Looking for a quick way to spark conversation in your engineering community? This or That prompts offer fun, low-pressure choices that encourage even the quietest members to join in. Use these ready-made templates to break the ice and keep engagement flowing effortlessly.
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This or That questions work because they lower the barrier to participation. When members see a simple choice between two options, they are far more likely to respond, especially if the topic feels lighthearted and relevant to their interests. This format caters to busy engineers who may not have time for lengthy discussions but still want to contribute.
The playful tone of these prompts also helps build rapport and community culture. As members see others' preferences, it sparks follow-up comments, friendly debates, and even inside jokes. Over time, this creates a sense of belonging and keeps members coming back for more.
Mechanical pencil or ballpoint pen - which do you prefer for sketching ideas?
💡 Example: "Mechanical pencil or ballpoint pen - which do you prefer for sketching ideas?"
CAD or hand-drawn diagrams - which do you use more often?
💡 Example: "CAD or hand-drawn diagrams - which do you use more often?"
Early morning or late night - when are you most productive?
💡 Example: "Early morning or late night - when are you most productive?"
Coffee or tea during a long project sprint?
💡 Example: "Coffee or tea during a long project sprint?"
Team brainstorming or solo problem solving - what works best for you?
💡 Example: "Team brainstorming or solo problem solving - what works best for you?"
Digital notes or classic notebook for project planning?
💡 Example: "Digital notes or classic notebook for project planning?"
Debugging code or troubleshooting hardware - which challenge do you prefer?
💡 Example: "Debugging code or troubleshooting hardware - which challenge do you prefer?"
Open office or quiet cubicle - where do you focus best?
💡 Example: "Open office or quiet cubicle - where do you focus best?"
Prototype first or detailed plan first - which approach do you take?
💡 Example: "Prototype first or detailed plan first - which approach do you take?"
Laptop or desktop for your main engineering work?
💡 Example: "Laptop or desktop for your main engineering work?"
Standing desk or classic office chair?
💡 Example: "Standing desk or classic office chair?"
Paper manuals or online documentation - which do you trust more?
💡 Example: "Paper manuals or online documentation - which do you trust more?"
Working under a tight deadline or having extra time to perfect your design?
💡 Example: "Working under a tight deadline or having extra time to perfect your design?"
Brainstorming with whiteboards or sticky notes?
💡 Example: "Brainstorming with whiteboards or sticky notes?"
Mechanical or electrical engineering - which fascinates you more?
💡 Example: "Mechanical or electrical engineering - which fascinates you more?"
Working from home or working onsite - what do you prefer?
💡 Example: "Working from home or working onsite - what do you prefer?"
Podcasts or textbooks - how do you prefer to learn new engineering concepts?
💡 Example: "Podcasts or textbooks - how do you prefer to learn new engineering concepts?"
Reading schematics or writing code - which task do you enjoy more?
💡 Example: "Reading schematics or writing code - which task do you enjoy more?"
Working with hardware or working with software?
💡 Example: "Working with hardware or working with software?"
Quick fix or long-term solution - what do you gravitate toward?
💡 Example: "Quick fix or long-term solution - what do you gravitate toward?"
Math-heavy projects or hands-on building?
💡 Example: "Math-heavy projects or hands-on building?"
Working with a mentor or self-learning - which helps you grow more?
💡 Example: "Working with a mentor or self-learning - which helps you grow more?"
Calculations by hand or using software tools?
💡 Example: "Calculations by hand or using software tools?"
Short, daily sprints or long, focused work sessions?
💡 Example: "Short, daily sprints or long, focused work sessions?"
Start with research or jump into prototyping?
💡 Example: "Start with research or jump into prototyping?"
Classical engineering textbooks or online blogs for inspiration?
💡 Example: "Classical engineering textbooks or online blogs for inspiration?"
Working with large teams or small, focused groups?
💡 Example: "Working with large teams or small, focused groups?"
Power tools or hand tools - which do you reach for first?
💡 Example: "Power tools or hand tools - which do you reach for first?"
Simulation software or physical models - which helps you more?
💡 Example: "Simulation software or physical models - which helps you more?"
Hands-on experiments or deep-dive research papers?
💡 Example: "Hands-on experiments or deep-dive research papers?"
Wired or wireless tech - which are you more excited about?
💡 Example: "Wired or wireless tech - which are you more excited about?"
Big picture thinking or detail-oriented work?
💡 Example: "Big picture thinking or detail-oriented work?"
PC or Mac for engineering tasks?
💡 Example: "PC or Mac for engineering tasks?"
Working with emerging tech or improving existing systems?
💡 Example: "Working with emerging tech or improving existing systems?"
Attending conferences in person or virtually?
💡 Example: "Attending conferences in person or virtually?"
Engineering podcasts or YouTube tutorials?
💡 Example: "Engineering podcasts or YouTube tutorials?"
Open source or proprietary software - what do you prefer?
💡 Example: "Open source or proprietary software - what do you prefer?"
Working with robotics or working with AI?
💡 Example: "Working with robotics or working with AI?"
Explaining concepts with analogies or detailed diagrams?
💡 Example: "Explaining concepts with analogies or detailed diagrams?"
Learning by doing or learning by reading?
💡 Example: "Learning by doing or learning by reading?"
Designing for sustainability or optimizing for cost?
💡 Example: "Designing for sustainability or optimizing for cost?"
Weekly standups or asynchronous updates - which do you prefer for team status?
💡 Example: "Weekly standups or asynchronous updates - which do you prefer for team status?"
To use these templates, simply copy and paste your chosen prompt into your community platform. You can schedule one weekly to keep engagement steady, or use them as conversation starters during quieter periods. Encourage members to share why they picked their answer to deepen the interaction. Rotate topics to touch on different aspects of engineering life, from work habits to favorite tools.
These templates are optimized for all platforms. Whether you manage a Slack workspace, Discord server, Facebook group, LinkedIn community, or forum, simply adjust formatting for your platform's best practices. Use polls if available, or invite replies in the thread. For chat-based platforms, pin the question for maximum visibility.
A This or That template is a simple post format that asks members to choose between two contrasting options, encouraging quick and fun engagement.
Aim for once a week or during periods of low activity. Consistent, but not overwhelming, use helps maintain interest and participation.
Yes, these prompts are crafted to be light, relevant, and non-controversial, making them suitable for both casual and professional environments.
Absolutely. Feel free to tweak the prompts to better fit your community's specialties, interests, or current projects.
Tag or mention active members, reply to answers to encourage discussion, and experiment with timing or topics to find what resonates best.
Yes. If your platform supports polls, these prompts make excellent poll questions. Otherwise, invite members to reply in comments or threads.
Ask follow-up questions, encourage members to explain their choices, or share your own answer to inspire more discussion.
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