How to create a good topic

[ceresbane 61]

first let's establish what a good topic is.

 

A good topic is a dialogue. A matter of discussion between posters of which they progressively reach towards some sort of goal.

 

Agreed? ok.

 

So what stops a good topic is a cease or lacking of said dialogue.

 

This brings me to the ever popular and ever so pointless. List threads.

 

List threads have the following characteristics.

1. they intrigue a person to post because it appeals to a person's ego, usually by making it seem like their opinion matters..

2. they typically have huge amounts of replies because people love their opinion to be heard.

3. no one reads what others have posted because no one truly cares. And hence no dialogue is achieved.

 

And so the thread just gets bigger and bigger with lists and lists of repeat posts of samey things leading to no point what so ever.

 

Another typically bad topic is the copy/samey thread.

 

These are threads that take the most popular subject and most thoroughly discussed topic in a given forum and merely repeat it in content.

 

These topics could usually be avoided with a little something called, reading. However due to laziness they will merely post the topic so that they can get a reply quickly and get answers quick. A highly inefficient way because:

1. no guarantee it will get a reply

2. reply won't likely come as quickly as a quick read of the same topic.

 

And to bring things in full circle. the third type that, if put into consideration of the other two, pretty much covers every basic type of bad thread without going into grey areas.

 

Is the superfluous thread.

A thread similar in nature to the samey thread but with one major difference. It is individually inclined. The subject is the same type as others but lends itself to requiring a reply that is unique to itself.

 

A typical form for this is an OC drawing request or a story idea thread. They are superfluous in nature because:

1. it is a feed a starving man a fish where instead they could learn to fish scenario.

2. many threads that are offering the said help they need already exists and hence making the topic/problem merely draw itself away from the attention of the needed people. As they are busying themselves in said helpful thread.

 

 

So MLPforums. By this theory. How many in terms of % are there in cases of "good topics"?

[Vicke 3,189]

Would like to add that a good topic should also be in the right section of the forum.

This one is clearly not in the right section.

[ceresbane 61]

Would like to add that a good topic should also be in the right section of the forum.

This one is clearly not in the right section.

 

then move it. finding the general discussion section isn't exactly user friendly. it's tucked away in a tiny corner of the forum where most miss it.

[Jokuc 8,174]

@@ceresbane,

I agree with what you said in your post. It's a pretty good guide. Though I never follow any guides or advices when I create my topics.

 

Would like to add that a good topic should also be in the right section of the forum. This one is clearly not in the right section.

Hahahah! How I laughed when I read this XD

 

..or when I think about it.. This could actually fit in here.. I mean.. Where else to put it?

Edited September 17, 2012 by Mr. Nibblers

[ceresbane 61]

@@ceresbane,

I agree with what you said in your post. It's a pretty good guide. Though I never follow any guides or advices when I create my topics.

 

 

Hahahah! How I laughed when I read this XD

 

..or when I think about it.. This could actually fit in here.. I mean.. Where else to put it?

 

took a quick gander and looked for the general discussion thread that is in all forums.

 

And found that it does exist and it's really easy to miss. it's right at the bottom.

[Yellow Diamond 7,578]

This thread has been moved to the Everfree Forest as it does not belong in Show Discussion, nor does it discuss MLP (the franchise) in particular.

 

Please be mindful of posting in the proper sections.

[Oblivion 20,282]

1. Make it interesting of course! 

2. Keep it appropriate, most people really dont want to know how many times a day you do "private or personal" activities if you get my drift.  

3.Be interactive with the topic, do not just create a topic and then abandon it, be interactive quote people, ask questions that challenge other peoples world view! 

4. Be firm but do not be rude, its okay to stand by an opinion but their is no need to call others names simply because they do not agree with something you may have said, its a good way to not only get yourself in trouble from staff but to chase others away from the topic as well!

5. and of course 5 is to make the topic fun to be around! Post jokes if needed, innocently give people a hard time every so often and just in general have a blast with the thread/topic you are trying to discuss!  

And that folks is Blivy's recipe for a good topic! 

[DubWolf 18,583]

There’s good threads, like Blivy’s, then there’s my kind of threads where I’ll ask about something so arbitrary that you take for granted every day  , like which way your fan spins, or if your fridge is split down the center or across left to right.

More are yet to come  .

[Splashee 28,599]

Let it be a unique and interesting topic.

Make sure it is short and easy to answer. Not too complicated basically.

And make sure you spell check a few times, and preview it before posting it. Editing the first post in a thread is kinda embarrassing, kinda.

[Lucky Bolt 35,239]

Be creative and don’t post nudes. 

[Oblivion 20,282]

2 hours ago, Lucky Bolt said:

Be creative and don’t post nudes. 

OH GOD I remember when this one guy posted himself with a Lyra plushie Fu...... OH GOD you know what I dont want to remember that please carry on everyone and forget I said anything....