What Makes For A Good Forum Poster?

[SentForMe]

I was taking a class a few years ago and the professor asked us to define what we thought terrorism was. We came up with this hatched together definition that was very specific, but still didn't seem to do a good job at it. He concluded, and this was the point of the exercise, that where was no universally recognized definition of terrorism. This many of us still seem to know, if only by intuition, what terrorism is. Ask us to define it though and our supposed knowledge falls flat.

It occurred to me yesterday that what makes a good forum poster is kind of similar in an indirect way. Most of us have no real trouble defining what a bad forum poster is: spamming, breaking the rules a lot, bullying, racist, et cetera. However when it comes to defining what makes a good forum poster the interpretations are much wider. Many of us might say we want more good forum posters, but without a real definition of what that is how can it ever be quantitatively achieved? Perhaps the views are too wide to come to any consensus, but it's still worth asking the question.

So, what do you think makes for a good forum poster?

[fieldertiger]

I just like posting. Most of the time, people like @Radaketor , @NGPulp and @Ama would go see what I've done and call it a joke. Sometimes I get wildly upset because of my misunderstanding about trolls and because of this, I feed the trolls often if there was an offensive argument that I dislike and then get a chance to be banned.

[Heretic-Anchorite]

I consider a good poster to be someone who both provides a unique, constructive point, while also being able to discuss facts, criticize, and argue points without acting like a child.

They are able to provide a unique point and prospective, while at the same time can accept that said point and perspective could possibly be stupid, and wrong.

There is also smaller elements like their sense of humor and other things, but those are more personal preference and can vary, they are not essential to be a good poster.

[Slacker013]

Those who go for quality over quantity, replying only if they feel so and not just to get their post count up. Not being some gimmicky asshole who feels it's his job to be edgy as fuck with a classic meme or only looking forward to derailing a thread. Reading through the thread and replying to the direction that thread has gone or being the one to save it from derailment. True heart felt speeches always tend to be the good ones you fail to notice...

I dunno, I'm not so fanatical at posting.

[yurgenburgen]

you have to be bitchy and condescending

[Amaranthus]

At 9/26/14 03:28 PM, fieldertiger wrote: I just like posting.

You also seem to like turning threads in a shitfest.
Don't expect me to respond when you get batshit crazy after reading this, I'm not going to ruin this thread, and if Radaketor isn't a complete idiot, he won't give you any more attention as well.

[fieldertiger]

At 9/26/14 04:26 PM, Ama wrote: You also seem to like turning threads in a shitfest.
Don't expect me to respond when you get batshit crazy after reading this, I'm not going to ruin this thread, and if Radaketor isn't a complete idiot, he won't give you any more attention as well.

Are you just telling me to get out of your sight and never post on the BBS again because I just turn every thread into a shitfest?

[NuScarab]

I was voted best poster twice - maybe even thrice! (I forget) - and Poozy said you need to post eleven paragraphs like me to have that honour.

[Tony-DarkGrave]

you need to know how to pleasure the mods right,

[Sheizenhammer]

The only real thing you can quantify is the amount of time spent or posts made on the forums against the amount of days banned. People who can consistently avoid the banstick are usually (but not always) average to good forum posters.

As for anything else, that's up to you. It's all about what you want to see people using this forum for, anyway. Funny? Thoughtful? Informative? No-one's really going to agree on which is better than the others with any great cohesion.

[NekoMika]

I would say those who usually contribute to a topic and can keep it going are good examples of forum posters.

TheGamechanger's battle thread not counting.....

[fieldertiger]

At 9/26/14 05:21 PM, SCTE3 wrote: I would say those who usually contribute to a topic and can keep it going are good examples of forum posters.

TheGamechanger's battle thread not counting.....

I do that a lot on topics that I am interested in. Thanks for at least keeping me positive, SCTE3.

[Rad]

I'd say anyone who makes funny posts would be a good poster.

I mean posts that take some effort and are more fun if anything else to read. If there was some mystical poster that made every post in iambic pentameter or they drew leud smut of the OP in every thread, I'd consider that a good poster, if only because I'd always click on that thread just to see what they said.

Anything goes, as long as it's funny.

[BlueReality]

Someone with good Political views that isn't a retard I suppose.

