Off-Topics Forum Research Poll

[Gregrios]

If I were you OP, I would look at the existing threads containing all poll options. A thread's popularity precisely dictates it's own success. From what I've noticed, sports threads don't seem to get alot of attention while threads about movies, music, and entertainment in general seem to do half decent. Actually, I'd probably put politics in that catagory too. Threads about religion seem to really explode with posts and therefore gives you a good idea for what would be the topic with the most longevity. I only say this because I assume that you'd be looking for something that will last. Then again, assumptions have a strange way of coming back and kicking you in the arse.

[Krueger]

On thing that could keep this site more family friendly for the non-prems would be to make some topics accessible only to prems. One site that I visit is mmba.org. They have it set up so that non members cannot see "The Basement" and the "Let's Talk Politics forums". (Check it out, you will not see those two forums) It works well for that site.

What on earth for, what purpose would that serve on a site like this? What topics would you have be premium only? And how would you enforce it?

Perhaps I should have said block a sub-forum and not a topic.

You ask why, and what purpose?
It would keep the forums that have much heated discussions out of sight. It would also keep people that would a use non-prem multi from posting in those forums. You know you've see it when someone will make a multi just to try to shake things up by posting a comment or whatever.
What topics: The Much ado about nothing, and a Politics forum.

[cyrenius]

Religion & politics

[MeDeFe]

On thing that could keep this site more family friendly for the non-prems would be to make some topics accessible only to prems. One site that I visit is mmba.org. They have it set up so that non members cannot see "The Basement" and the "Let's Talk Politics forums". (Check it out, you will not see those two forums) It works well for that site.

What on earth for, what purpose would that serve on a site like this? What topics would you have be premium only? And how would you enforce it?

Perhaps I should have said block a sub-forum and not a topic.

You ask why, and what purpose?
It would keep the forums that have much heated discussions out of sight.

What good would that do? What's so bad about heated discussion that the non-paying public can't see it? Nudity and flames are already banned, you can hardly get more family-friendly than that. It doesn't hurt a 12-year old to see threads where people debate religion or politics, I think it would do them good to see it.

It would also keep people that would a use non-prem multi from posting in those forums. You know you've see it when someone will make a multi just to try to shake things up by posting a comment or whatever.

I have, and honestly, I don't mind, it doesn't happen very often and is usually more entertaining than annoying. Shaking things up isn't always bad. In any case this would have the side effect of keeping out all the freemiums who have something worthwhile to say, and that's a price I wouldn't want to pay even if there were a bot advertising for penis enlargements and medical treatments for hair loss that could only be kept out by creating a pay-for-access part of the forum.

What topics: The Much ado about nothing, and a Politics forum.

MAAN is currently the politics forum, as well as the debate-about-religion, debate-about-history, debate-about-science and debate-about-philosophy forum, often two or more of those topics go hand in hand. There isn't always a clear distinction between them. Just take a look at the gay threads: social issues, legal questions, moral issues, religious issues, historical comparisons, questions of biology and nature vs. nurture. I think that pretty much coveres all the topics for debate I listed before, so under which forum would you put it? It is a political subject, but it's also more than that. Others have said it already, there's no good reason to split up MAAN any further, it isn't broken, so don't try to fix it.

[xelabale]

Can we change the name, I think I've just got used to MAAN. How about: Kissing Full Sense Into Empty Words (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)?

[JJM]

I say we see how many people want to have a separate thread for separate topics.

[azezzo]

Suggest a beastiality forum, something like, " Turtles and the men who love them " forum.
We can have discussions like the pros and cons of dating a snapping turtle.
or Women who have a nice "box" turtle.

[Dancing Mustard]

This forum needs two things:

1. More tits.

2. Moar Mudkipz.

[Snorri1234]

TIts are morally wrong.

[e_i_pi]

TIts are morally wrong.

What sort of tits have you been looking at? Weirdo...

[jonesthecurl]

TIts are morally wrong.

What sort of tits have you been looking at? Weirdo...

Evil commie tits with gay tendencies

[Woodruff]

Truthfully, it seems to me that "Much Ado About Nothing" really is nice as a catch-all...I don't think I'd enjoy having to check multiple fora to get the same information. It seems to me that you'd be added a level of complexity that is unnecessary.

[Dancing Mustard]

Truthfully, it seems to me that "Much Ado About Nothing" really is nice as a catch-all...I don't think I'd enjoy having to check multiple fora to get the same information. It seems to me that you'd be added a level of complexity that is unnecessary.

100% agree.

Further sub-forums would just be change for the sake of change and a use of admin-powers just for the sake of using admin-powers. I honestly don't believe that I (or many others) would benefit from any further sub-categorisation, things are fine as they are.

[chaosfactor]

This forum needs two things:

1. More tits.

2. More tits..

There are Tits in abundance already in this forum, unfortunately they are not the kind of hand-full that I like to get to grips with..

