Step Into the Vortex ? A thread about threads, how very meta!

[Logan Westbrook]

(NOTE: This isn?t some OFFICIAL ESCAPIST EDICT, this is just my opinion. Feel free to disagree with me.)

As I?m sure you all know, I spend a lot of my time locking threads, usually with some mean-spirited comment accompanying the lock. Well, today I thought I?d put my money where my mouth is and talk about what I think makes a good thread.

[HEADING=2]THE CONVENIENT BULLET POINTS OF THREAD MAKING! (with a little explanation...)[/HEADING]

• 
  [li] Know what you want to say. ? Make sure that you have a good idea before you make a new thread. Trying to bail it out later rarely works.[/li]
  
  
  [li] Favour the specific over the general. ? Don?t say, ?Let?s talk about this topic!? Pick a particular thing about the topic that you find interesting and build your thread around that. [/li]
  
  
  [li] Do a search first. ? Nothing, and I mean nothing, sinks a thread faster than being a re-run. I?d rather see people adding something to six month old threads than starting new ones unnecessarily.[/li]
  
  
  [li] Do your research. ? This seems like a no-brainer, but make sure you know what you?re talking about before you make your thread.[/li]
  
  
  [li] Ask a question. ? This is closely tied in with being specific rather than general. A question kick starts a discussion because it gives others something to focus their replies on.[/li]
  
  
  [li] Facilitate the discussion. ? If you?ve been following the previous points properly, you?ll hopefully have something quite intricate to share with rest of the forum; perhaps something too intricate. Throw some links in there so people can come to the discussion with the knowledge they need to contribute, add some pictures if it helps you communicate your idea. Even Wikipedia is better than nothing![/li]
  
  
  [li] Put some effort into your opening post. ? Formatting, spelling, punctuation and grammar. These things matter, especially if you want people to take you seriously. Opening posts that are barely a sentence long with no full stops and no capital letters don?t just irritate other forum members, they get threads locked![/li]
  
  

Now, I?m sure someone will say, ?This is all well and good nilcypher, but what about this thread that you started? Not exactly amazing is it?? Well, no, probably not, I?m only human, but I?d like to think even my worst threads are better than a Chuck Norris/Master Chief versus thread or a thread about Yahtzee?s favourite games.

I?m not saying that every thread has to be worthy of a Pulitzer and I like the occasional silly thread just as much as the next person, but more than anything, I want to avoid having to lock half of the Off-Topic forum when I get up in the morning.

 

[the monopoly guy]

This was more needed a week or so ago, but nice none the less.
And don't forget the Edit button!

 

[Logan Westbrook]

Ah yes, the edit button. Scourge of double posts everywhere!

 

[Random Argument Man]

This was mroe needed a week or so ago, but nice none the less.
And don't forget the Edit button!

I will reply with this: This thread was needed, since the creation of the internet forums.

 

[Anarchemitis]

This was mroe needed a week or so ago, but nice none the less.
And don't forget the Edit button!

Oh, the irony of it all!

 

[vede]

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

And to be honest, it wasn't needed at all, because if you'd have followed your own advice and searched first.. or looked at the stickies in the forums, you would have found this:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.50824

Oh, my. I think you may have just pwned a mod...

The world is at an end!

 

[meatloaf231]

Listen man if this is about that duck incident, it really was an accident! I was making a thread and accidentally hit enter. I figured it wouldn't be a problem but the edit button doesn't allow poll-adding.

So I labeled it to be ignored and apologized. I didn't know it was going to happen, honest.

 

[Xhumed]

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

And to be honest, it wasn't needed at all, because if you'd have followed your own advice and searched first.. or looked at the stickies in the forums, you would have found this:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.50824

Does that qualify as being hoisted by ones own petard?

 

[Logan Westbrook]

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

And to be honest, it wasn't needed at all, because if you'd have followed your own advice and searched first.. or looked at the stickies in the forums, you would have found this:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.50824

As important as the posting guidelines are, they really have a different purpose than this thread. I'll agree that there is some overlap in their content, but they are sufficiently different that both can live together quote harmoniously.

EDIT: As a side note, if this thread isn't needed, why do I have to spend so much time locking threads?

 

[Dommyboy]

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

And to be honest, it wasn't needed at all, because if you'd have followed your own advice and searched first.. or looked at the stickies in the forums, you would have found this:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.50824

He still epically won though. Can you give a reward just for doing that?

