Posted on the freebie board.

I've noticed a serious disparity between the number of views and the number of replies. It would be nice if those who view an offer would give someone a Thanks, reply thank you or if they have received the offer they requested. I'd like to see less lurkers and more members, or more members giving someone a high five for their work, it is the only way to make this board what it was years ago. If you can't find something to post that's ok, but at least let the poster know their efforts are appreciated. This may make me sound bad and that's ok, but I know several people who put a lot of effort into their posts and many who just reap the benefits. This is my opinion alone and does not reflect how the rest of the board feels. If this comment is inappropriate Mods please delete, but I posted it on this part of the forum on purpose as I feel many of the people only visit the area where they can get something for nothing. I want folks to know their work is appreciated, maybe getting more people involved will improve the overall board experience. IMHO

I think most of it is just non members searching for things. A lot of people search by Google and are lead to this page, as well as other forums.

But as for members, I do agree with you.

I think a lot of people see the same things on other sites so they just look at the list and move on. I know several times I've come here to list something and it's already here. Also -- I don't feel like there are as many good offers as there used to be. Too many of the samples call for you to enroll in a program, or lately I've seen the samples given out at a prize so they can get your email address. I'd rather see a set number of samples and when they're gone, they're gone. And don't get me started on contests, and "points" websites. I haven't won anything in a long time and points are taking too long to earn. I don't have all day to sit and click on videos!

Kathy

Thank you for your greatly appreciated replies, members I've seen post want a board that is the way it was in the "Golden Age" of the internet, during the internet boom when new startups were seen everyday, where great deals where everywhere and freebies abundant. That time is long gone and like everything else that evolves over time you need to roll with it, we have gone from Boards where we post things to live chat like Facebook and others that I don't use. According to my join date I started in September of 2000, the stone age in home computer standards, with dial up modems that I can still hear, what I think the old timers like myself crave is the comradery we shared. A freebie or a great deal is posted and next thing you know there are 5 screens of replies with a Thank You or a There You Are, Where Have You Been. There are really great deals out there and some freebies, I've found some, I've posted some but when you don't receive a response you don't know if anyone really cares or is interested, like talking to an empty auditorium and hearing an echo. I took computer classes in 1981 when monitors were black and had green print, I became a computer operator in 1983 when we still used punch cards, 300 BPI reels and impact printers but the exciting times really came when we could "talk" to each other through boards like these. I gave up this board for 8 or 9 years when we moved to the country and I went from a cable modem back to NetZero dial-up and it nearly killed me. Then 5 years later DSL 1.5, DSL 3.0 and finally a couple years ago we got CABLE!!! DSL is no picnic when you are at the end of the line, even 3.0 I couldn't play a U-Tube video with out it buffering, but Cable WOW, granted it's not great cable but we are thrilled to have it. Out of all this history my point is it's really not about the freebies, the deals or the contests, that is what got us to this board; it's the interaction with total strangers we all came to call friends, we laughed together, we cried together, we cheered when someone won a contest, got a freebie, won an auction, when 9-11 happened we checked on each other. I don't expect a hopping board like back in 2000 (Y2K), but I see people who where there and crave the interaction of the past. Frankly I am not a huge fan of FB, people can be totally horrible to each other, post all sorts of stuff and these are people I know, I think I was happier here with the folks I didn't. Sometimes I think I'll disconnect from FB but that is how everyone connects, I see family pictures, catch glimpses of my friends lives from all over the country, because no one sends cards or letters with pictures anymore, a lot of people won't bother with e-mail. Heck no one calls anyone anymore, it's all text, all the time, I've threatened to go back to my flip phone and people ask how will you know what is going on???? You know I got my smart phone a year and a half before I retired and all I got where constant texts, what you doing, working. I go into stores and see all the associates constantly checking their phones, 10 years ago if I took a private call that wasn't an emergency I would have been reprimanded. But you have to roll with the times, I grew up with a rotary phone, 3 channels on the TV and no A/C and I'm 56, it would be nice if folks would just say hey Thanks or there you are, where have you been, this was once the friendliest board on the net. One of my fondest memories is a post from Aloha2u who said I can't wait to get off this rock after she paid for a CAT scan for her cat only to find out it was constipation not cancer and it cost her a thousand bucks and the vet only made it to her island a couple times a week. I was glad her cat didn't have cancer but I laughed my butt off and was thankful I had my vets office, home and message service number as well as his wife's cell. So you can take this long boring post for what it is, a wish for a better board, a few freebies here and there, a great deal, a contest and how are things going with you.

We must be about the same age. My computer life mirrors yours -- punch cards, computer classes with green print, etc. I did typing from my home -- and my impact printer had a wheel, I changed fonts by building in a pause in my text and changing the wheel.

I only found this site when another freebie site that I liked had some problems and shut down for a while. They came back, but not like it was. They suffer the same as this site -- no traffic and few contributors.

Oh well.

Kathy

Hello again everyone. I have not been able to log in for many months.
I've been lurking, but have missed posting.

I also miss what the board used to be. I doubt it will come back to it's heyday, but I would love to see more interaction.

mosdata1 - that's a handle I remember seeing from the past :) So nice to see members checking back in!

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Originally Posted by kjwent

We must be about the same age. My computer life mirrors yours -- punch cards, computer classes with green print, etc. I did typing from my home -- and my impact printer had a wheel, I changed fonts by building in a pause in my text and changing the wheel.

I only found this site when another freebie site that I liked had some problems and shut down for a while. They came back, but not like it was. They suffer the same as this site -- no traffic and few contributors.

Oh well.

Kathy

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I'm 56, graduated from High School in 1980, went to college, changed my major to programming, found it absolutely monotonous, tedious and boring. COBOL nearly sent me over the edge with all the coding sheets and everything having to be in the correct column. So I took an operations job at a bank and loved the fast paced, think on your feet job although the noise from the huge printers and the rumble of the chillers with the cold air coming up through the plenum floors nearly caused me to go deaf. It was great. There were no PC's, all terminals were called dumb because they couldn't do anything on their own, main frames was where it was at. If you are my age we are lucky to have witnessed the evolution of the Data Processing age, from computer that took up an entire floor of a building to ones that sit on your desk or carry it around in your pocket.

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.........members I've seen post want a board that is the way it was in the "Golden Age" of the internet, during the internet boom when new startups were seen everyday, where great deals where everywhere and freebies abundant.

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I said for many years (not necessarily here), that it wasn't going to last. In my opinion, it was the economy at the time that was causing all the freebies, coupons, and giveaways. The economy was horrible, and companies wanted your business, and sent out freebies to get it. Since the economy started picking up, companies slacked off big time. (Why give you something for free, when they know you're going to come in and buy it anyhow).

Coupons are ridiculous as well! You used to be able to get 3-4 packs in the Sunday paper each week. Now it's barely one pack, and nothing in it but cosmetics, dog food, shampoos, and advertisements for polyester pants!

I've noticed a huge difference in Birthday freebies recently too. My bday is coming up, and I've only received 2 offers for some type of free meal. I used to be able to eat free for a week or more!! Now they're "Bogo free" meals, which doesn't do me any good, because I live alone.

I remember one year I went to Perkins for a free breakfast, Arbys for free lunch, and Ruby Tuesday for a free dinner! lol
Perkins still has their offer, so I'll be going there tomorrow for breakfast. Monday I'll go to Denny's.


ETA: Just got an email from TGI Friday. Free meal.......with purchase of another meal AND 2 drinks. *smh*

If there is a "love it" button, I can't find it! But Yes!!

Happy Birthday!

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Originally Posted by raiders4me

Happy Birthday!

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Thank You!:marchmellow: