How not to be boring.

I'll say it. The lounge has gotten rather dull. Granted, it shouldn't be the board focus, the tech should. But sometimes all that l337 speak makes me want to kick someone's ascii.

So... You might ask.. How can I be interesting? The lounge in days of yore was a thing to see. (Picture the apes worshiping at the obelisk.. then a bunch of geeks sitting around making fun of them) Most of the people who made it so are gone, busy with life the universe and everything, or lurking in the rafters like creepers, waiting for a renaissance. So, that being said, i found this handy guide written by Peter Murphy who writes all kinds of articles on how to get people to do some thing or another. He thinks himself very important, I'm sure.

But in the meantime I'm going to appropriate his idea and see if we can't make this place a little more lively. So... Can you be interesting?

Don't panic! You can be interesting. Interesting topics of conversation needn't be difficult to come think of. Think about this - what makes a topic interesting? Isn't it that people like to talk about it and that they have opinions on it?

Once you realize that, you'll see that for interesting topics of conversation come from everyday life and things that we all have in common. Then you'll realize it's not so difficult to think of them.

Don't think you have to be controversial and go for risky topics like politics and religion; you don't. In fact, to do so would be a mistake.

Whatever topic you choose should make people relaxed and happy to talk; controversial subjects don't do that. Think instead about what all people share: families, hopes, dreams, experiences etc.

Here are a few interesting topics of conversation to get you started:

1. Who is the most interesting person you ever met? You can see how this would easily lead people to voice opinions and ask 'why?'.

2. Where in the world would you most like to visit? This dream location may be shared by others and so it makes people feel solidarity, but also, people will be itching to ask 'why?' and keep the conversation flowing.

3. What has been the most life-changing experience you've ever had? Here, people can share funny and touching stories if they want to, which will help you get a deeper understanding of them. Likewise, if people don't feel relaxed enough to give a heart-felt reply they can answer in a funny way and it all adds to the conversation.

4. What is the most spontaneous thing you've you ever done? That opens the door to all sorts of funny and romantic stories.

5. Who's had the biggest influence on your life? Because this person has influenced the person you're asking, they must view them positively and have strong ideas about them. That means they're likely to enjoy talking about them.

6. What thing that you haven't yet done would you most like to do? This kind of inspirational question always gets people talking and everyone's usually happy to chip in with comments about people's hopes and wishes. Just be careful when commenting that you don't rain on their parade. It's their right to have whatever hopes they want.

7. What is the best quality you've inherited from either of your parents? This is particularly interesting at a family gathering when people know the parents you're talking about. It's also a bit of a bonding experience, speaking favorably about your parents.

8. From which person have you learned most in your life? This is another uplifting, positive topic of conversation that usually gets people talking.

9. What historical figure do you most identify with? This lets you know something about the other people around you; it also opens up discussion of the events these historical figures were involved in. Yes, potentially it takes you into dangerous waters of politics and religion but people usually take this question in the spirit of fun in which it's meant, so potentially awkward moments are easily averted.

10. What kind of music do you like? You could then go on to talk of CDs you've bought or gigs you've been too. You might even ask - 'what's the most embarrassing album in your collection?' That's usually met with all-round hilarity!

These ideas should show you that interesting topics of conversation don't need to be complex or intellectual - in fact, the more ordinary the better, because then people feel qualified to talk about the topic.

I have to tell you that adding to the above... NOBODY wants to hear about your various injuries or surgeries, your emo responses to positive things other people say, your - hey! quit reading this thread and LOOK AT ME!!!!! - responses, or anything to do with religion, politics, civil rights, or your toe nail collection.

So... think of something entertaining and be free my beautiful dove!

 

Video thread it is then?

 

Sad. So sad.

Only if it has a more interesting theme than normal.

 

hoping to attract a new group and teach this one a few things.

 

Alrighty, I'll start...

