Introducing 9takes: Answer First, Then Compare Perspectives
Where do good conversations happen online?
Where can you get honest, unprimed perspectives without walking into an echo chamber?
On most platforms, the first few comments set the frame. Everyone else reacts, copies, or stays quiet (here’s the psychology of that: Echoes Online: The Power of Memetic Comments).
9takes flips that default. You write your take first, then you unlock the thread and compare how other people see the same question.
If you’re wondering about the design choices, the Greek vibe is intentional.
Why Social Media Isn’t Social Anymore
Most feeds reward engagement, not understanding. Engagement loves conflict, so the loudest take wins and the rest of us scroll.
Two waves of social media.
🤖 Old wave 🔄
The old social media was about staying in touch and sharing cool stuff.
- Users posted to be seen.
- Sharing became broadcasting.
- Reading became lurking.
- The algorithm rewarded sameness, and different viewpoints got filtered out.
We look connected, and we feel divided.
🎭 New wave ❓
The new social media is about self-expression and finding friends.
- Users post to connect, not just perform.
- Communities matter more than follower counts.
- Online and offline blend, so the internet supports real life.
- New ideas spread again, not just the safest ones.
It runs on novelty and participation.
Find your tribe, then learn how other tribes think.
Belonging and exploring start with asking questions.
Who am I? Who are you? What do you see that I don't?
Why Questions Are the Key
9takes is built around questions. Posts perform. Questions invite.
A question-centered approach can:
- Spark curiosity: A good question makes you lean in.
- Invite reflection: You answer with lived experience, not a headline.
- Create real interaction: People can disagree without turning it into a fight.
A question is an invitation, not a broadcast.
Why Good Questions Get Bad Answers
Asking a question online is easy. Getting good answers is the hard part.
- You want original takes, not echoes of the top comment.
- You don’t want early answers to steer everyone else.
- You want people to feel safe being honest.
- You want context for where someone is coming from.
How 9takes Gets Better Answers
9takes bakes the fixes into the product:
- Comments are revealed after you comment, not before.
- Seeing other answers first primes you. Hiding them forces an independent take, then lets you compare.
- Add a personality lens (the Enneagram)
- There are many ways to divide people and most of them get tribal fast. Personality gives context for how someone thinks. Understanding how different types communicate reveals patterns that cut across demographics.
- If you want, show your personality type next to your answer.
- If you know your personality type, share it. It gives readers context without forcing a real name. If you don't know your type yet, skip it.
- Filter answers by personality type.
- Compare how different types answer the same question. Spot patterns, common ground, and blind spots.
Start With a Question
Curious how 9takes came to be? Read the personal story behind 9takes. It started with a marriage counselor and a personality test.
Most of the questions that matter do not have a single right answer. The point is not to win, it is to see what you are missing.
Try it on 9takes:
- Browse questions at /questions (or ask your own).
- Write your take first.
- Read the thread, then filter by personality type if you want.
If comment sections usually make you feel worse, this one should feel different.