To y'all replying in harmless threads $h!tting on the topic: why?

[R. A.]

This is a genuine question, though I can predict the kind of answers that may come and the potential shitstorm it'll invoke.

I don't care to name name or give particular examples. This is something I saw regularly enough soon after I joined, and it always kind of confused and irritated me.

Someone posts a thread, in whatever forum, along the lines of "What's your favorite ___?" or "What ___ do you like?". Most of the replies are legit. Some are a few words, others more detailed accounts, sometimes with stories.

But then there's the inevitable crap like "I don't like any ___" or "I hate ___" or "No ___ is good" or whatever version.
My question to those who do this is: why do you do this?

OP wasn't asking if you like or have a favorite whatever - and I'm not talking about the kind of grey-area threads which usually go something along the lines of "Does anyone else like ___?" even though imo those are also pretty clearly nonspecifically geared to sharing about liking whatever - I'm talking about the ones that are obviously about sharing some enjoyment or appreciation or just info about some kind of thing.

I get it, you're miserable and suicidal. We all are, that's why we're here. If you wanna write about how much you hate X, or can't enjoy Y anymore and how much that sucks, that's valid; there are also other threads for that. Or you can, I dunno, make one. It's not like this place has any rules or limits on negativity; it's a damn ocean of it.
I just don't get this apparent trend of people having to dump all over every f'king thing when that valid feeling could be better put elsewhere. No one's forcing you to reply to these threads with your contrary takes.

I'm honestly so curious about why I constantly see this and would love to hear why people do it, after having offered my own suggestions for what I consider more constructive alternatives.

 

[EvisceratedJester]

Hopefully this isn't seen as too much of a shitpost

Do you know what a shitpost is? Because I feel like you don't know what a shit post is.

You see, urban dictionary defines a shitpost as

Shitpost

A post of little to no sincere insightful substance. Especially a "shit"(low)-effort/quality-post with the sole purpose to confuse, provoke, entertain or otherwise evoke an unproductive reaction. Often exemplified in surreal out-of-context posts.

Shitposts can be many things including memes, spam, and bait - but rarely vice-versa.
Unlike memes, shitposts have no template.
Unlike spam, shitposts don't need repetition.
Unlike bait, shitposts aren't designed for response.
Why does this image of a possum with a gun say "triangle"?
You wouldn't get it It's just a shitpost.

Now, Urban Dictionary can be defined as

Urban Dictionary is a crowdsourced English-language online dictionary for slang words and phrases. The website was founded in 1999 by Aaron Peckham.

And urban dictionary defines urbandicyionary as

urbandictionary

A place for you to lie about the amount of sexual knowledge experience you have.
"Damn, that chick rejected me...what do I do now?

...

I know! I'll go on urbandictionary and give words fake sexual meanings! That'll help my self-esteem!"

 

[Dejected 55]

I mean... technically your post here can't be replied to by anyone who isn't a contrarian. Either someone agrees with you entirely and their post is irrelevant or they disagree and they aren't welcome.

I think it's one thing for someone to go into a post just to stir the pot. I'm not a fan of that either... so if that's what you're talking about... trolling, pot-stirring, being contrary just to be contrary... I get it.

But I know I, for instance... sometimes someone will post a "why are dolphins your favorite animal" and it has a limited audience and I can't at all post on that topic... but I realize I like cats... and cats aren't dolphins... but I share some common things in my regard for cats that you do with your regard for dolphins and that seems like a thing I could add to the discussion and I do... and whatever happens after that happens.

My feeling is... once we post on a public message board of any kind, we invite others to comment. People can ignore us, disagree with us, applaud us, whatever our post makes them feel is fine. As long as they are sincere and not trolling for trolling sake... that seems like the point of a discussion forum.

 

[sevennn]

what

 

[Forveleth]

First, welcome to the internet. This is what happens. As mentioned above, some people want to post things just to evoke a reaction whether that be positive or negative. I think some people feel compelled to reply to threads even if they don't have much of substance to say so they give a shit response. Lastly, this is a place full of very hurt, angry, and depressed people, which means sometimes they are grumpy, and they will give responses like this. I know I have wanted to give some of the responses to threads, sometimes when I am not feeling well, and it can be difficult to suppress that urge.

When I come across those responses, I just roll my eyes and scroll past. If I see the same person giving those types of responses on several threads, I hit the ignore button.

 

[Pluto]