A Great Idea that wasn't... [Archive] - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Gurthang

07-31-2005, 11:15 PM

This thread poses the question: What great thread idea did you post that really, really tanked? Or you could say, what thread did you think would sprint through pages but only got a few replies?

My most recent thread that was not so great was my run at 'Barrowdown's Tag'. I'll not go into detail, but it was shut down(justfully; no hard feelings). I thought it would be fun, but it just kinda sank.

Or maybe this thread(the one you're currently reading) will turn into my newest shame. If nobody replies to this, that would kinda be the whole idea of the thread. Now that would be ironic! :D

But really, what thread ideas of yours never worked out?

Kitanna

08-01-2005, 12:33 AM

Don't feel bad, Gurthang. All my threads failed and are now lost somewhere on the site. I've had a few other ideas (intelligents ones) but for fear of another failure I've refrained from starting a thread.

Kath

08-01-2005, 06:01 AM

I had one good success but my Eagles one and a Bombadil one failed rather dismally! Still, always more ideas.

Estelyn Telcontar

08-01-2005, 06:11 AM

I've posted some topics that were too specialized or didn't catch people's attention for whatever reason - one thread about children in Middle-earth didn't get a single answer for months before someone noticed it; another about the Art nouveau influence in the Elven architecture of the movies got only a few replies and seems to have gotten completely lost at some point in time; and the one about Tolkien and the textile arts has only a few replies as well. I posted a new topic last week that hasn't gotten one answer yet, about the Sil parodies.

It's no shame to try a topic that interests you, but you never know if those who are interested will be around at that time and want to post on it, or have time to do more than just read it without contributing. And it's no shame to have a topic moved, merged or even closed if a moderator considers that best! As long as it's not against the forum rules (which I always assume everyone will of course have read before starting a new thread! :p ), go for it - no risk, no gain! And there's always the chance yours could be the hit thread of the month - you won't know unless you try.

Mithalwen

08-01-2005, 06:23 AM

Sometimes a thread can get a more sucessful revival.... I think it is hard to find a thread that is original - I have to admit that my most successful one was sparked by something Davem had posted in cbC which interested me. But sometimes people just don't pick up on things you find intriguing... or they haven't got time at that moment to check it out.... or sometimes one of the great minds has answered so comprehensively that you feel there is nothing you can usefully add....

The Only Real Estel

08-01-2005, 07:24 AM

Um, my worst thread is also one of my most embarrassing moments. Back in the newbier days of my life on the 'downs I got to wondering if anyone else was from Kansas. Doing the unthinkable I decided it would be a 'good' idea to create a thread asking if there were any BDers from Kansas. The only surprise that came from that thread was that there was actually one post on it before the B-W found it & understandable smashed it with a sledgehammer.

edit: well, now that I've posted this I see that it doesn't really qualify as a 'great idea' that wasn't...oh well.

mark12_30

08-01-2005, 11:16 AM

It went by various names: The Dueling Inn; the Gauntlet Tavern; Behind The Hedge. But alas, the variety of names was all that came of it.

Eomer of the Rohirrim

08-01-2005, 11:21 AM

I have started numerous embarrassing threads which I explain somewhat in Estel's 'Most embarrassing Barrowdowns moments' thread. The best was probably a Fingolfin/Finarfin question that could have been easily answered by reading the Sil's family trees. And that was in The Books forum!

The shame of such ignorance still gnaws at my very soul.