4. What is the most spontaneous thing you've you ever done? That opens the door to all sorts of funny and romantic stories.
Well, my son missed tying up the front of our boat and fell into the water. I went in to 'Save my kid mode'. (he was 18, 6' , 200#, I am 5' 2" 110#) I tried to jump off the stern, landed on the metal dock on my chest, legs dangling in the water. Knocked the wind out of myself and felt like a total idiot.

5. Who's had the biggest influence on your life? Because this person has influenced the person you're asking, they must view them positively and have strong ideas about them. That means they're likely to enjoy talking about them.
My Dad. He was a photographer who gave me a great love of photography.

Still thinking...
edit...6. What thing that you haven't yet done would you most like to do? This kind of inspirational question always gets people talking and everyone's usually happy to chip in with comments about people's hopes and wishes. Just be careful when commenting that you don't rain on their parade. It's their right to have whatever hopes they want.

To take an award-winning photo.

 

Hi Wenchie!!
I'm glad you started this thread and not oneeyejack. If old oneeyejack had started it, he would have been accused of being pushy and trying to get attention and trying to be popular and up his post account and all those things that Wenchie accused him of doing in his last thread.roflmao
Gotcha back my friend!! rolleyes

 

Hehe Wenchie, Lounge 101! Are we desparate here?:-D Good luck in your endeavours.

 

I've almost given up starting threads in the lounge,last couple of threads I made got one or two comments then died a death.

I remember conversation type threads going on for days.

We can't talk about the stuff I want to talk about on here anyway:-D

 

You only posted this to be pushy, get attention and up your post count.

 

Get payback for the precious oneeyejack must...

http://www.trangtriblog.com/avatar/movies/Gollum.gif

:-D

 

That was like... "No you are" on the list of "Got ya backs."

I don't count it, you shouldn't either :cool

Never EVER spare the whip. But Man, its not even worth the tar, feathers and pitchforks anymore. Lynching gets boring when you keep having to do it.

You know... you could HELP. I love the wet pop a brain makes when it contemplates something so profoundly stupid it has no alternative action but to explode, and I endeavor to make that keep happening.

 

I think there should be rule where you have to constantly be the last post in your own thread

The last off topic general chat kinda thread I posted was about boardwalk empire

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=232199

It may have been my fault by naming the thread 'revolution in egypt'-D But the thread served its purpose ,I now know there are no fans of boardwalk empire on majorgeeks:-D

 

:cry
I'm happy with my current title (Senior Member)
Looks like another fun thread. Count me in, I need post count

 

I'm thinking about starting a thread about this ( What kind of pets do you have?) What do you think Rikky? Will that get any reply's. People like to talk about their pets.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showpost.php?p=1611408&postcount=4

 

All right . . . all right . . . I'll admit it. I do have an ELO album in my collection :-o I'm not proud of it - but I got one, OK?! Happy now?!

Most interesting person I have ever met? Michael J Nelson of MST3K/Rifftrax fame. Probably the funniest living comedian today. Met him at DePauw University a few years back. I actually almost ran into him - I opened the door to the conference room when he was coming out. I nodded at him and, drawing on my fine command of the english language, said "Hey" and walked by . . .

I'd tell you about the time I got a real bad cut and cheated death by mere seconds and a fraction of an inch; probably saving an entire city in the process . . . but since Wenchie says nobody wants to hear about injuries I guess THAT whole deal is out . . . :-D

Guess that's all I got.

 

The forum has evolved and some changes were made out of necessity.
The chat room was stopped because of some members flaming others, likewise the Hot button topics (although that was fun)

Now the topics that are interesting to one member are boring to another because we are by nature all different.

Tim and Jim built a site that is well respected in the tech world but yes it is nice to learn something of the lives of other members.

I will remain a devout Lounge fan and as Wenchies original post said "lets try to get interesting.

 

Ok, I'll bite. I work as an Engineer for a rail road. How many of you have run across lowered gates when a train was comming at you? And how many feet did you get past before the train missed you? I can judge distance as I know the speed I'm going. Lot faster than you can. See you start the move. Know mostly if your gonna make it or not.

 

I Dunno:confuse I had three cats once.

