Your Druthers

[Yellow]

I sometimes find myself a little disappointed at the lack of variety (and interest) in thread topics. I wonder if I'm alone in this.

I totally understand that we get more lurkers and less participants in topics that require more specialized knowledge. I also understand that some topics have very few sensible viewpoints, so there isn't much to say. Finally, I think some people are intimidated by the idea of making a new thread.

So we're stuck with the same relationship issues, typological issues, typological relationship issues, career/school issues, and typological superiority issues being discussed over and over and over. I get it. This called the "INTP Forum", not the "We Like dark_castle and Rational Discussions Forum", and so typology, superiority complexes, and angst are going to be brought up from time to time.

What would you rather be talking about?

 

[Jennywocky]

Your Druthers.

 

[nanook]

Hail Dark Castle. Maybe I prefer Intuition, or at least Introversion over Rationality. I do rarely have the guts to open a new thread. This message board would not be possible, if everyone were like me, so thanks, hail to the heroes who expose their nutty theories to friendly fire ...


I would like to whine more about how hopelessly i am stuck in life ... but i would hate to go there.

Problems aside, i might be too stupid to care about anything but art and entheogens. Wait, entheogens are mostly a problem too. Oh the icy grip of death. And i wouldn't know what to say about art.

Well i would love it, if there were a few more picture threads.
Also about V.I. (which is draining, but ....)

I also enjoy it when people upload videos of themselves.
I can't handle skyping yet....

 

[Rook]

Perhaps the curse of this forum is that such a large body of topics have been argued and pondered upon.
These topics were subsequently buried away in the memories of only those that have participated, or those un-lazy enough to use the search function and zombify the threads(If something fleshy remains)

Thus: forcing the dead horse into a recursion of themes that draw in a specific flavor of new members and serves as a moshpit for fine tuning the opinions of older users interested in the recursive themes.

What would you rather be talking about?

We can always create a tribute to our deceased animal friends, constructing grand eulogies in their memory.
I would also love to see a thread that rates various dictators, eunuchs and popes on their general attractiveness.

 

[Tannhauser]

I'd like to see people more often make threads where they present their ideas and opinions on specific topics, and moreover do this in a way that facilitates discussion and a real exchange of ideas.

 

[Brontosaurie]

Just random shit.

 

[Haim]

World domination-done
Relationships-done
race-done
universe-done
MTBI things-done
cats videos-done
What to think about now?-done now

 

[Kuu]

What do you want to talk about, Yellow?

If you make them [threads], they will come. You only get out in proportion to what you put in.

Perhaps there could be a sort of... dynamic in place where a chosen person of the week must talk about X topic they like/hate OR be assigned a random topic. Force some diversity in content....

 

[Jennywocky]

Perhaps there could be a sort of... dynamic in place where a chosen person of the week must talk about X topic they like/hate OR be assigned a random topic. Force some diversity in content....

...hehe. That sounds fun. Although rules only work when people choose to follow them. ("I went on vacation a month ago" or "I forgot" or "I didn't like the topic" or "I never agreed to do it, even if others did" or...)

 

[eggman]

Metaphsyics.

Sent from my LG-V400 using Tapatalk

 

[Fukyo]

In my observation, threads have to be either controversial or personal in nature to get replies. Post a thread about a cool scientific finding or something and you'll get 10 replies at best.

 

[Yellow]

What do you want to talk about, Yellow?

Well now, I want to talk about this!

a thread that rates various dictators, eunuchs and popes on their general attractiveness.

Otherwise, I don't know. I like more specialized topics, but Fukyo's right, they only get a few replies. The replies are normally pretty good, but it's hardly engaging a large group of people. <--- the most extroverted statement I've ever made. I think I just spooked myself.

I don't mind controversial topics, but I can't think of any we haven't covered lately. Then again, I have a hard time judging what others will consider controversial.

I'd like to engage in more theoretical subjects. Like whether or not we've hit Fermi's Great Filter. Is it even possible to upload our consciousness into machines, or does the idea break down even in theory? I dunno, fun stuff. Only, I have a hard time phrasing things in a contentious, yet open-ended way. Or at least, I'm not the most talented in that area. Even my thread titles are boring.

That and things are more fun when we're pretending to kill or maim each other as a collective.

 

[Fukyo]

I'd like to engage in more theoretical subjects. Like whether or not we've hit Fermi's Great Filter. Is it even possible to upload our consciousness into machines, or does the idea break down even in theory? I dunno, fun stuff.

Few have the knowledge to discuss, and the rest are simply intellectually lazy or their interests lie in a different field so the topic is inaccessible. It's far easier to discuss our interpersonal angst, it's our version of small talk.

FFIW I have similar interests to you but I know that if I link an interesting article on the topic I found interesting few will even bother to read it, let alone care to discuss.

