REMEMBER TO READ THE AP GUIDE!
This thread is an extension of the thread creation rules stated in the AP Guide.

Considering that this is a General Discussion, you can basically talk about anything but that doesn't mean that this is a spam-all-you-want forum. We have guidelines, they are stated in the AP Guide but this will be an extension of those guidelines since this forum is so broad and needs its own guidelines. So let's get started!

The main point of General Discussion is to have discussive threads. If you create a thread, it has to include some form of discussion or even subtly encourage discussion from the people who reply. This means that you might want to include some details in your thread if it's an important topic instead of just "Talk about this issue." Always keep this in mind when creating threads. Discussion, discussion, discussion. It's even in the forum title!

AVOID CREATING THESE THREADS

1. List threads
What are list threads? They are basically threads that usually but not always begin with "What" such as "What is your favorite anime?" or "What is your favorite type of music?". DO NOT CREATE THESE THREADS. They do not promote discussion and people will only reply in lists to these types of threads.

2. Counseling threads
What are counseling threads? Well we've had these in the past but they have gotten way out of hand lately, so it's best to avoid them. These are basically started by the member who has a certain problem and asks for help from the members.

Example: My friends and I are fighting over one guy. What should I do?

Avoid creating these threads. Even though they do generate good replies but they necessarily do not involve much discussion, instead, it involves counseling-type of replies. If you have a problem, seek a REAL counselor and vent out your problems. That's the best course of action to take.

3. "Hot potato" threads
What are "hot potato" threads? These threads involves really hot and controversial topics and usually ends up in a flame war, thus the name "hot-potato". What topics are they? They are religion and abortion SO FAR (the other ones like same-sex marriage and politics haven't created much of a problem yet). Avoid creating these topics.

4. Recommendation threads
What are recommendation threads? They are threads where the member asks for what type of product to buy, download, see, etc. These threads involves NO discussion and it ends up being a list thread in the long run. Threads such as "what MP3 player should I buy?" will be closed.

5. Advertisement threads
What are advertisement threads? These threads, from the name, advertises something either a website, an event, just anything in general (your dog even). Once again, there is absolute no discussion involve since the poster is just trying to advertise something anyway. Threads such as "I'm holding a contest!" or "My website!" will be closed.

6. Spam threads
This is an obvious one. Spam threads are just threads that are stupid, pointless, and its sole purpose is to spam, spam, spam. An example would "look at me! i'm bored" thread or anything of the sort. This shouldn't require much of an explanation right?

7. What are you [insert action verb + ing]? threads
These threads comes in all different types but it always starts with "What" and ends with an action verb + ing ending. It is VERY similar to list threads, it's a list thread itself but it's a special type. These threads are usually asking what the user is doing, listening, eating, etc. at that instant. Pretty pointless because it doesn't promote discussion and people will just reply "I'm eating cheese."

8. Hate-fest threads
What are hate-fest threads? These threads are usually created to stimulate hate towards a specific topic. Threads such as "I hate school, who hates school?" are hate-fest threads because it stimulates only negative replies from people and doesn't really involve any kind of discussion. DO NOT CREATE THESE THREADS.

9. Exclusive threads
What are exclusive threads? These threads exclude all other types of people except for one. An example would be "Americans only!" or "Who is from France? Reply!". These threads are not only rude to other members but also generate NO discussion whatsoever. This is a FREE, PUBLIC forum for EVERYBODY. You have no right to exclude certain members from your thread. If you want to meet people only from your nationality, then join a group dedicated to it OR create your own.

10. Redundant threads
What are redundant threads? From the name, you can tell that these threads are repetitive in their topic. If "love" has been discussed a billion times already, it's best you DO NOT create another topic about it. When it's been discussed and beaten down to a bloody pulp, no one is going to care enough to talk about it anymore. Think of a fresh, new topic instead.

11. Rant threads
These threads are similar to counseling threads, except there is one major difference. Rant threads are threads where people just rant about their problems WITHOUT asking for any kind of counseling from other members. That is the difference. So instead of "My girlfriend cheated on me, what should I do?" it's "Arrgh! My stupid girlfriend cheated on me!". Notice the difference? These threads do not promote discussion and they tend to get steamy when a bunch of people are ranting in one threads. Please do not create these threads.

12. Versus threads (gone wrong)
What are versus threads (gone wrong)? It means exactly what it says. Basically, it's a versus thread that compares two things that aren't even connected to each other! For example, Faeries vs. Ninjas. Where's the connection between faeries and ninjas? There's NONE! It's like comparing apples to oranges. So this is an example of a versus thread gone wrong.

So you're wondering, if that is a verus thread gone wrong, what is a versus thread "gone right"? A good versus thread compares two things that are connected but contrast at the same time. For example, Fidelity vs. Infidelity or Men vs. Women or Japan's Education System vs. US Education System. Understand? If you are still unsure, PM me.

13. xxx or yyy threads
This is an extension of what's written in the AP Guide. Okay, these threads are very similar to versus threads but these threads generally ask people to choose which one is better than the other whereas versus threads don't. The thing about xxx or yyy threads is the fact that they don't generate discussion. They are just asking people which they like better. People will just answer what they like better and that's it. Also, these threads tend to be very narrow since in order for a person to determine which is better, he/she has to experience both. So an example of xxx or yyy threads would be Beef or Chicken.

If you try to turn a versus thread into a "xxx or yyy" thread, it would be weird. You can't ask people which they like better, men or women, fidelity or infidelity because that's just dumb. You also can't ask people what type of education system they like, Japan or US for example, because they have to experience both in order to give a decent answer. If they haven't experienced both, then they shouldn't be answering anyway because their answer would be biased.

In general, DO NOT create xxx or yyy threads at all. Instead, aim for versus threads, GOOD versus threads. Obviously, you need to avoid creating versus threads (gone wrong).

14. Survey Threads
What are survey threads? Survey threads usually ask statistical questions such as "how old are you?" or "where are you from?". If you are curious about how old people are, then just look at their profile or ask them yourself. Same goes similar questions such as "where are you from?". Another example would be "what languages do you speak?" where people will just reply "English" or something similar. Just imagine answering a survey. Do you write 5 paragraphs to a question such as "how old are you?" Didn't think so.

15. Game Threads
The title alone says it all. These threads usually involve some type of forum game such as "Comment on the person's avatar before you!" or "Guess what number I'm thinking!". Seeing as this is the General Discussion, there should be no game threads whatsoever. None. No role-playing threads either, that falls under game threads. Avoid creating these.

16. Copy/Paste Threads
These threads tend to encourage people to copy/paste from an outer source. Examples would be "Post your favorite jokes!" or "Post your favorite quotes!" or "Post a riddle here!", or anything along those lines. You shouldn't be copy/pasting, period! There is no discussion in these threads and people are simply copy/pasting for the heck of it and for earing papers.

Note: These are just the current guidelines. The list might be added depending if more types of spam, list threads are generated. Refer to AP Guide as well for other general guidelines. Also, some of these guidelines can be applied to other forums when applicable (such as list thread and redundant threads).

Even with these restrictions, there are millions of topics you can discuss about. I'm sure you want to see threads worth replying to instead of the usual "What's your favorite type of cheese?" threads, right? I've seen topics discussing about dreams and such and they turn out quite well. You can even discuss about a current event, of course it won't last very long once it's over, but at least you generated a short-term discussion and there's nothing wrong with that. Not all discussions have to be long-term.

THINK BEFORE CREATING A THREAD! It shows in the thread you create whether or not you're looking for a discussion or just creating every single thread that comes to your mind. It's not the quantity that matters, it's the quality!

If you have further questions, PM me.