Why do People Join this Forum?

[Cory Ander]

I find it interesting to note some recent threads about why people join this forum.  I think it is in the forum's interest to understand why members join and, therefore, what they expect from the forum.  Then the forum can then attempt (presumably!) to address most members needs.

Please add any comments you may have, substantiating your personal reasons for joining the forum, below.

Regards,

[Peripatetic Phil]

Here is my "below" part, based on my answer "Some or all of the above".

My original reasons are lost in the mists of time, but it is 99.9% certain that I was searching for something curry-related using Google and landed on the site.  Once my interest was piqued, I felt motivated to join.  Now I enjoy participating in the discussions, seeking advice, and occasionally offering advice where I feel that it could be helpful.  Although I have tried very very few of the total number of recipes posted, Peterandjen's Pilau Rice stands out in my memory as being as important (to me) as Kris Dhillon.  Before Peterandjen, my pilau rice was rubbish; post Peterandjen, it is occasionally indistinguishable from the real thing    Now if only I could find as reliable a recipe for chapatti, so I could stop relying on Elephant Atta Chapatti and make my own, I would be in Heaven  !

[Cory Ander]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for your reply.  I've edited out the "some of" in the 7th option because it doesn't really make much sense  :-X

However, I understand and appreciate your reply in the context in which it was originally posted 

Incidentally, I notice that you joined the forum around 2006, made a few posts, then stopped posting, for around 3 years, until recently?  Why was that, if I can ask?

[Malc.]

I haven't selected an option but in the first instance, people join simply to access the information that can not be seen without doing so i.e. recipes etc.

I joined because the site was recommended to me by Chris and upon viewing the forum, seemed like the sort of place I wanted to take part in actively.

[Cory Ander]

I haven't selected an option

Why not Axe?  Isn't there one (or two) that fits for you?

in the first instance, people join simply to access the information that can not be seen without doing so i.e. recipes etc

Thanks, I've added that as an option (though it was otherwise covered by "none of the above")

[Malc.]

Only because I felt that there wasn't an option that best fit my reasons for joining since you removed "some of the above".

Since some areas are out of bounds to non members, I had to join to see what was there. This is why I made my initial comment. Unlike what unfortunately appears to be the norm, I chose to get involved actively from that point forward, for the following reasons:

1 Familiarise myself with the recipes, techniques, spices etc. involved in cooking curry.
2 Better my ability to cook curry
3 Join in the pursuit of perfecting curry at home
4 Talk about curry
5 Talk about food in general
6 Enjoy banter with other members
7 Meet (if only virtually) new people

[Peripatetic Phil]

Incidentally, I notice that you joined the forum around 2006, made a few posts, then stopped posting, for around 3 years, until recently?  Why was that, if I can ask?

What usually happens is that something crops up which requires 100% of my attention, either at work (until I retired) or in my private life.  At that point, I more-or-less retreat from all of my other activities (such as participating in this forum) and concentrate solely on the task in hand.  When that task is complete, I tend to find that I have moved on (figuratively speaking) from whatever I was doing previously, and start afresh with something new.  But of course my other interests continue to lie dormant, and something usually arises to trigger them off again at some point in the future.  So you might see messages from me on fora devoted to cycling, satellite television, equitation, linguistics, gardening or whatever; but just as here, you will also see that at some point I just disappear off the horizon completely, only to return a few years later when something has happened to re-awaken my interest.  Does this strike a chord with anyone else, or am I a bit odd in this cyclic change-of-focus behaviour ?

** Phil.

[Domi]

Bit of a pointless poll IMO......Considering it's a curry forum, anyone who signed up is obviously interested in recipes (technique and ingredients are a part of the recipe, quite obviously)...the fact is if people were not interested in curry they probably wouldn't sign up though luckily this board caters for all of the above options and long may it last!

I don't think it matters particularly why members sign up as long as they are good members who treat other members with respect and act within the forum rules.

Friendly chit-chat/banter between members be it on or off topic does give the board a friendlier, more welcoming atmosphere too and can lead to new members joining in with the forum since we have heard alot of members say they didn't post for a long time as they "didn't feel qualified/experienced enough" yet quite alot have responded to bantering posts (check out the welcome section - Razor and Axe are great with the "meet and greet" and I'm certain that without such posts, alot of new members would never get beyond their first "Hi" post).

[Graeme]

I think i selected one wrong option, not happy 
i think i selected "(cos I'm not too interested in recipes, etc)"

OMG sorry I though it read "(cos I'm too interested in recipes, etc)"
can i have another go pls ?

I should change my handle to "cupid stunt" asap too

[Razor]

Well, I have selected options, to learn recipes, ingredients and techniques and to Chit Chat about curries.  I would like to add to that , chit chat with like minded people on a friendly, welcoming forum.

I would also like to think, that we could slightly drift off topic now and again without gettin a bollockin, just as long as it stays friendly.

I would also like to see people use the emotion symbols more often, and people try to understand them.  All to often, something can be said, and the reaction that you get, you'd think that you had just run off with their wife

This is the only forum that I'm active on, albeit that I'm a member of a few.  That suggests that, it's pretty good as it is, without any real need for change.

Ray