Idea + Example = Better Topic - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 09-29-2004, 09:15 AM

Over the years, I have often seen members start new topics with a question to the general membership of the Downs. Questions are not bad in themselves, of course. We encourage people to ask lots of them. But the topics I am talking about, usually in Mirth, have the potential to be humorous but are often hobbled from their inception by the way they are presented.

When starting a topic, you should first be careful not to begin a dreaded 'list topic'* They are detrimental to the forum and your overall mental health. Next, starting a topic with a question, you should always answer it yourself and give a detailed reason for your answer, encouraging others to do the same. Simply asking a question and waiting for others to discuss it is a little lazy and will probably result in a ‘list’.

Bad

Quote:

If Hobbits formed rock bands, what would they be like?

Better

Quote:

Imagine that the old gaffers in Hobbiton woke up one morning to a frightening new noise: Rock’n’Roll. Across the Shire, young tweeners were growing their hair long and shaking their hips in immoral, Elf-like gyrations. A respectable hobbit gentleman couldn’t sit down to a pint in his favorite pub without being drowned in racket of such hooligan music groups as the The Hoom, Prince (of Dol Amroth), Flogging Merry, and Sheryl Crebain

Performing tonight in the Green Dragon: Nob Dylan (all the way from Bree!)

He’ll sing such great songs as:
Like A Rolling Stone of Erech
All Along The Watchtower of Amon Sul
Tangled Up In Lhûn

(Hey! Give me a break! This is an example, not an actual post!

)

Without creating a list, tell us about another band that might perform in the new rockin’ Shire. What are they like and what songs do they play?

In the better example, the poster presented an idea and gave a good example of the type of post he was looking for. That's what everyone should strive to do when creating a new thread. If you start the thread, be the first one to show us how it's done. Don't just throw ideas out.

Thanks

* List Topic: A statement/question inciting a perpetual string of self-clones.

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 09-30-2004, 05:03 AM

Ok, that's a good and necessary post to make Barrow-wight, but you know what you have to do now don't you? Start that Rock'n'Roll thread, it sounds great!

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 09-30-2004, 06:26 AM

OK. I can do that. *thank goodness for cut and paste*

Lhunardawen · 10-01-2004, 08:31 PM

You mean that was originally just an example? An example???

Lindolirian · 10-20-2004, 03:52 PM

In view of this sudden rush of topics calling for higher quality posts (i.e. A Call by Imladris, Redundancy on the Rise by LePetiteChoux, Estelyn's Rant, and this thread), I found it the perfect time to add my two cents

. "Here's my two cents" has become a very hackneyed phrase and its meaning usually lost, but to those readers who still hold on to it, the writer is seen as setting themselves up to fail by implying that their input isn't worth two pennies, much less a second or two of our time that the writer would want us to take to read it. It is that very phrase or some variation of it (Including "Well, I searched for something like this and didn't find anything, so please don't shut me down, Mr. Wight.") that almost every thread is being started off with these days. It is a very ineffective attention-getter that I'm sure you all know is crucial to a good introduction that will attract people to read your topic. If you seriously feel like your say is not worth 1/50 of a dollar you need to rethink why you are posting, or if you have indeed searched thoroughly enough. If you do think your post will pass, then stand behind it and be confident. Don't second-guess or youself, or others surely will.

Indeed, BW "Idea + Example = Better Topic", but I say "Idea + Example + Confidence = Even Better Topic.

Imladris · 10-20-2004, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Including "Well, I searched for something like this and didn't find anything, so please don't shut me down, Mr. Wight."

I do this because I don't know how to work the search engine (ie, I know how to use it but I have bad luck finding anything on it -- sort of how my brother can find what he's looking for on Google and I can't) and I don't want to be beat on the head (no matter how gently because I have a huge ego problem) for making a duplicate topic along with a gentle chide to use the search function. I use it as a sort of indirect apology and an acknowledgement that I did do my homework before posting.

However, I totally agree with what you said about confidence.

