Is it really necessary for the OP to start a discussion?

17-05-2015 05:48PM #1

Every time I see "you first" etc., it annoys me.. Especially if a couple of posters have already started the discussion and the ninth post is a snarky "well what do you think about it OP?".

There are plenty of topics that people don't really have opinions on and just want to hear what others think. I far prefer the /r/Askreddit approach of just throwing a question out there.

For example, "Reddit (AH), what is the hardest truth to accept?" just couldn't work here as I'd have to sit and think of my own example or risk having it derailed.

Cold War Kid · 17-05-2015 05:52PM

I know what you mean a lot of the time - it just doesn't seem necessary IMO for the OP to give their opinion; the story or topic itself is enough to start the ball rolling. The OP might not have formed an opinion either and might be looking to others to help them do so.

At the same time however, there are times when people just throw up a vague link or something cryptic or whatever, with next to no context laid out, so in those cases I do understand people asking them to elaborate.

Depends really.

catallus · 17-05-2015 05:54PM

Deleted User wrote: »

There are plenty of topics that people don't really have opinions on and just want to hear what others think. I far prefer the /r/Askreddit approach of just throwing a question out there.

Why don't you just go to Reddit then?

Boards isn't Reddit.

DareGod · 17-05-2015 05:55PM

Irritates me too. They're just trying to be smart. Totally unnecessary.

No_Comply · 17-05-2015 05:57PM

catallus wrote: »

Why don't you just go to Reddit then?

Boards isn't Reddit.

Is it OK with you if we use both?

Links234 · 17-05-2015 05:57PM

Depends on the context, a general question no, but just dropping a link and not even saying anything isn't cool either.

DareGod · 17-05-2015 05:58PM

Cold War Kid wrote: »

I know what you mean a lot of the time - it just doesn't seem necessary IMO for the OP to give their opinion; the story or topic itself is enough to start the ball rolling. The OP might not have formed an opinion either and might be looking to others to help them do so.

At the same time however, there are times when people just throw up a vague link or something cryptic or whatever, with next to no context laid out, so in those cases I do understand people asking them to elaborate.

Depends really.

When an OP posts information and says nothing at all, then yes, that's spam.

When they post information and then ask "What do you think?" they're clearly trying to start a conversation. I don't understand why some people resort to that irritating "You first, OP" post. I personally don't give a sh*te whether the OP gives their own opinion or not. Maybe they haven't formed one yet. Who cares. Just answer the question they asked or go away.

catallus · 17-05-2015 05:59PM

No_Comply wrote: »

Is it OK with you if we use both?

I'll permit it.

17-05-2015 06:01PM

catallus wrote: »

Why don't you just go to Reddit then?

Boards isn't Reddit.

This also annoys me.. "Well just leave" if you have a problem.

No, I won't just leave. I think it's outdated and if it's talked about enough, it might change. I started something similar years ago and got relationship issues out of PI instead of just leaving.

catallus · 17-05-2015 06:03PM

Deleted User wrote: »

This also annoys me.. "Well just leave" if you have a problem.

No, I won't just leave. I think it's outdated and if it's talked about enough, it might change. I started something similar years ago and got relationship issues out of PI instead of just leaving.

I'm not saying "leave"! I'd really really miss you

I've got 4 separate reddit tabs open along with other stuff right now.

Your problem is you want it all your own way.

Diversify, man!

17-05-2015 06:04PM

Similar is when an OP discusses some incident looking for advice, and the 3rd or 4th reply is often "what did the guards say when you reported it?"

As if to say, why are you wasting OUR time?

Eugene Norman · 17-05-2015 06:04PM

Boards in different rules to reddit shock.

The Backwards Man · 17-05-2015 06:07PM

I think it is necessary.

Asking someone their opinion without providing your own is at best lazy, at worst malicious, and a fair bit of the time is just plain trolling. Link bombing is worse, it's like going to the doctor and saying 'I have an awful . . ' and walking out again. If you have the time to press post reply you have the time to expand your post a wee bit, otherwise fcuk off somewhere else with it.

blatantrereg · 17-05-2015 06:09PM

I don't like it either.

Here is a very interesting news story. Now here's my mindnumbing commentary on it.

17-05-2015 06:14PM

blatantrereg wrote: »

I don't like it either.

Here is a very interesting news story. Now here's my mindnumbing commentary on it.

I think it's a part of why AH is so full of news articles as opposed to interesting open ended discussion. Easier to post a mundane "oh this is terrible" with a link than think of a thought provoking opening post on a topic you actually don't know much about but want to see talked about.

anncoates · 17-05-2015 06:15PM

I cringe a bit when people fall over themselves to say something like Have you an opinion OP. It just looks like a cheap shot or sucking up to the mods.

If enough people want to discuss the issue in the linked article they will, regardless of the OP.

The Backwards Man · 17-05-2015 06:20PM

anncoates wrote: »

I cringe a bit when people fall over themselves to say something like Have you an opinion OP. It just looks like a cheap shot or sucking up to the mods.

If enough people want to discuss the issue in the linked article they will, regardless of the OP.

If enough people comment under a Daily Mirror article on facebook, should that make it eligible for the Nobel literature prize? It's quality we want it, not quantity. Well, that's what keeps me coming back here anyway.

catallus · 17-05-2015 06:22PM

The site rules are there for a reason, anyway.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 17-05-2015 06:23PM

catallus wrote: »

The site rules are there for a reason, anyway.

