Discussion Topics and Conversation Ideas
A simple way to find a subject that gives people something meaningful to discuss - and a real shot at a place on the ranked board.
The best discussion topics usually connect to a real question, a shared interest, or a change that people are trying to understand. You do not need a perfect idea. Start with something you are curious about, then make it specific enough for another person to answer.
Four reliable places to find ideas
- Current events: Open the Daily News tab, or that day's Daily Summaries at the top of it, for a story already sorted under a Current - then ask what it means, what should happen next, or where people are likely to disagree.
- Everyday experience: Turn a common frustration, decision, or discovery into a question others can compare with their own experience.
- Interests and hobbies: Invite recommendations, explain a difference of opinion, or ask how beginners can get started.
- Big questions: Explore competing explanations, trade-offs, or the reasons people see the same issue differently.
Narrow a broad idea
“Sports” is a subject. “Sports: Should the college football playoff expand again?” is a discussion topic. Narrow your idea by adding a group, situation, time period, choice, or reason. This makes it easier for people to offer specific answers instead of repeating general opinions.
Narrowing matters more here than it might elsewhere: only the top 1,000 topics stay on TOPICAL's ranked board, and a broad, already-settled subject rarely draws enough votes and comments to earn - or keep - one of those spots. A specific question people can actually answer, on the other hand, gives them an easy reason to weigh in.
Before posting, ask whether the topic is clear, whether people can contribute without specialist knowledge, and whether the question allows more than one reasonable response. If the answer is yes, you have a strong starting point.