Lalwendë

08-01-2005, 12:02 PM

I've done a couple without much interest in the way of replies, but I don't mind at all. Sometimes you just want to post some information or share something with everyone, and in those cases there might not be very much anyone could post in reply apart from "hmm, that's interesting". Sometimes a thread might be very specialised, or it might be that there's an almighty ruckus happening on another thread that's keeping everyone busy ;) . So, there's nowt to be embarrassed about at all. :)

Nimrodel_9

08-01-2005, 04:59 PM

I started a "Legolas Appreciation" thread, that was shut down very soon. I don't think they understood something I said. Perhaps I should try again... No hard feelings. :)

Lhunardawen

08-01-2005, 09:41 PM

Ah, kindred souls. Getting no replies is the very reason I used to be hesitant to open new threads. But a very kind wizard (actually, five of them) said these encouraging words when he described me in the 'Know Yer Mates' thread:

Lhunardawen is somehow shy to start new threads of her own, and prefers to participate in already existing ones. I suppose that is groundless fear, and she would be well off if only she were to become 'thread-starter' So most of the threads I've started (all in the Books) were not replied to much, but at least I was somehow able to contribute something to the forum. :)

Orominuialwen

08-02-2005, 06:55 PM

I've always been very hesitant to start new threads, mostly because any ideas I do have have already been said in much clearer ways by others. I did start one thread, way back in 2003, on my theories on Into the West, which were of course promptly debunked. Fortunately, the thread turned into a general discussion of various theories on the song, but ever since then I've been quite wary of starting threads. I think that some of the posts I made as a newbie are much, much worse than that thread, though. There are some where I misunderstood what other people were saying, leading to very stupid posts that I cringe about in retrospect.

Formendacil

08-02-2005, 07:42 PM

Ah... starting threads.

As yet, that bug has refrained from biting me- undoubtedly due to the nasty flavour. However, should it ever strike, I fear that there will be some hesitancy on my part for fear that somewhere in the past several years of this site's operation, SOMEONE will have posted on the same topic.

And Search options never seem to work for me the way they ought.

Morsul the Dark

08-04-2005, 03:37 PM

my threads for the most part all go down in this category some i see why they went down others i am confused as to why they were no-goes if you will

Considering it was the only thread on the topic bbc radio production i thought was a shoe-in

Artists wanted another one I thought would be great

Oh and Nasty Tricksy Sauron....

Um sorry went down memory lane for a sec

mark12_30

08-04-2005, 03:40 PM

Polls.

Firefoot

08-04-2005, 04:20 PM

Mark, I agree with you there... I tried to make one once but couldn't find the option for it. :(

I started up a thread a while back about the significance of the phrase "my precious" and whether Gollum was referring to himself or the Ring (or both). I thought it was a pretty fascinating speculation (still do), but it didn't garner many replies... hopefully people read with interest, though.

arcticstorm

08-19-2005, 09:49 AM

In April I thought I had come up with a really interesting thread idea on Farmer Giles of Ham and its similarities to MacBeth, but I only got one reply on it. Until it slipped from the first page of the books forum, I used to check to see if anybody else posted on it.

the guy who be short

08-20-2005, 04:07 AM

My greatest failures would be:

Recently: A thread on whether Mallorns could be related to Laurelin or not. I got one reply before the thread sunk into oblivion. Then, I found that it clearly states in the appendices that they're not...

In Ye Olde Days: One on my (I thought) witty threads descended into list-dom. Sigh. :rolleyes:

Gurthang

08-21-2005, 08:21 AM

Looking back at all the threads I started, I found another one. I thought I had come up with a good thread about the similarities between Smeagol/Gollum and Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. Especially the whole evil now, but good past. I got one reply that pointed out everything I had just said wrong and then the thread drifted to the bottom of the list, never to be seen again... :(

Oh, well, you can't make one to rival Crazy Captions every time! :D

Glirdan

10-30-2005, 09:19 PM

Hmmmm.... My "Balrog Appreciation Month" thread didn't do to badly. I was actually expecting less people then that.

The only other one that I started was a question about what happens to people's accounts after a certain period of time. The only person who replied to that was Perky. Oh well.

Valesse

10-30-2005, 10:09 PM

Ungoliant: spawn :: thread-starting bug: ...me.

I'm terrible at and/or with this. In my.. oh.. now 52 posts I'll have (count 'em) three threads to my two syllable name. And if you do your math... thats a thread each month. Yikes!

