What makes a poster popular?

[Rasa]

- popular poster begins thread

And what makes a popular poster?

...

And do RL popular people tend to be popular online, too?

 

[Ghost of the dead horse]

And what makes a popular poster?

Popularity attracts popularity, but so does content and meaning.

 

[ThatsWhatHeSaid]

Copied from What Threads Catch Your Eye?

* * *


This is part of my obsession with forum dynamics and how they map onto the real world.

I'd first start by trying to define popularity. The Wikipedia (which everyone knows is THE AUTHORITY on knowledge) links popularity to an article on social status, and says "In sociology or anthropology, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society (one's social position). The stratification system, which is the system of distributing rewards to the members of society, determines social status. Social status, the position or rank of a person or group within the stratification system, can be determined two ways. One can earn their social status by their own achievements, which is known as achieved status, or one can be placed in the stratification system by their inherited position, which is called ascribed status."

1. What types of rewards are distributed here? Compliments? Reputation?

2. How does one achieve status here? Post count? Post quality? Social connections and perceived popularity? I read something recently about how dominant figures are either aggressors or peacemakers. Does that hold steady here? (I think it does.)

 

[bluebell]

This is part of my obsession with forum dynamics and how they map onto the real world. I guess I would ask:

1) What makes someone popular in real life? (fear, assets)

Maybe I've totally misread this - but are you saying that you think popularity IRL is based on fear (of the popular person) and the popular person having assets?

 

[nemo]

How friendly they are with mods.

 

[disregard]

Assets can be non-material, Bluebell... more like "assets of personality"... but really, who cares about those.

 

[sriv]

What a question! By imitating me of course.

 

[ThatsWhatHeSaid]

Maybe I've totally misread this - but are you saying that you think popularity IRL is based on fear (of the popular person) and the popular person having assets?

I edited my post, but yeah, that's what I was thinking. People in positions of power are either feared or have certain assets (good groomers, access to power/information, access to friends).

How friendly they are with mods.

This is absolutely true. I tend to make friends with people in power pretty quickly and I did on INTPc. It's not a conscious thing that I masterminded. (I swear!) Is that status by association, like inherited status?

What makes the mods powerful? Can't just be their power because we're not THAT powerful, especially alone. Is it uniqueness, maybe?

What a question! By imitating me of course.

Who are you?

 

[Domino]

*steps to the microphone, weeping with gratitude*

I'd like to thank my butt-less chaps and my ATHENA pheromones.

*pageant wave*

 

[ThatsWhatHeSaid]

Assets can be non-material, Bluebell... more like "assets of personality"... but really, who cares about those.

Why is Dana popular?

* easy to read and interesting
* friendly with madmins
* knows all the rules
* knows what's up in terms of what threads are out there (de facto perceived authority?)
* girl


Something that's interested me is in how people present themselves and whether or not they are ready to fight for their principles. It's definitely related to whom I consider to have high status.

 

[nemo]

Oh yes, having a vagina will do wonders too.

 

[sriv]

Who are you?

Nobody.

 

[ThatsWhatHeSaid]

Another question.

In the real world, money is a big factor in determining status. The rep system was the closest thing we had, but it's gone. Is there any other form of currency here? Does post-count represent something similar to capital? Join date?

 

[SillySapienne]

Oh yes, having a vagina will do wonders too.

Bull shit!!!

If I were more Captain than Chick, I'd be a lot more popular with the peeps, fo' shizzle.

 

[disregard]

Three ways to popularity:

1. Intellectual grasp on how people work, and using it to your advantage.
2. Natural coolness/people skills
3. Badass infamy

Popularity can be YOURS!

 

[Ivy]

I'm not sure I buy the "friendly with madmins" part, although sure, it is often true. Somehow, Uber became a very popular poster despite being kind of a thorn in our collective side. And CC, while lovely, is not bestest friends with the madmins either.

 

[nemo]

Bull shit!!!

If I were more Captain than Chick, I'd be a lot more popular with the peeps, fo' shizzle.

I immediately thought of you as a counter-example when I posted that, oh well.

 

[Domino]

Another question.

In the real world, money is a big factor in determining status. The rep system was the closest thing we had, but it's gone. Is there any other form of currency here? Does post-count represent something similar to capital? Join date?

Currency here? It's language.

 

[Domino]

Bull shit!!!

If I were more Captain than Chick, I'd be a lot more popular with the peeps, fo' shizzle.

Dear Captain,

I'd totally do you.

Signed,
Lonely Vagina


lol!

 

[sriv]

Getting everyone to hate/be annoyed by you. Infamy will be yours! Dana: Uber says hi again.