What is it?

catallus · 17-05-2015 06:27PM

Camilo Thundering Gout wrote: »

What is it?

To prevent the whole thing from devolving into reddit!

Iwasfrozen · 17-05-2015 06:35PM

If the OP doesn't have an opinion on an issue they shouldn't make a thread on it. I don't see why people are getting worked up over this.

17-05-2015 06:36PM

I hate an OP that consists of a link, followed by 'Thoughts?'. It's lazy and I can't be bothered to click on something with no inkling of what it is, I could wind up on Return of Kings or somesuch.

When something is fairly self-explanatory I don't mind.

I would really like to like Reddit, but the layout irritates me.

anncoates · 17-05-2015 06:41PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

If enough people comment under a Daily Mirror article on facebook, should that make it eligible for the Nobel literature prize? It's quality we want it, not quantity. Well, that's what keeps me coming back here anyway.

Whether or not the thread will take off or tank has little to do with whether or not it has a big intro

Plus your example just means that any crap link is valid as long as it's accompanied with a pseudo weighty preface.

Ironically that's how are a lot of the more tediously overdone topics are ushered in. That is, just preface a dole rant with some hilariously overwrought, tenuous preface.

Cold War Kid · 17-05-2015 06:42PM

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

If the OP doesn't have an opinion on an issue they shouldn't make a thread on it.

Why not?

I don't see why people are getting worked up over this.

I don't see why people get worked up over the OP not proffering an opinion (I do understand it sometimes but not when plain commonsense tells you what the topic is).

The Backwards Man · 17-05-2015 06:45PM

anncoates wrote: »

Whether or not the thread will take off or tank has little to do with whether or not it has a big intro

Plus your example just means that any crap link is valid as long as it's accompanied with a pseudo weighty preface.

Ironically that's how are a lot of the more tediously overdone topics are ushered in. That is, just preface a dole rant with some hilariously overwrought, tenuous preface.

Yeah, but you can see through them and their agendas more or less straight away when they try to eke out their OP a bit. If everybody is just spouting off random one liners or dumping news articles willy nilly it's a lot harder to weed out the chaff.

Mena · 17-05-2015 06:45PM

This thread stinks of the current internet generation. Unable to contribute an original thought so relies on throwing a statement or link into the mix to allow them to sit back and cherry pick their current thinking based on those who are able to contribute a coherent thought.

Give an opinion or bugger off to reddit or YouTube.

gandalf · 17-05-2015 06:49PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Every time I see "you first" etc., it annoys me.. Especially if a couple of posters have already started the discussion and the ninth post is a snarky "well what do you think about it OP?".

There are plenty of topics that people don't really have opinions on and just want to hear what others think. I far prefer the /r/Askreddit approach of just throwing a question out there.

For example, "Reddit (AH), what is the hardest truth to accept?" just couldn't work here as I'd have to sit and think of my own example or risk having it derailed.

Because Boards isn't reddit is the short answer.

Boards is a discussion forum so if someone wants to start a thread then it is expected that they add more than just a couple of words in a question. They're not been asked to write an essay but it is expected that they can put a little more detail into the beginning of a thread.

If they and others want a reddit style approach they really should **** off to reddit then.

anncoates · 17-05-2015 06:50PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Yeah, but you can see through them and their agendas more or less straight away when they try to eke out their OP a bit. If everybody is just spouting off random one liners or dumping news articles willy nilly it's a lot harder to weed out the chaff.

Threads with no opinion in the OP will die if people don't want to discuss them. Any of the threads that people actually want to discuss will live, despite the cluster of wannabe mods at the start

They're often the same people that spend their time bemoaning that AH is too full of jokes instead of fcuking off to serious forums themselves if that's their wont.

DareGod · 17-05-2015 06:55PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I think it is necessary.

Asking someone their opinion without providing your own is at best lazy, at worst malicious, and a fair bit of the time is just plain trolling. Link bombing is worse, it's like going to the doctor and saying 'I have an awful . . ' and walking out again. If you have the time to press post reply you have the time to expand your post a wee bit, otherwise fcuk off somewhere else with it.

Grand. Again, the OP is not talking about Link bombing.

"Asking someone their opinion without providing your own is at best lazy, at worst malicious, and a fair bit of the time is just plain trolling."

If they don't give an opinion, would you not assume that they are simply trying to start a conversation about the topic so that they can become more educated it before forming an opinion?

Iwasfrozen · 17-05-2015 06:58PM

Cold War Kid wrote: »

Why not?

To set a structure to the topic at hand.

The Backwards Man · 17-05-2015 07:00PM

DareGod wrote: »

Grand. Again, the OP is not talking about Link bombing.

"Asking someone their opinion without providing your own is at best lazy, at worst malicious, and a fair bit of the time is just plain trolling."

If they don't give an opinion, would you not assume that they are simply trying to start a conversation about the topic so that they can become more educated it before forming an opinion?

I have no problem with someone writing something like, 'hey, I found this article and I'm not sure what to think of it myself, and I was wondering if some of the more knowledgeable folks on AH could help me understand it a bit better'. No problem at all, anybody that did is just being dickish.

What I have a problem with is someone posting a rake of copypasta followed by 'thoughts?' or 'discuss'. It completely demeans the site imo.

Is it really necessary for the OP to start a discussion?

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