AzureWolf Posted November 12, 2004 Share Posted November 12, 2004 [FONT=book antiqua][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue]Ok, this thing is essentially an idea I stole from Shy and messed around with. I think it would be cool if we could have subforums for the anime lounge again, but this time, they won't be static. Instead, they would rotate, based on what's hot and what's not. So, shows like [B]Bleach[/B] and [B]Ghost in the Shell: Sad Afro Cows[/B] would be things that would have a subforum currently. I think this idea would help facilitate discussion a little more orderly than "just one thread." I mean, using the Bleach thread as an example, I already see a few potential threads hindered by this predicament: [i][B]Bleach Episode ##, "Bleach, a Naruto (shadow) Clone?," "Manga Deviations: For Better or for Worse?,"[/B][/i] and [i][B]"Why Dan Rugh Sucks!"[/i][/B] are just a few undeveloped threads. What would happen to the threads after they die out? Well, we already have that "Anime Archives" area. We can put it to more use, no? And the anime lounge moderators are "in the know" enough that they can put in what's in and what's out without too much trouble. Just an idea, heh.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagger Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 I've seen high-traffic message boards which use this method, and it appears to work extremely well. However, here at OB there are only one or two shows (i.e. Fullmetal Alchemist) I'd consider capable of sustaining their own sub-forums, and I'm not totally sure that it would be worthwhile to implement a new system just for those. As another example, a lot of Naruto fans have sort of drifted away from the boards in the past few months, which means that the once highly active Naruto thread isn't updated nearly as often anymore. I can definitely see the same thing happening to Bleach once its episode count gets into the teens. The other downside of this is that the most popular series threads--such as the one revolving around Inuyasha--seem to draw slightly... er, sub-par members. Giving such anime their own section might only serve to exacerbate what is now a minor problem... just look at what became of the Yu Yu Hakusho forum. -_- The idea definitely has its merits (personally, I find it pretty interesting), but we have no way of knowing how well it would function at OB. I do think it deserves further exploration. ~Dagger~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzureWolf Posted November 13, 2004 Author Share Posted November 13, 2004 [quote name='Dagger IX1']As another example, a lot of Naruto fans have sort of drifted away from the boards in the past few months, which means that the once highly active Naruto thread isn't updated nearly as often anymore.[/quote][FONT=book antiqua][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue]Actually, I'm of the opinion that because Naruto didn't have a place where the topics could be neatly distributed, the ever-growing thread became more and more daunting. Certainly, no one wants to read a novel before putting their two cents in. To have to shuffle through unrelated posts (with respect to the topic of interest) to make sure your post won't be redundant is quite a hassle, and more than likely the reason the Naruto thread waned. At least, I can vouch for the Uchiha, who started the thread. In theory, every show, no matter how good, is going to wane in its popularity. That's why the rotation idea should be put into place. That way, when a show is new, fresh, and hot, all the discussions possible will be generated. Then when it starts to suck, dump the thing in the anime archives and have the next thing big thing. It wouldn't hurt to try, right? The anime lounge hasn't exactly been "Studio 69" as of late.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagger Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 [QUOTE=AzureWolf][FONT=book antiqua][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue]Actually, I'm of the opinion that because Naruto didn't have a place where the topics could be neatly distributed, the ever-growing thread became more and more daunting. Certainly, no one wants to read a novel before putting their two cents in. To have to shuffle through unrelated posts (with respect to the topic of interest) to make sure your post won't be redundant is quite a hassle, and more than likely the reason the Naruto thread waned. At least, I can vouch for the Uchiha, who started the thread. In theory, every show, no matter how good, is going to wane in its popularity. That's why the rotation idea should be put into place. That way, when a show is new, fresh, and hot, all the discussions possible will be generated. Then when it starts to suck, dump the thing in the anime archives and have the next thing big thing. It wouldn't hurt to try, right? The anime lounge hasn't exactly been "Studio 69" as of late.