Jane, Great question. I'd also like to know the answer. I have a few posts that no one relpies to and a couple others with only one or two. I try to explain my question in the subject and then others just say: "help me with my layout" and ten people respond.

I hope you get some suggestions.

It could just be timing, really. If yours got posted during a flurry of other posts it could have just gotten lost. Feel free to comment to your own post to "bump" it to the top of the list. I am guessing that's what happened as this is one of my personal favorite kinds of posts and I don't remember seeing it.

Other than that, here's the things that I personally look for:
Concise, informative subject line.

Getting to the point quickly and simply.

Pictures in the post are best (though not too many), next best a clickable link to somewhere that's quick and easy to navigate.

Pictures that tell the story well.

Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw. It could also be the time of day that you post (weekday late evenings are bad). Could be any number of things.

I second pbrisjar's comments.

Also, if the OP responds back in a timely manner it helps to keep things going (continual feedback).

Sometimes, however, I also think that there is some "trigger" involved. It may be that folks recognize you, or you have a well-liked kitchen, or you did something unique such that it generates a lot of interest (but I don't always understand why some unique things are so much more popular than other unique things) .

I also think using an interesting subject line can draw in readers...I didn't see your post but I think that "Help me choose a paint color" is not very interesting while "Seeking bold paint for a retro kitchen--pics inside" would probably cajole me into opening it even though I'm not good at recommending paint colors. I would be curious to see the retro kitchen and what type of bold paint was being considered.

Sorry if I don't acknowledge anyone else who may have chimed in while I was typing my response.

Some forums show the number of views next to the number of replies. That would be quite useful in this situation.

I agree that shorter questions could help. You can always add more information later, bumping your thread to the top at the same time.

If it's the thread linked below, then unfortunately, that post is one of the types that I rarely post on mainly b/c I don't feel qualified! I like layouts and more "techie" or "detail" type posts b/c I don't think I have much of an aesthetic sense...at least not as good as most others here!

I too was stumped on paint colors so I went out and got some samples and painted swaths on the wall and then posted pictures. I think that may be the key...show the colors you're considering against everything, not just talk about it. It's often difficult to imagine w/o seeing actual colors.

This is the link to my post so you can see what I mean:
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg1109511615056.html

Pbrisjar gives a good description of what helps get responses.

BTW..when I was looking for paint color help, I also posted here and on the Decorating Forum and got close to the same # of posts on each.

Here is a link that might be useful: Need help picking color for kitchen walls

Sometimes I like responding to posts - sometimes I don't - it's a mood thing. When I do feel like doing it, I will usually not post to threads which have 50 replies already unless it's something very interesting.

I usually look for ones where people are asking for advice on a subject that I flatter myself I have some knowledge of.

When I read the post - if it seems like the OP has wildly differing taste from mine I move on. Also - if the question is too broad - I move on.

I'll echo what some others have said about a catchy headline, pics and paint chips. If someone wants to know what colour walls go with a "dusty rose" sofa and doesn't bother supplying anymore information - well I'm going to put as much effort into my response as they put into their post. One line gets one line.

If someone wants layout suggestions and posts a scribble on a torn piece of paper - I move on. If someone posts an actual diagram then I will happily spend a couple of hours trying things and then post the result in an effort to help.

I am pretty sure that others will have differing perspectives, but HTH somewhat..

sailorman answered as I would have. I often skip the posts because the question is too vague and without pictures it's hard to answer them. Or I see the pics and dislike the current elements so much that I feel it's best to move on. I skip all posts with titles like:

What granite goes with my white cabinets?

What color white on my trim in my white kitchen with white cabinets?

What is your favorite white?

Did you wear white at your wedding? (OK I might answer that one).

This question was asked (not the white ones LOL but the original one) in the decorating forum in the conversations side. I answered that I respond for different reasons. First is mood, second is time, third is perhaps the poster (I might actually answer pb if she asked about white because I like her) and lastly, it's about interests. I have zero interest in melamine cabinets. But I adore quarter sawn oak, (don't have it, just adore it) so I'd open a thread about the second before I'd ever open one about the first.

