The more you absorb and put to good use the more knowledge you gain. The more knowledge you gain the more your have to offer others!

Guilt is counter productive.

:) pay it forward.

Offering advice is my selfish indulgence (whether I have decorating savvy or not, I do not care) so I think it all evens out.

I feel the same way, budge1. I'm pretty sure I give my $.02 too often, and should sit back and let some of the more savvy posters respond and learn from them. Still, it's great fun, isn't it?

cao 100, I know just how you feel. I am also addicted to this web. I love all the pictures and advice given. I rarely post, but I certainly do read all the postings. I need help with my house, but it kind of overwhelms me to see pictures of everyone else's good taste and talents!

cao100
Thanks for bringing this subject up. I feel exactly as you do. I read this site ALL THE TIME and have gotten so many wonderful ideas, not to mention, just pleasure from looking at the beautiful pictures. I believe I am somewhat "decorating impaired" but am slowly learning. I so appreciate everyone's input here, whether or not I agree with it.

Thank you , everyone for helping folks like me!

n2bach

I read with awe the posts where people say things like move this over five inches and then turn that at an angle and voila the after is a huge improvement! I wish I could chime in and help but, shoot, y'all are way above me. Anyone else feel this way?

I have very little ability to visualize how something would look if one element were changed or moved, so I can rarely contribute to that kind of discussion. I do offer practical help when I can, such as how to install window treatments or lighting, but I often feel the same way about those here who can envision a combination of things that I can hardly even visualize separately.

I think everyone has contributions to make in their own ways. Perhaps someone can't give color advice, but can suggest a great place to find just what someone else needs. Perhaps in asking a question about their own home, they get an answer that helps someone else as well. Or, they raise an issue that is of assistance in something that hadn't occurred to someone else, but that solved a problem.

For those of us who do like to 'play' and offer suggestions to help, those who ask for help give us pleasure and interesting challenges, which are like puzzles for us to solve. Kind of like "C.S.I.-home decorating": Creating Superb Interiors!

And, most of all, everyone who is here creates a sense of community - this place would be nothing without all the wonderful folks that hang out here.

When I can't contribute on giving advise, I try to compliment other's efforts. Not everyone who comes here can offer advice and for the most part are looking for advice. (me) However, I think when we try to involve ourselves and make a contribution, even in just a compliment, I think it's appreciated.

That's why I like the 'vote on this' posts. I have a much easier time picking what I like then figuring out how to fix something :)

Glad to hear I am not alone and that those of you who are so kind about offering their advice view it as fun! I'm with Kathryn77. Those vote on this posts give me a little confidence to throw my thoughts out there!

I admit I feel guilty asking for advice as I'm completely and 100% clueless and couldn't help anybody (not unless you want the worst advice/opinions ever). I guess that's why I'm here. :)
Astrid

I think I have been able to give more advice because I have learned so much by reading all the posts since the beginning of the year.

Alot of times I give advice on what I have seen here and in magazines. Many times I can't post a follow-up because I am clue-less.

Decorating will never come natural to me. But I do know what I like and what I don't like. I also like the "votes" posts.

For new members and lurkers, don't be shy. Get in here and try giving some advice or give a compliment. It is so much more fun to be an "active" member.

And really, what is the worst than can happen? You say something that others disagree with? I've done that. lol. All posts fall off eventually!

And really, what is the worst than can happen?

You could end up with morgue drawers and scare your GC.

;>)

"All posts fall off eventually." Amen to that!! LOL

Now, I read these comments with a completely opposite sense. I think that the people who FEEL clueless, (most of the time they are not at all clueless, they are people that feel stunted by indecision, that know how they want their room to look, just not the step-by-step to get it there, the people who are already at the max to their budget and need to buy the real paint, not more test samples) are the people who make this board hum. There are so many out there that have opinions, maybe even a great decorating sense, a flair for paint color, a feel for room arrangement, knowledge of window treatment styles, or ideas about accessories that rock a room, and without the Questioners, the Clueless, the Stymied, and the Temporarily Stuck, they would have no forum to show what they can do. For every one of you who feel like 'board hogs' because you have to post another plea for paint shades or another request for room arrangements, there are 10 or 15 that are scanning the board looking for a question that they feel they know something about, that they can help with and sink their teeth into.
I do have decor questions now and again that I come here to find answers for, but in the main, I come here to read till I get to a question or a plea that intrigues me, that I can throw out a suggestion and maybe give someone else an idea about what to do. Remember the wise words, "There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving"..........so those of us who are 'giving' answers regularly ARE happy. We love to help or at least, think we help.

