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View Poll Results: What's the ideal mix of thread types?
100% humorous/entertaining 0 0%
75% entertaining / 25% thoughtful/educational/serious 2 4.17%
50% entertaining / 50% educational 25 52.08%
25% entertaining / 75% educational 19 39.58%
100% thoughtful/educational/serious 2 4.17%
Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll

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Poll: Ideal Mix of Serious vs Entertaining ER Threads
Old 05-05-2012, 08:19 AM   #1
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Poll: Ideal Mix of Serious vs Entertaining ER Threads

We certainly have both here. Wonder what the consensus ideal mix is?
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Old 05-05-2012, 08:28 AM   #2
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I went with 50/50. I have learned alot here and had a good time -- both!
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Old 05-05-2012, 08:39 AM   #3
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RU serious?
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Old 05-05-2012, 08:45 AM   #4
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I'd say the total should be more than 100%. Would hate to think a thread couldn't be both entertaining and educational!
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Old 05-05-2012, 08:55 AM   #5
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No matter what the balance is, one thing is for sure - - someone will complain about it! If it's all serious, the oldtimers will moan that we have already discussed when to take SS or whether to pay off the mortgage. If it's all entertaining and lighthearted, others will complain about how the board has nothing but fluff these days.

Luckily, it has been a mix thus far. If someone is tired of either type of thread, they can skip those and there will be plenty of other threads more to their liking.
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Old 05-05-2012, 08:57 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by W2R View Post
If it's all serious, the oldtimers will moan that we have already discussed when to take SS or whether to pay off the mortgage.
Forget all that stuff. Should I rent or buy?
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Old 05-05-2012, 08:59 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ziggy29 View Post
I'd say the total should be more than 100%. Would hate to think a thread couldn't be both entertaining and educational!
That's true, but I'd be happy if the actual total was anywhere close to 100%, because some threads are neither.

In any case, I have no idea what one would do with the results. Are we each to have a quota of the types of threads we are to open?
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Old 05-05-2012, 09:09 AM   #8
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What's entertaining is in the eye of the beholder
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Old 05-05-2012, 09:24 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by TromboneAl View Post
RU serious?
RU joking?
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Old 05-05-2012, 09:26 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RunningBum View Post
That's true, but I'd be happy if the actual total was anywhere close to 100%, because some threads are neither.

In any case, I have no idea what one would do with the results. Are we each to have a quota of the types of threads we are to open?
Once I have the results, I'm going to monitor your posts to make sure you maintain the desired balance.

Some serious threads are drowned in humor and ruined. And some entertaining threads are ruined by overly serious replies. I don't see that changing.

Maybe this thread is entertaining to some, serious to others, or neither...
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Old 05-05-2012, 09:33 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by Midpack View Post
Some serious threads are drowned in humor and ruined. And some entertaining threads are ruined by overly serious replies. I don't see that changing.
If I had a complaint about serious vs. entertaining, that would be it. But I also don't see that changing, and I've come to realize that trying to be the forum police isn't a good idea.
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Old 05-05-2012, 09:44 AM   #12
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Forget all that stuff. Should I rent or buy?
YES!
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Old 05-05-2012, 10:03 AM   #13
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Usually, a serious thread will go on for a little while with serious replies and then someone will make a sarcastic or humorous comment. The post then goes off to oblivion. Eventually, someone brings up Nazis and then the moderators shut it down.
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Old 05-05-2012, 10:12 AM   #14
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Usually, a serious thread will go on for a little while with serious replies and then someone will make a sarcastic or humorous comment. The post then goes off to oblivion. Eventually, someone brings up Nazis and then the moderators shut it down.
(Fortunately) that seems to be the pattern. However, I have seen a few destroyed (both serious and entertaining) before they ever got off the ground. I sometimes wish those would just be closed and put out of their misery...but I just stop looking at them instead.
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Old 05-05-2012, 10:17 AM   #15
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I think if the threads become more than a small %age humorous, the forum will become a hangout for regulars and frustrating for ER wanabees.
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Old 05-05-2012, 10:41 AM   #16
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Old 05-05-2012, 06:07 PM   #17
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I tend to look at more of the serious threads (although Funny Joke Thursday is a fav) but I do enjoy the lighthearted banter even in a serious thread. That said, there are times it gets to read a bit like an "insiders club" and I hesitate to post after that.
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Old 05-05-2012, 06:42 PM   #18
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A little bit o' humah eases tension....

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Old 05-05-2012, 09:01 PM   #19
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Not sure of the point of this poll. Does it matter? People post what they want to say. I actually enjoy the humorous post in some of the more serious threads. Breaks it up a bit. Thanks to those that are adept at humor, as I have laughed out loud at some of them....even when embedded in a serious thread.!
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Old 05-05-2012, 09:15 PM   #20
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I'd like to know what this has to do with retirement?
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