Are these the only topics fellow CC members will only read anymore? What happened to sharing ideas, recipe's, photos, etc?

It seems to me that lately the only topics getting any responses involve drama. It's so sad....

I've noticed that topics such as recipe assistance are only getting 5 responses meanwhile "Crazy Bridezilla" topics get 579 responses...

Just my frustrated .02 on this matter.

so funny! I sometimes get sucked in too!! But yes, constructive recipe swaps, design ideas, etc are also nice to read too!

Everyone loves drama!

My amateur guess regarding the "usual" topics is that a large majority of members have seen that question over and over and over and are looking for more exciting things to read.

Which doesn't help the person who really needs an answer! But could explain why drama threads get more views.

Now we know how to get people to read our posts...

i think it's a combination. i think that people have seen the same topics and questions over and over again and are maybe sick of answering the same thing over and over. but i don't blame the OP necessarily b/c i think the search function on this website could use some help. and i say that very constructively...it's just that this can be a tough website to navigate as far as searching a topic is concerned. even going through the pics isn't as easy to navigate as other sites. but i will say that this site has made me a better caker and i have learned so much!

and i will say that i learn a lot from the crazy customer/bridezilla topics too!

[quote="Chasey"]Everyone loves drama!

My amateur guess regarding the "usual" topics is that a large majority of members have seen that question over and over and over and are looking for more exciting things to read.

Which doesn't help the person who really needs an answer! But could explain why drama threads get more views.[/quote]

Perhaps the person who really needs an answer should do a Search first. Just sayin'.

I decided the other day that I would look at the unanswered posts each day and try to make a comment on one or two! Some of the posts I am really clueless since I don't have a lot of experience. I also decided earlier today that I would do my best to stop commenting on the negative types of posts since I have no time in my life to keep up with all of that negativity!

I think those crazy stories get read and replied to because they are like their own little reality show. You don't want to watch/read but you can't stop! I don't think some of the other posts may get as many replies because someone already answered the question that was asked. I don't think we need 500 people to tell the OP how to make/recommend MFF.

Just saying, I have to agree with Babarooskie. I am one that will search for over an hour looking for an answer to a question and come up with nothing, knowing that the answer is out there because I've read it before but didn't need it at the time. It's kinda hard sometimes to come up with the right phrasing to search if you have questions on it to begin with.

I love this site and have learned a lot over the years just wish that sometimes the questions would be looked at as much as the drama.

Leah makes a very good point

I'll also add that I tend not to visit the recipe forum unless I am looking for something specific. So if someone is looking for help there I am not going to see it. I do visit the business, general and decorating forums every day so am more likely to respond to something there.

I agree that the website search could be a little more user friendly. I learn so much from CC but I'm sure there's lots of things I've missed because I couldn't find them. I've posted only one question so far but no one ever answered it. How are the questions that are posted on the home page chosen? I am not very computer savvy so I'm sure that's a big part of the problem but are there any tips to make searching more successful? It is overwheming to look through such large categories of pictures and posts and I always get sidetracked when I find something interesting. CC is so addictive! Not complaining, just want to be able to take full advantage of what this great site has to offer!

Well, atleast every Bridezilla is a little different...

but "how much should I charge" never changes.

If all I had to do here was answer, "can a fondant cake be refrigerated?" over and over and over..I'd stop visiting. We should be grateful for the entertaining, dramatic and informative balance that keeps the people with the answers to the questions coming back.

And you can learn an awful lot about cakes and the cake business by reading threads about things that went wrong and situations folks dealt with. If all I wanted was recipes, I'd buy a cookbook.

Besides, how many answers can there be to "I need a recipe for a good buttercream". I've popped in to threads like this. Saw that mamasrobin (who usually beats me to it!) has already said, "Try IndyDebi's!" so I move out. Does it REALLY add to the discussion if I also post, "Yeah, try mine."? QUestion asked ..... question answered. What are you looking for?

But Bridezilla stories? Heck, we've ALL got years of experience dealing with THOSE!

It's not really a fair question to ask why recipe requests (just using an example, here) get fewer responses than bridezilla rants. They are two totally different types of conversation. The recipe request is when I get up to walk to the teacher's desk and ask for help on a problem. I ask ... she answers .... I go away.

The 'zilla thread is when we girls are sitting around the kitchen table with coffee and cheesecake (think Golden Girls!) sharing stories about our husbands (which in my house we call "Stupid Husband Stories!), our kids and our problem clients. All of us talk .... all of us share .... and someone makes a 2nd pot of coffee.

Not really fair to compare these types of threads. Not at all.
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edited for a couple of typos.

Indydeb is right on the money! Couldn't have said it better myself.

Besides, the search button is not very useful; at least it hasn't worked the few times I've tried it.

Awesome, Indydeb! Thanks!

And I'll add this... how the heck should I know how much you should charge for a cake when I don't know where you live, what the 'going rate' is around your area, etc. etc. etc. I hardly know what I should charge.

And while I agree that answering those questions is important, it's the other stuff that makes us a family. Sharing our grief, frustrations, joys, sorrows, etc. That bonds us together, even when we disagree.

Go into the Google advanced search;
put your search term (for example) MMF in the box;
in search within site or domain put cakecentral.com
then hit the button.

Works in the image search too.

Indydebi and Melvira are right on point!

thought i would add my pet peeve of a post ..... drum rolllllll please.......

how do i make fondant shiney?

sometimes i get a little tired answering and posting on the same ol' questions.