(FOREWORD: Yes, I realize that some people will say tl;dr, but really, do you have anything else to read here other than old posts? If you are interested to help give 4-ch a little more activity and good discussion, then please read this, and give me your comments as well! Let's move 4-ch positively forward together!)
Have you ever thought to yourself, "I am completely bored with 4-ch today"?
Have you ever came to this site, yet found nothing interesting to talk about?
Do you have 5 minutes of spare time?
If you answered yes to one of those questions, then you could be one of the few, the proud, the Quality Topic Commune of 5 Star Hotels! The job of us (TQTC5SH) is to encourage positive activity within the site. You don't even have to join! Making quality topics automatically includes you into the group!
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HOW TO MAKE QUALITY TOPICS:
4A. IF SOMEONE HAS ALREADY MADE A TOPIC
Post in the topic about what you wanted to talk about, or see if there is any discussion you would like to add to.
4B. IF THERE ISN'T A TOPIC ABOUT WHAT YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT
Make a topic about what you were interested in discussing. Be sure to try to have a thought to initiate some conversation! Ask for people's opinion on the matter/game/etc. Talk about what you like/don't like about the topic.
GOOD EXAMPLE-
Games
Title: A Discussion of Tetris
I'm very sure that most of you have heard of Tetris. If you haven't, then you probably need to play it (even some free flash version would do). Besides that, I love Tetris. I was just wondering how many fans were out there. Does anyone think that there is a better puzzle game, or at least one equal? Feel free to talk anything Tetris!
/Things to notice
{The title describes the subject. Of course, it is bland, and you could easily do something extra to it, but it still accurately describes the topic at hand.
{The topic starts out by telling something about why the topic was made, and the TC's enthusiasm (replace with apathy if necessary) is shown.
{Questions are asked which start a conversation in the topic, or at least get it on the right track.
BAD EXAMPLE-
Games
Title: i luv tetris
tetris is teh greatest puzler ever it puzzles me lol i luv it
/Things to notice
{Unless he actually means for the topic to be about him/her loving Tetris, then he/she should change the title. Opinions about the topic should be held within the topic itself, not in the title.
{Bad grammar. I realize this IS the internet, but bad writing doesn't really encourage people to post. It comes off as trollish and childish. Not using caps is OK if you really don't want to take the time, but at least make sure your words are accurately spelled and you separate your sentences. Bottom line, make it legible.
{The topic doesn't spark any discussion. It is obvious that he/she loves Tetris, but there is nothing for an upcoming poster to talk about. The burden of discussion is left on the TC when a topic is created.
WHY TO MAKE QUALITY TOPICS
Quality topics=More newcomers. Quality topics=Quality posts. More newcomers=More activity. QUALITY TOPICS=MORE ACTIVITY.
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So everyone, go out and make quality topics! Give everyone something to talk about! You can do it (^o^)/!
I'm in.
Sign me up!
PART 3: Diversify
Good we have members! Go and create good topics of discussion! I'm sure that most of you could easily go to every board here and think of something that you like that is related to it. Heck, just one or two boards would be good. I've made a few boards, and I've noticed that one of them (my Lucky Star board) already has 7 posts!
This is telling me two things.
Nobody is going to post if there isn't anything to post about, and if you can't find what you would like to talk about, then make a topic about it! 4-ch has many visitors and users, it's just that there is little to talk about. People wait around for topics being made for them to talk, but nobody actually makes a topic their self.
The discussion of how to make 4-ch more active has been going on for quite a while now. People ask, why isn't this place popular? Why do we have such a broad range of boards, but literally nothing to say?
This reason has been constantly discussed in such boards, and the reason that some give is because all we talk about is Japanese culture. If you would like to see, then refer to the "Why isn't 4-ch more popular?" thread in general. Even the last posts will do, but I believe reading through it will give you some understanding to peoples thoughts.
To be blunt, our only discussion is Japanese culture. We are modeled after 2ch but we AREN'T 4-ch. We are english speakers with our own culture, and although we can still talk about Japan (and I personally encourage this), we need to talk about things that we can relate to!
Look at the news board. Most of it is about Japan! How can we relate to Japanese news if we aren't in Japan? Think of it this way. Would you rather talk about a bombing that went on in Japan, or a bombing that went on in your own country? Certainly, you would be more worried about your own country than someone else's.
Look at the general board. Most of it is about being an otaku. If you enjoy anime, manga, games, etc. then we HAVE all of those boards! I know everyone here has at least one hobby or interest outside of Japan! I play music myself.
Look at the Film & TV board. Do you guys sit around all day streaming Japanese TV on your computer somehow? Are torrents your best friend? Do any of you watch TV in your own country? To be honest, I barely watch TV, but I do have a few shows that I like, and I'm sure some of you do as well. I don't like many movies, but I know some of you out there get out of your house SOMETIME to watch a movie.
tl;dr, let's diversify the boards and give them a broader range of discussion. Not only does our narrow-minded group thought scare off new members, it gives older members nothing to talk about.
PS. I am not saying don't talk about Japan, but talk about OTHER things. If you like an anime, talk about it in the anime board. Even that place seems eerily dead. Some of you keep up with anime right, talk about your thoughts about the latest episodes there!
Perhaps remember to use sage if and when you reply to trollish or unappealing threads.
But do not reply to threads just to sage them. The worst examples of these are people who simply put a period and sage a thread.
>>7
I agree. In image boards, sage is considered an insult, like telling someone that their thread is stupid, horrible, whatever.
Sage here is used, as said in the wiki, to post something if it is off the topic. If a thread is just unappealing to you, then you shouldn't sage it because you don't like it. If it is deliberately trolling, then I think it should be saged, just to let it die down. Either that or a moderator will delete it.
Keep making topics guys, I look around and we still have boards that barely have anything new to discuss that wasn't made in 2005-6! Surely you all have something to talk about in this day and age! Anime, TV, Food, Sports, Science, Music, etc. 4-ch has so many boards yet so little topics of discussion! Let's bring up 4-ch together!
>>7,8
Of course; Replying at all to a trolling thread merely gives the troll an opportunity to bump with another troll
>>11
Yes, that is wisest. Perhaps request a post deletion or autosage as well, if the topic is bad enough.
>>1 you suck for shitting the adjective quality. it means something different around here.
We are getting much posting activity! You thank from Jappan ^o^!
Another idea, invite friends to 4-ch and tell them to actually post. Too many lurkers here.