Let me save you a visit to my profile by letting you know upfront that my throwdown record is an even 0-0-0. But when I visit FanNation, the first thing I do is go to the TD section, and over the last 6 months I've read a lot of TDs. This is also my first blog, but I believe that it is an important one for newbies that enter the TD arena. These tips will hopefully spare you the wrath of the FanNation Community down the road.
If there is anything that will serve to irritate the Community, it is a TD that is started and never finished. While some FanNation members will argue that TDs are meaningless and records mean nothing, there are many members who participate that take the time to formulate their arguments and gather stats to hopefully win the debate. I would imagine that it would be very frustrating to enter a challenge and spend time writing good arguments, only to end up with forfeited turns as rebuttals. One of the reasons I personally don't participate is because I know with my job and my family that I cannot commit enough time to finish.
Which brings me to another item that will not go over well - lack of argument. If you don't have enough time when you start the TD, you will ultimately end up writing short arguments without much thought. Imagine yourself in this position - you accept a TD and spend time finding reasons why your position is better than your opponent's. Utilizing all the space available, you post your argument only to have your opponent respond with a two sentence rebuttal. I don't know about you, but that would be a huge letdown for me.
I think that these two things happen to many newbies and one of the reasons could be that too many TDs are started in one day. You won't have time to finish and you won't have time to make good arguments.
This brings me to the last topic - TD Oblivion. There are only so many active TDs that show on the main board. If you start too many in one day, it causes other TDs to fall off the board so they receive limited views and votes. Again, put yourself in the position of someone who has spent a ton of time gathering facts to debate their topic only to have no one see the TD... If all of the TDs you started have little argument and/or forfeited turns, AND they cause other well-argued TDs to fall off the board, you will not make many people happy.
My advice, should you choose to accept it from someone with no experience, is to keep your active TD number low, take the time to formulate good arguments and finish what you started.
Shanon Lersh
Lucia Dvorska
College Football Top 25 Review
2009 Turkeys Of The Year
Comments (14) Add A Comment
You know, what with my being here in FN going on 6 months+, I'm sure I can teach the newbies a few things as well as the crew you have here.
(Of course, I don't claim to know EVERYTHING...)
DC Sports Nut: Nats,…
Total Comments (2558)
Thanks for commenting DC. I don't claim to know everything either. Just sharing things I've observed over time.
LoveItHateIt
Portland, OR
Total Comments (3163)
Thanks for commenting DC. I don't claim to know everything either. Just sharing things I've observed over time.
LoveItHateIt | 03/09/08, 12:22 AM
You're completely right. I took 6 months here before I TDed, and my record started out good because I learned from the best. Folks, watch NCShvDavid, DetroitFan, Ramdrumaster, Cowboys-Celtics-ChiSox and such, see how they TD, and learn from them.
thehemogoblin
The University Of, OR
Total Comments (29343)
I can't stand it when people forfeit turns against me. There was a stretch where every TD I was in, my opponent only made 1 argument never to be heard from again.
Hate when I spend the time researching and formulating my argument only to have my opponent just quit (I'm not talking about those times when you can't get to a computer).
rstowe
Newport News , VA
Total Comments (47606)
Very good blog LIHI.
Thanks for posting it...hopefully the group members will read it and follow your advice.
rstowe
Newport News , VA
Total Comments (47606)
Great blog. I wish I had read it before I started TDing.
Paddy26
Chicago , IL
Total Comments (2285)
Thanks for the comments. Hope the blog helps some newcomers.
LoveItHateIt
Portland, OR
Total Comments (3163)
very nice Blog! I am new here to FN and it is a big help to read everyone's blogs. I never assume that you guys are saying you know everything, I take it as you guys trying to help others out. This community existed before I was here and I want it to be the same with me here. I do not want to throw the balance off.
B-Redli
Gibraltar, MI
Total Comments (45)
Having someone challenge me to a TD throws me into a spin and I always say no out of the fear of making a fool of myself with my lack of sports knowledge but then, I've only been here about 3 months.
Sunday is the day I have set aside to read TD's and cast my vote for the argument I think is best. Maybe in 4 or 5 months I'll accept my first TD and put up a respectable showing. Until then, I'll stick to reading them.
no name at all
Total Comments (14374)
good points. especially about starting too many TDs brinmg started and knocking the good ones off the board.
i don't TD because i take to long to formualte my positions. But i like finding the TDs rthat are intersting and wellt hought and making comments. Se ya in the funny pages.
4192jc (Don't give…
Total Comments (10202)
it is lateand i am tired. here is the edited version:
good points. especially about starting too many TDs and knocking the good ones off the board. I don't TD because I take too long to formualte my positions. But I like finding the TDs that are interesting and well thought out and making comments. See ya in the funny pages.
4192jc (Don't give…
Total Comments (10202)
and one more point:
Say what you mean and mean what you say.
night.
4192jc (Don't give…
Total Comments (10202)
I dont think you have to believe what you say you just have to be able to argue it as if you did.
At times I take what I consider to be practice td's where I will take a stance I dont believe just to see how well I can argue it. I figure its easy to argue something you 100% believe so sometimes taking a stance you dont agree with gives you a better chance to build up your skills
Chosen1
Somewhere, US
Total Comments (3716)
Nice Blog
Notorious J-E-T-S
I Miss Being In Dakota, ;)
Total Comments (683)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.