Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I personally think of it as a form of volunteering if I'm helping people here, on other forums, or in other Internet communities - by putting in time and effort to help people without getting paid, which is pretty much the definition of volunteering. Yes, helping people online is different than volunteering at your local hospital, soup kitchen, or city park and those do help your local communities but communities also exist online (like here.)
Yeah, I'd call online offerings of help volunteering, especially if people respond positively, and you get the feedback that you're being effective. It's probably not as significant as rolling up the sleeves and interacting personally, one on one, but still counts.
I've received a lot of positive feedback from people but mostly, the "help" provided was somewhat accidental. Not so much in real, actual & factual help but more so emotional validation or understanding.
A formal volunteer would be maintaining a set of values & representing the mission of an agency & a lot of times; I'm just here blabbing away ... I have good days & bad days just like everyone else & I know I've come here & been flip or snarky. If I were here formally volunteering I don't think that would be appreciated.
There are a few ... okay; there is one topic here on CD where I post on already active threads for the purpose of advocacy. My intent is to appear in a casual "IMO" manner regarding a topic where my mind is made up. I never start threads about it & except for one time in the Great Debates forum; I rarely return to argue about it. In this case I am posting more for the thousands of lurkers here who will see what I said & file a "mental note" on it.
I have nothing to gain & would cease to be helpful if I were to appear as fanatical about it. And for this topic, I provide very credible links; it can be a lot of work & in that case; yes ... I am volunteering.
I personally think of it as a form of volunteering if I'm helping people here, on other forums, or in other Internet communities - by putting in time and effort to help people without getting paid, which is pretty much the definition of volunteering. Yes, helping people online is different than volunteering at your local hospital, soup kitchen, or city park and those do help your local communities but communities also exist online (like here.)
Volunteering opinions is worthless.
Helping others should be done F2F.
Being helpful online is a way of feeling good without ever getting dirty hands. It's hardly selfless or giving.
What motivates someone to post on C-D probably ranges across the spectrum from boredom prevention all the way to stirring up anthills with a virtual stick and hate speech (only if our excellent mods weren't volunteering to do their jobs that is ).
Don't know if I'd call being active here "volunteering" with a capital V. But then I don't track of such things. Reading and posting here seems to be a give and take; learning, pondering, and teaching. Many people volunteer because the credit they get from it matters to them. There are those who keep notes of the hours, the plaques, the kudos, the public recognition, some sort of value they expect in return. Maybe you could include those little reputation clicks C-D provides--
Last edited by Parnassia; 02-04-2018 at 04:59 PM..
I personally think of it as a form of volunteering if I'm helping people here, on other forums, or in other Internet communities - by putting in time and effort to help people without getting paid, which is pretty much the definition of volunteering. Yes, helping people online is different than volunteering at your local hospital, soup kitchen, or city park and those do help your local communities but communities also exist online (like here.)
I guess you can call it what you want!
I had always considered going online to give opinions about different matters as more of a hobby...or a pleasurable pass time....(I'd be great if those opinions helped someone).
Volunteering seems more to me something that you may not necessarily want to really do, but you do it because it's helping someone else who can't afford to pay money for much needed help.
It's more hands-on...and more for them than you.
It's the giving of your time and compassion to help others..... and money don't figure into that!
what you're doing....well....I guess you can call it what you want.
Last edited by purehuman; 02-05-2018 at 09:54 AM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
).
