The Young and the Restless - MESSAGE BOARDS

Hi
I really enjoy reading all the messages on the board. I'm a new viewer to Y&R but I've watched soaps all my life (44 years)! I'm also a professional marketer/advertising exec., and make my living that way.

I noticed on the board that a lot of viewers are going on and on about them giving Sharon the baby back. It's my opinion as a veteran soap viewer and professonal marketing person, that the more we voice our distaste, the longer it is going to play out. Even though the comments are negative, it still shows the writers that you are interested in the story. It's kind of like watching a train wreck, you can't look away. Although you hate the story, it keeps you glued to the tv and showing your interest, even in a negative way, will keep the story dragging on. After all, the writers have to please the advertisers, and they have to show that they are providing stories that viewers watch, even ones they hate.

I think if we really want the story to be resolved, we need to stop constantly talking about it. The writers aren't really writing to make us happy, they are writing to maintain and increase viewership to maintain and increase advertising! They have a lot of salaries to pay. So, if you truly do hate the story, constantly posting "give Sharon her baby back" is actually going to keep the story alive even longer, in my opinion.

I'm not sure if the writers read boards like this, but my guess is that they do. They likely ahve a marketing department monitoring message boards to get viewer feedback, without asking/paying for it. Great marketing tool.

Happy viewing and thanks for sharing on the board!

Great post! You make a lot of sense. I'm looking forward to more of your expert opinion. Welcome!!!!

Just a thought but, would that not hold true as well for those who refuse to watch until a particular storyline is resolved? The result would be a decrease in viewers which could lead to cancellation? I understand why people are upset about certain aspects of the show ( some just make you ) but I don't want to lose the show itself.

Reading the web couldn't have an impact on weather the show will go one way or another. There are many, many people watching this soap that do not have a computer or able to use one. I think the ratings come from how many are tuned in.

I do see your point suegerry. I often wonder about the "polls" you hear concerning popular couple fanbases. Not every viewer takes part in these polls so how accurate can they be?

I think the writers take some of our ideas and run with them. I've noticed things that have been talked about on the board have worked there way onto the show--eventually.

It is the positive feedback and good ideas they look at, not the bashing and negative attitudes.

They are accurate only to the web users and many are robot voting, people using multiple IDs. The accuracy of these polls are a farce. I can't understand why they can actually be used for any purpose except maybe for their own entertainment. They should be more mature ......

According to some web sites, it seems that quite a lot of the audience is upset over the baby-switch storyline. I guess it was planned for at least a year...I would have thought seven! With all the complaints, the storyline could be wrapped up early next year! KEEP COMPLAINING!

LOL.....yes we could see this wrapped up sooner than later.....I for one can actually say that all these ratings are not upsetting to me.....I vote with a honest and clear conscience. I couldn't accept a result knowing I
cheated...

They could also come up with a Starbucks Cafe versus a Tim Hortons that could be quite the s/l.......

first, welcome to the boards, i am one of the viewers that DVR it everyday, sometimes i watch part of it, sometimes none of it, i FF whenever adam is on no matter who he is with

Well I'm not watching Y&R til Sharon gets her baby back and Adam gets whats coming to him. Y&R ratings are falling and I'm glad. Y&R are going to end up like GL which I thought was a good show! Better than Y&R.

I really think it just depends. It is up to the writers and producers. If they want it to end they will end it.

People have been speculating about a baby switch or baby snatch since it was announced Sharon and Ashley were both due around the same time. That was almost 6 months ago. So really it all depends.

Yes suegerry! Why go to Crimson Lights when you could go to Timmie's?

First of all, terriesingz, your post was SUPERB! Also, welcome to the boards and I certainly hope you will be back often. I am looking forward to reading more of your posts like this one!

I also think that the more complaints about a storyline, the longer it might play out. I also, personally, have not seen, in the years that computers and message boards have been available, any storylines that have changed because of complaints.

Eric Braeden's "almost" departure did create quite a bit of "fuss" but this was about a character, who has been a part of this soap for eons and that many people adored and "loved to hate", not a storyline. And ~ ~ the news of his departure news went far beyond the message boards.

I also believe, as you do, that the message boards are monitored to a certain extent, because I posted a few months back about an interview with Michelle Stafford saying that she refuses to read messages boards because of all the negatives regarding her character. She apparently is quite sensitive, but shouldn't be, because her character acting is fantastic, and as you know can cause a tumultuous effect!

Please come back soon as I am really looking forward to future posts from you!