As for me there has been one that, within the three months I've been here, has sunken back into the shadows hissing, snarlling, and foaming at it's hypertext versions of a mouth. When my newbish insanity ruled as well as a desire to make more permanent a joke from the Barrowdown's chatroom, the SilmIRC: Ainulindale was created. I broke my back on that masterpeice of nearly-incomprehensible ramble and was awarded with much praise, but ah! Alas that in this barrow I might have a thread that is 5/6ths my own!

...though it might have done better to reveal my intentions was for other to follow along and add on their jokes.

Gothmog

10-31-2005, 01:42 AM

I've started a few threads. Some of them has led to interesting answers, as they've been of the questioning sort. Something I wondered anout which others apparently thought more about than me.

What bugs me though is the threads were you don't get any replies, but visitors and reps saying things like: very good thinking, interesting thread etc, BUT NO REPLIES! Well, that's life...

Lush

11-01-2005, 05:33 PM

I actually feel like a failure whenever one of my threads ends up with a lot of posts in it, most of them having nothing to do with my original purpose. I jump into the fray and ask people to behave myself, and end up feeling like a failure and a grouch. :(

Gurthang

11-01-2005, 07:55 PM

I know the feeling, Lush. I've been in that situation, too. I've learned the hard way that the conversation can go any direction, and any attempt to put it where you want it will generally be completely ingnored. I think I've even gotten a neg rep for saying someone was off topic. That was very long ago, though, so I'm not sure.

Rune Son of Bjarne

11-02-2005, 04:27 AM

You people, there is no reson to feel like a failur. This is just a part of the magic that sorrunds conversations! You are not supose to be abel to control them, but let them evolve and see what interesting things come out of them.

Ofcourse when there is a specific topic you want to discuss, it can be a real pain when people are off topic. If it is only a few post's then live with it, but if it goes on and on, people should consider starting a new thread.

The point is allthoug it can be annoying when people is off topic: Do not feel like failure. You have sparked something in people and inspired them to take on a different topic and who knows what comes out of it.

Morsul the Dark

11-03-2005, 08:45 AM

ironicly this thread almost should be listed in itself ;) :p

Gurthang

11-06-2005, 02:31 PM

Well :p back at ya, Morsul!

Maybe you're right, though. ;)

Thinlómien

11-07-2005, 08:41 AM

Well, see this:

Search: Threads Started By: Thinlómien
Thread / Thread Starter Last Post Replies Views Forum
If Gollum and Bilbo had parted in a civil manner...
Thinlómien 10-28-2005 09:21 PM
by davem replies: 15 184 The Books
The Grace of Ilúvatar?
Thinlómien 08-16-2005 03:23 PM
by mark12_30 replies: 27 428 The Books
The two types of LotR fans ( 1 2 )
Thinlómien 06-20-2005 03:04 PM
by Thinlómien replies: 43 825 Novices and Newcomers
Having a LotR nickname?
Thinlómien 06-01-2005 01:54 AM
by Elentari_Elbereth replies: 32 519 Middle-earth Mirth
The two UT's?!? What is the book that I have then?
Thinlómien 04-17-2005 08:05 PM
by Thinlómien replies:14 282 Novices and Newcomers
About dwarf women
Thinlómien 01-21-2005 05:58 PM
by The Saucepan Man replies:21 547 The Books
The Umli? Did/ do they exist?
Thinlómien 12-17-2004 03:16 PM
by Thinlómien replies: 4 245 The Books

How succesful my threads have been! :rolleyes:

Gurthang

11-07-2005, 11:15 AM

Actually, Thin, I would consider that pretty successful.

For me at least, I would call anything over 20 a pretty good thread. And if it goes a few pages, well, I mark my calender(not really). I've started a few threads, and I've never had one go over some 60-some replies.

If you want, you can also guage success by what reps you get from starting the thread. On some of mine that I've gotten just few replies, I've received many reps for my good thoughts.

Fordim Hedgethistle

11-07-2005, 11:27 AM

bilbo_baggins

11-07-2005, 12:44 PM

Threads come and threads go, but the Downs remain the same...

