-- Posted by katyduck at 11:11 am on Aug. 25, 2006 I've been seeing huge levels of activity in the eHelp over the past few months, and was curious as to why exactly we've such a surge. People are frequently getting 15-20 ratings per week, and often replying to more than that. People who were never on the Most Supportive Members are suddenly hitting the top, and I'm wondering why, all of a sudden, SLs are loving eHelp so much. Don't get me wrong, it's brilliant, really brilliant, to see people so eager to help others, but I'm wondering why there is a sudden rise. I'm responding to eHelps less frequently nowadays than I have been beforehand, as are many of the previous members who used to be the most active in eHelp. So what is this recent surge in activity swelling from? We've always been eager to help others, and many of the frequent responders have been SLs for a long time, so surely it's not solely for that reason alone. Would you say it's because of the ratings, or the charts? Maybe competitiveness? Or is it because eHelp has more traffic than before, and that more and more SLs are responding? What drives you to spend so much time in the eHelp as opposed to in the support forums? 90% of those topping the charts are never setting foot in TDEI - I scour every post in their every day - so it's clearly a supportiveness that is only there in the eHelp's presence. What is your personal motivation? Please do elaborate. An obsession with ratings isn't necessarily a bad thing. -- Posted by JennyColada at 11:23 am on Aug. 25, 2006 I think that once we started getting more reward points, that was the first time I noticed that people got even over 30 ratings a week! And MANY of the eHelps get 6+ replies (as opposed to where only a few got merely 4). I don't know if the points are WHY more people are active though, maybe it was just coincidence. We've also gotten some VERY helpful SL's (sophie became an SL around this time as well as many others who have been replying a ton, so maybe we were just lucky in gaining some great people). -- Posted by amiee at 12:58 pm on Aug. 25, 2006 My personal motivation to answering eHelps is simply because I want to help. To be honest, I don't reply in eHelp as much as I used to. But if I see something I know I can try to help with, I always always reply. I do think the recent activity has been because of the ratings and such (and no, I'm not trying to offend anyone or suggest that everyone replies for points and ratings or whatever...). I've never really liked the idea of ratings and reward points.. but I guess if it motivates people to help, then that must be good. Edit: I was just thinking. I also think there are a lot more support leaders around now. When I first joined, it didn't seem like there were so many (but maybe that's because we can see from people's post who is a support leader, I dunno). -- Posted by I Am the Underdog at 2:26 pm on Aug. 25, 2006 Its summer time: where all bored out of our fricken' skulls. -- Posted by katyduck at 2:28 pm on Aug. 25, 2006 Most Americans are back at school by now though, right? -- Posted by JennyColada at 2:41 pm on Aug. 25, 2006 I think it's like half and half. A lot of schools start in early September. -- Posted by I Am the Underdog at 2:51 pm on Aug. 25, 2006 Quote: from katyduck at 2:28 pm on Aug. 25, 2006 Most Americans are back at school by now though, right? I start septembre 5. I would rather it not affect my eHelp time, but I'm afraid it will as my schedule will be basically: School, 9-3 Work, 4-9 Homework, 9-11 Dinner, 11-11.30 Bed. I'll be the one making eHelps... -- Posted by dovelove at 11:35 am on Aug. 28, 2006 I really haven't replied to many eHelps lately. Maybe one or two, but not as much as I could. When I do reply, it's because I know that I can help in some way, and that I have opinions and suggestions that I can contribute to the person who needs help. For example, most of the relationship/sex ones, I don't reply to because I'm just not as good in that area. Depression/emotional/cutting ones, I tend to reply to more frequently because I can relate and have intimate knowledge about those subjects. I've been trying to post more in TDEI; it's really important that SL's reply there as well as eHelp; you're still getting a point for making a reply by posting. I don't like the points system. I worry about people replying so much mainly because they want points or are having a competition with someone, and to me, that's not what eHelp is about. I'm thrilled that people are replying so much more, now, but I really hope that most of the replies are because the person wants to help, and can offer good advice and support; that's the reason (or it should be the reason) people are Support Leader's in the first place. -- Posted by Kuzaki at 2:04 pm on Aug. 28, 2006 I don't know why I respond to eHelps, to be honest. I think it's mainly because of the satisfaction I get out of being