Asker or Answerer ?

I am very new around here and came on to ask a specific question but have since found myself doing a lot of answering. I agree the members here seem nicer than most.

I try to read as many questions as I can. I only answer the ones where I think I can say something helpful.

I personally spend way too much time on here. For ex right now I 'should' be getting the boys to do their homework...but am procrastinating by reading mamapedia. This is a great site for that. I never ask questions either..just like to answer. And i usually click through on the ones that seem interesting to me. The ones I mainly don't click through will seem like they are asking about babies. Way over that stage.

And it is nice to hear you compliment this site!! There are constantly negative comments on here about how 'mean' we are all to one another. Gets very annoying because I agree with you..people ARE supportive on here. And the few bad eggs who really do lash out at people entertain me more than anything else.

I have only asked one question on here ( and only got one response..it must not have been a very interesting question...lol. ) So I guess that makes me an "answerer". I am older than most of the folks on here, at 62 I don't need to ask many questions about child rearing and school and such.
I tend to judge by the title of the question whether I think I would have anything worth while to add to the discussion. So it just depends upon the questions...how much time I spend on this site.
I wish that there was more interaction between the ladies ( and gentlemen) on here ...more messages and learning about each other...that would be a great bonus!!!

Too much time online for sure, I bounce between fb and this site when Im online, I ask away if Im uncertain about something or want opinions, and answer the ones I feel I have a response to. There are certain members who really give sound advice, that Ive come to greatly appreciate. Im a little opinionated and harsh at times and should probably shut up more, but sometimes... I dont know, thats just my way, in all life, not just online. Its not meant to offend, I just think some questions or responses are so far out there, people cant be serious. Overall, this is a great source I've recommended to a few moms I know, including my daughter who is having her 1st baby in a little over 4 weeks.

**added in, I do wish people would be more descriptive in the question heading, "needing advice" doesnt say much and its time consuming to look at every question. :)

Ditto on most of the answers so far. I too am 48 so I don't have too many questions and feel like my answers would be irrelevant to many questions since the technical/functional side of parenting has changed so much. I'm also an armchair psychologist and some of the answers and personalities evident are simply fascinating.

How often am I on? Its funny. I first signed up about 2 or 3 years ago (at least) and went all that time because I'd forgotten about the site. Then I rediscovered it a few months ago and have been on regularly. During the holidays I was home a lot and spent a fair amount of time here, but now that it's back to business my time's been cut to after work. I spend more time here than FB.

Oh! I love the feeling that I'm helping someone and I love getting flowers. Hee hee.

I am not an asker. I guess if I had a question, I would be likely to do my own research and analysis since that is kinda my professional bailiwick.

I do not read all the questions because there is a limited number of hours in the day. = ) I decide which ones to read based on the subject line. If the subject can't spark my interest, I am unlikely to find the rest of the post engaging. Once I have opened a post, I am looking for brevity, honesty, open-mindedness (some posts seem to demand only responses that agree with them...which is cool but not interesting to me.). I also look for paragraphs and periods and a modicum of grammar.

I check this every day. I've never asked a question. I only answer ones that I feel I can offer something on, and I try not to repeat what others are saying unless I have something to add. My kids are particularly sensitive to lots of stuff and we have found unique ways to treat them very successfully. I like to help others through what I went through because it was so very difficult. I don't want anyone to ever have to go through the guess work I had to in order to get my kids healthy. I feel like, in a lot of ways, this is my purpose. I feel like my kids were so difficult so I could learn all this stuff to help others.
That's my story :-)
J.

I usually answer those I might have a good answer for. I try to read what I can. I've gotten good responses from individuals when I needed help and I try to pay it forward.

I've asked a few questions but mostly answer. I read any question with a title that looks vaguely interesting, whether it's because I think I might have input or I want to offer words of encouragement/support, or because I think I might learn something.

I do both. The amount of time I spend on here depends on how much I have to do that day. If I have a slow day at work and none of my clients are answering the phone or coming for sessions, then I'll probably be on here a lot longer answering questions (like today). But, if I'm busy or it's my off day, not as much. Oh and I skim through questions and find ones that interest me or that I had a similar question to myself.

I'm an answerer and I just like to help people. Life is so hard, so if I can help somebody have it easier, then it is worth it. i try to check it daily, but I'm not consistent. My husband asks me why I bother, and I laugh and tell him that at least here I get feedback that somebody heard me! LOL Good question!!

all of the above lol. I do ask questions. And am always so grateful for the kind / caring / sometimes eyeopening responses. I read the questions that I think I have any input to give. And the ones that just strike me at any given time. I am on a lot. I am older (48) so sometimes it shocks me what the newer fangled answers are lol. But I love this site.

I love this site too, but I have no time to read all the questions that everyone posts. There are so many, every time I hit refresh new ones come up, so it would be impossible. I usually check it twice a day, when my daughter naps in the afternoon, and at night when she goes to sleep. But I was away from this site for a while and I came back a few months ago. I usually do both, I ask and answer, but mostly answer since most of my questions have been already answered in previous posts ( I always check just in case).

I am on here everyday. I would say that I am more of an answerer, but I do have a question occassionally. I do read most of the posts even if the subject line doesn't quite strike me because sometimes in the body of the post is different than what I would've expected it to be. I only answer if I feel that I have good advice to give or a perspective that maybe hasn't been voiced yet. If I go to a post that has a ton of answers already and mine is going to be the same as what most of the others have put, I will usually move on. If I don't have time to read all of the posts, but feel the topic is important then I will leave my $.02 ~ it will be interesting to see all of the responses on here! Hope you have a great evening!!