 

[Brontosaurie]

We could do that looks-rating-map of the forum members. That would be controversial.

 

[Yellow]

Few have the knowledge to discuss, and the rest are simply intellectually lazy or their interests lie in a different field so the topic is inaccessible. It's far easier to discuss our interpersonal angst, it's our version of small talk.

FFIW I have similar interests to you but I know that if I link an interesting article on the topic I found interesting few will even bother to read it, let alone care to discuss.

I tend to read your (and most people's) links, but you're right, there's a degree of laziness and dismissal. Maybe Kuu is right in what he posted just now in the "Achilles heel" thread. Maybe those who don't want to discuss angst, relationships, and black and white typology should move on somewhere else. Only, I like this place.

 

[Kuu]

I'd like to engage in more theoretical subjects. Like whether or not we've hit Fermi's Great Filter. Is it even possible to upload our consciousness into machines, or does the idea break down even in theory?

Make a thread with a short explanation of Fermi's Great Filter. I'm sure some people will bite. I don't know what it is so I'd like a personal explanation and debate instead of some wiki article...

Make a thread about uploading. I'm certain people will bite. Hell, I started reading a book with that as a central plot theme just a couple days ago.

Few have the knowledge to discuss, and the rest are simply intellectually lazy or their interests lie in a different field so the topic is inaccessible. It's far easier to discuss our interpersonal angst, it's our version of small talk.

FFIW I have similar interests to you but I know that if I link an interesting article on the topic I found interesting few will even bother to read it, let alone care to discuss.

Baka Fukyo, nobody is going to read a decontextualized long ass article, that's what Reddit is for. Specially if its too well written and not open-ended. You need to provide your own take on the thing "I was reading this article about x and y and I think z about it..." to engage people.

Stop being this defeatist and make some threads dammit.

 

[Fukyo]

Baka Fukyo, nobody is going to read a decontextualized long ass article, that's what Reddit is for. Specially if its too well written and not open-ended.

But that's what I was saying. Anyway, I am not being defeatist, or hating on the forum, it's just my explanation of why such specific theoretical topics don't get discussed.

 

[Absurdity]

I think I made a Fermi's Paradox thread back when I had the time and energy to contribute more than snark and whines.

I was not happy with the direction it took so I stopped replying.

 

[Pyropyro]

In my observation, threads have to be either controversial or personal in nature to get replies. Post a thread about a cool scientific finding or something and you'll get 10 replies at best.

I second Fukyo here, Yellow. I did enjoy the bee colony thread, the Loki microbe and the potential ET life thread that you made earlier so yeah cool tech is the way to go. BTW, you might want to take a look at this new German fusion reactor.

Personal threads are also a good bet since it helps us do what we do best: being sounding boards.

I also enjoy seeing insights about what Western culture and climate looks like and probably pop in during discussions about them. You don't how much I pester my gf to travel abroad just to see snow. For some reason she loathes it and the winter season.

 

[Sinny91]

Every time I offer the theoretical or controversial I have to fight off the PC mob.

I like the idea of game where could take it in turns to churn out something on elected topics.. could even make it a competition of sorts.
This forum does lack group orientated activities and stimuli.

 

[Minuend]

I don't have any particular expectations. I tend to read longer articles if I find them interesting, but it's rare I would have the knowledge required or insight to reply to something to that. Also, the more information, the more likely I'm to just take it all in as a whole perspective/ opinion, in contrast to trying to find flaws in details or break it down.

I think the forum is foremost for people who've never found this type of realm to discuss certain type of ideas with or who are young and first starting out thinking about the type of things discussed on this forum. So I'm prepared for a lot of threads being on topics I enjoyed when I first joined here. And obviously after 7 years I've seen a lot of the things before. I guess some topics I'm just generally bored with. "Philosophy" in particular feels exhausted and like I've heard it all before.

I also guess at this point main focus in interacting with people is generally joke around about meaningless things ("have fun") or playing pc games. I feel done with a lot of the questions and pondering you'll find on this board. Like I'm finished with that phase of my life. That doesn't mean I don't still enjoy learning and gathering information or share some thoughts every now and then, but my motivation for interacting with other people generally does not lay there. I guess I also get my need for exploration of ideas and implications mostly sated in real life with my partner.

 

[Cheeseumpuffs]

I was actually thinking about this the other day. I was wondering why I came back here day after day when the majority of threads are either some level of recycled or just something I don't much find interesting.

