Help Centre
Writing good statements
Statements are the short claims people vote on. You add 3 to 10 when you start a discussion, and participants can add their own once it is live.
What makes a good statement
- One idea that people can agree or disagree with. A question cannot be agreed with.
- Plain, neutral language, so the wording does not push people one way.
- Specific enough to act on, between 10 and 280 characters.
| Instead of | Try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| What should we do about parking? | The high street should be closed to cars on Saturdays. | A question cannot be voted on. |
| Buses should be cheaper and run later. | Buses should run until midnight. | Two ideas: someone may agree with one and not the other. |
| Greedy developers are ruining the town. | New housing should include more affordable homes. | Loaded words make people react to the tone, not the idea. |
Cover the range of views
- Include views you disagree with. People engage when they see their own position written fairly.
- Mix statements most people may agree on with ones that divide opinion. Both show where the common ground is.
- Avoid near-duplicates. Each statement should give people a different choice.
Getting ideas from an AI assistant
An assistant can suggest statements from viewpoints you might miss. Check every suggestion before you add it, and rewrite anything that is not accurate or fair.
Example prompt
"I am starting a public discussion about [TOPIC]. Suggest 10 statements that each make one claim people can agree or disagree with, are under 280 characters, use neutral language, and cover a range of viewpoints, including ones I may disagree with."
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