If there were to be an IJBM II somewhere, what should it be like?

Note: I have no plans to create an IJBM II forum. If you do, feel free. I'm just posting a thread—and a serious one, so it doesn't get derailed by the massive amounts of wonderposting going on in IJBM currently—for if people want to plan this out.

First, you'll need to find free forum hosting. I've gotten a free forum before, though it never really got off the ground, so I can't say how much they like very high and intense amounts of traffic.

Along with this, you also need to pick forum software. I doubt Fast Eddie will release the source of this forum's code to you, so you'll have to find your own. To accommodate IJBM's very fast and easy posting tradition, you might want to look into systems other than PHPBB and IPB—for example, the very organization-light *chan and *booru boards may be ideas. There are also other systems that are less well-known, such as Vanilla.

Second, you'll need effective rules and moderation. Now I know people always say they don't like rules, but my serious take on this is that, if you just leave things to be whatever, you run a very real risk of internet community drama taking over and causing very, very nasty problems. Such as completely broken bases, hard feelings on all sides, and possible real-life consequences.

Not to mention that part of the fun here is actually seeing how much crazy nonsense and wonderposting people can get away with, and that doesn't mean much without rules. :P

You'll probably want rules that are about as lax as they are here—wonderposting and sockpuppets allowed, for example. However, you will have to draw the line somewhere, or you will end up with basically a clone of /b/ or something like that when all is said and done—lots of negativity, in-jokes, and things you won't want to have to deal with as a moderator, even if you're not here at TVT and concerned about this site's reputation. And keep in mind that high-intensity flaming, while possibly fun, is often draining and highly time-consuming—meaning that people will gradually drop out of the community, and new people won't want to come on due to the environment. You'll have to figure out how to moderate the new forum to avoid this fate.

Edit: I wonder how many IJBM posters will find this thread.

Or, how long it takes, since I'm tired of waiting by this point.

edited 28th Dec '10 10:42:46 PM by GlennMagusHarvey

Dibs on the B&hammer.

I should probably feel bad that I can't think of something more productive to say at the moment.

A lot of IJBM's culture was from a lot of the posters there just trying to see what they could get away with. There'd need to be a code of conduct that's laid out but not rigidly enforced.

It would however be difficult to get the same amount of traffic unless it's attached to another website like it is on TV Tropes. The attached website would have to be fairly broad scoped although trending towards the nerdy.

edited 29th Dec '10 12:55:13 PM by CBanana

I just hope IJBM doesn't come here, I love negativity and banter, but it was just getting too idiotic there. Too many weeaboos.

The only way a place like IJBM can work is if you have a disclaimer upon entering that says "This forum is absolutely unmoderated, enter at your own risk."

Shit, make a tiny little picture icon on the main forum hub you have to click to go to IJBM, so it's a relatively commonly known fact that you click that to go there, but newcomers won't wander into it. But the point is, moderation won't work there, moderating a forum based on the negative, but not too negative, is destined for failure.

edited 29th Dec '10 11:04:18 AM by Barkey

Works just fine in Gaia Online's LD subforum. So...you'd be wrong there.

Too many weeaboos.

I'm slightly tempted to say "wherever your crap goes", but that's not helpful.

^^

If the first thing you thought of was Gaia Online as an example, I'm automatically right. :P

Barkey, part of the problem with IJBM is that it has lots of traffic and that causes higher bandwidth costs. Even with ads, it doesn't pay for itself.

edited 29th Dec '10 10:05:15 PM by GlennMagusHarvey

Is this actually happening, or what?

It also needs some determined mods, lest the forum degenerate into {{4chan}}.

Barkey, part of the problem with IJBM is that it has lots of traffic and that causes higher bandwidth costs. Even with ads, it doesn't pay for itself.

I'm calling BS. Yack Fest moves like twice as fast. On a slow day.

It's called deviantArt's Complaints.

Is there something about OTC that allows a person to drop Weeaboo word without fear of retribution, but in IJBM you can expect a shitfest?

<Mod response>

OTC is about the stated topic of conversation. As long as the conversation doesn't turn into a discussion of "weeaboo", yes, it's ok to use it, within reason. So, back on topic, please.

edited 6th Jan '11 8:51:43 PM by Madrugada

Summary, what you should pay attention to when creating this:

• forum software
• effective, appropriate moderation
• hosting

Finding the software is the easy part. Based on what I've seen (but never used), Vanilla might be a good idea. However, as I said, that's the easy part.

You will need to figure out how to make rules such that they can let the spirit of IJBM continue without creating shitstorms. You will need moderators who are willing to dedicate what will likely be lots of time to the place. If you don't want it to become /b/, you will need moderation and carefully designed rules.

And finally, remember The Google Incident? Now imagine how much money it'll take to host an extremely hyper forum like IJBM or its descendant. You'll need to find someone to host that.

Honestly? I can't see anyone doing this. Because the mods here are right: Running an IJBM is just too much work.

I won't comment on the technical side of things, because I'm all but computer illiterate these days. But as to moderation...we'd need good people. Patient people with a decent sense of humor who won't use their god-mod powers to settle personal scores or give preferential treatment to their friends.

and can put up with all the crap a person in power has to deal with.

Rules:

Well, they should be the same in our hypothetical IJBM as they were in the original. Why? because everyone's right; seeing how far you can push a somewhat restrictive environment is more fun than just going apeshit with no consequences.

A big-ass ban-hammer would be a necessity. Snark does tend to get out of hand.

There lies the problems my good folks. Finding some people dedicated and patient enough to stick out the bs and laugh a little then smack it in the head when it gets the posting rabies. Really going through the various threads that crop in IJBM and thinking ok which thread goes over the line too much and which ones are ok is pretty messy act.

I think a *chan would work the best. But I'll be honest, I doubt it will work out. There is a reason why IJBM gets nuked, after all, and one would have to be very dedicated for it to work.