[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

I always feel guilty when I read posts like this because I get lots of replies to my photos. Am I a clique leader or a shameless overpromoter? Well, yes, but that's beside the point

I don't buy the argument that there's discrimination. I think it all comes down to familiarity. Here are some numbers to illustrate my point.

This uses you and me as an example. And don't take this the wrong way. I LOVE your pictures and your pup, and I love your thoughtful and informative posts.

Join date:
You: April 2005
Me: June 2005

Total posts:
You: 678
Me: 10,822

Number of threads submitted on the My Yorkie pictures forum
You: 18
Me: 230

Number of replies on our most recent 18 My Yorkie pictures threads:
You: 272 (Average of 15 replies per post)
Me: 604 (Average of 33)

Now here's where it gets interesting.
Number of replies on our first 18 My Yorkie pictures forum
You 272 (Average of 15 replies per post)
Me: 321 (Average of 17 replies per post)

It took me a long time to become familiar around here. When you look at your first 18 picture posts and my first 18 picture posts, our numbers are almost identical. And, believe me, I felt the same way you do. I wondered if anybody noticed me. Back in those days, it was red98vette who got all the replies. I'm STILL jealous of her

Interestingly, it's not just a YT thing. I'm a casual member of another dog forum where I have 1,300 posts since April 2006. In my last 18 picture posts there, I have 293 replies, or about 16 per post, which is almost identical to your current totals and my original 18 posts. It's because I'm not as familiar around there.

I'm not saying it's right or fair, but I'm just saying it's a fact of life on forums. People reply to people they are most familiar with. With thousands and thousands of members, you almost have to be selective.

Plus I've been a more familiar voice on YT in the equal time we've been here. Toss in the fact that I'm one of only a handful of guys and I live in Alaska (where we can see Russia ), and it's understandable that my picture posts would get more than yours.

So my message: Don't be discouraged or feel like you're being snubbed. Just keep posting pictures. At the very least, you're creating an online record of your dogs' lives that you and others can enjoy and revisit for as long as YT is around.

I agree with Mike 100%. I couldn't explain it better but I do want to add that the only way members are known on a forum are by their posts. I was the 199th member to join YorkieTalk - I joined on July 31, 2004. For about 2 years I felt totally lost -- with less than 300 members as opposed to over 30,000. Not that people igmored me, it's just they didn't KNOW me. When I finally started posting and making a huge effort to get to know members I noticed that members started makiing those same efforts to get to know me. I've had more threads and posts ignored than I can count. Sometimes it does hurt my feelings a bit, but heck, that's life. When I get discouraged, I go to the Special Thoughts Needed forum or the Picture and Video forums and start posting away. I figure if I can boost someone else then I can't possibly feel unloved or unwanted.

I remember those Villette days that Mike mentioned - when it was such an HONOR (and it still is) for Villette to respond to one of your threads or posts. And now AlaskaYorkie, is right up there with Villette.(Mike, I know you like the attention ).

I found it to be the same in real life. The first 10 years I was married I moved 10 times 3 of those were 1/2 way across the country away from all family and friends. I found that neighbors made the initial effort to welcome Ronald and me into the new communities we lived in, but Ronald and I had to make a double effort to become a part of those communities.

I am going to go look at your pics, I am sure that I will love your babies..... I love them all AND I just read something about a Llama and I've always been curious about them. SO..... I'm off .....