While threads are oft ignored and sometimes e'en mistreated, they are oftimes remembered fondly and in participators' minds completed

If at first you don't hit a good'un, try, try again.

To cut off with the corny poems and revised quotes, the true measure of a Downer is not how good he can start and control a thread, but how much he gives to others. How encouraging it is to see that others share that mortal fear of embarrasment when remembering old threads. *cold shivers running down spine*

And I always enjoyed that BD'ers thread, Fordim. Did it not go the way you wanted it to?

ElentariGreenleaf

11-07-2005, 01:02 PM

I have a feeling it's going to happen to my new thread, "Call My Bluff, ME style" (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=12364), which is dissapointing cause I liked the idea (then, I did create it). I know I only created it today, but doom seems to follow my posts everywhere. I'm only ever had one rating, hence the sig, and I've been a downer since 2002. Admittedly, I have only just returned to the forums (well, over a month ago).

Anyhoo, I think its sad when good threads die. I used to try my best to revive some of the better ones in Middle Earth Mirth, but it just doesn't work.

Gurthang

11-07-2005, 04:24 PM

And I always enjoyed that BD'ers thread, Fordim. Did it not go the way you wanted it to?

I think Fordim's original intent was to see if other people could already see other Barrowdowner's in their minds, without actually seeing them. You know, have set images of them in their minds, however wrong they might be. I doubt he had wanted people to simply make up farest-fetched(sp) image they could conjure up.

And, Elentari, don't worry about it. Some threads just don't work out. Personally, I thought this one was pretty much finished awhile ago, but it came back. You never know what might happen. :D

ElentariGreenleaf

11-07-2005, 04:27 PM

Well, biblo_baggins and Celebuial are both keeping my thread going nicely :D 18 posts (i think) in just 6hours. Almost as good as the thread "Rip Off" I started once.

Thinlómien

11-08-2005, 09:50 AM

bilbo_baggins

11-08-2005, 10:52 AM

I remember starting a thread called "The Doom of Eucatastrophe," which was too eruditical for most and not controversial enough for the saged.

To just sound a little weird but say something that is heavy on my mind, does anyone besides me see the immininent decline and death of discussion on the 'Downs? That we are just a part of an entropy on steriods, rushing into its own oblivion?

This thread reminded me of how the 'Downs was and is a great idea, but the idea must run out someday. All things will have been posted, and we will try to think of something to think about. It could almost make one cry...

Formendacil

11-08-2005, 02:19 PM

To just sound a little weird but say something that is heavy on my mind, does anyone besides me see the immininent decline and death of discussion on the 'Downs? That we are just a part of an entropy on steriods, rushing into its own oblivion?

This thread reminded me of how the 'Downs was and is a great idea, but the idea must run out someday. All things will have been posted, and we will try to think of something to think about. It could almost make one cry...

To risk eternal hatred by quoting from a different fandom...

"Infinite diversity in infinite combinations"

Thinlómien

11-10-2005, 08:46 AM

But there'll be (hopefully) new members, who have something of their own to add. So don't worry. :)

Lalaith

11-10-2005, 09:09 AM

I just did a "threads started by" search on myself and found loads (mostly books questions) with single-figure responses. I clearly used to be a much busier thread-starter in my eager early Downer days than I am now, and I have absolutely no recollection of half of them.....
....but there was one thread I found on my search that I confess to being a little ashamed of. It was in the movie forum, amd it was basically a tit-for-tat response to some guy who started a thread called "who is more beautiful, Arwen or Galadriel"... mine called for a similar discussion on the relative pulchritude of Legolas and Aragorn.
It actually got 58 replies before Estelyn quite rightly closed it down...(mind you, I seem to remember that the Arwen/Galadriel one stayed open, ho hum...)

Gurthang

11-10-2005, 04:56 PM

But there'll be (hopefully) new members, who have something of their own to add. So don't worry. :)

Yes, exactly. Older members become worn and leave, and new ones with fresh ideas become dead. It's the way it goes.

