How come starting a discussion does not count as a post?

It counts as a post as soon as someone responds to it. It's sort of like a safety guard to make sure people don't inflate their post count (and earnings) by posting meaningless discussions that no one will ever answer. Remember...you can't have a "discussion" with yourself, you need someone else to answer back for it to qualify.

I've started lots of discussion and my understanding is that as long as you get 10 responses to your discussion you then get paid for the discussion. I hope that helps. "COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS" **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~

foxyfire is correct, that is why we all have to be thankful to the first respondent. whether the answer makes sense or not, it puts our post in the discussion page making us earn points :)

Well you propably started a very poor discussion or maybe a there already was a discussion like that. You should write more information in your discussion starting posts and you will propably get more credit. Don't ba lazy and research a little on the subject before you start the discussion.