Now if your talking Titties then thats fine with me, in fact I bought it up already a few pages back and painstakingly went into the finer detail of how we could float the Conquer Club Porn Empire. I had it all mapped out and stated a reasonable argument that without having the dirge of flamewars anymore, what we needed here was a new front to entice a wider audience, basically a whole load of filth glamorized with a gaming front.
Do away with those coloured digits stationed in far flung countries, change them to something more enticing. I know for a fact if I had a squadron of titties garrisoned in Alaska, I sure as hell would be fuming if a load of cocks invaded me from Russia. But having said that, if my bollocks were defending the English borders and they got invaded by a burlesque pole dancing team from France, then I wouldn't be to upset with losing my bonus..

If you back track you will find that this serious injection to this debate was completely ignored by everyone, (well other than DM), bringing me to wonder about the sexual orientation and desires of the gaming population that inhabit these realms. Off they went again, trolling up this board with nominations for sport, politics and religion, (did I miss something in life?) I thought war and sex were at the forefront of every young mans dreams..

Oh, sorry I stand corrected, I wasn't totally ignored, Andy Duf plastered me with a warning for posting a porn link, (only supplied for educational reasons), to which I rather impishly countered by beating the crap out of him in Mybrute.com
http://andy-duff.mybrute.com/vs/chaosfactor

Vote Titties

[Optimus Prime]

Hey guys,

I meant to get back here a little sooner, but other work had me tied up a little longer than I had planned. First off, lets keep it on topic, discussions about titties and other sundry things isn't what this thread is all about. Secondly, it looks like there has been some good feedback both for and against the idea of splitting of some forums with dedicated topical areas.

I'd like to mention a few things to keep discussion flowing and see what else there is to hear from all of you.

1. If a split is made of any kind, they will not be sub-forums, but rather full forums listed directly below the general "off-topics" forum. I don't know if that changes anyone's thoughts or not, but I saw the word sub-forum being thrown around a lot and don't want to give the wrong impression.

2. The main idea behind considering a small split of topical areas is due to some research I've done in forums around the web. Most large forum communities (which I think we can rightly consider ourselves) tend to have at least a handful of dedicated topical forums for the express purpose of making certain areas easier to find for newer community members. Obviously there is something to be said for not tweaking too much, and not too fast, but I think that pulling out one or two particular areas will help some individuals who arrive at the forum for the first time find things a little easier and retain them a little better.

3. Hence, the research and interest in what you guys have to say about it. It wouldn't make much sense to split off a forum for dog and cat lovers if that isn't a regularly discussed topic, but it seems that some sort of "Entertainment" area and perhaps a "Politics" or "Politics and Religion" area could be worth a closer look.

Changes for this particular item are still a little ways off as I have some other things in my docket ahead of this, but I'd appreciate continued discussion as possible.

Regards, OP

[Dancing Mustard]

1. If a split is made of any kind, they will not be sub-forums, but rather full forums listed directly below the general "off-topics" forum. I don't know if that changes anyone's thoughts or not, but I saw the word sub-forum being thrown around a lot and don't want to give the wrong impression.

Yeah, I still say no split.

So far as I'm concerned, those two states of affairs really aren't that different. Don't break us up just now.

Most large forum communities (which I think we can rightly consider ourselves)

Userbase-wise, sure.

Forumuser-wise, I think not.

Peoplewhoactuallyusetheforumyou'rethinkingofsplitting-wise, definitely not.

express purpose of making certain areas easier to find for newer community members.

What is it that you fear can't be found in here?

Only the threads on roughly the top 2/3 of the first page are active anyway. If we had multiple pages of active threads or lots of "hey, where did that thread go" posts, then I think you'd have a point... but right now? We just don't have that much traffic in this area.

I think that pulling out one or two particular areas will help some individuals who arrive at the forum for the first time find things a little easier and retain them a little better.

Nah, I think that by splitting the forums down you'll just create, at best cliquey little backwaters into which new-users will find it harder to easily enter, or at worst little forum ghost towns that nobody goes to and which get little/no passing traffic.

it seems that some sort of "Entertainment" area and perhaps a "Politics" or "Politics and Religion" area could be worth a closer look.

Nah, both exist side-by-side quite happily. If one was stifling the other, or if the two were butting heads too much, then I'd be all for this. But at present it just seems like splitting for splitting's sake... there's just no need for it and there's nothing to be gained. By keeping the two together then you guarantee the maximum possible traffic in each thread, keeping this place vibrant and active. Split it up and you'll just slow things down and decrease the number of total posts in each thread.

I have some other things in my docket ahead of this

Mate, just take it off your docket altogether. There's really no need for this, it's not a change that would help anything, it's just a change that would reduce overall activity.

[jonesthecurl]

I totally agree.

[john9blue]

Actually I agree too. Making a "serious business" forum or whatever split would be more trouble than it's worth. I like the variety of topics that crop up here.

[MeDeFe]

Consider this a fourth agreement.

[Simon Viavant]

fifthed

[Iliad]

I'll throw my hat in for sixth.

[pmchugh]

It's almost unanimous, there is no point in splitting this up.


p.s Seventhed.

[Lucarilover240]

Eighthed.

[Neoteny]

There don't seem to be many objections to that. I'll toss my agreement in too.

[DAZMCFC]

There don't seem to be many objections to that. I'll toss my agreement in too.

so if you've ninethed it, i'll tenthed it.