able to say "yeah, I did my best there. Let's hope their situation gets better". I'm quite the opposite of dovelove in that I don't like to answer depression, cutting and emotional eHelps because I don't like the pressure of knowing that this person's life is, effectively, in my hands. If I suggest they do something, they go and do it and it makes the situation worse then I'd feel unbelievably shitty. Whereas with hygiene, fitness, sexual matters, relationships etc. I know exactly what I'm talking about and I feel I can give sound support using my knowledge. I remember on a previous account I was a support leader and I absolutely detested the Serious Forum. I don't know why, it just didn't feel as comfortable as the eHelp system does now. I'm not very fond of ratings or receiving points for eHelp replies, but I understand the reasons for them being there. It's a big boost for support leaders to know that they are considered to be the most supportive person on LiveWire, and it's encouraging those without as much feedback to really give their best shot in their eHelp replies. I'm not really bothered by feedback, hence why I don't appear in the most supportive members. I just enjoy knowing that I've helped. If I pick up some feedback on the way, good for me. There also seems to be a lot more people looking for support at the moment. I have no idea as to why that might be, but not a minute goes by without another flashing icon alerting me about a new eHelp request that needs an answer. In answer to your question - all of the above. -- Posted by PHo at 7:18 pm on Aug. 28, 2006 Now I feel kind of bad. I probably don't reply to more than 5 eHelps a week. I'm far from addicted. Oh well. -- Posted by Music of the Night at 7:28 pm on Aug. 28, 2006 It's you!   No. I don't know. But an hour after I read this topic, I had a sudden urge to reply to some eHelps. Like most people, I usually only reply to the ones I feel I have something to contribute to. Maybe I just saw some I could offer some advice in. I'm not sure. Maybe it's just a rise. Maybe your have magical eHelp-powers. I don't answer that much, but more often than I used to. Either way, I kinda like answering them. (Except after I send it an remember I forgot spell-check! D'oh!) -- Posted by audrey820 at 8:09 pm on Aug. 28, 2006 I reply when I'm feeling upbeat.  When my life is going good, I want the same for others so I reply a bunch.  Lately things haven't been going my way in many areas, so I've dropped off.   It's not about the points.  I'm guilty of replying to ehelp far more than in support forums because of laziness.  Ehelp blinks and tells me to reply, in the forums I have to look harder for topics that I can contribute to.  Which says something about the job members are doing.  I make a point to enter TDEI at least once a day that I'm on, but most topics have great replies and I have nothing good to add. That's why I support the idea I had to have SLs recommend topics to other SLs.  Something would tell us which topics need better replies instead of having to find them. I feel guilty about being so lazy. :/ -- Posted by xestrangedx at 11:04 pm on Aug. 28, 2006 I can see were you are coming from. Not that i reply to every eHelp but i have noticed some new ones replying to a lot. Im not jealous or anything its great, but just before summer i remember seeing the same names appearing on all the replies. I think it has a little to do with summer - having more time on the computer. Also i think its the rewards that come with it too. There are a lot of Support Leaders now and i think some just want the benefits of being one, and the points for rating and stuff. I read every eHelp that flashes up. If i feel i wouldnt be helpful to the person i wont answer because it would be a waste. But if i feel i have soemthing to say and offer, i ill put my input. I still post on the forums as well to try and give advice. I dont mind if i dont get a rating or anything. I do though find myself maybe skipping one or two because a lot of people have got there before me. I dont know what it could be but i do agree with you Katyduck. -- Posted by AmazingRed at 12:48 pm on Aug. 29, 2006 I dont know. I havent only recently became a Support Leader so this whole thing is a new experience to me. Although I like to post advice because of my Natural competetivness to have the highest amount of replies, but also because I like to give advice. -- Posted by sophiethelibrarian at 1:03 am on Aug. 31, 2006 I think everyone has their own motivation for replying to them. It can be something simple like the points, or more to do with the ratings. My principle motivation was that when I was diagnosed with my cancer, I had no-one to talk to. And if you ever know what that feeling is like, to feel totally and utterly alone as no-one will understand how you're feeling, then I always think there might be a couple of people here thinking that way - and