The subject is a big thing and the pictures. I'd open a "Kelly has a man in her drawers" thread in a heartbeat (ok I wrote that one) before I'd open a "what color white trim goes with my white cabinets and white marble in my white kitchen?.

I answer layout questions sporatically. I have a very sophisticated software program that does layouts, and it's a particular interest for me, but that program is at another house so I currently don't get to play with it much.

I answer lighting and knob questions only if I think the poster can hang with my freaky style. Boring knobs and boring lighting threads, I pass those on by in a heartbeat. Post a light fixture with a bat on it...I"m there baby!

That is the other thing - be as specific as possible. Give us something real to work with. Paint colors can be overwhelming. With that you just have to take the plunge and start off with some. It helps you and us to help you by knowing how you are reacting to specifics.

"I might actually answer pb if she asked about white because I like her"

Aw shucks. But I do believe you can safely state that because you know me and know about as close as I'd get to that is asking about avoiding white ;). Come to think of it, at some point in the nearish future I'll be posting somewhere about minimizing the WHITE of our vinyl windows, which I don't think are paintable. Bleh.

Here is a link that might be useful: Not a bat but def not boring...

Layouts transcend personal taste so that people with widely varying styles can all help with develop a functional layout. You'll also note, though, that sometimes even though the post has 20 responses or more, they might mostly be from 2 or 3 members who have gotten involved in the conversation. The number of responses doesn't necessarily tell how many different people answered.

Because of particular guidelines, etc., commenting on layouts is a practice in objectivity. I can tell you how far I think the island should be from the stove, or why the fridge should be more easily accessible...But paint color questions are often vague or so much a matter of personal preference that it's hard to advise. And there are SO many paint colors and shades. If you show a couple choices you're considering...Or you show one that you thought you would like, but then feel it didn't work, you might ask why or where you should go from there. It helps when there is something to get our teeth into and work with.

I happen to be familiar with the colors suggested in the response you got and really like them. After reading that list, I would wait to see what your response was (what you thought of them) to know what to suggest after that. So as others suggested, if you come back and keep a conversation going, then others may chime in.

I also get in a hurry with checking posts in the midst of real life, and if there is too much to read to get the point of the question, I move on.

Hope this helps.

Another thing about timing: I've noticed some patterns but haven't studied them enough to give rules or anything. Basically, asking when people are too busy to answer will get few answers. Then there are some times when everyone seems to be home and relaxed, but there aren't a ton of new threads, when people seem to sit back, and thoughtfully answer a whole lot of the questions that are out there.

I don't do a lot of "me toos". If I can't add anything to what's been said I don't say anything. And the other posters here have made all the points about the specific situation, and more, so I'll say no more :)

I think less words and more pictures gets my interest more. I just looked at your post. I had trouble wading through the first paragraph.

Generally speaking, I do more reading on this site than writing, but since you're asking...

I like to respond to questions that peak my interest, such as this one :) I have waded in on paint colour questions in the past, but usually b/c of the timing, my mood, the wording of the question or the pics in the post.

I too have had some questions with many responses & others who have few responses. I just think it probably relates to the number of replies I make to others' posts.

As you can see, there are many variables to why questions get answered. Luck of the draw?

I also do more reading here than writing. Mostly because I'm trying to learn and don't think of myself as one to give out decorating advice! :)

However, if I happen to 'drop by', and see a question moving down the board unanswered, and it's a subject I have learned no one answers here, I will chime in just to give the person a reply. I do feel bad when I see that. I will more often add to the short posts than one where 50 people squealed "Beautiful!" But that's just me.

IMO only, there are 2 BIG reasons posts don't get answers.

1 - the subject is not of interest. Many 'regulars' on here describe themselves as TKO, Total Kitchen Obsessed. As such they are focused on superior quality materials and tech. Don't bother asking if they like their Maytag! (Or melamine cabinets as igloochic mentioned.) It's like going on a car enthusiast forum and asking about Pintos.