I am usually on here a lot. I've asked many questions, but I've answered well more than I have asked. I try to read as many questions as I can, however my time allows. I try to read questions that I think I might be able to help with, as well as anything that might help me learn about something. If I have time I will try to read just about every question. Have y'all seen how many questions get asked in one day?? WOW!! haha

I got totally hooked when I was home from work for seven months due to spinal surgery. I read most of the questions but answer the ones I feel passionate about or feel I can contribute to. I don't ask any questions (doesn't seem right huh?), I don't know if I am that open to being blasted. I'm glad you find it caring and supportive...sometimes it can get very ugly!!

I live by my computer, a lot of what I do is on email, and writing, so I pop in a few times a day on week days. I usually only click on the things that interest me, usually questions about special needs, development, marriage, recipies, and some others, just at random. I would never have enough time to read all the questions, and I don't have input for all I read.

M.

I'm on mamapedia a lot too! I usually log on for a short while after work while the kids are taking their bath, or sometimes once they're in bed. I have asked questions (and received some fantastic, helpful, and well thought out answers), but I have answered more.

I read everything that looks interesting from the subject line (or if I recognize the poster's name). I'll answer if I feel like I have something to add. I would consider myself more of a "traditional" parent (I have taken a lot of good advice from my grandparents, who are in their 80's now). I think that point of view tends to be under-represented, so maybe I pipe in more frequently than I should! Anyway, I thoroughly enjoy this site and all the wonderful mamas on it!

I'm an answerer :) I am a nurse and older than most mom, so I have seen quite a bit. I do read every day, and absorb lots of great suggestions for questions I didn't know I even had. It is such a great source of information, and I am often sharing insight I've gained with my husband (the boys do not have the same universal support system as moms do!)

I spend way too much time on this website. In fact, I would call it an addiction at this point. I answer more than I ask. Perhaps because I am a teacher and some questions are education based and perhaps because I am a mother of three.

My 16 month old is my first girl though, so I am bound to ask more questions as she gets older and things get more complicated.

I may need an intervention at some point because my house is needing more attention than usually but I rather read and write on this website. Ahhh!

I'm usually on 5 days a week. I answer a lot of questions, but ask only a few. Depending on how much time I have, I usually just read only the questions that spark my interest. If I have a reply/answer I write it, then I'll read some of the other replies to see if they agree with mine. If I don't have a reply, I'll just read the answers.

I am more or a "lurker" -lol - most of the questions seem to relate to younger children and don't really apply to me. But I do read each day in my email and will answer if I think I have anything to add. Most of the time the answer I have to give is already been given by someone else. I have asked a few times though.
**case in point - I just read some of the other responses (after I submitted mine) and somebody also said they are a "lurker " lol
**one more edit - I see a lot of people come on to this site - I never do that - I receive a daily "digest" email and if something on there interests me,I will go to the site but I never come here just to browse...I find that interesting

Usually on here at some point everyday Mon-Fri (no weekends) and I read things that seem interesting to me or I can relate to. And I answer if I can relate. Definitely answer more than I ask. :-)

Hi L.. I probably ask more questions than I answer. This is mainly because I don't have much input or advice on many questions. I read most of the blogs, but only answer a few. I agree with you that this is a great website!

What an interesting question. :)

I'm mostly an answerer, although I do occasionally ask questions. I usually get on in the evening and try to read all the posts. I only respond if I feel like I have something worth saying. A lot of times the mom is asking about something I have experienced and had to solve through trial and error. I like to think I help save some people some of the stress of figuring stuff out the hard way.

T.

Like Meg M, I get the email digest and never actually go to the site. I skim through the day's posts and check out ones that interest me (yours obviously caught my eye!). My kids are 9 and 11, so I usually pass by the ones on diapers, breastfeeding and getting your kids to sleep through the night, unless there seems to be a truly unique twist to the problem. I have asked my own questions as well as answered others'. I'm probably about 50/50 in that regard. Sometimes I just like to see what everyone else has to say about a topic and sometimes I chime in. When I ask my own questions, I try not to ask ones that could be controversial. There's more chance for nastiness with those and I usually go away from those still not sure what the best answer is. I keep it to things like what's the best kind of a certain product, recipe ideas, decorating or organizing ideas, etc. The longer I'm on this site, though, the more I find myself saying "Hmm... that'd be a good question to pose to the mamas!" I have found it very useful and insightful as well as entertaining and have recommended it to several of my friends.

I'm on here pretty often. I usually open the question because of the title OR if it has already received a WHOLE bunch of responses it will grab my curiosity.
I do more answering than asking.... and I would guess that's because I'm older and just dont have as many questions anymore :)

How about option three -- I'm mainly a lurker! I love all the opinions, tips and personalities on this site.

(And in that spirit, I'm signing off to go read the rest of today's interesting questions :-)

Great question! I'm an answerer too - I get the daily digest and if there is a question that I think I can add some insight to, I'll chime in. I probably spend 15 minutes a day here. During my pregnancies and when my kids were younger (I've got four ranging in age from 5-13) I used to be on iVillage a lot and asked as many questions as I answered. I've gotten a lot of great advice from so many on-line resources that I like to return the favor when I can.