Why is the "followers to following" ratio so low for most people?

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   phtechposted 12 years ago

   Why is the "followers to following" ratio so low for most people?
   
   What happened to common internet courtesy?

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2. 76

   Robbie C Wilsonposted 12 years ago

   Hi Phtech,
                    For myself, it is not a matter of courtesy it is a matter of interest. I am interested in the hubs that people that I follow post. That is not to infer that those who I do not choose to follow are in any way uninteresting or poor hubs in any way, shape or form, just that they are not of interest to me personally. I will always look at the hubs of those that choose to follow me and if they write about things that interest me then I will follow them. I believe that HubPages frowns upon following for the sake of following so I prefer it to be more organic.

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3. 87

   Marisa Wrightposted 12 years ago

   It has nothing to do with courtesy. On HubPages, followers are NOT friends.
   
   Followers used to be called fans, and that's a much better name for them.  You follow someone because you admire their writing, or you're interested in the subject they write about. That doesn't mean they're going to like your writing style, or the subjects you write about, so why should they follow you back?

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   JThomp42posted 12 years ago

   I always follow those who follow me out of courtesy. Unless it is someone who has only been on a few days and is following 300 people. That seems to be a red flag to me. But, otherwise if I am followed I return the favor.

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   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   For me - I have no control over who follows me but I am grateful when I go gain followers. I only follow a few myself because I feel a responsibility to read and comment on the work of the people I follow. If I follow 500 people, no way can I do that. So I keep my following down to those I really can follow and read their hubs and comment.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      This is a great point.  It's pointless to follow people if you're not going to read and comment on their Hubs, because idle followers don't provide any benefit at all.

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   TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years ago

   I agree with you.  As much as I appreciate people who follow me, and may even like them personally, I think it is hypocritical to say I will follow other writers and then not read their work regularly.

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   phtechposted 12 years ago

   Thanks for the answers. I think I like the fact that it is not like twitter where you follow everything. I may have to remove a few people that I'm following now.

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   C.V.Rajanposted 12 years ago

   That means there are great leaders available here! They tread their own paths and there are so many people following them! Aha!
   
   What do you mean by common internet courtesy? I take it to mean "you scratch my back and shall scratch your back in return!" Ah! What great a courtesy!

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