They all died before their 5th birthday,one got lung cancer which spread to her whole body the other two jake and spot were poisoned with ethylene glycol anti freeze by neighbour because they were scaring the birds away.

The end.

-D

EDIT The problem is since I've been here there have been about 5-6 cat threads,the first I posted in with pictures,I've still got the pictures up on photobucket if you search for the thread,I proportionally posted less in consecutive thread.I like cats but there's a limit:-D

 

I'd like to see it come back or a version of it as everyone probably knows and is sick of hearing:-D

If it ever did come back I offer to personally moderate the whole thing

 

Oi! Wenchie - Hoovering has 2 o's :duck

 

Got that right,David.
I wouldn't be hovering around to see what happens.:cry

 

Shouldn't there be a g in that one word, Laura?

 

Damn Hrlow,I think you have me confused with Timothy:-D

 

Hell yeah,I'd run my hot button tight:major

I'd be known and tough but tough:major

http://www.moviesounds.com/fmj/mp3/iamhard.mp3

 

I agree and disagree, while you always get some people that are childish, emo or see the dark side of EVERYTHING, as well as those like to share too much information like their pet mouse just died and their grandma ran over their toe while their roommate ate their last fudge pop LOL but when you get to know people (online or IRL) you have a tendency to want to know how they are doing, what is going on in their life, etc (at least for me it is..)

I understand the *main* purpose of this forum is for tech help (and what absolutely superb help it is :major) but it’s nice to have a friendly place to come to, see and interact with the people you’ve come to know over the years. Just my opinion.

 

I, for one, relish the fact that I am boring and do not what to change it at all. Ever.

At least on the internet.

In my real life I want interesting and different, because I can control the effects there. Sort of.

On the internet, being interesting is a curse and I want nothing to do with it.

 

Thanks David. Or should I say Halo?

I do understand the want or need to read interesting stuff and the desire to be entertained or be entertaining. I don't mind either, but I agree with the Chinese in this, to be interesting is a curse, and I want nothing to do with it.

 

Ah Ha! I see the problem. Clearly it's not about the actual topic.. being more interesting. It's actually a de-evolution of finger pointing and 'it wasn't me' to place guilt on the death of polite conversation, when, in fact, you could all just ignore all of that and continue to have said conversations. Eventually those whome feel the need to attention whore and deevolve a conversation will go away if you stop replying to them.

Is this the forum for radical right or left wing agenda, or hot button politics? No! And why WOULD it be? Just because you exist in a place does not mean the place has to conform to YOU. This place has a point and a purpose and if you don't fit someplace... theres the door. It's like a fat guy going to a girlscout meet in a thong. Wasn't invited, not the place for it, should get that there are places and times for things and THE WHOLE REST OF THE WORLD for the rest of it. But no... it's HIS right to be a fat guy in a thong anywhere he wants. News to you, no it's not. When you come into a place with rules, guidelines, and an over all premise you are expected to conform to that mold. If you don't fit that mold... leave. And do it quietly, no one wants to hear about how your right to be a jerk was violated, just go be a jerk someplace where you can get the self serving gratifaction of being a jerk you so desperately need to thrive in the world.

What are you, five? I'll never understand people's complusion to correct other people's spelling and/or grammar on the internet. It's the internet. Something everyone should know about me, is that I do not spell check, and I don't care. If you get the point then you got the point, being anal retentive about how I spelled the point is just ridiculous. If it isn't for work or school, I couldn't care less if you paid me.

Now, scathing commentary on the over all state of the union aside, there are things everyone can do to improve the world around them, or the forum as it may be, and if they aren't doing them they are just as much as fault for letting a good thing go as the people actively seeking to ruin it.

So what can you do?

1. Participate!
. Have something witty to say? Say it!
. Have a different opinion? You can make it without insulting the last one given. And if you give it with clear reasoning and intelligence, people might decide they like your opinion just as a much. Changing minds is powerful, but it can never be done by insulting other people for their beliefs.
. Treat eachother with respect and where applicable, admiration. You'll find this attitude returned in kind. (Side note: FYI - Saying something stupid and following it up with - But I have nothing but respect for you - by the time people get to that part? They've already discounted your opinion, and adding that part in does NOT make up for it.)

