Where is your content

[Maxmars]

Shouldn't the author of the thread take on that responsibility to assist a new conversant to which page of the thread addresses their questions for them to 'catch up to speed' so to speak?

Well, yes... ideally.  But it seems that authors don't share the same respect for a thread as a dialogue... not issuing fault here, probably pointing out habits formed over time.

If you really want to talk about something specific...
If you can find comments and references to the idea/question/object/subject...
but only here and there....

You have all you need to simply begin the dialogue.

But many don't think as curators, or shepherds of their thread... I suppose it's a choice.
 

I've also noticed some authors of threads abandon their threads early on, so of course others will abandon the thread too. I think managing a thread takes effort and time, but sometimes the subject matter can no longer be expanded upon, so that is another reason some threads end early on.

Expectations of thread success here should be thought of in terms of the actual number of members that engage regularly. It would be nice if the guests engaged, but how can they be enticed?

I've seen many introduction threads from those that claim they were long-time lurkers and then they make an introduction thread, then we never hear from them after that.

Maybe with new members who make the effort to come forward, we should encourage and help them to start their first thread and engage with them, so hopefully they will want to make subsequent threads (?)

Thread success - and how each of us define it  - is a subjective perception.

I am well aware that some people are more in tune with discussion then composition... that's rather natural, considering we are so much more dialogue than exposition socially.

But exposition threads can be wonderfully artful, and well explained... we all know what it feels like to be "sucked in" to a stream of exchanges that fascinate.  However, is exposition ALWAYS entertainment?  Simply put, I think it isn't, as a rule.  Success is popularity.... I am not prepared to accept that axiomatically, although DI's very existence does benefit greatly from excellent exchanges and exposition.

However, to refuse ignorance... such considerations of popularity and traffic metered success are far beneath the idea that we get to speak to each other about what we want to speak about... we are not expecting celebrity, or wealth... we get to speak without ulterior motives here...  So far, a fair balance.

Perhaps it's time to make some threads....

(Many one post threads remain out there... more than you think will make you wonder why there were no responses.)

And of course, it would be ideal to offer a helping hand to any member, at any time... 

DI is young... and time is a lens.

[Ray1990]

If you are someone that posts allot without making threads, why? What holds you back?

So here is something to think about, if all "you" are doing is waiting for current events to comment on, well the news is all bad. Waiting in excitement for a dopamine rush on bad news

Just saying..

Responsibility, mostly.

I usually stay away from current topics unless there's something glaringly obvious (to me) that isn't being mentioned or thought about, sometimes it is something overlooked... Usually not though. I'll mostly comment on things I have an interest in or have some sort of knowledge on.

When it comes to making my own threads it's usually down to the commitment I feel threads deserve which is considerate replies and providing a certain quality of information. Being willing and able to discuss what I'm bringing forth whilst contributing to arguments, debates or furthering points. Something like that. 

I'm just not on here all that much, I'm not much of a 'talker' and I imagine sometimes my posts are too looong 

But yeah, addiction to current events is somewhat prevalent these days. I wouldn't let it distract from a good time. I'm off to make Bolognese!   

[Maxmars]

Responsibility, mostly.

I usually stay away from current topics unless there's something glaringly obvious (to me) that isn't being mentioned or thought about, sometimes it is something overlooked... Usually not though. I'll mostly comment on things I have an interest in or have some sort of knowledge on.

When it comes to making my own threads it's usually down to the commitment I feel threads deserve which is considerate replies and providing a certain quality of information. Being willing and able to discuss what I'm bringing forth whilst contributing to arguments, debates or furthering points. Something like that. 

I'm just not on here all that much, I'm not much of a 'talker' and I imagine sometimes my posts are too looong 

But yeah, addiction to current events is somewhat prevalent these days. I wouldn't let it distract from a good time. I'm off to make Bolognese!   

If you can find the time... make some time.... not all threads have to be major productions...

