HR Forum Personality Types
Paul in Cannon Beach
4,703 Posts
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 03-17-03 AT 07:34PM (CST)[/font][p]Someone suggested we analyze Gillian's habit of posting replies but never initiating posts (until her recent breakthrough. See Dilbert)
I figured, hey why not analyze the whole spectrum of forum types. Can you spot your type? Can you suggest others I have not mentioned?
1. Lurkers - don't post, just view. Profile disabled. Probably hiding something.
2. Popularity posters - start posts just to see how many views/posts they can get.
3. Pleasers - never post their own problems because they are too busy trying to research well-thought out answers (with web links) to the problems of others. Also, they will sometimes try to cheer up a poster who is getting reamed for a particularly moronic viewpoint.
4. HarDehar Heads- they have stopped using the forum for any useful purposes and now devote their time entirely to haiku, favorite movies, and mis-heard lyrics.
5. The War Hero - laces all posts with terrorizing war stories designed to frighten you into total HR immobility. Note that the war hero never explains why all this bad stuff happens to companies HE/SHE WORKS FOR.
6. The Moses Complex - they believe their posts are inspired and infallible and heaven help you if you disagree.
7. The softies - they steer clear of any posts that include the words ADA, Union contract, HIPAA, Non-compete agreement, etc. They love threads that have to do with pen stealing, poop fingerpainting, and hurt feelings.
8. The reduntant repeaters - for whatever reason, they repeat their posts twice. For whatever reason, they repeat their posts twice.
9. The Johnny Come Lately's - these guys unknowingly resurrect a dead thread long after it has been thoroughly beaten into the ground. Ex. Alcohol at christmas parties, personality profiling
10. The Deseperation Poster - Only have one post. They hastily create a profile, post their desperate cry for help as the DOL knocks on their door, and then are never heard from again.
11. The tease - they initiate a most intriguing post about some voliatile situation in their workplace which sets the forum afire and results in all manner of helpful responses but alas we never hear how the situation is resolved and we are left perpetually, eternally with one shoe un-dropped.
12. Edit Addicts - constantly, edit and re-edit their posts in a futile search for post perfection.
Paul
p.s. I will admit to be a combination: Polularity/Pleaser/Softie
I figured, hey why not analyze the whole spectrum of forum types. Can you spot your type? Can you suggest others I have not mentioned?
1. Lurkers - don't post, just view. Profile disabled. Probably hiding something.
2. Popularity posters - start posts just to see how many views/posts they can get.
3. Pleasers - never post their own problems because they are too busy trying to research well-thought out answers (with web links) to the problems of others. Also, they will sometimes try to cheer up a poster who is getting reamed for a particularly moronic viewpoint.
4. HarDehar Heads- they have stopped using the forum for any useful purposes and now devote their time entirely to haiku, favorite movies, and mis-heard lyrics.
5. The War Hero - laces all posts with terrorizing war stories designed to frighten you into total HR immobility. Note that the war hero never explains why all this bad stuff happens to companies HE/SHE WORKS FOR.
6. The Moses Complex - they believe their posts are inspired and infallible and heaven help you if you disagree.
7. The softies - they steer clear of any posts that include the words ADA, Union contract, HIPAA, Non-compete agreement, etc. They love threads that have to do with pen stealing, poop fingerpainting, and hurt feelings.
8. The reduntant repeaters - for whatever reason, they repeat their posts twice. For whatever reason, they repeat their posts twice.
9. The Johnny Come Lately's - these guys unknowingly resurrect a dead thread long after it has been thoroughly beaten into the ground. Ex. Alcohol at christmas parties, personality profiling
10. The Deseperation Poster - Only have one post. They hastily create a profile, post their desperate cry for help as the DOL knocks on their door, and then are never heard from again.
11. The tease - they initiate a most intriguing post about some voliatile situation in their workplace which sets the forum afire and results in all manner of helpful responses but alas we never hear how the situation is resolved and we are left perpetually, eternally with one shoe un-dropped.
12. Edit Addicts - constantly, edit and re-edit their posts in a futile search for post perfection.
Paul
p.s. I will admit to be a combination: Polularity/Pleaser/Softie
Comments
Thank you all for making this realm more understandable!
Kari
I think there is another one..the Droners -they have to answer a post with no less than a page length, often repeating themselves about 3-4 times in their answer...
I am a former Lurker who has graduated to Pleaser status. Although, at times I have a bit of Softie in me and have mistakenly taken on the mantle of Redundant Repeater. Never will be a Edit Addict though! ;;)
The-Bearded-Ruby Throated-Non-Feather-Ruffler: A really gentle guy who will go to any extreme to vaguely state his answer in a manner which is nonconfrontational and pleasing to all sides in the conversation. One who is the go-along guy who just wants everybody to like him and is extreme in his efforts to resist telling it like it is. Would never fly a controversial flag.
And, The Masked-Lawyer Poster: The attorney or attorney wannabee who pops up just once in a great while and comes on stronger than ex-lax when he or she reams us out with his/her educated, pontifical opinions having no basis in experience, only in theory. Often these are the guys who will charge into the Forum for a few posts, then get offended and retract and lay-in-waiting. Also the guy/gal who has the automatic footnote disclaimer about not giving legal advice. Typically he/she tells you upfront to consult a labor attorney. Something to do with self preservation. Generally likes Gin and Tonic and Jaguars and one Mercedes at the house is an absolute must.
And, third.....I've noticed a few of these in the last year. The Instigator. The guy or gal who will log on just to take a jab or incite a conversation that's going well or will ask something really constructive like, "How do you have so much time to spend on The Forum anyway, just wondering?" These are the guys/gals who can't seem to offer constructive solutions or raise provocative questions. These are 'in transition' and will soon become full participants, sticking a toe in first, then the whole foot, then the leg and all.
And, even a fourth: This one is reserved only for Steve Mc. A perfect gentleman who joins in when he can find the time; who always provides solid insight and wisdom; who infuses his knowledge with humor; who will always have a tried and true answer and who will dash into a phone booth and disappear for a month at a time.
Oh wait, I do like the use the edit function, too.
The tease: I admit - I post, I read, I react. Sometimes come back to tell the tale, usually not.
Pleaser: Why not? What good is it if you don't check out what you're going to say before you say it? I don't always have to, but if there is a shadow of a doubt, yes. That's so you always know you're....
Right, right Don?
The reckless ignoramus - skims the posts and quickly fires off a reply without understanding the details of the situation or genders of those involved.
Paul
Seriously, there is the 'ONE TRACKER', the ones who visit and post to only one particular Forum arena over and over rather than bouncing around recklessly like most of us do.
no I'm a 5 .....x:-/
The Digression Specialist - fixes his or her attention on some peripheral aspect of a thread and manages to hijack the discussion and send it careening off-line into a discussion of grits, California, college football, etc.
Paul
The Word droppers - anyone who would use the word "germane" in their post.
Paul
Paul- I was wondering what gave you the idea to classify the forum users? Not to sound too much like a kindergarten teacher, I must say it is very creative!
Is there a category for posters who are deathly afraid of having their posts torn to shreds by veteran posters, (i.e. Don D.)?
April
Valentine.
Paul
Zanne
With numbers five, seven, five
But who started it?
The Quitter - believes the answer to every HR problem is to quit your job. Rude boss? Quit! Lazy co-worker? Quit! Lame vending machines in the staff lounge? QUIT!!!
Paul
p.s. I am not personally responsible for any lull in productivity that resulted from the aforementioned haiku contest.