For those that may not know what they are, we hostesses get together once a week and post a bunch of threads, it's a great way to get lots of answers to your questions.
What are your thoughts on postathons? Do you participate? Do you enjoy them? Do you like that they are on Thursdays, or would you participate more if they were on another day? If you don't care for them, why not? Is there something you would change about them?
69 votes
apricot / 486 posts
I definitely like them, I just find myself not being available during the time of postathons. I'm usually at work and unable to get onto Hellobee. I like being able to talk and read through a lot of threads.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@schubr03: If you could choose a time/day for the postathons, what would be your first choice?
grapefruit / 4361 posts
I don't tend to post a lot on Thursday or plan to go on hellobee more on that day in particular. However, often when I think about posting a thread with a question, I think about waiting until Thursday when I know more people will be around, vs Friday through Sunday when it's kind of dead 
grapefruit / 4361 posts
And Thursday night is best for me because it's towards the end of a work week so most of my stuff is done, but I don't have the events and socialization of the weekend.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@DesertDreams88: You should post it when you think of it, you'll still get lots of replies!
apricot / 486 posts
@Bao: definitely in the evening (I'm central time -US) and Thursday works fine, just most of the threads are posted during the day.
@DesertDreams88: that's a good idea to post during a postathon. I didn't think of this.
grapefruit / 4361 posts
@Bao: oh I do, I'm never patient enough to wait, haha! Just a thought that crosses my mind sometimes
pomelo / 5789 posts
I think they are kind of annoying honestly. Many of the questions are somewhat lame and not that interesting. I also feel that "real" questions get buried.
apricot / 370 posts
@wheres_c: I agree with this. The questions seem canned in a "let's generate some discussion" way, and I'm more interested in those posts that are from an actual individual's experiences. Also, I've been following the site long enough that some of these questions are only slightly rephrased from generic questions posted in previous years.
nectarine / 2784 posts
@wheres_c: yeah I could take it or leave it but if I have a post I want to make I'll avoid doing it if there's a post-a-thon so it doesn't get lost amid a lot of threads that are basically yes/no or simple answer questions and not discussions.
pomelo / 5509 posts
@wheres_c: I agree. I feel like it's just a whole bunch of generic questions and they're often redundant or pointless. A lot of them get hardly any response. It strikes me as a way to try to generate more traffic/posting but it seems to me it usually fails.
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
@schubr03: @DesertDreams88: @wheres_c: @Shannon: @Anya: @IRunForFun: @ALV91711: Do you think people would enjoy them more if they weren't as frequent? Do you have other ways in which you think users could have more fun with each other?
nectarine / 2821 posts
@Boogs: I kinda like the random chatting on the post that announces "postathon", that doesnt have a typical topic. Other than that, the postathon topics seem to be like dejavu after being on the site for a while!
pomegranate / 3858 posts
@wheres_c: agreed. I usually avoid posting any real questions then cause they just get pushed down by the postathon questions.
pomelo / 5621 posts
@Boogs: I like the general chat those nights. I think doing those is a good idea. Maybe a couple times a week would be nice.
pomelo / 5509 posts
@Boogs: I'm not sure. Maybe just the postathon chat thread? It seems like the questions are canned, get recycled often, and don't generate real, valuable discussion. Maybe curating more thoughtful topics to post on during those days would help.
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
@IRunForFun: I think most people really do try hard to promote meaningful discussion. But, it's definitely interesting to hear honest feelings, so thank you.
papaya / 10560 posts
I always forget when they are! I don't post as much as I used to.
But...I'm about to hit my 10000th post soon!
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@junebugsmama: I agree, I would prefer the one longer "chat" thread to be more lively versus all the somewhat meaningless other threads.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I never understood the point of them. It's to do what, generate activity?
honeydew / 7463 posts
I voted other because I've never actually opened one I don't think. I see them but haven't been curious enough to click.
honeydew / 7444 posts
I think a daily chat thread at the top would be better than a ton of other threads created for the purpose of generating discussion. I don't want to come off offending anyone as i think the hostesses do a great job, but i sometimes see the exact same questions being posed by the same people over and over again.
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
@Freckles: Do you see these being started daily, weekly, randomly?
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
I find the postathons incredibly annoying. ESPECIALLY when I was a new mom. I'd be really struggling with something and if it happened on a Thursday night, it was almost a guarantee my thread wouldn't get seen and my question wouldn't get answered.
apricot / 370 posts
I agree with others - the random general thread in case posters want to interact that evening but not the other seeded topics. I think weekly is fine.
coconut / 8854 posts
Honestly I don't really participate in them. I don't have the time to dedicate on my phone "chatting". I pop in and out on HB the way it is, and with a LO at home, I feel guilty being glued to my phone!
nectarine / 2821 posts
I think it could be fun if the little postathon chats were a weekly check in, and the hostess could pick a fun question to spark conversation, sort of how the POAS and other threads will have at the end of the suggested post. Although it could also be helpful to do whats your struggle of the day or whats your parenting win of the day? By the way, I always love those "latest cute or embarrasing things my LO said" and those always seem to get lots of traffic. It could be fun to have a loose theme for postathon chat and then just let it go wherever from there.
honeydew / 7444 posts
@Boogs: Oops sorry, i meant weekly not daily! I really like the suggestion made by @junebugsmama.
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
Just wanted to clarify for everyone what a postathon is from our FAQ: http://www.hellobee.com/hellobee-faqs/ I know some know, but for those that don't here's a little more info:
What is a postathon?
We have postathons once a week where we gather on the boards, start lots of threads, and comment on them. This helps community members get to know each other, keep the hive buzzing, and it’s a lot of fun!
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