooler' was even popular, so I mostly frequented tech discussion.
However, I then found myself mostly in 'off topic' discussion. I seem to have spurts where I am innactive on TR for quite some time (but I am trying to stick around for a while now), so I use the list to see what people with whom I have conversed, are up to.

by oz_media

That moustache isn't because of the Jellie Belly comment was it? I didn't mean to suggest you were pregnant, it was just a passing thought while reading posts. :D

by mjd420nova

I've never listed anyone in the contact list. I just haven't found the need. I look at all posts, review the new discussions and new questions lists several times a day so I don't miss anything posted by anyone. Some other forums also allow you to look at the list of others who have included you as a contact but I find that as unneeded unless you find the need to gloat or have entered a contest to see how many you can get to count you as a contact.

by oz_media

they do that here too, I think so anyway, can't remember for sure. Don't know why either.

by nicknielsen

I work mostly from the New Discussions RSS feed and my discussion subscriptions.

Do I miss some great discussions? I probably do.

Am I late to others? I definitely am.

To be honest, I use my Contacts mostly as an afterthought.

by boxfiddler Hot topic

I cry myself to sleep at night when someone kicks me off their Contact list. :(

by jdclyde

of course after I am done teasing you, right back on you will go, but that is besides the point, right? ;\

by older mycroft

I help a few TR wannabe pilots to crash & burn in online combat in 'Wings of War'.

I'm now starting to scope for CaptBilly1Eye so's he can kick my butt in 'GORE Ultimate Soldier'.

There's no point starting a game if there's no-one to play with! ;)

But as for following Peers posts, nah. I just browse for anything that looks interesting.

by jdclyde

If two people have gmail accounts, you see when they are in, and can launch a small window for chat.

I do that win one person, but normally because people at work were driving her nuts and she had to share the luv.... :p

by jaqui

old r/t cgi chat scripts used on some chat sites. [ Chatropolis, SOI* both still use them ]

*SOI= State Of Insanity, the name of the site. :D

by captbilly1eye

I occasionally look to see who in my Contacts list is currently on line and then check their recent posts. If for no other reason than to dig up interesting discussions. That's actually how I ended up in this thread.

Most of the time, I just bounce between the Questions and Discussions randomly poking around for a topic I can contribute to.

As for who I add to my list... the criteria seems to have been those that I have a commonality with for one reason or another. Hmmm.. omigosh... look! You ain't in my list! Oh, that's right you're a Canadian. :D

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