We have a very good post rate here on the RetouchPRO forums. Above average, actually.

But our thread rate is far below average. Add this to our propensity for threads to wander in and out of topics (see my "not a chatroom" blog entry) and there's really only one conclusion:

Our users are afraid to start new threads. They have threadophobia.

This causes me no end of puzzlement. Even though I score off the charts for introversion, I have absolutely no problem asking total strangers anything. Perhaps I'm odder than I ever expected.

As with any fear, the cure is cognitive shifting. Become aware of your fear, mildly confront your fear in a safe environment, recognize that the fear is just a chemical response and doesn't actually indicate real danger, and slowly become acclimatized to your object of fear, in spite of what your dinosaur-brain is telling you.

You can't get a much safer environment than RetouchPRO, at least for posting. We are a remarkably troll-free and welcoming group.

So slowly face your fear, try a simple trial post about anything you're comfortable with, even just saying "hi". Recognize that you are among friends (or at least what passes for friends on the internet), and that the worst possible consequence is that someone might disagree with you (and even that is pretty unlikely here).

Once you've gotten over that initial hump, try starting a thread on a more serious topic, something you'd actually like to know or share.

Soon you'll be starting threads just because you feel like it, with no fear at all.

I promise.