And I don't like the 'vote' posts. I'm not exactly sure why not. Maybe it's because I imagine that the OP goes back through the votes to see who they pleased with their decision and who they may have disappointed. As long as the thread is just commentary, it seems not so definitive. Whatever....I don't usually vote, it's just not fun for me, I guess.

Red

I just know that when I am tired or internally trying to solve a problem that I can tune in here and itis like a soothing mild meditation--refreshes me and I usually learn something, too. I really like the questions about the outside of houses as that is more difficult for me than the inside...

I can respond to the "vote" posts or just to give a compliment, but I don't feel that I have much to offer in the way of furniture arrangement or color choices, so I usually don't chime in there. I do feel that I learn a lot about decorating in my own home just from reading other threads.

cao100 -I definitely feel that way too. Everyone offers such great advice and are so generous with their pictures for ideas. I sometimes offer my opinions, but they are no where near as thought out or developed as the "experts"!!

The thing is, when you post or read on here, sometimes you need to also look at the perspective and style of the person answering. Remember there are lots of styles and tasts. I get in fits when I just read and sometimes post a lot. Personally, I am the "excentric artisic" personality, so my ideas are sometimes the opposite of the convention, but my house so very much fits my style. My post is often the odd one out of the other 10 replies, but I have to realize that the one posting is looking for ideas/suggestions. There are no rights or wrongs. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is to reply to a post that has been "ignored" and even though you don't have the answer, it may get others thinking and responding, in the end, we all benefit.

I throw my definitively non expert advice out there with the thought that the worst it can do is make the poster decide that it is definitely *not* what they want to do! lol

I think the more ideas the better, really, mixed with a bit of expert advice...it is such a great help in opening your mind to things you might not think of otherwise.

Besides, vicariously decorating the homes of others is soooooo much easier than decorating your own! HA!

:)

I too feel selfish when I post and ask for guidance, since I can not give any. I do compliment at times, but otherwise I feel I can not contribute.

Each time I post, I hear the dreaded "oh no, not her again". This is my guilt talking, not you guys. You are all so supportive each and every time. No one has ever made me feel I am being pesty.

My desperation overpowers my guilt, which makes it possible for me to post and ask for help so often. My hats off to you all for your wonderful talent and your kindness to share it.

Susan

I feel the same way as most of you. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has helped me out and other people like me. This board to me is almost like a support group :)

I get way more than I give here, thanks so much to everyone! BUT I do believe we all have at least a little to offer - even if just an encouraging word or a "great job" pat on the back. PLUS those who post questions or ask for help or share their 'before' pictures are a tremendous help!!! I almost always learn something new from those type of posts - sometimes it's an answer someone gives, but just as often it's that I see a new color combination that I love, or the questions asked give me new ideas or resources, or maybe I get a smile, warm fuzzy or chuckle from all the great personalities.

I love it here!

Acoreana, I have to agree with you. It is so much fun to help someone else with their house, because it's so much easier to 'see' what might work for them rather than to figure out what might work for me!

Red

cao100, I feel the same way..I am always on this site in my free time but then I don't seem to find much that I can contribute which hasn't already been said before.
I have to say thank you to all the wonderful people who post here. You guys have such an eye for detail. I am forever going back and forth on a thread trying to 'learn' with the pros here. I had this incredibly stressful time at work a few weeks back and I would give myself a treat of 10mins of this forum every afternoon. Its such a stress buster! and its free! :-))
I guess I am worse than most of you who have the courage to post your rooms and ask for comments and criticisms. I am working on that first before I even think of having the competence to make a design suggestions.
What I am trying to say is thank you for making my free time more enjoyable and a learning experience at the same time!
Vinaya

Me!!! I always read here, but rarely post. I think I've only asked one question, lol. I feel like I should pay in or something, before asking anything :)

This post was written with me in mind. I check in here A LOT, get so many good ideas, but I think my problem is definitely indecision to the point I don't do anything--not good to be that way. But...I'm trying to change and get more confidence in my own opinions on what I like and why. Thank you to all for helping us!

Leave my drawers alone, kitchendetective. lol.

Definitely! Every morning while I have my coffee, I read the latest threads and I jump on every night and catch up before I go to bed.

I am just amazed at the talent on this board. I almost never post for all of the reasons stated above as I feel like I don't know as much as many of you guys here. So I'm definitely feeling selfish most of the time.

I have decided that I am going to start trying to post more and contribute whatever I can, even if it is "good job" or I "vote for # 2". In some small way, it is in my mind a "pay it forward" for the tremendous help that I have received and I want others to have some of the same success I have had.

Deborah