No imagination or is it a lack of common sense?

I think they are just bored and want to have a chat really - bit of a lame opening gambit but that is how i usually think of those posts

i cant believe anyone really cant figure out something to cook for supper

Sometimes it helps to get inspiration from others. A bit like brainstorming I suppose.

Inspiration is fine - but to get that you have to give something yourself surely? I wouldn't go into a brain storm meeting at work and ask for input from everyone else without giving any myself IYSWIM.

I could be completely wrong on this, but I wonder if sometimes it's as simple as people wanting to start a thread and being unable to think of something to talk about. It's quite hard sometimes to get 'known' on a forum just from replying to threads, but it's also hard to start a non-generic thread when people don't 'know' you- catch 22.

It does get a bit tedious though, I quite agree (although I'm *fairly* sure I've posted a lot of inane claptrap in my time)?. Perhaps I'm being generous and they're not trying to make friends, but are in fact muppets. ?

I agree, but I wouldn't necessarily assume from one of those threads that the poster hadn't thought of anything.

Sometimes you just need someone to tell you what to do though don't you? Or maybe that's just me ?

I think a lot of it has to do it with a) boredom, wanting to talk to someone where interaction IRL at the moment isn't an option or to get away from soemthing in real life and b) following asking a better question you get into the cycle of asking about small things too without thinking or realising that it is a bit silly.

quote:Originally posted by Bombay Mix
I agree, but I wouldn't necessarily assume from one of those threads that the poster hadn't thought of anything.

id="quote">

But wouldn't you say "I've looked in my recipe books and nothing is inspiring me - we love meat dishes, any thoughts?"

(Maybe I'm thinking about this too much! ?

I thought exactly the same. How does someone with that mentality actually get through the day? ?

I'd understand better if more information was given - "Where shall we go on holiday this year? We've been to most countries in Europe; last year we went skiing in Colorado; we don't fancy a cruise and we like sightseeing not lying on beaches. Any ideas?"

"What shall I buy my mother for her birthday? My sister is getting her a camera; she doesn't wear perfume; she likes gardening."

All of a sudden it's easier to help.

Also what Lou said. More established posters probably find it easier to start a thread about something if they are bored as they maybe have friends here so have a chat on that thread. Sometimes I think for newer posters it isn't as easy to start one of those more..familiar(?) type threads to get some chat and it's a struggle to get noticed unless you try to join in more.

Edited for rubbish typing sorry

quote:Originally posted by LouM
I could be completely wrong on this, but I wonder if sometimes it's as simple as people wanting to start a thread and being unable to think of something to talk about. It's quite hard sometimes to get 'known' on a forum just from replying to threads, but it's also hard to start a non-generic thread when people don't 'know' you- catch 22.

It does get a bit tedious though, I quite agree (although I'm *fairly* sure I've posted a lot of inane claptrap in my time)?. Perhaps I'm being generous and they're not trying to make friends, but are in fact muppets. ?

id="quote">

Ah, so this is why I don't have any friends on here! ? I'm going to start a thread every morning asking 'what should I wear today?' ? That'll get me known as a complete muppet in no time.

Personally I think some people are genuine when they ask, some are incredibly indecisive and just want justification for the ideas they already have and some are lazy and want hitchers to do the work for them.

Edited because I'm a complete muppet who can't use code properly

It's the laziness element that gets me. Look it up your bloody self, I have enough decisions of my own to make today thanks. ?

quote:Originally posted by Mrs Winkle
On here sometimes, I'm stunned to read some of the requests for help. Today there is one saying "Help! I don't know what to cook for dinner!" and I'm guess I'm pretty surprised that an adult could have no clue of what to cook, and not think to look up recipes on the internet or in cookbooks. There's other ones about where to go on holiday, what to buy people for presents. I understand people wanting recommendations, I have asked for them myself - but surely you'd try and get at least an idea first before asking others.

This really isn't a dig - I know it will sound like one though. So - why do people ask others about such simple things?

id="quote">

Apologies I didn't ask my question in the right context. I'll try to be more specific next time, or I won't worry about asking for advice.

What often annoys me are the people who only ever post to ask questions and never to reply. I know I ask my fair share of crap questions but honestly ?

There's no need to be defensive. I'm asking a genuine question, I wasn't being nasty, I am intrigued.

quote:Originally posted by Mrs Winkle
It's the laziness element that gets me. Look it up your bloody self, I have enough decisions of my own to make today thanks. ?

id="quote">

next time, you should say answer 'pigs trotters deep fried in caul fat' and 'Darfur is lovely at this time of year'. ?

quote:Originally posted by jaz
What often annoys me are the people who only ever post to ask questions and never to reply. I know I ask my fair share of crap questions but honestly ?

id="quote">
I reply quite a lot to other people's questions! But a lot of the time people talk about things I have no experience in so my input is not needed!!

quote:Originally posted by Mrs Winkle
There's no need to be defensive. I'm asking a genuine question, I wasn't being nasty, I am intrigued.

id="quote">

I can see how the OP may feel like she has to defend herself.

