Major Tom
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
The concept of critical mass in reference to ER and portfolios has been discussed a number of times, most recently in this thread started by nash031. Obviously from that thread, once you've strayed from the strict scientific definition of critical mass, you're free to define it however you want.
Recently, it occurred to me that I have reached "critical mass" with this forum. I joined the forum in 2009, and spent about 7 months browsing and reading before making my first few tentative posts. The information and conversations were good, although I didn't get the more complex interactions and dynamics of the group. Heck, I didn't even really know who anybody was, with the exception of haha. I mean, anyone who has been here for more than a day or two knows who haha is right?
Slowly, I started to get a sense of who the main contributors were, and what they were like, as well as a vague idea about some of the former contributors who have since gone on to greener pastures in the actual world outside the internet. Yes - I even started to get a feel for the fact that some of these screen names are real and relatively normal people, with real and complete lives, outside the boundaries of discussions on SWR, the merits of dividend investing over a total-return approach, the value of frugality, what the ACA means to us, etc. etc.
Even more recently, this forum has begun to mean something to me on a personal level too. I'm not quite eloquent enough to be able to put it into words, but this realization only came about in the last month or so. It has taken 4 or 5 years for me to get to this point.
My questions for you are -
How long have you been here, and how does E-R.org fit into your life? Is it a place you come to occasionally to see the latest chat on financial issues, or does it mean more to you than that? How long was it before this place felt like Cheers - or maybe you're not there yet? Perhaps you think we're just a bunch of weird old fuddy-duddies who do that really bizarre thing called saving money, and we merely represent a passing curiosity to you?
As my ex used to say to me, "It's just a question. I was only wondering......"
Recently, it occurred to me that I have reached "critical mass" with this forum. I joined the forum in 2009, and spent about 7 months browsing and reading before making my first few tentative posts. The information and conversations were good, although I didn't get the more complex interactions and dynamics of the group. Heck, I didn't even really know who anybody was, with the exception of haha. I mean, anyone who has been here for more than a day or two knows who haha is right?
Slowly, I started to get a sense of who the main contributors were, and what they were like, as well as a vague idea about some of the former contributors who have since gone on to greener pastures in the actual world outside the internet. Yes - I even started to get a feel for the fact that some of these screen names are real and relatively normal people, with real and complete lives, outside the boundaries of discussions on SWR, the merits of dividend investing over a total-return approach, the value of frugality, what the ACA means to us, etc. etc.
Even more recently, this forum has begun to mean something to me on a personal level too. I'm not quite eloquent enough to be able to put it into words, but this realization only came about in the last month or so. It has taken 4 or 5 years for me to get to this point.
My questions for you are -
How long have you been here, and how does E-R.org fit into your life? Is it a place you come to occasionally to see the latest chat on financial issues, or does it mean more to you than that? How long was it before this place felt like Cheers - or maybe you're not there yet? Perhaps you think we're just a bunch of weird old fuddy-duddies who do that really bizarre thing called saving money, and we merely represent a passing curiosity to you?
As my ex used to say to me, "It's just a question. I was only wondering......"
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