And as for long posts, I am a contender for the title...  
I make threads so as not to aggravate on-going discussions... 

and I should resentfully thank you for making me hungry...

[ANNEE]

If you are someone that posts allot without making threads, why? What holds you back?

I posted one thread on ATS.

To do it right -- you need to have time to devote to monitoring your thread.

At this time -- under my current circumstances -- I can not do that.

[ANNEE]

Shouldn't the author of the thread take on that responsibility to assist a new conversant to which page of the thread addresses their questions for them to 'catch up to speed' so to speak?

Yep.

In my one thread (ATS) -- that I monitored -- I got one poster banned because he had his own agenda and refused to address the the topic I put forth.

It takes work to keep it on track.

[Ray1990]

If you can find the time... make some time.... not all threads have to be major productions...

And as for long posts, I am a contender for the title...  
I make threads so as not to aggravate on-going discussions... 

and I should resentfully thank you for making me hungry...

I shall slowly fill up the cooking page! I have a few recipes, currently in the process of moving but with winter approaching I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to make threads.

Might take y'all on a gardening journey too since I'll have a blank slate to build on. I'm sure we've got plenty of woodworkers I can pester for advice since I'd like to build a greenhouse/potting shed.

I actually love reading long posts! Cheers 

[argentus]

We are bad at gauging reactions, especially when doing things we don't do often. I bet many people will be surprised if they made threads. If the same people keep posting over and over then we create a silo. Only chasing big ticket current events will kill the forum.

We don't have enough posters, without variety more won't come.

I for one think it would be great if everyone started talking about their experiences, shared research and whatever on the forum boards, it also adds weight to opinion.

On the UFO topic there is a handful of guys that gives updates, some if it is nonsense but at the very least it tells me what they are looking at currently, the same comes back at me

The paranormal and metaphysical sections is dead because everyone gets tired of the shit or sees it and goes to other communities. It's surreal making a post here and getting pushback from someone and going elsewhere and there is literally a 1000 people going "yup". It's all just because of the small number of people posting

Mostly, there is an inverse historical relationship with that which interests me, and that which interests everyone else.   I'm fairly boring.   

Still, I accept your challenge.

[Bootless]

But many don't think as curators, or shepherds of their thread... I suppose it's a choice.
 
...
(Many one post threads remain out there... more than you think will make you wonder why there were no responses.)

Speaking of shepherding one post threads;
My last thread turned out to be a one-poster.

My technique is to save out a point like backstory or punchline as a follow up.

But then with no reply, well, no punchline.

In years to come, the Historians of Literature will scratch their heads and toss it in the trash bin. Or it just won't make it to the Wayback machine or something.

[quintessentone]

Yep.

In my one thread (ATS) -- that I monitored -- I got one poster banned because he had his own agenda and refused to address the the topic I put forth.

It takes work to keep it on track.

Yeah, who wants to deal with trolls and bad faith actors when all you want to do is dialogue and sharing.

[Maxmars]

Speaking of shepherding one post threads;
My last thread turned out to be a one-poster.

My technique is to save out a point like backstory or punchline as a follow up.

But then with no reply, well, no punchline.

In years to come, the Historians of Literature will scratch their heads and toss it in the trash bin. Or it just won't make it to the Wayback machine or something.

If people begin to 'discard' pieces of archives... regardless of how unimportant that datum might seem... they are abandoning archiving, and engaging in 'curation'...

The ultimate a question of the result is 'curation of what?'... and if you simply eject data ... those asking can never know for certain... who do you trust?... the now partial data (now suspect,) or the "intent" registered by the database manager.

If you've curated a data archive full of holes.... your curation effort will end up full of holes.  Scientists learned this the hard way over the centuries.

Wayback was engineered as an archive...  archives don't cull by "interest or entertainment," they don't filter... (at least they are not 'supposed' to do, I would propose.)  That magic happens with the interface and the database systems implementation.