Thread Popularity

[airwalkrr]

Is it just me or does it seem like threads die when everyone agrees about something and no one is arguing? Meanwhile threads full of bitter arguments, cynicism, resentment, and hatred are the most popular. There has to be an internet law regarding this, but if there isn't, I'm coining it.

Airwalkrr's Law of Internet Forum Thread Popularity
A thread's popularity and post count are inversely proportional to the amount of civility contained within. The more civil a thread topic tends to be, the more likely a thread is to die and wither into oblivion. The more polarizing a thread topic tends to be, the more likely a thread is to live into old age and die an abrupt death at the hands of moderator arrest.

 

[Jdvn1]

Define 'popular'.

 

[Umbran]

Well, if everyone agrees, what is there to talk about?

Humans, in general, work well in a dialectic. That means you need a couple sides to the issue, and people acting as a proponent for each. Unfortunately, folks often take the need for opposition too far.

 

[hong]

Well, if everyone agrees, what is there to talk about?

Humans, in general, work well in a dialectic. That means you need a couple sides to the issue, and people acting as a proponent for each. Unfortunately, folks often take the need for opposition too far.

Do not.

Hur, hur, hur.

 

[airwalkrr]

Define 'popular'.

Anything that makes the thread tag catch on fire, light up in bold colors, or otherwise be indicated that the thread is "hot."

 

[Jdvn1]

Story Hours? Art threads? Some of them are quite popular and aren't polarizing at all.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Is it just me or does it seem like threads die when everyone agrees about something and no one is arguing? Meanwhile threads full of bitter arguments, cynicism, resentment, and hatred are the most popular. There has to be an internet law regarding this, but if there isn't, I'm coining it.

Airwalkrr's Law of Internet Forum Thread Popularity
A thread's popularity and post count are inversely proportional to the amount of civility contained within. The more civil a thread topic tends to be, the more likely a thread is to die and wither into oblivion. The more polarizing a thread topic tends to be, the more likely a thread is to live into old age and die an abrupt death at the hands of moderator arrest.

Please tell me this doesnt surprise you at all. If nothing else, look at what American's consider great television. Besides sports (which by definition is at least 2-sided) almost all the 'great' television shows have some sort of controversial or bitter edge to them. Look at most news programs. Did you ever wonder why 90% of a news broadcast is negative?

Your comment is not just about the internet, it is a comment on humanity in general and especially our post-modern culture as Umbran so aptly noted earlier. No longer is "Leave it to Beaver" and "Little House on the Prairie" top notch programming. Although, even in those shows note that the show itself was always driven around some sort of conflict, issue, or problem.

Welcome to humanity 101, fall semester!

 

[airwalkrr]

I did not necessarily mean it surprised me. It was simply interesting to note. Humanity thrives on conflict. War is a great impetus for technological development. I have often noticed a similar situation occurs in online discussion. I often refine my position on the rules and make them better simply by arguing my point. It usually does not cause me to change my position, but rather serves to reinforce my previously held position. Of course, if this happens to someone I am debating as well, that is just fuel for the fire and cause for the discussion to get even more heated.

 

[Joker]

Story Hours? Art threads? Some of them are quite popular and aren't polarizing at all.

Well, most of them are regularly updated with new information which brings forth new questions and comments so I don't think they're comparable to say 'Why Paladins are allowed to kill babies?'.

 

[Mark CMG]

Airwalkrr's Law of Internet Forum Thread Popularity
A thread's popularity and post count are inversely proportional to the amount of civility contained within. The more civil a thread topic tends to be, the more likely a thread is to die and wither into oblivion. The more polarizing a thread topic tends to be, the more likely a thread is to live into old age and die an abrupt death at the hands of moderator arrest.

There are also the gameday and add-an-item (lists, help build something, etc.) threads that are exceptions to this.