How to write a good thread

**Antares** · 03-29-2011, 02:56 AM

I've written some successful threads in the past, and some atrocious ones. Obviously this is self-reflective meta-commentary at this point, so I'll try to keep this as devoid as my own opinion and to encourage as much discussion as possible, however, I do think differently phrased OPs have very profound impacts in the ultimate direction that the thread takes. How best to encourage discussion? How to avoid having a thread tunneled to a debate ie. OP v. Everybody Else? How to keep it from being a sea of "I agree" and "post my experience" replies? What defines a successful thread and what elements must it have?

**coupdhaha** · 03-29-2011, 05:17 AM

I've always found the best threads, not just here but on other forums, to be the ones that are more loose, casual and random. This provides a good setting for member - member interaction. Basically running with whatever there.

Personally, I stay away from the overly-intellectual threads. I find them far too tiresome and personally, have no interest in sharing my own views.

**zibber** · 03-29-2011, 05:20 AM

Present an issue. Explicate your view on the issue. Invite others to share theirs (and ultimately discuss the matter).

Not: post link to tabloid and add a one-liner. Like 90% here.

Ironically, this is one of the best threads of late.

**Reddkatz** · 03-29-2011, 09:58 AM

You can always pose a question where you allow others to input in their experiences other than just their opinions. You can also state your view on a topic, but if it something where you need research for it, make sure you back it up because someone can always call on it. I have seen it a lot on here
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**Indubitably** · 03-29-2011, 11:36 AM

I'm not going to point any fingers here, but I do think the recent rash of, "obviously I'm right by default, and everyone who disagrees is oppressing me, but why?" OPs (and its bastard twin the "Obviously I'm the center of the universe, and anyone who disagress is stupid, useless, and wrong, but why?" OP), are at best obnoxiously passive agressive and at worst blatant flame bait.

No matter how much intellectual window dressing you put on an a troll thread, its still going to be a troll thread. If you have a comment to make about how frustrated you feel towards something or someone, just make the post about your feelings, and be done with it. Attempting to hide from responsibility for your feelings by blaming them on the object of your frustration, only serves to instigate flame wars and counter-trolling.

**True Rune** · 03-29-2011, 12:38 PM

I like discussions a lot more than debates. A little debate is fine, and can even get me excited, but overall I stay here because I learn new things and maybe help others learn sometimes. Maybe.

**PRBori** · 03-29-2011, 04:49 PM

I shouldn't really comment, as my threads have gone bananas here and I think a lot of it has to do with putting more info than what I need. I guess the best way, and I still have to try this, is to make a generic post and list the set of questions you want answer without any other details or examples. I guess being home alone makes me write more than necessary and that I guess is something that the OP, in this case myself, has to reconsider.

**floramacivor** · 03-29-2011, 08:24 PM

	Originally Posted by PRBori To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I guess the best way, and I still have to try this, is to make a generic post and list the set of questions you want answer without any other details or examples.

I don't like those - I know the OP has an opinion of their own, and I feel like they're baiting someone else to come along and disagree so they can trap them into a debate. I'd rather an OP ask a question, and say, "I feel x way about it, but I'd like to hear other views," or something like that.

**Antares** · 03-29-2011, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by PRBori
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I shouldn't really comment, as my threads have gone bananas here and I think a lot of it has to do with putting more info than what I need. I guess the best way, and I still have to try this, is to make a generic post and list the set of questions you want answer without any other details or examples. I guess being home alone makes me write more than necessary and that I guess is something that the OP, in this case myself, has to reconsider.

The problem I saw with those threads was... Everyone was just responding to the questions. It's like a survey.

**ForgottenSorrow** · 03-29-2011, 09:51 PM

As everything else in life I suppose it would come down to a matter of personal preference. I myself find lots of the threads posted on this forum to be redundant and boring. Read this forum for a few years and sooner or later, 9 out of 10 of the new threads have have already been discussed before. Given as such, every once in a while I'll try to spice things up a bit by posting something new and unprecedented, and sometimes it'll generate lots of responses and sometimes it won't.

03-29-2011, 02:56 AM	#1
Antares Core Member [170%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6,820	I've written some successful threads in the past, and some atrocious ones. Obviously this is self-reflective meta-commentary at this point, so I'll try to keep this as devoid as my own opinion and to encourage as much discussion as possible, however, I do think differently phrased OPs have very profound impacts in the ultimate direction that the thread takes. How best to encourage discussion? How to avoid having a thread tunneled to a debate ie. OP v. Everybody Else? How to keep it from being a sea of "I agree" and "post my experience" replies? What defines a successful thread and what elements must it have?
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03-29-2011, 05:17 AM	#2
coupdhaha Member [03%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 126	I've always found the best threads, not just here but on other forums, to be the ones that are more loose, casual and random. This provides a good setting for member - member interaction. Basically running with whatever there. Personally, I stay away from the overly-intellectual threads. I find them far too tiresome and personally, have no interest in sharing my own views.
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03-29-2011, 05:20 AM	#3
zibber Core Member [407%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16,291	Present an issue. Explicate your view on the issue. Invite others to share theirs (and ultimately discuss the matter). Not: post link to tabloid and add a one-liner. Like 90% here. Ironically, this is one of the best threads of late.
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03-29-2011, 09:58 AM	#4
Reddkatz Core Member [184%] MBTI: InTJ Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 7,385	You can always pose a question where you allow others to input in their experiences other than just their opinions. You can also state your view on a topic, but if it something where you need research for it, make sure you back it up because someone can always call on it. I have seen it a lot on here To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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03-29-2011, 11:36 AM	#5
Indubitably Member [34%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,376	I'm not going to point any fingers here, but I do think the recent rash of, "obviously I'm right by default, and everyone who disagrees is oppressing me, but why?" OPs (and its bastard twin the "Obviously I'm the center of the universe, and anyone who disagress is stupid, useless, and wrong, but why?" OP), are at best obnoxiously passive agressive and at worst blatant flame bait. No matter how much intellectual window dressing you put on an a troll thread, its still going to be a troll thread. If you have a comment to make about how frustrated you feel towards something or someone, just make the post about your feelings, and be done with it. Attempting to hide from responsibility for your feelings by blaming them on the object of your frustration, only serves to instigate flame wars and counter-trolling. Last edited by Indubitably; 03-29-2011 at 11:56 AM.
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03-29-2011, 12:38 PM	#6
True Rune Core Member [200%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8,018	I like discussions a lot more than debates. A little debate is fine, and can even get me excited, but overall I stay here because I learn new things and maybe help others learn sometimes. Maybe.
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03-29-2011, 04:49 PM	#7
PRBori Core Member [109%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 4,362	I shouldn't really comment, as my threads have gone bananas here and I think a lot of it has to do with putting more info than what I need. I guess the best way, and I still have to try this, is to make a generic post and list the set of questions you want answer without any other details or examples. I guess being home alone makes me write more than necessary and that I guess is something that the OP, in this case myself, has to reconsider.
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03-29-2011, 09:51 PM	#10
ForgottenSorrow Member [02%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 113	As everything else in life I suppose it would come down to a matter of personal preference. I myself find lots of the threads posted on this forum to be redundant and boring. Read this forum for a few years and sooner or later, 9 out of 10 of the new threads have have already been discussed before. Given as such, every once in a while I'll try to spice things up a bit by posting something new and unprecedented, and sometimes it'll generate lots of responses and sometimes it won't.
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