Hey Everyone,
This is a spin-off of Krumbeard's "Forgotten Thread Ideas."
Have you ever had a great idea for a thread, but then decided you weren't going to post it? Why not? I'm curious as to what the reasons may be.
As for myself, I have an entire plethora of reasons, so for entertainment's sake, here are mine (buckle in, this is going to take a while.)
1. I don't post because I just don't have the time or mental energy (probably my number one reason,) and you'll see why in a minute. I think everyone has seen even the most innocuous thread turn into a verbal fist fight, so just in case, I try to hold off posting threads until I have at least a day or even two that I'll be semi-available to devote to it. This doesn't happen often though, so sometimes I just go ahead and send a thread idea off into the wild.
I tend to classify my own thread ideas into 3 categories: 1. Serious discussions; 2. Controversial subjects (for the sake of learning, NOT arguing,) and 3. Fun/Casual. My general tendency is towards more serious/controversial subjects, which I find much harder to write.
2. Years ago, I had a college professor for my thesis class who basically told us, "You're a nobody in a sea of experts. No one cares what you have to say. The first thing you have to do is to convince the reader that this subject even deserves to be talked about, and then justify a reason as to why you are talking about it."
I have never forgotten that, and try to fit serious ideas into a 3-part format that hopefully satisfies this challenge: 1. Introduction (why would anyone even be interested in talking about this to begin with?) 2. Relatability (an example from real life as to how people can relate to the subject,) and 3. Opening a door for discussion from as many others as possible.
If I can't find a way apply that formula to an idea (or a way to adapt it to what's available on CC,) I won't post it. For example, years ago, I wrote a thread asking if the Titanic sank today, in what socialorder would people's lives be seen as worth saving? After reading about an American politician who publicly stated that when dealing with covid-19, the elderly should be sacrificed for the sake of the younger generations, I couldn't help but think of this as modern-day "Titanic." I scribbled an outline, and even bounced the idea off a few CC friends.
But back then, the polls were set up so that I could ask multiple questions in one poll, and since I haven't found a suitable way to present it (I want people to be honest, which means they generally have to have an anonymous way to answer,) so I'm holding off the idea for now. (Example: some people will surely say that that singles without children should be sacrificed before anyone who is married or has children, but they might only answer in an anonymous poll and not out in the open.)
My main goal for threads is always discussion, and the serious threads receive far fewer answers these days, so I often have to engage in more time-productive things.
And if you're read this far, here are a few much simpler reasons, for the sake of brevity.
3. I don't post threads because like most people, life is getting in the way. ("The chickens got loose again!" -- except that I I don't own any chickens.)
4. I don't post because I'm being human! I'm tired, "just don't feel like it," or am happily gnoshing down a pizza.
How about the rest of you?
It doesn't have to be anything earth-shattering or completely new -- what are your reasons for deciding not to post threads?
I already know Krumbeard's reason: he is going to say that he forgot.
This is a spin-off of Krumbeard's "Forgotten Thread Ideas."
Have you ever had a great idea for a thread, but then decided you weren't going to post it? Why not? I'm curious as to what the reasons may be. As for myself, I have an entire plethora of reasons, so for entertainment's sake, here are mine (buckle in, this is going to take a while.)
1. I don't post because I just don't have the time or mental energy (probably my number one reason,) and you'll see why in a minute. I think everyone has seen even the most innocuous thread turn into a verbal fist fight, so just in case, I try to hold off posting threads until I have at least a day or even two that I'll be semi-available to devote to it. This doesn't happen often though, so sometimes I just go ahead and send a thread idea off into the wild.
I tend to classify my own thread ideas into 3 categories: 1. Serious discussions; 2. Controversial subjects (for the sake of learning, NOT arguing,) and 3. Fun/Casual. My general tendency is towards more serious/controversial subjects, which I find much harder to write.
2. Years ago, I had a college professor for my thesis class who basically told us, "You're a nobody in a sea of experts. No one cares what you have to say. The first thing you have to do is to convince the reader that this subject even deserves to be talked about, and then justify a reason as to why you are talking about it."
I have never forgotten that, and try to fit serious ideas into a 3-part format that hopefully satisfies this challenge: 1. Introduction (why would anyone even be interested in talking about this to begin with?) 2. Relatability (an example from real life as to how people can relate to the subject,) and 3. Opening a door for discussion from as many others as possible.
If I can't find a way apply that formula to an idea (or a way to adapt it to what's available on CC,) I won't post it. For example, years ago, I wrote a thread asking if the Titanic sank today, in what socialorder would people's lives be seen as worth saving? After reading about an American politician who publicly stated that when dealing with covid-19, the elderly should be sacrificed for the sake of the younger generations, I couldn't help but think of this as modern-day "Titanic." I scribbled an outline, and even bounced the idea off a few CC friends.
But back then, the polls were set up so that I could ask multiple questions in one poll, and since I haven't found a suitable way to present it (I want people to be honest, which means they generally have to have an anonymous way to answer,) so I'm holding off the idea for now. (Example: some people will surely say that that singles without children should be sacrificed before anyone who is married or has children, but they might only answer in an anonymous poll and not out in the open.)
My main goal for threads is always discussion, and the serious threads receive far fewer answers these days, so I often have to engage in more time-productive things.
And if you're read this far, here are a few much simpler reasons, for the sake of brevity.
3. I don't post threads because like most people, life is getting in the way.
("The chickens got loose again!" -- except that I I don't own any chickens.) 4. I don't post because I'm being human! I'm tired, "just don't feel like it," or am happily gnoshing down a pizza.
How about the rest of you?
It doesn't have to be anything earth-shattering or completely new -- what are your reasons for deciding not to post threads?
I already know Krumbeard's reason: he is going to say that he forgot.
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