Effortposts

Effortposts are long-form posts on online communities in which the author provides extensive detail about a topic. They are commonly used to document a process, present original research, justify a decision, or share a personal project. The defining characteristic is thoroughness: the post offers background context, a clear chain of reasoning, and substantial evidence or documentation, rather than a brief summary or opinion.

Typical features include a deliberate structure (such as a chronological account, a methods section, or a step-by-step explanation), incorporation of data, quotes, links to sources, and, when relevant, code or artefacts. Authors may acknowledge limitations, discuss alternative viewpoints, and reflect on lessons learned. The tone ranges from neutral to cautiously combative depending on the topic and the community.

Effortposts appear most often on platforms that value long-form discourse, notably Reddit and various forums, but the concept also appears in other spaces where users seek to justify actions, explain mistakes, or teach a process. In some contexts, they are praised as a model of diligence and transparency; in others, they are criticized as self-indulgent or derailingly verbose, sometimes prompting concerns about "wall of text" fatigue.

Related concepts include long-form posts and meta-discussion about discourse quality. While not inherently partisan, effortposts often intersect with debates about how much detail is appropriate in different communities and how best to present complex information to a broad audience.