I think their was a thread about this once, maybe I'll hunt that up.

Elu Ancalime

01-19-2006, 11:21 AM

Mithalwen

01-19-2006, 11:40 AM

"If you plan on reading my post, read all of it and give it a minute, or don't read it at all. I dont want anybody to misunderstand what I meant because they didnt read all of it. thnx "

I only had time to skim read your post when it first appeared and have not had a chance to give it in depth consideration though it contained interesting ideas. I would tentatively suggest that your opening comment quoted above (despite the smiley) is daunting and discourages anything other than a full scale response. I know that it is frustrating when posts are misunderstood but I think you may have scared a few people off....

Thinlómien

01-19-2006, 12:58 PM

I posted on the thread Southern Elves? (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=12513) that dealt with Dorwinnion. I made a rather long post, and I am dying for feedback. Thanks to Estelyn to reffering me here. Any feedback would be appreciated. Sorry, Elu, I intended to at least rep you for that, but I hadn't spread enough reputation to rep you, so I didn't. I will correct it when possible. The whole Southern Elves discussion actually is a bit pancake. Sincerely,
the starter of the whole thread in question

Elu Ancalime

01-19-2006, 07:30 PM

Thanks Thinl?mien. I didnt want to sound like I was asking for users to rep me, but I didnt want someone to reply to something that I stated in the post. If you've ever written an FAQ walkthrough of a game(I havent) the writers hat eit when people email them a question adressed in the FAQ. Same concept. Ill be sure to change that if i want any response though.
________
Silversurfer vaporizer (http://vaporizers.net/silver-surfer-vaporizer)

gralin musicteeth

01-19-2006, 07:58 PM

NOBODY who has posted in this thread is as desperate for their thread to be successful as I have been for my pathetic threads. I even created an alter-ego to keep my threads alive (can you guess who it is???). But that was then. Now, I just don't care. I realize I don't have enough brain power to compete around here, so I hang out in Mirth.

Gurthang

01-20-2006, 12:02 PM

I realize I don't have enough brain power to compete around here, so I hang out in Mirth.

That's not such a bad spot. I sometimes have the same feeling, and I just love Mirth regardless. :D Then there are other times that I think I can do well in Books and such, but I'm not sure that that's even true. (See Signature.)

THE Ka

01-20-2006, 05:20 PM

But really, what thread ideas of yours never worked out?

All of them!

:D

No really, if you want to base it upon if it made everyone feel warm and fuzzy inside, then yes.

Though, I have found that the only way you can get people to actually think is to make them challenge and profess each others' ideas. If everyone enjoys that, then I'm happy that everyone still creates thought. Even if they do hate me. At least everyone is thinking.

~ Ka

Gurthang

01-20-2006, 10:36 PM

No really, if you want to base it upon if it made everyone feel warm and fuzzy inside, then yes.

Though, I have found that the only way you can get people to actually think is to make them challenge and profess each others' ideas. If everyone enjoys that, then I'm happy that everyone still creates thought. Even if they do hate me. At least everyone is thinking.

Now isn't that kind of ironic. A 'successful' thread, meaning one that is long, is usually long because people are "discussing" there different opinions. *cough*arguing*cough* :rolleyes: So basically, we are happy with our thread when we cause people to disagree. What horrible people that makes us sound like! ;)

At least it is all for enjoyment. I mean, it's not like they don't like "discussing". :D

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh

01-21-2006, 11:14 AM

I would say that a successful thread is an interesting thread, and an interesting thread throws a new light on some aspect of its subject. Sometimes a lively debate can provide the interest, but often a lot of people who agree can build on one another's insights to create a fascinating read. Sometimes heated debate simply turns an interesting question into a string of posts that quote each other in detail as a prelude to tedious hair-splittings; an approach which is only gripping if you happen to be a combatant.

