Serious Question - Why do people...?

This is a serious question for any psychologist types out there:

Why do people (myself included) sometimes feel it necessary to post that if they didn't already have something they would be all over whatever it is that is being sold?  it doesn't just happen here, it happens on every forum I have ever been on.  I sometimes come away from posts with the feeling that I should post something like that, but usually resist the urge, because the obvious answer is if I like it I should buy it, right?  Is it some sort of unconscious attempt to talk ourselves down or away from buying it? 

I don't know, but sometimes the urge is overwhelming...  Any ideas?

Perhaps they were merely intending to communicate exactly what they said?

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Because... reasons?

Maybe they just want to be involved in the conversation and share in the excitement around a product.

I know for me I don't collect things I use them. If one thing fits a certain role then no need to buy a duplicate. I also have a wife and 2 kids. 

That being said I don't spend like I would if I didn't have children. So seeing something I like and maybe I didn't eve know it existed,but say I just bought something else. Being I'm not one to spend money on myself I may be like damn if I knew about that deal I wouldn't of bought this .

My guess is a lot of gents are in this boat they either can't or won't spend alot of money on themselves. They have have a dollar figure they've budgeted in to buy something and spent it only to see something they like more. 

Fact is though If I want something bad enough I'm going to get it. As long as my family aND all that is taken care of

(02-06-2016, 12:17 PM)John Wayne Wrote: I know for me I don't collect things I use them. If one thing fits a certain role then no need to buy a duplicate. I also have a wife and 2 kids. 

That being said I don't spend like I would if I didn't have children. So seeing something I like and maybe I didn't eve know it existed,but say I just bought something else. Being I'm not one to spend money on myself I may be like damn if I knew about that deal I wouldn't of bought this .

My guess is a lot of gents are in this boat they either can't or won't spend alot of money on themselves. They have have a dollar figure they've budgeted in to buy something and spent it only to see something they like more. 

Fact is though If I want something bad enough I'm going to get it. As long as my family aND all that is taken care of

Great points! I use analysis to determine the optimal way of spending money from a limited budget. It's a reasonable approach if you aren't willing to spend unlimited amounts of money and don't have unlimited room for your shave den to grow.

Okay, I admit, that if I didn't already own the Cold River Soap Works Select V1 formula of Bergamot & Bay, I would be all over the V2 version, there I said it - I'm guilty as charged 

But I'm probably buying a couple of the other V2 scented formulas, in a scent I don't own already.........just FYI 

My guess is we are subconsciously reinforcing the value of a 'commons' of product. If ' Joe' is selling a stuffed peacock we must all praise stuffed peacocks; fearfull our own valuation in such an object is suspect. Joe feels good about selling it even if it freaks him out at night staring with black eyes. We do this with religion, cars, flavours of mustard and the latest version of mullet haircuts.

(02-06-2016, 01:00 PM)kav Wrote: My guess is we are subconsciously reinforcing the value of a 'commons' of product. If ' Joe' is selling a stuffed peacock we must all praise stuffed peacocks; fearfull our own valuation in such an object is suspect. Joe feels good about selling it even if it freaks him out at night staring with black eyes. We do this with religion, cars, flavours of mustard and the latest version of mullet haircuts.

Yea I see that as well. Kinda like when someone shows off their latest purchase and everyone is like oh wow love that, or beautiful or what have you. Knowing good and well some people are like that's the ugliest whatever I've ever seen but better congratulate anyway.

(02-06-2016, 01:00 PM)kav Wrote: My guess is we are subconsciously reinforcing the value of a 'commons' of product. If ' Joe' is selling a stuffed peacock we must all praise stuffed peacocks; fearfull our own valuation in such an object is suspect. Joe feels good about selling it even if it freaks him out at night staring with black eyes. We do this with religion, cars, flavours of mustard and the latest version of mullet haircuts.

That's the way I see it, too. I wasn't being negative in my assessment, but I've lately noticed an almost insatiable need to comment on these types of posts. I thought perhaps it was some sort of deep set need to be part of the spotlight, but at the same time thought it might also be the onset of midlife crisis, haha.

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Maybe they just want to participate in the Nook threads. I don't see what the issue is? I wouldn't dig too deep into this psychologically.

(02-06-2016, 08:03 PM)primotenore Wrote: Maybe they just want to participate in the Nook threads. I don't see what the issue is? I wouldn't dig too deep into this psychologically.

Thanks for your post, but I think you missed my point. My point is that people do it on every forum, from Facebook to Craigslist, and I wanted to ascertain if anyone knew if there was a scientifically proven reason or theorem explaining why people do this.

