This was on the front page of Spurious today, and I thought it might be helpful here. It has been edited for relevance to this forum.

The full thread may be read at: http://www.totse.com/bbs/Forum3/HTML/031145.html

quote:Originally posted by -_-OsiriS-_-:

So you're going to create a new thread. Here are some guidelines, which newbs and regs alike should follow if they want a clear, concise thread that will be read.

Introduction

In a new thread there are many factors that can greatly affect the response you receive, and the clarity in which the topic in the thread is presented.

Title

The clarity and briefness of the thread title is essential. The title should clearly summarize what you're talking about, while not giving away your view on the topic at hand to leave some curiosity. For example the title "p3nguinz ar3 teh sux0Rz" presents your topic, but gives your take or spin on it which may lead some not to further view the thread. The poor word structure of the title may lead some to believe that you are a Newb and are not capable of any intelligent thought, therefore leading them not to click. "Penguins are really gay, and they should all die, because they came in my yard yesterday and shat all over it." This title, while well written, is extremely long and presents almost your whole topic in the title leading some to believe they have already read the jest of the thread and not read any further.

A title according to my guidelines will maximize the amounts of views you get. For example: "Penguins: Good or Evil?" is quite a suitable topic title. The title clearly presents what the topic will be about, but leaves an amount of mystery as to what your view on them will be. It also succeeds in giving the reader the idea that he also may contribute to this discussion by posting his viewpoint, which would lead him to view the topic.

Body Structure

The structure of the body of your argument should essentially be as follows: a clear and concise thesis statement declaring the topic that you are about to write about and your point of view on it. Then for believability you should add some factual statements, quotes from well-known figures and sources of your information

Conclusion

The conclusion should be a wrap-up of the topic, by restating your opinion and leaving an open-ended question or challenge for those who care to respond.

Different types of threads

Of course there is not only one type of thread, they often range from threads that are covering news stories, reviews of games, movies, or weapons, and question and answer threads.

News Stories

With threads of this nature you should start out with a brief summary of the story and then your opinion of the matter. After that you should post the complete story with the hyperlink of the source right after the story. After that you can either offer a question that arose from the story or leave it open for discussion.

Question and Answer



These threads tend to be the most rampant on Totse, and their dizzying array of stupidity should be stopped. In this type of thread the title should be the subject that you will be asking about. Then you should clearly ask a directed question about whatever aspect of the object or idea you’re asking about and why you’re asking. Yes, it’s as simple as that.

Conclusion

Well, I hope this article will help those who have no idea how to start a thread. If you follow these guidelines I can almost assure you that your topic will be clicked upon, read, and replied with in respect, as opposed to many of your peers whose topics will be shun, and they will themselves be smote and flamed as newbies.

-@OsiriS@-

How precocious of him.

I agree with what he's moaning about...But damn...What's so great about that shit head?!

I've read a couple of his threads...Nothing amazing there.

Structured well but total bollocks!

But that's just my opinion!

puulllleeeasseeeeeee dc... you're trying to incorporate intelligence into the population of totse-goers? It'll never work!

^^Yeah, I know, it's a bit like herding cats.

Heh, Psycho, I actually agree with you. But, people have their plusses and minuses. The write-up seemed reasonable and it saved me from having to do it myself. It was something I was thinking of anyways.

quote:Originally posted by deadlycindy:

^^Yeah, I know, it's a bit like herding cats.

Oh, you just need some radio-controlled electronic collars, and maybe a few well trained dogs.

why was am i gay thread locked it seemed reasonable? please im just looking for an answer!

^^It seemed your concerns were adequately addressed, and the thread was degenerating into nonsense and destined for a flame war.

Besides, no one here can give you "an answer". Only you can determine your orientation.

Consult google for a plethora of links to articles and discussions on the subject.

quote:Originally posted by deadlycindy:

^^It seemed your concerns were adequately addressed, and the thread was degenerating into nonsense and destined for a flame war.

Besides, no one here can give you "an answer". Only you can determine your orientation.

Consult google for a plethora of links to articles and discussions on the subject.

wow i love you, all other mods in SG are pretty shitty bout explaining their reasons! thanks and i can see what you were talking bout. And i guess i can only determine my sexuality!

quote:Originally posted by Gustave:

...and maybe a few well trained dogs.

Such as yourself?

quote:Originally posted by Little Pea:

Such as yourself?

Hmmm, illogical. I am not a dog, I am more of a human (in this current form, at least).

I would think that you, a native Earthian, would know the difference between a dog and a metamorph.

I hate to whore myself, but see my "closed captioning for the thinking-impaired" thread. It's S&A-specific general etiquette delivered with derisive, possibly psychotic trademark flair. EDIT: Nevermind. I drew it out in crayon - I mean, gave it a more-obvious title. Same shit, different pile.

Hey, at least it isn't sterile and boring like OsiriS's.

You DID catch my border-hopping thread, right, man? Come on, you know I <3 you. Your writing reads like a goddamned Webster's dictionary that's missing it's cover, but I still <3 you. Just being honest there.



[This message has been edited by Infrared (edited 06-21-2004).]

if it´s a text from Osiris, there´s a big chance that he copied it from someone else and put his name under it. He´s famous for this ...

*wookie mature call to make sure nobody is going to meow his nerves*

quote:Originally posted by chuckNrambo:



wow i love you, all other mods in SG are pretty shitty bout explaining their reasons! thanks and i can see what you were talking bout. And i guess i can only determine my sexuality!



ahahah you faggot

quote:Originally posted by infamous big j:

ahahah you faggot

you always make me laugh!

I remember his thread. I was first to reply!

Heh, I just caught this today. Yes, contrary to belief by some, I did write this. I can send you the Word file and you can check the Meta tags for yourself. I was extremely bored. Infared, that is the truth. I should stop, I can be way too formal for a spic. How about "que onda holmes?" Oh yeah, I did read that thread, funny it was Originally this piece was supposed to be comedic, but it turned out serious. OH well, what can you do?

Bump! While archiving, it made me sad that some good threads had crappy titles. Too bad they can't be edited.

quote:Originally posted by deadlycindy:

Bump! While archiving, it made me sad that some good threads had crappy titles. Too bad they can't be edited.

Laugh out loud.

quote:Originally posted by deadlycindy:

Bump! While archiving, it made me sad that some good threads had crappy titles. Too bad they can't be edited.

Well, they can...

What you'd have to do is create a new thread with the better title, and copy-paste the content of the old thread into the new one.

It might not look as good, inside, but it would have a better title...

quote:Originally posted by deadlycindy:



Heh, Psycho, I actually agree with you. But, people have their plusses and minuses. The write-up seemed reasonable and it saved me from having to do it myself. It was something I was thinking of anyways.

Yeah...It just wound me up that I didn't think of it first!

Woe is me!

Damn that Osiris guy!!!

/me hugs Psycho