Do you feel peer pressure from forums?

[DeborahS]

Here goes a philosophical question for you...

Forums are undoubtedly useful places - for information, experience and news on bargains - but how much peer pressure do you feel on forums like this (but not just this one, others too...).

Peer pressure can be both good as well as bad. The "DIS Diet" threads might be an example of good peer pressure. Maybe being tempted to "over-stretch the budget" with upgrades, DVCs, extra-trips etc might be less positive peer pressure (depending on how flexible your budget may be).

Edited to add that the poll is anonymous.

 

[angel659]

I dont see it really. I know what I can and cant afford. People all respect what people can and cant afford. Were great on this board.

 

[wilma-bride]

Interesting question Deborah. I have certainly seen evidence of what I believe is others being influenced by people's opinions ont he forums. Personally (in case you hadn't noticed ) I am quite a strong-minded personality and so am rarely influenced by peer pressure. That is not to say that I wouldn't try things if recommended by scores of others, more that I wouldn't allow my ideas or opinions to be influenced.

I actually think there is a lot of 'keeping up with the Joneses' on forums like these too - when one person does something, there are a whole raft of people eager to jump in and say they have done it too - but usually better or more times

To be fair, I don't think forums (or certainly not this one anyway) are that different to real life. There are so many different age groups, personalities, backgrounds and opinions here that , evidently, real-life behaviours will be represented here too.

 

[AliceGardner]

I think it is an interesting question - purely hypothertically of course.

It is definitely a great board here

It is just interesting to see an anonynous poll (so people can vote honestly) of how people feel that they are influenced by the board or perceive that they are influenced.

Obviously there are so many factors involved and a simple poll cannot give a straight answer, but it is interesting anyway...

Alice

 

[Strommie]

I am not the sort of person to be affected by peer pressure, either in real life or on an internet forum. I will read people's experiences and recommendations, and may try them myself when I am next in WDW. For example, restaurant/hotel reviews, but I would never try and keep up with other people just so I can come on here and say yes I've done it too, or sign up to DVC just because every one else is doing it.

 

[T16GEM]

Hmm - I don't think so, I am part of the diet thread and it helps to keep going but I wouldn't say that it's my only support to diet. I am also quite strong minded and don't tend to be a sheep following what everyone else is doing. I do what I can and what suits my family not what everyone else wants.

 

[Minniespal]

What an interesting thread!

I’m quite a strong willed person and rarely find myself influenced to buy something that I really wouldn’t have intended to buy anyway.

The forums as with life you can contribute to whatever extent that you wish to. There are things on this forum and other ones that I use that I share with others. There is also lots of personal information about myself that I don’t choose to share. There is a fine line for me about sharing with others something exciting in my life and bragging about something just for the sake of it.

I use the forums to glean information about resorts/restaurants and DVC. I would consider making a restaurant ADR on the recommendation of information I had read. For something as expensive as a DVC purchase I would research all of the information, see the resort and then make a decision.

Unfortunately with these sorts of forums people can and I would think, on occasions, distort the facts or even make them up.

 

[Dimplenose]

It depends what you mean by influence as I don't think it's "keep up with Joneses" type of influence, or even the sole reason to choose an option but certainly if someone has had a good or bad experience I will probably consider the info even if I later ignore the advice.

If you get the same info often enough it's bound to make you think about it - look at the number of people trying out Crocs just to see what everyone is on about. I'm sure they only buy them if they like them and find them comfy but they possibly never even considered trying them before reading about them on here.

Libby

 

[DeborahS]

Hi

I sort of mean "influence"/"peer pressure" as in "doing it because everyone else is doing it" rather than because you particularly know it is right for you - if that makes sense.

Sometimes it can be blatant, sometimes it can be very subtle. Think back to when you were at school... I don't know about you, but I have memories of all the girls HAVING to have the same clothes, having to have the same bag, having to like the same music/bands. I can't honestly believe that they all liked the same clothes/bags/music/bands/hearththrobs... I don't know whether they all consciously thought "I have to be seen to like these things and buy these things otherwise I wont be popular" or whether it was more subtle "they all like these things, so these things must be good" or what.... Of course I am talking about school kids and most of us are grown-ups, but how we have grown-up affects what sort of adults we are.

Indeed even today we see how the media (TV/films/magazines/celebrities) affect the MUST HAVE clothes/hairstyle/pet/car etc for adults... That itself may be blatant "keeping up with the Joneses" (or the Poshs or the Colleens etc) or it could be a lot more subtle peer pressure (i.e. all these celebrities look good like that, so I will too). Both are peer pressure....

For example many of us would not (if we didn't see popular media) think "I know a **** job and hair extsions are a great idea for me!". But - when influenced by popular media - we might think "I want to have a big bust land look exactly like Jordan!" or we might think "all these celebs have hair extensions and **** jobs, so maybe it might be good for me too...".

