Sometimes I feel overwhelmed here

[Tonya]

Well, I feel bad now. I never realized that random posts out of boredom bothered people. I guess that I didn't think about it because so many other people do it. I'll try a little harder to not post random stuff.

[captain]

Tonya,

Don't you stop with your random posts!!!!! Don't make me come over there ..................!!!

[Fallon]

I agree with you whole-heartedly... I wish I could chat on here for days on end.. It just can't be done with all those other tiny things that need to get done! What a shame we share!

[sirrahbed]

I don't think Chris meant here on General did you Chris? This place seems to be a pretty much random posting place where anything goes. That is my impression anyway. The Cat, Dog and Pet boards tend to get a bit cluttered sometimes and I will try to be more careful about THAT. Here - it can still be fun and say what you want, yes?

[ChrisH]

I don't think Chris meant here on General did you Chris?

Not General in particular, no. I also take a look at Dog General and Cat General, but usually begin with Todays Active Threads ...
Maybe it would be better if I began with the Cat & Dog threads instead, then I wouldn't miss all the lovely pictures and news ...
Ah, but then, by the time I finished, I would miss the other things, prayers needed, birthdays, congratulations, etc. And then are the other interesting threads, like, right now, the California BBQ ... ack!

[sirrahbed]

I did not know there was a feature for "today's active threads"??
My routine is always the same. First Cat General where I read EVERYTHING. That will normally alert me if I need to stop in at health or memorial. Then if there is time, I come to General and read whatever sounds interesting or fun. If I am feeling really brave or grumpy - then I go to the DogHouse and maybe stop in the bar
I NEVER miss a day at PT though - NEVER!!! I may not comment like I want to, and do feel bad and overwhelmed on those days, but I still read.

[Albea]

Originally posted by RobiLee

Hmmm, maybe we shouldn't feel so overwhelmed and guilty. Maybe we should just enjoy Pet Talk and post when we can.
I Love Pet Talk
Robin

Well said, Robin!
I come to PT, as little as I do, to enjoy it, not out of a sense of obligation.
I don't read as many posts as I would like or answer as much as I used to. In my case, the volunteer work I do for Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue takes over my life. Right now, because of the Annual Fund Appeal has generated such an extraordinary response, I have done over 700 "thank you" cards for donations in the last month. So, if my choice is to talk about pets or do something to help the rescue dogs, the choice is made without even thinking about it.
I'm sorry for all the birthdays and congratulations that I've missed. On the other hand, I'm very happy to know that what I do will help many dogs have a second chance for a better life.
If a pup needs prayers or somebody needs advice about something I know, I try to make time to post. Otherwise, the dogs come first.
I love all your beautiful pets, even if I don't tell you about it all the time.

[Kfamr]

I hope none of my threads bother anyone. Sometimes I get bored and think of something interesting to share with everyone. I generally get a lot of replies with them, so I'm not sure if these are that are bothering everyone.... if they are, please let me know.

I'm not sure if this is related but it's something that's been on my mind.

I often feel weird going into the cat section. I feel as if i'm not welcomed there. I guess it's just because I don't own a cat, and i'm a dog person. It seems the only way to get replies there is to post something that some might not agree with, such as the thread about me wanting to adopt a cat. Even when Caeleigh and Orion were here.. I took TONS of pictures to share with everyone, but I ended up not getting many replies, so I decided not to share them all. I used to try and post in every active section and reply to lots of people...but since not getting many replies from Caeleigh & Orion, it's sort of pushed me away. I do often read over there, but it feel weird even reading. It's like it's a whole other forum.
I love when I see "cat people" post in my threads in dog general... It makes me glad to see that a few take the time to respond to the dog side.
And I don't mean to say this to hurt anyone, i'm just saying it because it's how i've been feeling lately. =\

[carole]

Personally I don't find anyone's postings boring, some might be somewhat trivial in comparison to others, but its up to the individual to read them or not.

When PT becomes such a big part of your life, it just becomes natural to share things with everyone, even if they are not that interesting, or as some see it boring, and that is what I love about this place, no-one should be made to feel bad about posting, this is a place filled with love, fun and sharing, if you are feeling down, on a high, want questions answered, or even just plain bored, there is always someone who wants to know and listen, just MO for what its worth. What one person finds boring another might not.

