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Making a forum post that is compelling is much harder than sloshing out a bunch of random thoughts consistently. You may get a like/retweet here and there. But

Making a forum post that is compelling is much harder than sloshing out a bunch of random thoughts consistently. You may get a like/retweet here and there. But if you make a forum post that’s ‘meh’, you’ll just be faced with a loneliness. No one will respond, and it’ll fall off the first page.

giantrobot 5y ago
Why does a forum post need to be compelling? I just want to ask a fucking question or pick a nit. If it's a "meh" post and I don't get any replies my personal identity isn't wrapped up in the post. I hate the meme of everything being some "content creator" hustle. I post on forums about hobbies and stuff I enjoy. The last thing I want is that medium invaded by a bunch of social media hustlers trying to sell me dumb shit.
- pessimizer 5y ago
  > Why does a forum post need to be compelling? I just want to ask a fucking question or pick a nit. The reason you're asking a question is to have it answered. If the question is not compelling enough to get a reply, you have failed to get the information you want, and your efforts have been wasted. The reason you're picking a nit in public is because you either want other people to empathize with you, argue with you, or both. Otherwise you'd keep it to yourself.
  - giantrobot 5y ago
    > If the question is not compelling enough to get a reply, you have failed to get the information you want, and your efforts have been wasted. But I'm not going to shop and edit a question to make it extra compelling. It gets answered or it doesn't. Depending on the forum's rules I might be fine bumping it later to get some extra attention later. I'm also not going to spend more time than necessary to write some post talking about something. I might want to start some type of conversation but again I either get a conversation or I don't. I'm not going to make a post "more compelling". I get replies or I don't. I have no personal identity tied up in the process. I might want to have a conversation but little is lost if I don't have one.
    - crate_barre 5y ago
      You have a responsibility to the group to contribute in an interesting way. If it’s just you and your ‘life stream’ of insta and Twitter thoughts, yeah, spew out all your bullshit in whatever way you want.
      - giantrobot 5y ago
        > You have a responsibility to the group to contribute in an interesting way. Sure, that doesn't mean I've got to compose some social media hustle SEO keyword laden engagement over all else bullshit post. I'm on forums covering hobbies. It's not a job and I'm not hustling. I like to spell check and use at least passable grammar but I'm not writing a novel. Forums are a step up in formality over chat rooms. If everything's a hustle then everything is stressful and nothing is fun. I've got enough not-fun shit to deal with, I don't need to pull that into forum posts about Star Trek or whatever. I've been on web forums for a couple decades now, I'm well aware of how to contribute but thank's for the advice.
        crate_barre 5y ago
        Sure, that doesn't mean I've got to compose some social media hustle SEO keyword laden engagement over all else bullshit post. If you did that here or anywhere else self respecting, you’d be met with loneliness. We wouldn’t partake. I’m sure you know, as I do. There’s no pretty picture next to my name, no claims of success, but I can post here. I have good thoughts or ideas or I don’t, literally nothing else matters. Here, at least. But you already know I’m doing fan service to you.

giantrobot 5y ago

Why does a forum post need to be compelling? I just want to ask a fucking question or pick a nit. If it's a "meh" post and I don't get any replies my personal identity isn't wrapped up in the post. I hate the meme of everything being some "content creator" hustle. I post on forums about hobbies and stuff I enjoy. The last thing I want is that medium invaded by a bunch of social media hustlers trying to sell me dumb shit.

pessimizer 5y ago
> Why does a forum post need to be compelling? I just want to ask a fucking question or pick a nit. The reason you're asking a question is to have it answered. If the question is not compelling enough to get a reply, you have failed to get the information you want, and your efforts have been wasted. The reason you're picking a nit in public is because you either want other people to empathize with you, argue with you, or both. Otherwise you'd keep it to yourself.
- giantrobot 5y ago
  > If the question is not compelling enough to get a reply, you have failed to get the information you want, and your efforts have been wasted. But I'm not going to shop and edit a question to make it extra compelling. It gets answered or it doesn't. Depending on the forum's rules I might be fine bumping it later to get some extra attention later. I'm also not going to spend more time than necessary to write some post talking about something. I might want to start some type of conversation but again I either get a conversation or I don't. I'm not going to make a post "more compelling". I get replies or I don't. I have no personal identity tied up in the process. I might want to have a conversation but little is lost if I don't have one.
  - crate_barre 5y ago
    You have a responsibility to the group to contribute in an interesting way. If it’s just you and your ‘life stream’ of insta and Twitter thoughts, yeah, spew out all your bullshit in whatever way you want.
    - giantrobot 5y ago
      > You have a responsibility to the group to contribute in an interesting way. Sure, that doesn't mean I've got to compose some social media hustle SEO keyword laden engagement over all else bullshit post. I'm on forums covering hobbies. It's not a job and I'm not hustling. I like to spell check and use at least passable grammar but I'm not writing a novel. Forums are a step up in formality over chat rooms. If everything's a hustle then everything is stressful and nothing is fun. I've got enough not-fun shit to deal with, I don't need to pull that into forum posts about Star Trek or whatever. I've been on web forums for a couple decades now, I'm well aware of how to contribute but thank's for the advice.
      - crate_barre 5y ago
        Sure, that doesn't mean I've got to compose some social media hustle SEO keyword laden engagement over all else bullshit post. If you did that here or anywhere else self respecting, you’d be met with loneliness. We wouldn’t partake. I’m sure you know, as I do. There’s no pretty picture next to my name, no claims of success, but I can post here. I have good thoughts or ideas or I don’t, literally nothing else matters. Here, at least. But you already know I’m doing fan service to you.