2 - the subject has been answered/asked countless times. Again - see Igloochic - what color granite goes with my white kitchen? Now that I've been working on my kitchen for a number of months, and dropping by here, I too have seen new people show up with the same questions week after week. One can only read so many repetitive threads. But the OP of course has no idea they are the umpteenth person to ask!

If it makes you feel any better, it happens on the travel forums too (Fodors). You should see people jump all over the poor sod who asks (about 10 times a week!) "Oyster card question (for London)?" It's all been posted in a "Read This Before Asking Thread" and of course no one ever does. :)

The best thing to do before asking any question is search, search, search. And that's my great amazing advice for the day! :D

Like others have said, sometimes I'll answer a query--depending on my mood, how much time I've got on the computer, whether I'm trying to cut back on said time on the compuiter (!).....

I'm terrible with paint colors (all my walls are white by choice, except for a still in-progress bathroom reno!), so a paint color thread is not a thread I'm likely to open, let alone respond to. Sometimes I'll open a thread on a whim, and pick up some useful on or OT information--lucky me!

I will tell you, that days of the week can be influential in thread response. Saturdays are notoriously slow on this forum (and others), Sunday seems to pick up a bit, but weekday mornings and evenings are usually your best bet if you want maximum responses.

well, I think you've figured it out!! look at all these posts! a very intriguing topic line did it for you!

why I don't post:

1. Inexperience/lack of confidence with giving good advice: I very infrequently feel as though I have much to offer for decorating (although I go over to that thread a lot to learn!) and paint colors - jeez louise - that was so tough for me too! since my house isn't painted yet, I don't feel I can offer good suggestions.

2. lack of pictures or info to help me understand

3. life pulls me away before I can type...like the very frequent head re-attachment surgeries for sleeping beauty dolls, fighting between the kids, etc. I do intend to get back, but it doesn't always happen!

good luck and keep posting!

I'm busy and only pop on here for a few minutes a day.

I'm picky about what threads I have time to open so a catchy subject line would be the first thing.

Then if I open your thread I want the root of the issue ASAP. Don't give a 100 details in the first post.

Ask your questions, get advice and then respond with "DH prefers the blue over the purple paint" and you'll get more feedback on just which shade of blue he might like.

Also a picture tells a 1000 words. Use them wisely with a possible link to more.

When it comes to posts about colors, I am more likely to respond to: "Which of these two (or three) colors should I pick?" than one like: "Suggest a color scheme for my kitchen and breakfast room!".

I think the questions have to be succinctly asked and come right to the point. No offense, but your other post has a big paragraph that my eyes automatically started to skim rather than truly read, and I lost interest around the middle of the paragraph. Bullet-pointed questions of 1-2 sentences each often get a lot of responses, often in bullet-pointed responses in the order in which they were asked.

Paint is also difficult to opine on for the reasons already stated in this thread. And also computer monitors read colors differently so different people are seeing different colors on their monitors.

Another reason I sometimes don't respond, although it is not the case with this OP, is that some posters seem to want everyone here to do their work for them. This happens a lot on the Appliances Forum. As an example, someone might ask a question like, "which DW takes panels"? I really don't want to do the research for the poster and find the brands and model numbers. I would prefer that the poster did his/her own research work to find DW's that take panels, narrowed it down to a few, and then asked the forum's opinion on the pros and cons of those models.

Also, I agree with the other poster(s) that said you need to show photos of the entire kitchen, especially the window.

I agree with the previous posters. I looked at your thread and I would have removed the entire first paragraph and started with the second one (dh wanted blue, but they all look bad, and I really want yellow but dh nixed that.)

After reading that, I think the core issue for me would be that I want it bright and cheery, and found a yellow I like and DH did not. To me, that is the crux of your issue: find a yellow that your DH likes. Then your bright & cheery falls into place.

I think the hardest thing to respond to is a long text with lots of details where the person is trying to draw a mental image for us and what we really need is one photo -- faster, to the point and no guessing. If it creates brain strain just to read and get to the question, I have nothing left to answer a question. I will move on before I get to that point.

Simple questions and not a lot of rambling.

