Poll: What makes a good thread?

[Ramthundar]

What makes a thread better then those around it? Is it creativity? Originality? Spelling?
What do you define as a good thread, in any of the Escapist Forums, and if you could would you please post a link to some examples of a "good thread."

I think what makes a good thread is one that has a creative idea to it, that will have people interested to see how it goes. With Off-Topics that could be one with an interesting questiong or discussion, while in RP/Games it's an idea that that tests other's imaginations while still having enough structure to be able to build up.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.96030?page=1 this is my example of a good Off-Topic thread.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/362.69024?page=1 this is just one of my favorite games. I'm not much into the RPG games, but I love the "post something about the above post" games. Short, sweet, and simple.

P.S. sorry if this has been done, but I searched and found nothing like this.

 

[Xan Krieger]

Originality, an intelligent person to start the thread, and I want threads to not be something like "could you eat a kitten". I want something serious or something funny (there is a difference between funny and stupid).

 

[Good morning blues]

It either needs to be a funny concept, which is difficult to do and impossible to define, or it needs to be a well-introduced and compelling topic that turns into a reasoned and intelligent debate.

 

[RagnorakTres]

My presence.

Just kidding! Honestly, creativity is my first choice, but intelligence of discussion matter is a close second. I like serious discussion, but a bit of fun is never a bad thing. Just don't overdo it.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

I wouldn't know, my threads choke up and die after the 3rd post.

 

[Knight Templar]

Anything that is fun, informative or intresting and allows for Discussion.
Originality, spelling/grammar, style they all help but it doesn't matter how nice the thread looks if all you're doing is asking "who has leg hair".

Diffrent set of rules for the RP forum, much more complex.

 

[Flying-Emu]

How about... all of the above?

If a thread ISN'T creative, ISN'T original, DOESN'T have proper spelling/grammar, it's just rather bland or gets smacked with the "Done a billion times" banner.

 

[Russian Redneck]

A good thread must be long, highly flexible, and have a fine fibrous make-up. Shoe laces are a great example.

Just kidding.

A good thread, like the things on forums, must be able to facilitate discussion without encouraging spammy, one-word posts intended to expose and parade one's ego. List threads are the masters of exploiting this flaw. If there's nothing to talk about or speculate on, beginning a discussion is ultimately pointless (and it probably has psychological implications, which might explain why Interwebs users are fiercely intolerant and aggressive towards others with different opinions). If you're going to open a discussion about how horrible the Bush administration was, you won't accomplish anything by taking a simple poll count. You have to openly communicate with words and bounce ideas back and forth with other people if you want to truly express your dispostions.

Creativity, originality, etc. are requisite for starting a thread. It's ultimately open to the topic creator to begin the discussion and decide which direction they want it to go. Of course, the occasional off topic remark or quarrel is rarely deterrable.

 

[McClaud]

Wow, that's hard to define, really.

Threads all have different purposes - to inform, to entertain, to encourage discussion, to review, etc. - and each has a different set of rules on what makes them quote/unquote good.

Although, spelling should be encouraged. I intentionally skip posts that have terrible spelling, and consider them somewhat unworthy of my attention (because if the person cared, they would put some effort in trying to make us read their posts). That would apply to threads as well.