[1] The term originally referred to mailing list discussions, but has been applied to Usenet posts, blogs, web forums, and online content in general.
[2] The dilemma arises because a lack of response does not necessarily imply that no one is interested in the topic, but could also mean for example that readers find the content to be exceptionally good (leaving nothing for commenters to add).
Warnock's dilemma leads to online writers and publishers adopting more provocative writing strategies in order to ensure that they will get a response.
[4][5] However, this can also lead publishers to avoid producing the kind of content that might fail to generate comments due to its high quality.
[6] The problem with no response is that there are five possible interpretations: Since Warnock's original description of the dilemma in August 2000, the expression has become used in the Perl world.