 

[Fire Daemon]

This has been done before, it's called the search button.

I kid, I kid.

I've noticed that there have been many locked threads recently. I think reading the rules should be a mandatory thing before being able to post.

Just an idea.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Sorry nilcypher, but do you think that trolls will read this thread? I mean, they still don't read/abide by the guidelines.

But, I agree that this thread is necessary to at least stop the people who are making these threads by accident.

 

[wilsonscrazybed]

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

And to be honest, it wasn't needed at all, because if you'd have followed your own advice and searched first.. or looked at the stickies in the forums, you would have found this:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.50824

He still epically won though. Can you give a reward just for doing that?

A week ban for mod sass? Seriously though, does anyone here really feel like they can win the Internet?

Sorry nilcypher, but do you think that trolls will read this thread? I mean, they still don't read/abide by the guidelines.

Triage. We don't try to help the people who can't be helped, if someone is adamant about not reading the guidelines there is no way to force them to post 'smartly.' However there are a lot of borderline users who post somewhere between "ROFLESQQBFTW!" and "Indubitably my dear sir, I concur with your statement in a broad sense, but disagree on many points."

You'll never convince everyone to post quality content, but if the majority of people here adhere to a couple points that niilcypher made we will remain a quality over quantity site. The biggots, jerks, and idiots will find somewhere else to go, or come to terms with the kinds of posts we want to partake in and cease fitting into one of the aforementioned groups.

 

[Murrah]

awesome?

 

[Singing Gremlin]

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

And to be honest, it wasn't needed at all, because if you'd have followed your own advice and searched first.. or looked at the stickies in the forums, you would have found this:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.50824

Not really. If you'd read the guidelines, you'd know this thread is a detailed one about thread creation. Your helpful handy link, however, is general policy for forum use and posting, the only direct mention of starting a thread being:

"Original posts. If you're starting a thread, make sure your first post seeds the thread with something to discuss. If you want to talk about a game, give us some background or post a mini-review. When you start a thread, ask yourself why other people should care."

Plus it should be noted that your link was posted by an old moderator and it's more than possible that our new mods have their own pet hates and an update is more than worth it.

Don't be a smartarse.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Sorry nilcypher, but do you think that trolls will read this thread? I mean, they still don't read/abide by the guidelines.

Triage. We don't try to help the people who can't be helped, if someone is adamant about not reading the guidelines there is no way to force them to post 'smartly.' However there are a lot of borderline users who post somewhere between "ROFLESQQBFTW!" and "Indubitably my dear sir, I concur with your statement in a broad sense, but disagree on many points."

You'll never convince everyone to post quality content, but if the majority of people here adhere to a couple points that niilcypher made we will remain a quality over quantity site. The biggots, jerks, and idiots will find somewhere else to go, or come to terms with the kinds of posts we want to partake in and cease fitting into one of the aforementioned groups.

No, I agree entirely. However, one question remains: Shouldn't this be stickied, before it winds up somewhere in amongst all the crap threads at page 60 or so?

 

[Brett Alex]

Of course its highly likely that since the title does not actually mention rules or guidelines, and is for all intents and purposes a normal thread, people who think such things are unnecessary will read this anyway, being sucked in before they realise that it does, in fact, contain guidelines. They might even learn something...*strikes a noble and philosophical pose*
Just my opinion.

Oh yes and I agree with all that stuff, I've been here only a month or so and have already seen topics repeat. (Poll: Solid Snake vs [Insert Character Here]!)

 

[wilsonscrazybed]

No, I agree entirely. However, one question remains: Shouldn't this be stickied, before it winds up somewhere in amongst all the crap threads at page 60 or so?

If we stickied every useful thread the front page would be one giant sticky. Instead we have the guidelines threads, and if you've ever seen it there is also an Escapist community map in the games and RP forum that details most of the useful but otherwise spammy threads like "I am new here" and "Ask a moderator." By the way, these useful community threads aren't just for Escapist staff to make, if you have something that is useful to everyone here then post it and send me a PM, we'll put your thread on the map.

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

"Step Into the Vortex ? A thread about threads, how very meta!"

Not quite as meta as a thread that discusses threads about threads.

Good guidelines, though. I'd add "Reflect your topic in your thread title, and keep titles short"

 

[TomNook]

The Edict of Nilcypher, KILL ALL TROLLS!