# Thread Games: Have the kind "questions" within threads, and responses, become more personal? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 14, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096 "2018-06-14T16:05:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/1 "2018-06-14T16:05:45Z")
It seems to me that the intermittent topics within some Thread Game OPs as well as the _rai·son d’ê·tre_ of one entire OP have become a place where posters are asked and answered more or less truthfully (if the spirit of the players is in tune with the game) regarding the in-real-life facts and opinions behind the usernames. I’m thinking (Feb 2018) of many intra-OPs (occasional group questions) in the last year or so [??] of **[Baker’s Dozen](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=573445)** and, in particular, the brand new **[Have You Ever…?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=848325)**, which is only like that in premise, and is an even better example of what I suspect is something new as a way of interaction in the forum. FTR, I participate as intra-thread participant often and I think it a very endearing and pleasant aspect of getting to know some of the people in SD who view it as a community of real people who don’t fight. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/2 "2018-06-14T16:18:14Z")
ETA: Screw-up in OP fix: > [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > … > > I’m thinking [del](Feb 2018)[/del] of many intra-OPs (occasional group questions) in the last year or so [??] of **[Baker’s Dozen](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=573445)** and, in particular, the brand new (Feb 2018) **[Have You Ever…?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=848325)**, which is only like that in premise, and is an even better example of what I suspect is something new as a way of interaction in the forum… [strikethrough for delete and underline for inset added] ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/3 "2018-06-14T17:50:09Z")
I’m not clear what you’re asking (and I’m probably not your target audience, anyway, since I haven’t been around the boards much in about eight years). Are you asking if questions and answers in thread games are revealing more personal information than they used to? Are you concerned, intrigued, or delighted by this change? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/4 "2018-06-14T22:05:13Z")
My apologies, but I’m really not sure what you’re asking. Can you rephrase into just a couple of sentences? I participate in or read thread games, so I might have an opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/5 "2018-06-14T22:16:48Z")
I have learned a thing or 2 about folks playing the thread games. I like to pretend they are true. I want to believe. Take it as you will, I am kinda gullible, though. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/6 "2018-06-15T00:00:21Z")
The owl hoots at dawn. I repeat: The owl hoots at dawn. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/7 "2018-06-15T00:35:04Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > The owl hoots at dawn. > > I repeat: The owl hoots at dawn. The train has left the airport. Meet me at location X. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/8 "2018-06-15T01:00:26Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > My apologies, but I’m really not sure what you’re asking. Can you rephrase into just a couple of sentences? > > I participate in or read thread games, so I might have an opinion. I’m with you. That OP is completely incoherent. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/9 "2018-06-15T02:36:53Z")
n/m ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/10 "2018-06-15T05:26:17Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > n/m Ooh, my turn. l/k ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/11 "2018-06-15T05:34:09Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Ooh, my turn. l/k This is easy: j/h…_damn_ it! ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/12 "2018-06-15T05:50:34Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I’m with you. That OP is completely incoherent. in both senses of the word OP ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/13 "2018-06-15T06:37:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > This is easy: j/h…_damn_ it! You’re out! ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/14 "2018-06-15T07:06:17Z")
Ahh Leo, you never disappoint. Master of the Inscrutable. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/15 "2018-06-15T07:13:41Z")
Why is it that I completely understood the OP? Hmmmm? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/16 "2018-06-15T08:53:21Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Why is it that I completely understood the OP? Hmmmm? What did you understand it to say? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/17 "2018-06-15T11:03:24Z")
> [@Ponder\_Stibbons](#): > > The train has left the airport… Ici Londres. Blessent mon cœur d’une langueur monotone. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/18 "2018-06-15T11:45:12Z")
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing… ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/19 "2018-06-15T12:13:28Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > It seems to me that the intermittent topics within some Thread Game OPs as well as the _rai·son d’ê·tre_ of one entire OP have become a place where posters are asked and answered more or less truthfully (if the spirit of the players is in tune with the game) regarding the in-real-life facts and opinions behind the usernames. I guess it depends on the reasons why any given poster is here. Some of these people are veterans of many years and, during those years, have met a number of other members IRL and have forged “real” relationships/friendships. So, for them, prudence may play as big a part in how they answer questions and opine in general as it would if they were in the work place. Others, like myself, who have no IRL connections with any of the other posters, may actually find it easier to express what they really think and feel because we don’t have to interact with them at work or in family, so politics and prudence play no part as deterrents to an honest response. As the old saying goes, “Sometimes, it’s easier to talk to a stranger than a friend.” ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096/20 "2018-06-15T13:11:15Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Ici Londres. Blessent mon cœur d’une langueur monotone. Tish, you spoke French! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-games-have-the-kind-questions-within-threads-and-responses-become-more-personal/816096.md?page=2)