The type of post I'm specifically alluding to is when an OP posts some widget for sale and someone invariably comes along and posts "Man, I'd be all over this if I didn't just buy one..., glwts" It happens in every sale type, whether on this forum or my watch forum, or even on the marketplace at evga.com. There has to be some innate reason why people (myself included) feel the need to post replies like that.

For example...I was selling a custom folded steel Damascus neck tanto with hand tied para cord lanyard and custom made teak handle on a knife forum I frequent and the same day someone replied that "I would be all over it if I didn't just get one the other day." I find it hard to believe that this person either "got one the other day" or wanted to partake in the conversation since there was no conversation at all.

That was my point.



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(02-06-2016, 09:46 PM)Crag Wrote:

(02-06-2016, 08:03 PM)primotenore Wrote: Maybe they just want to participate in the Nook threads. I don't see what the issue is? I wouldn't dig too deep into this psychologically.

Thanks for your post, but I think you missed my point.  My point is that people do it on every forum, from Facebook to Craigslist, and I wanted to ascertain if anyone knew if there was a scientifically proven reason or theorem explaining why people do this.

The type of post I'm specifically alluding to is when an OP posts some widget for sale and someone invariably comes along and posts "Man, I'd be all over this if I didn't just buy one..., glwts" It happens in every sale type, whether on this forum or my watch forum, or even on the marketplace at evga.com. There has to be some innate reason why people (myself included) feel the need to post replies like that.

For example...I was selling a custom folded steel Damascus neck tanto with hand tied para cord lanyard and custom made teak handle on a knife forum I frequent and the same day someone replied that "I would be all over it if I didn't just get one the other day."  I find it hard to believe that this person either "got one the other day" or wanted to partake in the conversation since there was no conversation at all.

That was my point.

Human behavior is too complex for every minute behavioral trait or action to be fully explained. Where some might attribute that behavior to a desire to participate in a community activity, others might suggest alternative or even pathological reasons for that same behavior. In other words, I don't think you will find a satisfying answer, and if one answer is satisfying to you, its accuracy would nevertheless be illusory.

(02-06-2016, 09:58 PM)NeoXerxes Wrote:

(02-06-2016, 09:46 PM)Crag Wrote:

(02-06-2016, 08:03 PM)primotenore Wrote: Maybe they just want to participate in the Nook threads. I don't see what the issue is? I wouldn't dig too deep into this psychologically.

Thanks for your post, but I think you missed my point.  My point is that people do it on every forum, from Facebook to Craigslist, and I wanted to ascertain if anyone knew if there was a scientifically proven reason or theorem explaining why people do this.

The type of post I'm specifically alluding to is when an OP posts some widget for sale and someone invariably comes along and posts "Man, I'd be all over this if I didn't just buy one..., glwts" It happens in every sale type, whether on this forum or my watch forum, or even on the marketplace at evga.com. There has to be some innate reason why people (myself included) feel the need to post replies like that.

For example...I was selling a custom folded steel Damascus neck tanto with hand tied para cord lanyard and custom made teak handle on a knife forum I frequent and the same day someone replied that "I would be all over it if I didn't just get one the other day."  I find it hard to believe that this person either "got one the other day" or wanted to partake in the conversation since there was no conversation at all.

That was my point.

Human behavior is too complex for every minute behavioral trait or action to be fully explained. Where some might attribute that behavior to a desire to participate in a community activity, others might suggest alternative or even pathological reasons for that same behavior. In other words, I don't think you will find a satisfying answer, and if one answer is satisfying to you, it's accuracy would nevertheless be illusory.

I agree.

Way too many reasons behind this particular human behvaior............

(02-06-2016, 09:58 PM)NeoXerxes Wrote:

(02-06-2016, 09:46 PM)Crag Wrote:

(02-06-2016, 08:03 PM)primotenore Wrote: Maybe they just want to participate in the Nook threads. I don't see what the issue is? I wouldn't dig too deep into this psychologically.

Thanks for your post, but I think you missed my point.  My point is that people do it on every forum, from Facebook to Craigslist, and I wanted to ascertain if anyone knew if there was a scientifically proven reason or theorem explaining why people do this.

The type of post I'm specifically alluding to is when an OP posts some widget for sale and someone invariably comes along and posts "Man, I'd be all over this if I didn't just buy one..., glwts" It happens in every sale type, whether on this forum or my watch forum, or even on the marketplace at evga.com. There has to be some innate reason why people (myself included) feel the need to post replies like that.