Not the same question that has been asked 20-50 times recently. I am at the point where "am I crazy to want marble" will either be ignored or generate a simple "Yes. Don't do it." I realize threads can fall off the pages or even fill up, so popular topics will reoccur, but we don't need a new one when three others are circulating in the most recent pages.

Have a real question -- don't expect me to do all your researching and educating. A "Tell me about sinks", "Show me galley kitchens" are threads I probably won't even open. The threads with dangling titles (What should I do about....) are not likely to get opened.

If I do read a thread, I'm only likely to post if I have the time and feel I can add something to the discussion. Sometimes one or two replies are as meaningful (or more so) that 30 or 40 rattling on. If it has been covered or I don't have an opinion -- or if I don't have a helpful opinion (no way I would put yellow cabinets on purple walls with red shag carpet...), I will leave it alone.

Sometimes it's just timing. You can bump a thread once or twice to see if you get a fresh audience. If you still don't get the replies you hoped for, start over with a new title and a photo. One or two photos are generally helpful. Ten or twelve just slow things down.

I rarely respond on issues of personal taste like paint colors because I find that the majority of posters don't really want actual objective suggestions from a design theory background. They want reinforcement for ideas they already have but maybe can't articulate. They may ask you what color to paint, but when it really comes down to it, that color that you suggest had better be one of 73 different shades of beige or it won't really be up for actual consideration. And, maybe the poster is right, it will be their kitchen after all. Maybe they don't want something that takes them out of their comfort level. But, taking risks is what makes for great design rather than "non offensive bland resale look".

Reasons why I read more than post:

I have very little design skill and my post proved I can't address paint color.

Sometimes I'll have an opinion on a post, but see in the replies someone else had the exact opinion. Then I feel it wouldn't contribute to the thread for me to say "oh I agree with so and so"

I don't think anyone should take it personally if some posts get more replies than others. We are all just mysterious internet people. I'm sure no one is snubbing anyone else.

Agree with everyone, particularly pbrisjar. Most of the time I wish I could help, but just don't know enough to be of help. I do have a pet peeve that will stop me from posting in the one or two areas that I actually know (or at least think I know) something about - and that is when I've taken the time to give a detailed response to someone who has asked a technical or troubleshooting problem and the OP never responds back as to what the actual problem turned out to be or what they decided. If they post again, I generally don't respond. This seems to happen more in the appliances forum. I suspect a lot of times it might be something they feel sheepish about like the appliance not being plugged in; but still, once I respond I want to know how the story turns out as well as find out if my advice was on target or if I was sadly clueless.

no time to read the other responses, but if you get one reply, answer the reply. this serves three purposes:

1) it lets the person who replied know you read his/her answer

2) lets everyone else know you're an interactive poster who will check back to read the answers

3)it bumps your post up to the top of the list.

I agree with other posters..sometimes it's must my mood as to whether I respond. Typically I respond if it's something I had first hand experience in doing or deciding about during our own kitchen remodel.

However, I did take a quick look at your post and will tell you why I didn't respond, but remember you asked!

Your post went into too much detail with dimensions of cabinets, cooking areas, and other parts of your kitchen. It is VERY hard to visualize these details so we tend to gloss over them. You did provide photos, but none show much of the kitchen, just close ups of the specifics. Take a photo with as much of the kitchen in it as possible so that we have an overall view of the space. We can also see maybe how it relates to other spaces nearby and then better offer you advice.

However, all the advice in the world won't make you or your husband like a color (blue or yellow in your case if I recall) if you just don't like it.

From what I can tell, I'd pick up the tan in your countertop and paint the walls that color. Of everything we can do to make an impact in the room, painting is the easiest and cheapest to do over. So both of you agree to disagree, pick a color you can LIVE with for awhile while another color hits you....and if it it works out the way it usually does, the color you agree to now will be there for years!

Another reason many of us don't respond...is that the same questions (like "What white did you paint your white cabinets?") repeat almost every other page and it just gets a bit boring responding to these same questions Especially since these posts are still available with a quick search!

Good luck with your color, and by the way, if this was your sneaky way of getting us to reply to your intial post, it worked! Many gardenwebber's have since found your post and have responded. Congrats!