Perhaps success should be measured in terms of intent: the longest-running thread that I ever started has become at best a list and at worst a chat room, so I suppose that it wasn't thought out as well as it could have been. Strangely, my favourite among threads that I started only received very few responses, most of them from yours truly; but those few posts from other members justified the whole exercise, even if they all languish unread forever.

THE Ka

01-21-2006, 05:39 PM

Now isn't that kind of ironic. A 'successful' thread, meaning one that is long, is usually long because people are "discussing" there different opinions. *cough*arguing*cough* :rolleyes: So basically, we are happy with our thread when we cause people to disagree. What horrible people that makes us sound like! ;)

At least it is all for enjoyment. I mean, it's not like they don't like "discussing". :D

Well, upon analyzing the original post to this thread, and that of the psychological make-up of most members, the thread being long may be 'successful', but I believe most people prefer something that makes them happy or gives them a sense of joy, however short it may be. It really is a Quality vs. Quantity concept. Do you want a small gem or a push cart full of fool's gold?

What I meant wasn't that I liked people to 'disagree', only that they would show and support their own thoughts, and not the unconditional acceptance that we are bound to in society. We walk around with the belief, that, if we think, feel, and behave in accordance with the people around us, we'll get the positive regard we long for.
But, when we hit the grain of differences, we push out our ideas upon the matter and say, 'Hey! I think Balrogs DO have wings! And i'm going to explain my reasoning (personal ideas) to you...'

Yes, it may seem horrible, but at least there is thought. I can't imagine a Balrog thread on here that has been met with apathy...
And if there was one, then that would call reason for concern. I agree though, everyone has the conditional acceptance of discussion...

~ Rogerian Psychology Ka

Brinniel

07-10-2006, 02:28 AM

In all my four years on the BD, I've only started nine threads, none of which were too successful, the best one being Real LOTR Places (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=5514) with 40 posts.

I consider my biggest failure to be Middle-earth's First Annual Invention Convention (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=5592). I was hoping it to be an original fun-filled thread with many replies, but I only ended up with eight (one being myself). Perhaps my idea was a little too complicated..... I don't know. :confused:

zxcvbn

01-20-2008, 01:16 PM

My biggest complaints about this forum are that there are so few members around, and even fewer who post. Yes, we have quality over quantity, but the quantity is so miniscule. For the past month, I've started many (IMHO) interesting threads but seeing the increasingly low response I'm starting to lose my enthusiasm like the posters above.:confused:

Hookbill the Goomba

01-20-2008, 01:37 PM

I had big hopes for 'If This is the Answer, What is the Question? (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=14555)' but alas, it was not to be.
The 'Out of Context Contest' (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=13277)I thought had potential, but once again I was mistaken.

Of the threads I've started, I think only the Newspaper has been 'successful' so to speak. Although, the number of people reading it and the number of people disgusted by it are roughly the same.

Elmo

01-20-2008, 02:49 PM

Just read my thread starting history! Memorable ones include when I wrote a long slating about Finarfin's role in the Noldor's rebellion, that had one reply :( and another about Gondor's role as a colonial power, that was completely ignored, then pity bumped, had a couple more replies and then ignored again :(

Eomer of the Rohirrim

01-21-2008, 02:17 PM

Ah, the world of internet discussion: one crushing defeat after another. :p

The Barrow-Downs has a certain balance to it that I've always found reassuring. There are busier sites out there but they leave me bewildered and frightened. The Downs is home. Fear not about replies: someone will find your thread in a couple of years and restart it. There's a certain beauty to this phenomenon. :)

Gwathagor

01-21-2008, 03:40 PM

Hmmm. Lower expectations = less disappointment. :cool:

Lalwendë

01-25-2008, 02:37 AM

Of the threads I've started, I think only the Newspaper has been 'successful' so to speak. Although, the number of people reading it and the number of people disgusted by it are roughly the same.

Such is the life of those holding positions of power in the Fourth Estate. Imagine how the editor of the Daily Mail feels ;)