Etiquette for Discussion Groups. Point 1. Have Something To Say.

Please don't post naked links, with nothing of your own to add.

This is a discussion group. If you have something to say about a phenomenon, anything under the sun! - if you have a single thought in your head about it, share! If you have a shred at all of your own perspective, with which to open a discussion - by all means tell us what you think! And if you then want to include a link as a reference, do. Links add value, but links are not in-and-of-themselves value. A link is great to illustrate or provide context for one's thoughts. It is no substitute for having a thought.

If you have no thoughts of your own on a topic, no viewpoint to share, if the topic leaves you with nothing at all to begin the discussion, no point, no observation, no objection, nothing at all to contribute except to slap down a link for the rest of us - as if in challenge! "What do you think of THIS! Start up my conversation for me. I'll chime in later, if you come up with anything interesting." Please.

Please, thank you very much but really there's no need. You didn't have to; in fact please DON'T.

You wanted to talk about this? Fine! Say something about it. Oh, you're simply curious as to what we think? That's flattering, but we're not curious to give you our thoughts on every random thing throughout the world that you yourself haven't any opinion on.

We can talk about infinite ranges of things. Why not? The world is open, our minds are open. But let's select something fruitful, something capable of at least putting a thought in one's own head. From among all those possible topics to introduce - why not choose something that puts at least one point, one view, one hard or soft or worried or laughing or stray thought, into your own head? Or more than one thought, of course! As many as you like, conflicting ones even!

But one at least. Give us that much, just to start things off and rolling.

A topic that can't do that much for you: give you one thought of your own worth sharing - that is certainly a bad bet for the rest of us. It is a bit of a strain on courtesy, for you to throw it down before us like a gauntlet, as if we don't all also have access to Google News. As if we need a homework assignment from you, an essay topic, or a discussion prompt.

A more generous and courteous discussion prompt would be: for you to have something to say. On a topic you put before us, ostensibly discussion-worthy.

Why start a conversation when you have nothing to add.