Its no different from when people post HRML which we have all done.

Anyway, you should all read that thread because I posted a really good recipe that anyone can cook ?

I'm not getting at you btw VJ just I think some people take the piss a little bit and make no effort to contribute otherwise sometimes.

I think your dinner thread is fine by the way - you gave much more info than I probably would ?

quote:Originally posted by bettyb

quote:Originally posted by Mrs Winkle
There's no need to be defensive. I'm asking a genuine question, I wasn't being nasty, I am intrigued.

id="quote">

I can see how the OP may feel like she has to defend herself.

Its no different from when people post HRML which we have all done.

id="quote">

Absolutely.

quote:Originally posted by bettyb

quote:Originally posted by Mrs Winkle
There's no need to be defensive. I'm asking a genuine question, I wasn't being nasty, I am intrigued.

id="quote">

I can see how the OP may feel like she has to defend herself.

Its no different from when people post HRML which we have all done.

id="quote">

i can see that too - but in fact it is something that stacks of people do - and can be a bit irritating sometimes

i think the hrml is a bit different - if someone is giving choices - shall i wear this dress or that dress? would greece or spain be nicer in july? no?

dont you find it a teensy bit odd? - 'what, of all the foodstuffs in the world shall i cook?'

like i said i always assumed it is because people dont have anything else to start a chat with but maybe i was wrong ?

Isn't HRML done tongue in cheek and usually gives choices?

I really didn't mean this as a dig, as I said right at the beginning. I just don't understand how people can ask such simple questions giving no input themselves.

quote:Originally posted by VJ

quote:Originally posted by jaz
What often annoys me are the people who only ever post to ask questions and never to reply. I know I ask my fair share of crap questions but honestly ?

id="quote">
I reply quite a lot to other people's questions! But a lot of the time people talk about things I have no experience in so my input is not needed!!

id="quote">

I meant no offence by my comments btw. ? Just pile in whenever you have something to say- there have been lots of debates over the last few days to get stuck into!

quote:Originally posted by bettyb

quote:Originally posted by Mrs Winkle
There's no need to be defensive. I'm asking a genuine question, I wasn't being nasty, I am intrigued.

id="quote">

I can see how the OP may feel like she has to defend herself.

Its no different from when people post HRML which we have all done.

id="quote">

Sorry but what do OP and HRML mean? Thanks!

quote:Originally posted by VJ

quote:Originally posted by bettyb

quote:Originally posted by Mrs Winkle
There's no need to be defensive. I'm asking a genuine question, I wasn't being nasty, I am intrigued.

id="quote">

I can see how the OP may feel like she has to defend herself.

Its no different from when people post HRML which we have all done.

id="quote">

Sorry but what do OP and HRML mean? Thanks!

id="quote">

Original Poster and Hitched Run My Life ?

quote:Originally posted by jaz

quote:Originally posted by VJ

quote:Originally posted by bettyb

quote:Originally posted by Mrs Winkle
There's no need to be defensive. I'm asking a genuine question, I wasn't being nasty, I am intrigued.

id="quote">

I can see how the OP may feel like she has to defend herself.

Its no different from when people post HRML which we have all done.

id="quote">

Sorry but what do OP and HRML mean? Thanks!

id="quote">

Original Poster and Hitched Run My Life ?

id="quote">

Thanks!

quote:Originally posted by jaz
What often annoys me are the people who only ever post to ask questions and never to reply. I know I ask my fair share of crap questions but honestly ?

id="quote">

there was someone on BT who did this regularly - she never even said thank you to people who responded to her threads ? she was pulled up over it and went off in a huge strop never to be seen again

i sometimes wonder how she gets through her days without Hitched.....

Who was that hitcher that asked about everything, absolutely everything. Aaargh. What was her name? I think she went off and had a baybeh.

quote:Originally posted by Mrs Winkle
Who was that hitcher that asked about everything, absolutely everything. Aaargh. What was her name? I think she went off and had a baybeh.

id="quote">

Lou05? She's a reformed character ?

quote:Originally posted by Mrs Winkle
Who was that hitcher that asked about everything, absolutely everything. Aaargh. What was her name? I think she went off and had a baybeh.

id="quote">


Lou05.

That's her - Lou05. ?

I don't think all of the thread starter/otherwise non contributers are rude per se but I do think it comes across as bit self absorbed sometimes [:I]