Estelyn Telcontar · 10-20-2004, 06:44 PM

Lindolirian, good point! I can remember a thread on the "two cents" issue; I think it was called "The Phantom Finance" and was started by Rimbaud, but I can't locate it at the moment.

Imladris · 10-20-2004, 06:53 PM

Phantom Finance

Estelyn Telcontar · 10-20-2004, 07:04 PM

Why thank you for finding the link, Imladris! See, your search was successful this time - for whatever reason, mine wasn't...

Imladris · 10-20-2004, 07:08 PM

You're welcome -- I just went under Rimbaud's name and clicked "Find all threads started by Rimbaud" -- fortunately (should that be unfortunately?) he has started few topics so it was relatively easy to find...I didn't use the search because I couldn't remember if it was under Mirth or the Downs...

Lindolirian · 10-20-2004, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imladris

Phantom Finance

Ha! Indeed, see what I mean? Thank you so much, that's a great thread!

09-30-2004, 05:03 AM	#2
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	Ok, that's a good and necessary post to make Barrow-wight, but you know what you have to do now don't you? Start that Rock'n'Roll thread, it sounds great! __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

09-30-2004, 06:26 AM	#3
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,043	Rock on! OK. I can do that. thank goodness for cut and paste __________________ The Barrow-Wight

10-20-2004, 03:52 PM	#5
Lindolirian World's Tallest Hobbit Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Where the view is long Posts: 2,117	In view of this sudden rush of topics calling for higher quality posts (i.e. A Call by Imladris, Redundancy on the Rise by LePetiteChoux, Estelyn's Rant, and this thread), I found it the perfect time to add my two cents . "Here's my two cents" has become a very hackneyed phrase and its meaning usually lost, but to those readers who still hold on to it, the writer is seen as setting themselves up to fail by implying that their input isn't worth two pennies, much less a second or two of our time that the writer would want us to take to read it. It is that very phrase or some variation of it (Including "Well, I searched for something like this and didn't find anything, so please don't shut me down, Mr. Wight.") that almost every thread is being started off with these days. It is a very ineffective attention-getter that I'm sure you all know is crucial to a good introduction that will attract people to read your topic. If you seriously feel like your say is not worth 1/50 of a dollar you need to rethink why you are posting, or if you have indeed searched thoroughly enough. If you do think your post will pass, then stand behind it and be confident. Don't second-guess or youself, or others surely will. Indeed, BW "Idea + Example = Better Topic", but I say "Idea + Example + Confidence = Even Better Topic. __________________ 'They say that the One will himself enter into Arda, and heal Men and all the Marring from the beginning to the end."

10-20-2004, 06:44 PM	#7
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Lindolirian, good point! I can remember a thread on the "two cents" issue; I think it was called "The Phantom Finance" and was started by Rimbaud, but I can't locate it at the moment. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

10-20-2004, 06:53 PM	#8
Imladris Tears of the Phoenix Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting dimes in the jukebox baby. Posts: 1,453	Phantom Finance __________________ I'm sorry it wasn't a unicorn. It would have been nice to have unicorns. I'm your huckleberry.

10-01-2004, 08:31 PM	#4
Lhunardawen Hauntress of the Havens Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: IN it, but not OF it Posts: 2,538	You mean that was originally just an example? An example???

10-20-2004, 07:04 PM	#9
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Why thank you for finding the link, Imladris! See, your search was successful this time - for whatever reason, mine wasn't... __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

10-20-2004, 07:08 PM	#10
Imladris Tears of the Phoenix Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting dimes in the jukebox baby. Posts: 1,453	You're welcome -- I just went under Rimbaud's name and clicked "Find all threads started by Rimbaud" -- fortunately (should that be unfortunately?) he has started few topics so it was relatively easy to find...I didn't use the search because I couldn't remember if it was under Mirth or the Downs... __________________ I'm sorry it wasn't a unicorn. It would have been nice to have unicorns. I'm your huckleberry.