I just wanted to add after a days thoughts, I think PT would not be so successful and interesting if it were just about Pets, for me I love to hear about other people's lives and what is going on in them, like for instance, about kims daughter, about Cali's sheep farm, just two examples, as much as i enjoy hearing all about Pets, I also get immense enjoyment of getting to know the people who own these pets as well.

PS kay don't feel weird about posting in the cat section, your contribution is so welcome, so come on over anytime, myself I hardly ever go to the dog section, I must be more adventurous and do so from now on lol.

[Barbara]

I go in the queue where everyone stands.... feeling a little guilty sometimes because I don't answer all the threads I'd like. I try to follow Cat General and Health, and to answer the COTD thread. But when I was away like this weekend I am lost

However I am trying hard not to feel guilty when I don't answer- and on the other hand not to think it is a personal thing if someone doesn't answer my threads-because I know it isn't in both cases

[Logan]

I don't have the time I used to have at Pet Talk. I pop in and out during the day and evening, when I can. I think the posts that I have missed out on, mostly, are all the wonderful photographs that you folks take of your pets. I rarely can click on a linked album, and sometimes I don't even open the threads that I know have tons of pictures because I simply don't have time. Kay, I'm sure I missed your precious Cat pictures for that very same reason.

I'm with you all, it can be overwhelming at times, and I am a member or manager of several other forums, some that I only visit every two weeks or so as time allows. I choose to do what Robin, SAS, Alicia and others suggested, I'm not going to let it get the best of me, and I'm going to join in when I can and try not to feel guilty about it! It doesn't mean that I don't care, it means that I'm away doing other things like work, spending time with my family (including the pets), working in my yard, etc. These are things that I enjoy along with my time here!

Logan

[bluekat]

Originally posted by Kfamr
I often feel weird going into the cat section. I feel as if i'm not welcomed there. I guess it's just because I don't own a cat, and i'm a dog person. It seems the only way to get replies there is to post something that some might not agree with, such as the thread about me wanting to adopt a cat. Even when Caeleigh and Orion were here.. I took TONS of pictures to share with everyone, but I ended up not getting many replies, so I decided not to share them all. I used to try and post in every active section and reply to lots of people...but since not getting many replies from Caeleigh & Orion, it's sort of pushed me away. I do often read over there, but it feel weird even reading. It's like it's a whole other forum.
I love when I see "cat people" post in my threads in dog general... It makes me glad to see that a few take the time to respond to the dog side.
And I don't mean to say this to hurt anyone, i'm just saying it because it's how i've been feeling lately. =\

Kay, of course you're welcome on the cat side LOL I always go over to the dog side, simply because I love dogs. I just post in other people's picture threads though. At first when I started going over there it felt so weird and I felt so out of place because I didn't have a dog. But now I think I'm ok.

I always feel that I don't have enough time to be on PT. I would love to have the time everyday to visit most of the forums and post in the POTD threads though.

[mruffruff]

I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of threads I want to read. And I understand what Sasvermont meant by "trivial" posts. I'm sure she meant the ones that are very pointless and relate to only one other person, such as "Susy, did I see you on forum X last night?" This is where a PM would be better.

I try to read all of the posts in dog, cat and general. That doesn't leave much time to post-----if I want to keep my job! I try to post on subjects where my experience can help or where someone else's can help me. I don't have time or ability to view the videos but try to catch the pictures.

If I start a thread and don't get a lot of replies, I don't feel too bad. Not everyone will have something to say about what interests me.

I consider this a place to learn about a lot of things, not just pets; To commiserate with people I consider friends; To rejoice in their triumphs; To give or get a laugh.

I could spend all day, every day here on PetTalk. Unfortunately life gets in the way.

Mary

[Lillycat]

i agree w/carole.....this is a wonderful place and we should understand that what is interesting to one is not a "big thing" to another....and realizing that we are all different we should appreciate that fact of difference. i do not have a lot to say.....sometimes just hmmmmm, meaning "giving it some thought"......but i enjoy it all anyway. i am feeling bad about some of the comments here.....i think that is why some people i know just "lurk".....its something to think about.....hmmmmmm

[Killearn Kitties]

I know just what you mean Carole. The fact is that no matter how much time I would like to spend here, I simply don't have any more time.

I would hate to think I missed something really important to someone. I always try to check all the Cat forums for important news and General, but some days there can be more than a page of new posts on Cat General alone and, with the best will in the world, I just don't have that kind of time. Sometimes I don't post on threads simply because I don't have anything to say that someone else has not already said. If it's a case of someone needing moral support though, I try to post something, even if it has been said already.