Numerous Boards

ecksor

I remember that as someone telling you to mind your own business.

I think I need a link in my signature to a "Who is ecksor and why is he oppressing" me style explanation page.

Beruthiel

DeVore wrote:

I think a little pee came out.

you've mentioned this problem on more than one thread
they sell bags for that now I believe

Dont be at yourself

The more boards* that are created, the more segregated, fragmented, time consuming and clique-driven the discussion becomes, which isn't a good thing.

*that's boards where topics are already adequately covered on existing boards, ie. rock/metal from music/radio and the ps2/xbox from games.

DeVore

Lack of subcategorisation causes less discussion. Its an observed phenomenon that Ecksor and I have talked about a few times. For whatever reason people who are keenly interested in a topic tend not to post about it on general forums related to that topic. We're taking a "if we build it they will come" approach now. If it does work we'll move it all back to Games. Why dont we wait and see.

DeV.

ps: Ecksor, yes actually now that you say it I think it was aimed at me. Wasnt there something similar at that same time said to you? On Science or something?

ecksor

I don't recall.

Dont be at yourself

Lack of subcategorisation causes less discussion.

That's true, but only to a point. The line must be drawn somewhere, otherwise we'd have thousands and thousands of boards, and I believe that somewhere to be where the existing boards are coping absolutely fine with the topics. I don't think there's much more scope for topics relating to issues of a single console than what already makes it way onto the games board.

And even so, I'd take issue with the manner of the subcatergorisation. It's a very scattershot approach to board creation, and I don't think it's working. Looking at the games drop-down, it's laughable. We've got the games board, console specific boards, genre specific boards, game specific boards... it's all so haphazard and there's so much over-lap that my head hurts just thinking of where to post. A thread on Need For Speed Underground 2, for example, could theoretically be posted on, ooh, 4 different boards. If you do insist on breaking down the games board, breaking it down in a structured, intuitive manner would be much more welcomed than as it stands at the moment.

Brerrabbit

I agree with a lot of what Sangre said. Personally unless I have an interest in say "advanced blindfolded charades" or whatever I'm not going to bother even viewing the forum but I may become interested in it after seeing a thread about it in say a "general blindfold games" forum. Bad example I know, but I don't whant to give a real example and have folks saying that the herbal tea (or whatever) forum is alive and kicking. also I am full of buns and tea and not thinking too clearly.

My point is that all the specialisation does certainly give a home to those who are particullarly interested in a subject but it also isolates itself from potential enthusiasts who havent discovered it yet.

One of the things I've always enjoy about boards is seeing something new on the front page say, and following the thread, finding something new and interesting and following it over time. I just dont see myself trawling through dozens of "Isn't X great threads" to find the occasional nugget of fun.

My personal favourite forums have always been those where you never know whats going to come up next; the general games, films, television and music forums say. But I can't remember the last time I even glanced at any of the music forums since they were segregated. I have over the years discovered a lot of things, music, films, whatever that I don't think I'd find now under the more specialised categories.

besides a lot of topic specific boards already exist on the net,
True, you could always just sub to certain forums and ignore others but then that's just creating intellectual stagnation for yourself.

Open discussion always needs structure true but it also benefits from having a real milieu of topics, individuals and opinions which having a more restricted set up may damage.

That being said enthusiasts of particular subjects understandably welcome forums dedicated to their interests and that's great, it allows them to have more in depth discussions about their particular passion and allows them to talk with others who share their interests. And that is great too, the only thing is I don't think it would be as noob friendly. An individual who's looking for a forum on a specific topic might just do a google and then go to a dedicated underwater origami board rather than investigating a small section of a larger site (such as this one)

It really comes down to balancing the needs of specialists versus those of generalists. As a kind of internet bear foraging for interesting campers I favour the generalists.
Now I think I'm going to have another bun and a cup of tea.

DeVore

"My point is that all the specialisation does certainly give a home to those who are particullarly interested in a subject but it also isolates itself from potential enthusiasts who havent discovered it yet. "

Thats not true imho. The poker forum has created and supported a vibrant new community of young poker players in Dublin and beyond. That just would not have happened in a General Card Games forum, not unless it was simply over run with Poker posts to the extent that it *became* a poker forum in all but name. The bridge players wouldnt be happy now would they!

What annoys me is that we've GIVEN the generalists the tools to remain generalists. Go to the front page and click the "Music" link directly under the Grey thin banner that reads "Latest Posts". That will bring you the last 20 posts from ALL the music forums. Which is exactly what you say you would prefer in one big forum neh?

I'd like those two points answered directly by anyone commenting further as I cant see past them at the moment.

DeV.

Brerrabbit

"What annoys me is that we've GIVEN the generalists the tools to remain generalists. Go to the front page and click the "Music" link directly under the Grey thin banner that reads "Latest Posts". That will bring you the last 20 posts from ALL the music forums. Which is exactly what you say you would prefer in one big forum neh?"

fair point; I never noticed that before :rolleyes: I'll be using that feature in future


"The poker forum has created and supported a vibrant new community of young poker players in Dublin and beyond. That just would not have happened in a General Card Games forum, not unless it was simply over run with Poker posts to the extent that it *became* a poker forum in all but name. The bridge players wouldnt be happy now would they!"

another fair point but (bearing in mind that I haven't really been to the poker section that much -besides really enjoying the game) would I be right in saying that most of the Poker forum users were existing members when the board was set up rather that noobs who joined to post almost exclusively in that section?

It just seems to me that having a more specialised layout may discourage some potential members from posting. That being said, Boards doesn't seem to have any trouble attracting new members and as an existing member that end of it doesn't really concern me that much.

Well maybe you're right and the specialisation might enrich the discussion on boards , I like your "wait and see" attitude incidentally, I think that has been overlooked by some.

BTW I think that talk of a "boycott" regarding the new games forum was pretty light hearted, I don't think it was intended as a "threat". I don't know if tis possible to "boycott" something you've never used, It would be like me boycotting the stone masons, or cabbage

on second thoughts I think I'm going to boycott brussel sprouts, wretched things

Karl Hungus

I understand perfectly where DeVore is coming from here, with reguards to creating the Poker board, and I have to say he's completely right. In that sense, I'd fully support a Comedians board under the arts section, because as it is, the humour board just isn't suitable for discussing the latest Bill Bailey show, or just how great Bill Hicks was.

Sangre

Since there are so many forums on boards I think there is one to counter every single conceivable arguement

Basically, I don't think it works for the Games/Music forums. They're all too interlinked. There are more posts but there now so specific and confined.

The games industry is just way too conneceted to segregate without damaging discussion. There is also the fact its a lot harder to criticise something when it has its own forum....well, for some people I'd imagine.

(feedback is for gays imo)

Fobia

I'm not sure on whether separating the forums into subforums is a good idea or not, but testing the idea can't hurt, can it?

Goodshape

DeVore wrote:

Go to the front page and click the "Music" link directly under the Grey thin banner that reads "Latest Posts". That will bring you the last 20 posts from ALL the music forums.

That works really well actually. Almost completely nullifies peoples arguments here.. you want 'Games', you've got games.. want to refine that to 'Playstation', you got that too. Nice one.

I'm also finding some interesting topics I would have otherwise missed (.

My 2c - good work