Self-sent question (jisaku jien)

Overview

Jisaku jien (also shortened to jien, meaning a one-person act where you play both roles) is when a question box owner sends a question to themselves, answers it, and shares it. Because senders are anonymous on question box services, it's basically impossible for outsiders to tell a question the owner sent from one someone else sent. It's sometimes done to liven up a question box during a period when no questions come, or to bring up a topic the owner wants to talk about in a natural way.

Can people tell you sent it yourself?

Technically, the sender ID shown on the dashboard gives a clue as to whether a question was posted from the owner's own environment. However, even when the same person sends questions, the sender ID may change depending on the environment they send from.

From a follower's point of view, the writing style or content of a question may make them suspect it was self-sent. Unnatural signs like "it uses the same phrases the owner usually uses," "a question on a topic the owner seems eager to talk about arrives with perfect timing," or "the question is oddly polite and specific" can make people suspect it was self-sent.

Is sending yourself questions a bad thing?

Opinions on self-sent questions are split. From a negative point of view, it's a dishonest act that deceives followers, and if it's found out, it badly damages trust. From a positive point of view, it's a reasonable way to "prime the pump" and break out of the zero-question state of a question box that has just started.

Right after opening a question box, no questions may come. Some followers hesitate to "be the first to send a question to a box that has no questions yet." Sending the first few questions yourself aims to create the impression of "a question box that's getting questions" and invite questions from other followers.

Ways to collect questions without sending them yourself

There are several ways to collect questions without sending them yourself. First, suggest specific question topics. Narrowing the range, as in "Ask me about the dishes I've been into lately" or "I'm taking questions about work worries," makes it easier for followers to think of a question than "Ask me anything."

Posting regular calls for questions is also important. Just putting your question box URL in your profile doesn't guarantee your followers will notice it. Once or twice a week, ask for questions in Stories or a post, then answer the questions you get with care and share them. It's good to make this cycle a habit.