2. DON'T Participate!
. Ignore the idiotic banter interruptions all together. Don't reply to them, and make a point of quoting the last thing said before them, so they are aware they're being ignored. They hate that.
. Have something idiotic to say? Shut it. The whole point is to have a conversation, it's not about YOU. Let people enjoy things without having to deal with your idiocy.
. Have something inflammatory to say, because you need to better than someone else? Clue to you, that mentality automatically disqualifies you. Close your mouth and don't open it again until you have something constructive to say. Criticism is not a bad thing, so long as it's CONSTRUCTIVE.
. Need to do something obnoxious like get yout Heil Grammar on? Park your Commy red correction butt on the side lines and suck it up. No one cares.

3. Carry on, undaunted
. Chat trolls live for attention. If you ignore them, they wither up and die.
. Have fun! Find something you have a lot to say about, and share that knowledge and experience (Notice I did NOT say opnion) with the world
. Make friends and stick with them. You'll find when you engage certain people that you admire, and keep doing it, then the converations between you will by default be more interesting because they're laces with good vibes and mutual respect.
. Stick to the rules. Be an example. Eventually others will follow suit.

4. Quit wrecking MY lounge. I had a 40K post count before most of the internet that gave people the forum to act like a retard even existed (Twitter, facebook, etc.) and unlike the tripe clogging up the post counts around here, the converations were engaging. If you suck at being you, be me instead. I'm awesome. :cool

 

Hi David!!
I rest my case. Take a vacation sir. You deserve it. I love your thread Wenchie. Nice to know I'm not the only trouble maker on the forum:-D:-D:-D.
Rikkey The Hammer; I like that. Sounds like this forum use to be a lot of fun. Darn it ;I missed the good part:cry Don't hold back Laura; tell it like it is. Just be yourself and then get chewed out for it:-D

 

Hello David!! nothing I say pleases you sir. I'm tired of trying. I have no further comments sir. Have a nice day!!:wave

 

I'm not a Troll Sir! I love this forum. Please stop!!!

 

But you've always been cute with a short attention span, so it's ok

 

Ahh the complainers complaint. Come on Wenchie, lead by example .... or is that what you've cleverly done with this thread? :-D

I dunno, I've felt the same way for several months now, just a little stale. All forums go through spells like this, there are only so many topics you can have lengthy discussions about without touching on controversial topics.
What needs to happen is some time needs to pass by so we forget what we've talked about and then talk about them again in a slightly different way.
I've often thought about starting a thread about something that happend on that day or some such and even typed it out and then decided "You know what, I don't know if anyone will really care/understand enough to talk about it.
Topics like "Who has been most influencial in your life" will pretty much end up a "WAYLT" style thread.

I personally used to enjoy thinking of something that would force Rikky to prove me wrong, they were always fun, the "Do Apples have feelings" thread was quite fun.

The biggest problem I see with this thread is it could spure an onslaught of "Whats your fav colour" threads, all of a sudden the lounge is filled with threads that no one really cares about and you get 3 pages of 5 words answers.

Well I've kind of run out of things to say now and want to go play my game so I'll leave it to you guys to start some threads to light up the lounge and should I think of anything I will come posting

 

I loved your old 'I've been thinking again' threads.

I enjoyed and got frustrated in equal measure but at least they got me thinking :cool

"Does an apple have feelings?" WTF knows? The thread will keep us busy for the next three days tryna work it out though:-D

 

Hi!! I just wish I could have been apart of the good old days. Sounds like it was fun and interesting. I'm still happy with the forum. I'm just wondering why so many burned out??? Just thinking out loud. Are there stricter rules and members are afraid to speak out. I'm almost that way. I have heard others say they have held back from speaking their minds. Just thinking out loud. I have seen more old members post on this thread. It's the first time I have seen them here. That's a good thing. Thanks Wenchie!!