In regards to the original question, I've only posted a topic once, and it got lost in a sea of 4chan posts IMMEDIATELY afterward.
It's something of a catch 22 starting a topic here. You'll likely get the "use searchbar" or "this has been done ____ times before" replies. On the other hand, if you prepare for this by actually using the searchbar, and posting in an existing discussion, you get hassled for resurrecting an older thread.
In the end, though, it doesn't really matter. Unless you're after the badge, starting a discussion thread isn't as important as the discussion itself.