Looking at my post history it looks like I don't much care about posting things of note. The things I comment in are often silly threads and my specific replies are often sillier still (possibly sillier than I think they are, because I have no way of knowing if I'm funnier/less funny than I think I am. But I don't mind, my main goal in most interaction of any kind is to make myself laugh, as that's, I think, one of the more genuine ways to make others laugh). My threads either fall into the generic, played-out "relationships are hard and I hate myself" group (and I'm truly sorry every time I post one) OR they're a dumb over-analysis of something even more dumb (and I'm truly sorry every time I post one). A lot of Minu's paragraph that I've quoted below applies to my involvement in the forum.

The weird thing to me, right now, is that I don't know what I'd want to talk about. A lot of the more serious/engaging discussions seem to miss the point (imo) or just fail to interest me, and I'm not entirely sure why. I'll try and get back to you on that

I also guess at this point main focus in interacting with people is generally joke around about meaningless things ("have fun") or playing pc games. I feel done with a lot of the questions and pondering you'll find on this board. Like I'm finished with that phase of my life. That doesn't mean I don't still enjoy learning and gathering information or share some thoughts every now and then, but my motivation for interacting with other people generally does not lay there. I guess I also get my need for exploration of ideas and implications mostly sated in real life with my partner.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

I'd like to engage in more theoretical subjects. Like whether or not we've hit Fermi's Great Filter. Is it even possible to upload our consciousness into machines, or does the idea break down even in theory? I dunno, fun stuff. Only, I have a hard time phrasing things in a contentious, yet open-ended way. Or at least, I'm not the most talented in that area. Even my thread titles are boring.

What you've mentioned has already been discussed here or is already known and discussed by those who would be interested in replying anyway. Many of those interested have ways of satisfying their curiosity outside of this place.

Though I disagree with your and Fukyo's approach that with so few interested minds there's no point in starting threads or posting things.

It doesn't matter how many people will engage you or understand what you say, expect instead that someone will and be glad they do.

 

[Yellow]

What you've mentioned has already been discussed here or is already known and discussed by those who would be interested in replying anyway.

Dang. I wish I had read this a little earlier, I just made a thread. Oh well.

 

[Urakro]

After skimming through the replies in this thread, I noticed something. People so far have stated that topics aren't 'open-ended', that they have already been used and rehashed. Cheese and yellow say that they enjoy 'silly threads'.

This brought me to the conclusion that people here strive for threads where they can bring in their own ingenuity. People here want to 'create' or bring in something which hasn't been explored.

I like the fermi paradox, and it makes me think about a lot of things. Mostly, I find I want to derail the topic to no end though. I start thinking about intelligence, evolution, the initial processes of life, statistics, etc, but then stop when I realize that all the things I've just thought have already been thought by someone else. It's hard to bring in something new.

The silly threads are more satisfying because people get that chance to invent unique things. To bring back something where no one has explored before.

If somehow, a person can start a thread that is both intellectually satisfying, but also gives the responders a vast amount of perspectives and allows them to put something original and self-constructed, then we would have a grade A topic.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

If somehow, a person can start a thread that is both intellectually satisfying, but also gives the responders a vast amount of perspectives and allows them to put something original and self-constructed, then we would have a grade A topic.

You've summarised playing. Maybe some of us want to try to create a playground here.

I've noticed that relative strangers aren't too keen on committing to a single thing for too long, so any ambitious games are usually impractical.

Doesn't this all come down to the lack of friends and companions to fill that role for us then?

 

[Urakro]

You've summarised playing. Maybe some of us want to try to create a playground here.

I've noticed that relative strangers aren't too keen on committing to a single thing for too long, so any ambitious games are usually impractical.

Doesn't this all come down to the lack of friends and companions to fill that role for us then?

I don't know about the friends thing, but the playground term is good. Yeah, people love games. In fact, I think every motivation can be viewed as an initialization of a game.

Or maybe it's just me, and you're all from a different planet.

 

[Tannhauser]

Doesn't this all come down to the lack of friends and companions to fill that role for us then?

Maybe it does, but you need to be pretty damn lucky to have group of friends who are willing to discuss any random shit at a daily basis, in topics ranging from politics, to philosophy, to science, to psychology and so on. Besides, I see a lot of benefits in doing it in writing. Discussing this stuff verbally usually tends to just be an exchange of sound-bites and catchy phrases.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

Maybe it does, but you need to be pretty damn lucky to have group of friends who are willing to discuss any random shit at a daily basis, in topics ranging from politics, to philosophy, to science, to psychology and so on. Besides, I see a lot of benefits in doing it in writing. Discussing this stuff verbally usually tends to just be an exchange of sound-bites and catchy phrases.

Well, maybe I've been spoiled in life by having met the people that made me come to expect such things.

I agree, having a written outlet helps formalise and expand on concepts much more freely.

 

[DrSketchpad]

Well, maybe I've been spoiled in life by having met the people that made me come to expect such things.

Most definitely you have! Where do you find them? In the wild? Do you have to dig an interesting friend well and draw them up?