Fluther is a community made up of friends who have stumbled upon it and stayed - much like in real life - yet the vast majority do not invite others to join them - why?

Because we’re afraid people like you will scare them into paranoia. ~ ;-)

Edited by Seazen

@Fred931 True dat. Minus the ~. Plus the ;-)

Because I can be totally myself on Fluther, and I may have sometimes spoken of real life dilemmas and about people in my life.

I, personally, don’t invite others here for a simple reason- there are some aspects of my life that I’m not willing to share with others. I couldn’t rant about my mother or other girlfriends if they were members.

Because Fluther is the place where I talk about the people I know in real life. If they were actually on here, I wouldn’t be able to ask some of the questions I do.

@Fred931 Even mods can’t edit your post. Only you can.

But just because one is paranoid, it doesn’t mean he isn’t being followed.

I tried to get my mom interested, but it’s just not her thing I guess. Other people I know in real life aren’t really the ‘type’ to participate in an online community.

As far as online friends, I don’t really have many since I quit playing a MMPORPG. (other than those on Fluther, of course).

That’s an excellent question. Some of us share intimate details about ourselves we might not want real-life acquaintances to know. So privacy is probably one reason. Another huge factor is just not thinking of it. I got a question via email several days ago from an online friend who is a copy editor who does copy for websites. He wanted to know how best to leverage social media to get the word out that he’s available for work. I suggested he sign up here, and let me know his user name by email. Haven’t heard yet whether he did or not.

If people I knew were here, I wouldn’t be able to say the things I say. As it is, people from real life may catch onto me soon, and then that will be that. Blandness is as blandness does.

@seazen I suck at being funny.

@Fred931 Nah. You’re funny. I just suck, on the other hand.

My wife, at my suggestion, was an active member very briefly. It wasn’t her cup of tea – but she likes when I talk about Fluther with her.

I invited a friend to join but he never did.

That’s about it. Everyone else in my real life can go screw. These are my jelly-friends. MINE I tell you!

Maybe I’m selfish, but there are some things I call my own (and no one is privvy to them) ,Fluther is one of them.

Because they just don’t seem to be as entertained by Fluther as I am.

I’ve tried but to no avail.

I invited 2 friends to the party but neither wanted to stay. Now I’m glad they didn’t. This is a private and comfortable part of my life.

I’ve invited several people (most notably, my children – who are more active when they aren’t in school). Most weren’t interested. One joined briefly, and will answer questions in his field, but isn’t here much. Another (JLeslie) came and stayed.

Because it’s like walking into a scene from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Which is fine coz I love that movie :¬) An acquired taste shall we say. I wouldn’t wish that on invite anyone to that!

I have actually invited multiple people over the course of time that I’ve been here.

None of them stuck. Weirdos.

I’d have to go through and request that a few of my answers be removed if people I knew IRL joined.
I’m much more willing to share details of my life here than with people I actually know for some reason.

I have introduced friends to fluther but not necessarily my username. Some have become jellies and some just take to these waters. I don’t want to share fluther with acquaintances or coworkers though that aren’t trusted friends because I really like the fluther community.~

I can be completely honest withmy friends here and if someone in my “real” life were to be here I wouldn’t feel quite so relaxed.

I think I may feel the same as many above, a little less comfortable and open if many people from my “physical” life were on here.

That being said, I do occasionally invite friends to view interesting fluther threads or tell them that it is an interesting site. I think many ignore it or maybe glance at the thread and then ignore it. Most of my friends do not spend anywhere near as much time online as I do.

I’ve invited a few who didn’t stick around, but for the most part, I only recommend sites that I think that the person would like. Most of my peer group lacks the time and/or the interest.
It’s the same with TvTropes.