This New Fangled Subforum

Why did this sub-forum need to exist in the first place?

This is hardly a matter of need, if we go to need we can axe everything that's not the top-left corner of the forums. It's want. We want a silly forum, much like y'all wanted a serious forum, and y'all got one.

Why do we have to "need" it? Isn't the fact that some people would like it and enjoy posting there enough? One could easily argue that nobody "needed" this subforum.

This whole subfora was sort of a Sure, Why Not? thing. I also think assigning a whole subfora for silliness is kinda overkill given that people seem to enjoy the Trash Heap adequately and a certain amount of shitposting is accepted in that subfora.

If I recall, Charlatan, AU(?), Vorpy, and a few others made like a dozen silly threads every week awhile back. Why not just necro those?

Trash Heap's one thread, boyo.

And I think the influx of shitposting in Yack Fest recently is more than enough reason to make a place to filter that. That's actually not what Yack Fest is for, it's for "general conversation". Whatever that is.

Remember a few weeks back when we were petitioning to ban shitposting from Yack Fest? It would make that happen without pissing anyone off in the process. Not to mention, give us a place to clown about.

edited 14th Mar '11 10:48:40 PM by SpainSun

OK, here's how I see it.

I don't like neither the Anime (which I only visited once to create a thread about my EVA reviews and another time because Charlie linked me up to an idiotic discussion) nor the VG subforum (Where none of the games I've played get discussed in any depth and where all the threads about them are pretty much dead)

So, to me those two threads are a godsend. I want to be able to discuss the few things I know about Anime without having to make a conversation, and I want to discuss it in a relatively random manner. Same goes to Video Games.

I'm not a big fan of shitposting, personally. But, if we can't adhere a little bit of humor to this place, then there's no point and I wouldn't like it. But all of these fellas have thrown as many jokes as serious discussion in the few minutes I've been here.

So, well, the point I'm trying to make is, that there's nothing wrong with this existing and that I feel it was necessary.

Now, as for the Trash Heap, I have a bit of a hate-love relationship with that place. Random humor is not my thing, but I like the people there. If you lot get to expand, I won't complain nor I'll say anything. Just don't expect me to go there.

Those are my thought in the whole deal.

The problem, Spainy, is that we can't be sure a silly subfora would not devolve into /b/ lite.

We worry it would be as to stupidity what IJBM was to arguing.

@Charlie: That sounds like an issue of moderation more than anything else.

The potential for a burden on the mod team is indeed a valid point, though I'm sure we could find users willing to specifically moderate the silly subforum.

How is that a logical conclusion?

Think about what you're saying:

"Allow shitposting—>Silly Board becomes /b/!"

Have you ever been to /b/, man? We couldn't do that if we wanted to. /b/ is a bunch of people posting gorn. Not something Tropers are into. Not what we'd be using the subforum for, certainly.

IJBM's problem was in its very concept. "Bitch here" will ultimately lead to fighting. It's a given. "Be weird here" does not automatically entail mass IQ drop.

I'd do it.

edited 14th Mar '11 10:52:58 PM by SpainSun

As would I.

I'd probably volunteer, if I had any confidence in myself to do the job.

I personally think every subfora should have at least one dedicated mod, handpicked from the most consistently productive and levelheaded regulars in that fora. Additional mods could be hired as necessary.

I know the fora are not Eddie's primary concern, but if we can make the fora more self-governing then he has less on his plate and can focus more on the wiki.

@Spain: Point. Though I still worry it could get unmanageable without sinking to /b/ levels. (I shoulda said /b/ lite, if I didn't...)

edited 14th Mar '11 10:53:24 PM by Charlatan

So can we all agree on a few points?

1. Silly Board is not a bad idea.
2. Neither is this one.
3. Dedicated local moderators are a good thing.

as I said—

edited 14th Mar '11 10:55:14 PM by SpainSun

I indeed agree on these points.

@Charles: Ya did say /b/ lite. Anyway, if the point is making a new subforum, well, I think we should get rid of something at least.

I SAY WE GET RID OF WMG! IT'S USELESS ANYWAY

Here's the thing, Spain.

The mods don't want that.

Silly posts, see, are essentially worthless. They take up server space, and offer up what? A place to go be stupid?

What is the point of that?

Intelligent conversation ha the potential to make you think about things.

Silly posts are just that; silly. They serve no purpose other than to alleviate your sleepiness and tiredness. It benefits nobody but others who like being silly, and challenges not even them.

Likewise Cygan, intelligent posts benefit no one but those interested in them.

That argument cuts both ways. And again we ultimately need none of the forum to function except a few of the ones on the left side. This is not a matter of needs.

As for the server space argument. It's been mentioned before that the amount of server space posts make up is negligible.

edited 14th Mar '11 10:58:24 PM by SpainSun

I vote we wait for the almighties to put in their two cents first before we decide anything at this point.

I'm a little confused at how seriously you're taking this whole thing, though, Spain. Haven't you had similar reactions before about other things?

Yes, ultimately the creation of new subforums is up to the mods/admins, so we might as well wait for their input instead of continuing this argument.

I'm taking this seriously because this actually somewhat matters to me for a number of reasons, that I don't really feel like getting into.

Does this boil down to "some posters have a style I don't like that they want to enforce in a subforum that I don't have to visit"?

edited 14th Mar '11 11:00:51 PM by melloncollie

May I ask why you don't feel like explaining those reasons? Might put some valuable context into your arguments.

Such as, uh, the mods. And Fast Eddie. You know, the owner of the forum?

Again, FE started the original COB thread. If he wants us to aspire to a higher standard of something-or-other, that's not necessarily bad.

edited 14th Mar '11 11:03:21 PM by RocketDude

mellon: Have you read anything I've said?

I actually like this subforum. I just think it could use a counterpart.

Unless you're not talking to me, but in that case I have no idea who you'd be talking to.

And?

Once you start quantifying what is productive, you get back to the point that we don't need most of the forums we have here. Everything else is garnish.

edited 14th Mar '11 11:03:54 PM by SpainSun