Why? Re BPF

RayRay007

I'm sure it's a long established tradition that has its reasons, but I'm wondering why everyone needs their own BPF post? I know we all want to celebrate each and everyone else's pgal successes, but in my short time here I've made a few observations.

- it makes the board very busy. Some BPF posts get bumped to the second page and don't get seen. Other posts on Fridays get lost in the melee.

- some people get a lot of views, likes and comments and some get very few and it makes me feel like this is high school all over again and I would be afraid to post my own in case nobody cares

Is there any reason we don't post one big BPF post, like HDBD on other boards? I understand that the problem with that is that the post gets long and things get missed because you have new pics interspersed with comments, and people quoting pics which makes for huge quote trees, etc. 

Just wondering and opening it up for discussion. Not trying to barge in here and change everything. 

2redtulips

I felt the same way at first, but I have grown to like the separate posts. It helps to get to know each lady a bit more in-depth, especially when the BP includes some updates, shower stories, etc. 

I have made the decision to post a BPF every four weeks or so, rather than every week, but it's nice to see everyone's progress.

I also make a point to seek out and comment on non-BPF Friday posts so they don't get totally lost. 

PatientlyWaiting10

I love seeing all of the BPFs!  Even when I was on TTCAL I lurked PgAL on Fridays JUST to see all of the awesome bump pictures!  I think it would be WAY too much for one post.  

And personally, I've never looked at how many views/comments a post has.  Like Mattsgirl said, it's based on how active that person is on the board as to how many people recognize their name and will comment.  

I look at all of them because I just love watching everyone progress and grow their sweet little rainbow babies!        

MsAmandaPants

As I said in my post, I am not a big BPF person (for totally personal reasons).  But you know why *I* think that everyone should be able to post their own thread? Because a lot of us have been through hell and back to get these bumps and if people want to glory in their own posts, they should be able to do so. Who cares if the board is "busy" for the day?  It is one day. One day to recognize all that we have been through and where we are now.

Also, it isn't a popularity contest. No one doesn't comment on a photo out of some kind of malice, but I've been through a lot with some of these ladies and have deep connections with them that go back YEARS on TTCAL. Am I going to show these ladies some extra love (opposed to someone I just don't know at all) and wallow in their happiness right along side them? Hell yes. Is that a popularity contest? No. 

SandSunBliss

I agree with all PPs. It's not a slap in the face not to have a lot if comments. 1) may not be very active or well known. 2) may have said - here's my pic and not added any updates. Often the posts are in response to the verbal messages in the OP. if I just love a bump and don't have anything to add, I usually just hit the love if button.

I also cringe at he idea of one big post. I am no active on my month board, but this would drive my OCD nuts. That must be a beasty posts with comments and quotes everywhere. That would overwhelm me.

I personally love the day we are all celebrating our bumps. I think if the joy that we are sharing and the hell that we went through. I'm so excited about the potential to experience the best day of my life after I've had so many bad ones. I hope the same for everyone else here.

mtaylor404

I think you raise some good points, but agree that the system seems to work pretty well as it is.  As @mattsgirl2004 said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!  I think it is nice to AW it up for a day.  

I am relatively active on the PGAL board (not as much as some), but was not on TTCAL, so people don't know me as much as they do others.  I don't have as many close connections as others do, but I still feel accepted and welcomed.  I may not get as many comments, but it doesn't bother me.  I have only posted a BPF twice (I think).  Each time, I appreciated the sweet comments and relished in the opportunity to celebrate my bump for a day.  

RayRay007

You all make great and valid points. Like I said, I'm not trying to barge in here and change things. I just had some questions about why it was that way, and wanted to open up the discussion.

I started out by acknowledging that we all want to celebrate our successes, we are certainly entitled to AW. I'm not trying to suggest that we should not.

Also, I wasn't trying to imply that you ladies were high-schoolish or cliquey. Sorry. I only meant that I might feel insecure. 