if I can help them, and take that lost feeling away, that's good. Yeah, it's true to say I am motivated by the ratings, because in the main, it's an indication that I am doing ok and the advice is good. I think many people, if they're being honest, would agree that it did motivate them too. I know some don't like the rating system, but I promise with every ounce of life in me, if you scrap the rating system, replies would drop at least 75% if not more. It's human nature. This was my reasoning behind my post to elaborate on the rating system slightly. Everyone likes a good competition, and even the e-mail you get from the moderators if you come 1st, 2nd and 3rd calls it a '..Competitive Competition each week' , or something along those lines, so I am not imagining it :) I truly think it's amazing that we want to help our peers, and that for little reward, people dedicate much of their spare time wanting to be there for someone they don't know and will never meet. You will always get one of two who nearly spoil it, but that's what we're here for. To set a standard and to make sure we don't drop from that standard. It may be that I hang my keyboard up soon for a little while. I have had many negative comments from some, even 1 or 2 mods at times, maybe it's time to take a break from it for a while. I will let someone know at the weekend if that's what I decide to do. But there is such a wonderful group of people here, and you all work together in the main to give a service that you can't get anywhere else. You all should feel so proud. -- Posted by carbonara at 3:35 pm on Aug. 31, 2006 I'm not really sure why it is i reply. If I'm honest then when i became a Support Leader about 2 months ago now i was desperate to get onto the highest ranking thing. But then i realised that that was totally ridiculous. I wanted people to notice me for something. Which was all wrong. I am sort of ashamed of myself when i think about that. Right now the reason i reply to eHelps is because i know that there are alot of people that need help and listening and giving advice is about the only thing that I'm really good at. Its the only thing that i feel i can do great. Admittedly i don't reply to nearly enough of the eHelps made. I read every single one that is made but there are just some that i feel i cannot answer.   I have been having alot of bad days myself lately and on those days i feel its impossible for me to help myself let alone other people. I try i really do. But i get disappointed in myself when i think about ignoring the eHelps made. I log on everyday with the intent of helping people, answering more eHelps but then i don't. I get in moods where i will just really want to help people and if i cant find anything in the eHelp centre then i will browse the forums.   Just lately i have been replying to some of the topics in TDEB. I really think its a shame that more Support Leaders don't. Alot of topics go unrecognised in the forums. Its a shame that the OP don't get the advice they need. All they get is 3 or 4 crappy replies from the regular members. Not something substantial. I have promised myself that i am going to work harder in the TDEB forum just because i feel like things are unhelped in there.   This site is pretty much known for its peer support and i am really proud to be apart of that. So i do put all my effort into replies i make, not because of the points and not because of the ranking but just because of the self-satisfaction in knowing that I've helped. -- Posted by Jay JWLH at 1:54 am on Sep. 1, 2006 Lol, I could be part of the reason. I seem to get in there a lot, which sadly restricts my time on topics. I may have had my fair share in there. I think that once we started getting more reward points, that was the first time I noticed that people got even over 30 ratings a week! And MANY of the eHelps get 6+ replies (as opposed to where only a few got merely 4). Wait, the rewards points increased? I will say that I didn't really know this. Edit: I was just thinking. I also think there are a lot more support leaders around now. When I first joined, it didn't seem like there were so many (but maybe that's because we can see from people's post who is a support leader, I dunno). Point taken. One time on the front part of the site, I saw that we had over 20 support leaders online at once. I think this means we just have more support leaders now. This was compared to other times when I don't think we went over 10. --- All and all, I try and click the reply button before actually reading other peoples replies, in the attempt to make sure my advice is not biast or anything like that. So for me it isn't so much as competition as anything. -- Posted by DefaultTo0 at 10:37 am on Nov. 12, 2006 I answer eHelps because... it's in my nature to help people.  Responding in the eHelp system (as opposed to the normal forums) means that people will take your reply more seriously.