Just people who are funny, smart and not trolls.

[xXSp1cyN1njaXx]

what makes a good forum poster? being me #EgotisticalDouchebag

[dumbclowny]

You gotta have sexy nipples and a good sense of humor

[Phobotech]

A good poster is grammatically correct, and stays on topic of the discussion in the thread they're posting in. They lend input on the topic, and if they disagree, then they elaborate eloquently why, lending examples, and a well structured statement supporting their view point.

A good poster lends no less than a sentence in a post, and doesn't attempt to exceed their character limit in the text box. Writes just enough so that there's meat to their statement, but not so much that its tl:dr...there's a balance to how much or how little is said.

A good poster is sarcastic to shit topics, and does their best not to feed obvious trolls. A good poster is fair and nondiscriminatory....doesn't thrust inflammatory views upon others, and tries not to be a dick or bitchy. A good poster keeps links nice and neat by utilizing the html codes like this as opposed to just cluttering up their own post by copy-pasting the whole web address in full text. They will also at least try to use the html emphasizing accents but not so much that it overcomplicates things...its like a spice thats used sparingly.

They also choose a fitting emoticon at the top of the post window, that fits the general mood implied within their post...because it is difficult to receive emotional context through plain text.

A good poster does not assume they're better than anyone else, a good poster treats each poster sexlessly, equally, and unbiased. They'll engage in intelligent or humourous discussion, and know where the time and place to get sidetracked will be. A good poster posts frequently, doesn't hesitate to speak their mind, and in doing so, goes freely and uncensored. They make mistakes because they're human, and every once and a while can have a spot of fun being a wise-ass. They don't take it too seriously. ...but even when they're having fun, they exude effort in their wordsmanship.

[NeonSpider]

A good poster is a poster whose posts you generally enjoy reading (even if you don't agree with them).
A bad poster is a poster who makes you cringe, one who is quick to flame, or who you just generally don't like.

So naturally who is or is not a good poster depends entirely on who is doing the asking.

[ManDeep]

At 9/26/14 06:33 PM, NeonSpider wrote: A good poster is a poster whose posts you generally enjoy reading (even if you don't agree with them).
A bad poster is a poster who makes you cringe, one who is quick to flame, or who you just generally don't like.

So naturally who is or is not a good poster depends entirely on who is doing the asking.

Thanks for sharing the dictionary definition.

[NGPulp]

At 9/26/14 03:28 PM, fieldertiger wrote: people like @Radaketor , @NGPulp and @Ama

Again, I see that this is a pretty bad use of the '@' function.

[fieldertiger]

At 9/26/14 08:35 PM, NGPulp wrote: Again, I see that this is a pretty bad use of the '@' function.

I've mentioned you on that post because of how people like you believing that make every thread a shitfest. All I wanted to do is to have a wonderful time on the BBS. Not to annoy people.

[Cordyceps]

I'm the perfect model for a good forum poster, base your observations off of me

[Onett]

There is no such thing as a 'good forum poster'.

[Seasons]

At 9/26/14 03:16 PM, SentForMe wrote: I was taking a class a few years ago and the professor asked us to define what we thought terrorism was.

Wow. Definitely was not expecting this to be the first sentence in this topic.

So, what do you think makes for a good forum poster?

Who gives a fuck about the poster? It's about the posts, man. If somebody makes a new topic about an interesting subject or idea or whatever the fuck, then that's what people will gravitate toward, not necessarily the poster themselves.

[GodOfVideoGames]

I suggest making your forum posters in Photoshop. That'll make em real good.

[Kwing]

This is a pretty simple question. A good poster is intelligent and brings a unique perspective to a discussion, and can also post funny and relevant material when the situation calls for it.

[Sevkat]

I'm a point in example.

[FurryGod]

Putting thought into your posts and avoiding journals.

[Radaketor]

At 9/26/14 04:26 PM, Ama wrote: if Radaketor isn't a complete idiot

Oh Ama, i thought you knew me better than that.
But i won't reply to him unless he says something that merits a response.

[Sevkat]

Post exactly opposite from @thegamechanger.
Whatever he does, don't do.
How he acts, don't act.
How he sucks dicks, don't suck dicks.