In the media (not on here), there is obviously a lot of debate about pressure on celebs to be "size zero". This has led to a lot of perceived pressure on "normal" women to be (unhealthily) skinny too.

Most of the people posted on this thread say that they see the influence, but make their own minds up - which I think is probably the right way too go. I guess I am curious to see how many feel that the peer pressure may have a stronger influence on them (i.e. they feel pressure to do things that their head may suggest are not the most suitable things for them to do).

This is not - in any way - a negative reflection on this board, internet forums in general or the people posting on here. It is just something interesting to think about... I know that commercial companies are beginning to take more of an interest in forums like this and review sites (like Tripadvisor) because they CAN be influencial on how people spend their money.

Different people react different to different influences etc and it is interesting to see what the posters here think . That is why the poll is private - so you can vote what you want without anyone judging you.

Deborah

It depends what you mean by influence as I don't think it's "keep up with Joneses" type of influence, or even the sole reason to choose an option but certainly if someone has had a good or bad experience I will probably consider the info even if I later ignore the advice.

If you get the same info often enough it's bound to make you think about it - look at the number of people trying out Crocs just to see what everyone is on about. I'm sure they only buy them if they like them and find them comfy but they possibly never even considered trying them before reading about them on here.

 

[Minniespal]

That is why the poll is private - so you can vote what you want without anyone judging you.

You may then get people participating in the poll but not responding to the thread!

I guess I am curious to see how many feel that the peer pressure may have a stronger influence on them

 

[mandymouse]

No, I don't feel any peer pressure - if there was - I would've given into buying a pair of Crocs by now

Mandy

 

[Minniespal]

if there was - I would've given into buying a pair of Crocs by now

Mandy

Not even if they brought out Christmas ones Mand

 

[CustardTart]

Interesting question. TBH, whilst I've seen considerable peer pressure on other forums (a particular shopping telly forum springs to mind), the DIS UK folk I've encountered seem more interested in providing information and support than directly influencing each other.

However, as my DH says I march to the beat of my own drum, I'm not sure I'd notice...

 

[scottishsue]

I am not the sort of person to be affected by peer pressure, either in real life or on an internet forum. I will read people's experiences and recommendations, and may try them myself when I am next in WDW. For example, restaurant/hotel reviews, but I would never try and keep up with other people just so I can come on here and say yes I've done it too, or sign up to DVC just because every one else is doing it.

Totally agree with you there in everything you say. For example I read the restaurant reviews on here, but we don't do any of the dining plans like most do. We also bought into the DVC, but because we wanted to - we weren't trying to "keep up with the joneses".

I'm like Florence, I am quite a strong willed person and can't be influenced into something I am not interested in, unless I was intending to buy it anyway.

 

[Merylj]

I visit the Dis for information - but there is a downside - I do feel the pressure to book more holidays but only because when I`m reading of peoples plans I want to go again!
I suspect I do feel a bit of pressure re upgrading flights - normally I would think to pay so many more £££`s for a few hours of slightly increased comfort is crazy- but I`m coming round to that way of thinking.
Regarding keeping up with the joneses, if some one recommends something good I`ll give it a try - in fact our hols wouldn`t be anywhere near as good without the info I glean from here. Can I be influenced - I certainly can!

 

[emily1982]

I don't feel there is pressure, but, i would say people are more open to state their opinions than they probably would if they were face to face with a person.
Sometimes i do think to myself maybe i should stop coming on as often as im desperate to go to Disney and i can't at the moment, where i see people going every year. But then i think well those people are at a different stage of their lives and some people never go. I wouldnt say it was peer pressure though.
Also i think the UK forum and the main community forum is very different on this board, i'm just thinking of this one.

 

[cstokell]

All I will say is that I don't own a pair of Crocs and probably never will!!! So I don't feel that this forum exerts alot of peer pressure on me.

 

[Booknut]

I don't think I feel any pressure from the boards or any need to keep up with the Jones' (I love that saying...). I do take on board people's opinions and recommendations but I don't have the time or the finances to keep up with some of you lucky ones!

We would never fly business class or even premium unless we at least doubled our income, its just too much money to spend for 8 hours. Nor would we pay to stay somewhere like the Polynesian when its actually cheaper to GO to Polynesia!

Having said this, I got very curious with everyone talking about Crocs last year and I bought my first pair (the first of many now!). But I think that was more the rave reviews than pressure.

Interesting post, have enjoyed reading people's responses!

 

[natalielongstaff]

i voted like this

I can see the peer pressure and I feel some influence myself

mainly because i can often feel envy more than pressure.... and yes i got crocs because everyone else had them

ive also been envious of DVC and have told dh not to let me anywhere near them on our trip

 

[DeborahS]

Whoops, sorry about the rude word. Didn't realise that it was that rude - I guess that some people's "not very rude" can be very offensive to others. So sorry

Wont try to bypass the filter again.

Am enjoying the interesting discussions here.

Deborah