Are you by chance on the West Coast? This may sound trivial, but if you post in the early evening you probably won't get much response. And if you get one response, that will send your post to the bottom much more quickly and may end up on page two by morning, East Coast time. Just a thought.

I agree with the other posters that messages that get right to the point without a lot of wordiness garner the most interest, and inspire people to respond. I just read the OP's other thread (that inspired this one), and interestingly, it provides a lot of detail, and yet not the detail that would help people help her. And yes, a photo showing the entire kitchen would help.

Having said that about providing a photo or photos of the entire kitchen, I need to mention that my pet peeve about photos is that people post them too large. Any of the websites like Webshots or Photobucket allow you to edit your pics to a smaller size. When the photos posted are so large, I just close the message and don't respond. I won't respond to those cause I get dizzy from scrolling my screen back and forth to see the photo and read the post that has now widened past my screen size.

Other reasons I don't respond: titles that say something like "Quick question" without providing the question. Or simply "Sinks" without providing the question, or "What Would You Do?" without providing the question. Or, as others have said, messages that want us to do their legwork for them.

Ironic, isn't it, that many have advised on this thread that to garner more responses, the OP should post back, to show continued interest in the subject, and appreciation for the time people are taking to respond. Meanwhile, the OP hasn't posted back.

I got home from work an hour ago and checked in. Boy, was I surprised. And, no, it was not my intention to be sneaky in getting people to respond.

After I posted my original and looked back, I realized I was W-A-Y to wordy. Sorry.

I will take some other photos with more of the area involved.

And by the way, I saw the replies to my origimal post and have responded.

Thanks for all of your advise, and I promise to do better.

Jane (Pennsylvania)

Well, shannonplus2, actually, I usually don't expect an OP to post back until at least 24 hours after their initial post.

That's because I figure the OP might have a job or other commitments and they can only check online during certain hours of the day.

The OP posted at 22:58 (that's 10:58 PM) on Tuesday. I don't expect a new OP response until 22:58 on Wednesday. :-)

Ya, Jane - I just looked at your original post and there was way too much text there. I wouldn't take time to read it. For paint color I'd want to see some pictures and a brief statement about your tastes/desires.

Otherwise I typically only take the time to read/respond on something I had experienced with my kitchen so the subject line has to be descriptive enough for me to know that. I'm risk averse when it comes to paint color so I don't generally comment on that topic. Otherwise the subject line needs to be something that sounds interesting - like this one.

Linking to a picture of you posing topless is a 100% sure way to get plenty of responses, but they may not be answers to your question.

BTW, it doesn't matter if the poster is male, female, old or young.

Great and helpful thread! As a newbie it really does take some time before you start to understand the unwritten rules and "gestalt" of a particular message board. The only trouble problem is, most people don't have the time to read for awhile first, since they are often right in the middle of a project and have to make quick decisions. Good luck, Jane.

La_koala, you are right. I think I was misled by the length of this thread, in thinking it had been a longer time since the OP first posted.

I apologize to Janepa.

The subject is a big thing and the pictures. I'd open a "Kelly has a man in her drawers" thread in a heartbeat (ok I wrote that one.)

Yes, that was a lovely day and I remember it well. Apparently, you don't remember it as well. It was more like, "HEY KITCHENKELLY, ANY MEN IN YOUR DRAWERS YET?!

memories, like the corner of my mind.....

LOL KK...umm is he still in there or did the dogs do away with him? :oP

(This teasing is because I have drawer envy for those posters who don't know the story).

Post I most wanted to respond to but took the high road:

"Do you like knobs?"

I certainly do but this is a kitchen forum.

Beyond that uncharacteristic moment of restraint (which I have always regretted) I try to stick to threads where I can share a bit of what I learned researching the kitchen I worked on (seems a shame not to put that info to some use). Consider myself to be a little TKO but I'm not usually enamoured with whatever materials are defining the high end these days and I am definitely not remotely concerned with what the Jones' are up to. You can do good design at almost any price point. Find it hard to advise people on issues of taste but I have made the occasional stab at it.