Carry on. Don't mind me. 

KMW08

I think it's been pretty well covered.

I like that separate posts are done on pgal. Honestly, this board isn't terribly active, so I don't mind all the posts on Fridays.

As for the comments/love its/views it isn't really a popularity contest, but keep in mind some of the ladies come from ttcal and have developed true friendships. Ladies who were part of an active board are just more likely to have more "followers" (friends) that come to check out their progress. That's how an online community works - give support get support.

I also like the separate posts and that people do their bump pics here, because during my dark-days on ttcal & the majority of my good days, there's no way in hell I was going to lurk on MULTIPLE BMB's and filter through a whole bunch of unknown pregnant ladies just to find who I'm looking for, KWIM?

Unknown

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MollySm

One of the things I love the most about this board is that no one is trying to contain posts, or tell people what and where they can post things.  I love it!  On my first BMB it was like that.  You could talk about what you wanted.  If people weren't interested, they didn't reply.  On my new BMB, everyone is always up in arms about people not posting in check-ins, and being too SS.  I figure we're all on here to talk about our pregnancies with other people who want to talk about them - that is just going to be Special Snowflakey.  I respond when I want to, read when I want to, and skip when I want to.  

I find the long posts, like HDBD to be pretty boring.  With the BPFs, I can look at a few, then stop.  Then another time I usually go back.  If I'm having a busy weekend, I just skip them.  I rarely post  my own, but when I do I don't expect as many responses as some other posters, because I know that I don't find the time to post as much on here as some other people do.  It's nothing personal, I'm just not as well known.  

Pmmama

I have come and gone from this board and love seeing the bump shots on Fridays! Gives me hope of what could be!

[Deleted User]

I admit there are times I feel guilty when I only look at a couple people's and not everyone's and I don't get to comment or leave love-its for all. It's just that a lot of times when I pop in I'm only on for a minute or two or I'm lurking on my phone. It was easier last time around because I was working and getting paid to Bump and could take the time to open each thread. Now my 3-year-old boss isn't so forgiving of me goofing around on the Internet. :P   So for that reason sometimes I wish it was just one thread to scroll through but like others have said that's the way it's been on this board for years and everyone here definitely deserves the opportunity to show their bumps off.

luciddreamer106

::lurking::

I've never really paid attention to who  has more comments, views, or love it's. As a TTCAL lurker, I  avoid PGAL on Fridays because of this, just avoid the BPF posts, or only click on the posts from graduates that I am familiar with depending on how I'm feeling that day. I think that's why some posts might have more views/comments/loves than others because they are more well known throughout the AL community.  This is also the reason why I like that there are separate posts. Filing through picture after picture in one big thread seems really overwhelming to me. Plus I love that everyone can AW themselves because they deserve it!

voplo

I don't know, I like how it is. I have no time to go into everyone, but I look all I can, lurk here and there, click on like and try to comment It doesn't bother me, I like how active the board is on Fridays. But I am just a happy Canadian, nothing really bothers me  :-/

SandSunBliss

voplo said:

I don't know, I like how it is. I have no time to go into everyone, but I look all I can, lurk here and there, click on like and try to comment It doesn't bother me, I like how active the board is on Fridays. But I am just a happy Canadian, nothing really bothers me  :-/

Hehe. You made me giggle, eh.

LifeofCat

snegde said:

KMW and MrsDeo as a TTCAL lurker I appreciate you not forgetting what it's like. I also think that's probably why some get way more attention.

Big smooches to @snegde and @luciddreamer106 . And all my TTCAL ladies for that matter; I love you all and think about you all the time.

Back to the original post: I understand that it's not always easy to keep track. That said, I'm not going to apologize for not always commenting on every BPF; we all wish everyone the best and are so happy to see ALL OF THE BUMPZZZZZZ heheh. And admittedly, I do have a closer connection to certain ladies. That's just how friendships work.