Having started a lot of threads over the years, I’ve thought about this a bit. Whether a thread takes off or not is, as posted upthread, a matter of timing.
As between starting a thread with no responses or starting a drama trainwreck, I’ll go for the one with no responses. Drama trainwrecks usually turn to hatebombs at some point. Having your username associated with it can become cringeworthy. I’ll stick with the quiet threads where I got to talk about something that interests over those.
It’s not fear of it bombing that has almost stopped me starting a thread, it’s that damn add a tag. 
It NEVER goes smoothly for me and try as I might it just throws out what I put in the box and I have to start over, again and again until I’m raging. EVERY BLASTED TIME.
So I’m fed up with it and seldom start threads these days. I don’t see the need for an extra tag anyway.
Same here Rox with the titles .
My title is never good enough / long enough /doesn’t make sense very annoying.
As most of my threads and replies are ignored anyway, I tend to watch from a distance, and rarely get involved
I think we all seem to go through phases of feeling like that. I know I certainly do. 
If my thread bombed am I bovvered nah
I’d be upset if the fruit cake I’m cooking sunk in the middle .
It’s the hottest day, I dislike cooking id be very bothered.
It’s such a flipping faff starting a thread I hardly ever bother these days
What’s the point in starting a thread when you can hijack someone else’s
Off topic for a moment - I love your turn of phrase!
What’s a hatebomb ?
It’s an outpouring of vitriole and contempt. You know, the sort of stuff one comes out with when someone disagrees with one 
I hope you aren’t being personal when you use ‘you’ .
Edited for clarification x
Who said that?
I’ve had the same problem recently, English needs an equivalent of an impersonal “you”, “one” is OK but not entirely satisfactory.
Isn’t it funny how we all think we are ignored …Primus I would have thought of you as really popular…
I do sometimes wish I hadn’t started a thread when no one responds it makes me think my thread must be boring to others.
I rather join in threads than start them.
LQ I do t think that is always the case that no one is interested .
Sometimes I don’t have anything to add to a thread or it is all above my head ie stuff about cameras or technology!
Across my various forums many threads have bombed-and what bombs on one forum may go a bit viral on another-so I’m not bothered.
Often the time of day you put a post on is vital.
I’m pretty certain I have one on here with no answers.
I saw it yesterday.
It’s a word game.So I tried it in another place and it’s taken off.
Forums are like that.
