Help me out with my posting skills

[Pale Blue Dot]

Without commenting on the politics (so we can keep this a light lounge thread), look at these 2 threads:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1050167

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1050442

The first thread, started by me at 9:22, has 166 views, 4 responses, and 11 recommendations.

The second thread, started by BuyingThyme at 9:51, has 1054 views, 74 responses, and 13 recommendations.

Both threads make nearly the exact same point, in two completely different ways. Both are almost equally recommended. We're both longtime members who obviously feel very passionately about this. Why did BT's thread provoke so many more views and responses?

[qnr]

1. "squandered" probably touched a lot of nerves. n/t

Edit: corrected case on first word

[Pale Blue Dot]

3. My wife said it was the thread title

I just wanted it to be calm and rational....

[qnr]

4. Yeah, I understand. Still, that's why they try to make headlines catchy :) n/t

[Omphaloskepsis]

2. Dudes that want to get laid never do.

Desperation leads to to porn on the computer. Stop caring and post good interesting links.

[Pale Blue Dot]

5. How can you be on a Democratic message board and not care?

Did BuyingThyme care less than me? I doubt it.

And do you want to compare the dates and time we last got laid? I'd accept that challange. :D

[Omphaloskepsis]

8. To be perfectly honest.. I didn't read the links...

Sorry you didn't get any love. I don't care. Your post sank like a brick, big fucking deal. Attention whore.. LOLCATZOWMGWTFBBQ.

[Pale Blue Dot]

9. So I guess this means you're not going to compare notes?

:rofl:

[some guy]

6. BuyingThyme

ends her/his post with a couple questions, and the thread title has a more challenging tone. step up / squandered.

Yours is more declarative. It's your opinion, and not necessarily challenging the reader.

$.02 - for you... free, such a deal :)

:hi:

[Pale Blue Dot]

7. That's true. I've always found I get more responses when I end with a question

Even in the lounge. I guess people want to be ineractive on a message board? :D

[some guy]

10. I guess they do

otherwise they'd be watching tv or something non-interactive.

So, now that you've got this thread going, will you be upset if it gets more replies than the open letter thread?
Will you be cntent the other thread got more recs?

[qnr]

12. Me, I'm watching the copycat, just to see what happens heheh n/t

[Pale Blue Dot]

13. Oh, both of my threads are self-indulgent

Aren't all threads, in a way? I'm just happy with the attention, although I'd prefer getting attention for my brilliant political mind than for this silliness.

[some guy]

14. I suppose they are.

I very very rarely start threads. You got recs for your open letter thread, somebodies must have thought your political mind was brilliant, or nearly so.

You're getting several copycats, so that's cool too. Smart and witty, you're gonna get sucha big head... :P

[BrotherBuzz]

11. Work on the hook in the subject line. Got to have a hook to get them in the door...

Work on the hook.