Group Think...

GermanGirl2007 · April 2011

Ok, I may be stirring the pot a little bit, but I have to ask;

Do you think that certain boards on TN or TB have fallen victim to "group think?"

I feel like our local board is actually really good about people being able to disagree and think independently, etc. HOWEVER, I lurk on a lot of boards, and I feel like some boards are SUCH "bandwagon" boards. Like there is a general consensus among the board about certain issues, and you can either fall in line, or you will forever be a considered a defactor and fall victim to all kinds of snark.

I feel like there are so many varying opinions on so many different issues, and I guess I don't understand this whole mentality. Does anyone else feel this way? This is not in reference to an incident, just a general observation.

Mush-Tastic · April 2011

I agree 100%.

loveablesarah · April 2011

I agree. Those national boards are rough. They are not very welcoming and have no room for anyone who might feel differently than the general population. They seem very close minded to me. Of course, not all of them are that way either, but I'm afraid to post anywhere but here. I like you guys.

mrsadamswife · April 2011

I agree 100%. I HATE confrontation so often run from those kinds of posts no matter what board.

MrsKizdoodle · April 2011

GermanGirl2007:

Do you think that certain boards on TN or TB have fallen victim to "group think?"

Yes.

sjb&apa · April 2011

GermanGirl2007:

Do you think that certain boards on TN or TB have fallen victim to "group think?"

Absolutely. In fact, I would say this about most boards on TN other than this one. I don't use TB.

hkiesling · April 2011

I'm going to say I completely disagree!

Okay, I don't really, but this board is nice, and I think the people would let me disagree without flaming me, so I'm going to excerise my right to play devil's advocate.

MelindaFelinda · April 2011

Totally. But I think anytime there are a bunch of people with strong opinions there are people who latch on to them because they want to be liked. So I don't think it's necessarily just a problem with The Nest.

mrsdawnmarie · April 2011

I think this board has mellowed a lot too. I feel like we used to be really drama-rama and then... we weren't.

There are a couple national boards I sometimes want to post on, but am afraid. So I just lurk. I do post on D&R occasionally and they're pretty nice.

sjb&apa · April 2011

mrsdawnmarie:
I do post on D&R occasionally and they're pretty nice.

I agree, D&R seems to be a little less "group think" than some other boards, at least the ones I look at.

SoEnamored · April 2011

I think some boards are more welcoming than others and some have frequent posting bullies on them which probably causes the group think feel.

Also, you have to lurk on some boards to get a vibe for general unspoken rules before jumping in. PSA - never go on the Getting Pregnant board and announce that you are pregnant if you have not previously made relationships there. It's totally understandable for the otherwise nice GP nesties to jump all over you. I think people make this thoughtless mistake without meaning any ill-will toward the regulars who have been trying to get pregnant for a while but still it's annoying to the regulars.

I do think that this board has a lot of liberal minded individuals on it - or at least it did. I haven't been around much, but not for that reason. Although there are like minded people here, it doesn't mean that it's a group think situation.

thedutchgirl · April 2011

I think it is a chicken or egg situation. Is it that people who participate a lot in the board fall victim to group think or is it that people who agree with what is already posted are more likely to participate? Hard to tell.

I do think the phenonenon, whichever what it begins, is common on national boards. I will say that I think MM is one of the nicer national boards, and people are willing to help when people ask for advice. Of course, they are almost always going to advise cutting cable if you can't pay your mortgage!

GermanGirl2007 · April 2011

MelindaFelinda:
Totally. But I think anytime there are a bunch of people with strong opinions there are people who latch on to them because they want to be liked. So I don't think it's necessarily just a problem with The Nest.

I totally agree with this. Well said.

GermanGirl2007 · April 2011

thedutchgirl:

I think it is a chicken or egg situation. Is it that people who participate a lot in the board fall victim to group think or is it that people who agree with what is already posted are more likely to participate? Hard to tell.

I do think the phenonenon, whichever what it begins, is common on national boards. I will say that I think MM is one of the nicer national boards, and people are willing to help when people ask for advice. Of course, they are almost always going to advise cutting cable if you can't pay your mortgage!

But I agree with this too. It's hard to tell where it starts. And I also agree that you can't have HBO without a house :P

MrsKizdoodle · April 2011

thedutchgirl:
Of course, they are almost always going to advise cutting cable if you can't pay your mortgage!

But you can put cable on a credit card can't you!? Stick out tongue

thedutchgirl · April 2011

MrsKizdoodle:

thedutchgirl:
Of course, they are almost always going to advise cutting cable if you can't pay your mortgage!

But you can put cable on a credit card can't you!?

You can! (And I do for the airline miles!) But of course, you should have already cut up your cards if you can't pay your mortgage.

Sue/Mike · April 2011

Is it ironic that we all agree on this? Smile

smoo&brown · April 2011

I think so... but who would willingly comment that they think it's okay to spend recklessly when you can't pay your bills. Though I work with people who admit to having credit card debt but still spend like crazy... I don't get it.

dmblack · April 2011

This is the very reason I belong to a couple of private boards where you have to be approved to join. They are much nicer there.

mrsdawnmarie · April 2011

dmblack:
This is the very reason I belong to a couple of private boards where you have to be approved to join. They are much nicer there.

Except the exclusivity itself makes it seem less than friendly. Just sayin

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