For example...I was selling a custom folded steel Damascus neck tanto with hand tied para cord lanyard and custom made teak handle on a knife forum I frequent and the same day someone replied that "I would be all over it if I didn't just get one the other day."  I find it hard to believe that this person either "got one the other day" or wanted to partake in the conversation since there was no conversation at all.

That was my point.

Human behavior is too complex for every minute behavioral trait or action to be fully explained. Where some might attribute that behavior to a desire to participate in a community activity, others might suggest alternative or even pathological reasons for that same behavior. In other words, I don't think you will find a satisfying answer, and if one answer is satisfying to you, it's accuracy would nevertheless be illusory.

That's probably true, haha. I am finding some great posts in this thread, though, they do raise more questions than they answer. ..chicken or the egg, I suppose...

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(02-06-2016, 10:02 PM)Crag Wrote:

(02-06-2016, 09:58 PM)NeoXerxes Wrote:

(02-06-2016, 09:46 PM)Crag Wrote: Thanks for your post, but I think you missed my point.  My point is that people do it on every forum, from Facebook to Craigslist, and I wanted to ascertain if anyone knew if there was a scientifically proven reason or theorem explaining why people do this.

The type of post I'm specifically alluding to is when an OP posts some widget for sale and someone invariably comes along and posts "Man, I'd be all over this if I didn't just buy one..., glwts" It happens in every sale type, whether on this forum or my watch forum, or even on the marketplace at evga.com. There has to be some innate reason why people (myself included) feel the need to post replies like that.

For example...I was selling a custom folded steel Damascus neck tanto with hand tied para cord lanyard and custom made teak handle on a knife forum I frequent and the same day someone replied that "I would be all over it if I didn't just get one the other day."  I find it hard to believe that this person either "got one the other day" or wanted to partake in the conversation since there was no conversation at all.

That was my point.

Human behavior is too complex for every minute behavioral trait or action to be fully explained. Where some might attribute that behavior to a desire to participate in a community activity, others might suggest alternative or even pathological reasons for that same behavior. In other words, I don't think you will find a satisfying answer, and if one answer is satisfying to you, it's accuracy would nevertheless be illusory.

That's probably true, haha.  I am finding some great posts in this thread, though, they do raise more questions than they answer. ..chicken or the egg, I suppose...

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That's what the social sciences will do to you LOL.

Man I would be all over this with a real response if I didn't already post an insightful one! 

There's no denying that this occurs. It's rampant on a B/S/T CH2 Manchurian thread right now.

(02-06-2016, 10:02 PM)Crag Wrote:

(02-06-2016, 09:58 PM)NeoXerxes Wrote:

(02-06-2016, 09:46 PM)Crag Wrote: Thanks for your post, but I think you missed my point.  My point is that people do it on every forum, from Facebook to Craigslist, and I wanted to ascertain if anyone knew if there was a scientifically proven reason or theorem explaining why people do this.

The type of post I'm specifically alluding to is when an OP posts some widget for sale and someone invariably comes along and posts "Man, I'd be all over this if I didn't just buy one..., glwts" It happens in every sale type, whether on this forum or my watch forum, or even on the marketplace at evga.com. There has to be some innate reason why people (myself included) feel the need to post replies like that.

For example...I was selling a custom folded steel Damascus neck tanto with hand tied para cord lanyard and custom made teak handle on a knife forum I frequent and the same day someone replied that "I would be all over it if I didn't just get one the other day."  I find it hard to believe that this person either "got one the other day" or wanted to partake in the conversation since there was no conversation at all.

That was my point.

Human behavior is too complex for every minute behavioral trait or action to be fully explained. Where some might attribute that behavior to a desire to participate in a community activity, others might suggest alternative or even pathological reasons for that same behavior. In other words, I don't think you will find a satisfying answer, and if one answer is satisfying to you, it's accuracy would nevertheless be illusory.

That's probably true, haha.  I am finding some great posts in this thread, though, they do raise more questions than they answer. ..chicken or the egg, I suppose...

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Human behavior is all theory . Until a more advanced species lands on this planet that's what we have theories. Humans can try to understand human behavior but all they can get are theories and what they believe to be science. I was privileged with my old jobs to be able to study human behavior . Just like human behavior may can be predicted and learned it can also be learned to counter all the knowledge people know about behavior. Making sense? Probably not what I'm saying basically in humans can't study humans and have a 100% science . For as many people thay think they know all this and that about behavior there are people in places that teach how to throw off this predictions so nothing is really a science.

(02-07-2016, 05:24 AM)FreddieP318ti Wrote: Man I would be all over this with a real response if I didn't already post an insightful one! 

Hahaha...!

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