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE] No kidding... *gets depressed* :( Another nifty thing about this is the ability to resurrect stagnant sub-forums if the anime in question suddenly gets a second, third or fourth season. That's what impressed me most when I first saw it in action, so to speak. I guess the difference between us is that you see it as a way to draw more activity and revitalize the AL--and while I would love to think that it could, I feel a bit more cautious. Hypothetically, it might be a good idea to create some kind of poll so that members could vote for which sub-forum they'd most like to see next. I'm also somewhat concerned that the addition of extra sections might leave Tokyo-3 severely under-moderated... Solo already has to look out for the entire category, after all, and with new sub-forums he would be forced to put in a [I]ton[/I] of work. ~Dagger~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 [color=#707875]The difficulty with this idea is that it could be a little messy to implement. I mean, if we create a sub-forum for a specific anime, all related threads (or at least the latest ones) would need to be moved to that sub-forum. Then, when the sub-forum needs to be removed, those threads would have to be moved around a second time. It may not sound like much, but if you're frequently rotating sub-forums like that, it becomes time consuming and potentially a little confusing for members. If you look at the Play It forum, you will see evidence of how the "one thread per subject" can work at its best. At the end of the day, all we are really talking about is creating more sub-divisions. My feeling is that it is possible to have one single thread about Bleach, for example, which covers anything related to that franchise. It's possible to address multiple points within one post, for example (as is often the case anyway). If you look at the Play It forum, you can see that there are two types of threads. One type is a franchise-specific thread (where you only talk about that franchise), the other type is a more "general" thread, where you may want to make broader comparisons or discuss broader anime or gaming topics. My feeling is that this process can work in Anime Lounge too. However, Anime Lounge is possibly falling into a habit where this process is not being strictly adhered to. In Play It, the staff had to be very firm and very active all the time for a couple of weeks, in order to really clearly demonstrate how things work. I think it's the same in AL. AL is possibly at a slight disadvantage because of the fact that it's a more active forum in general, though. When it came time to design Version 7, I can tell you that I had considered many ideas; one of them would have seen a much broader selection of sub-forums and things of that nature. However, my feeling is that OB does not have the membership numbers to maintain that sort of environment. In order to make that successful, you really need to have a very large amount of activity to keep those areas afloat. Even with the most popular series, I daresay that we'd only see a couple of threads that might only spawn a few dozen responses. Part of this really comes down to a change in OB's dynamics in general, I think. You'll find that the most active segments of OB today are The Arena and The Prefecture, rather than in Tokyo 3. So, that's my longwinded response. Don't get me wrong; I think it's a great idea and I really love to see members taking the initiative to develop new ideas for OB. But by the same token, I think it's important that I really lay out my reasoning and feelings behind these ideas, rather than simply saying "Yes" or "No".[/color] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solo Tremaine Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 [quote name='Mr. Jeh][color=#707875']However, my feeling is that OB does not have the membership numbers to maintain that sort of environment. In order to make that successful, you really need to have a very large amount of activity to keep those areas afloat. Even with the most popular series, I daresay that we'd only see a couple of threads that might only spawn a few dozen responses.[/color][/quote][COLOR=#503F86]I agree that giving an anime its own forum would help diversify discussion over a subject, but at the moment I don't think we have the concentration of specific anime fans to justify creating any sub-forums. The Outlaw Star, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun and Ninja Scroll sub-forums were never hugely active as far as I was aware- there certainly weren't many threads in there when i came to see them, and they were all annexed into AL pretty soon afterwards. Forums like Digimon and Yu-Gi-Oh worked well because they had a large fanbase to keep them going, but over time it diminished and the posts lessened every day. With the huge amount of anime being churned out at the moment and with them all becoming more widely available through DVD releases and downloads and what-have-you I'm surprised anyone has enough time to look into all of them in as much detail as to create hundreds of threads about them (except Dagger, heh). With something like Naruto, I think the fanbase would increase once its English dub is finally secured and it's released on a wider scale- then we might have scope to create a sub-forum for it. I'd love to see a return of discussions as in those we saw in the Digimon forum aeons ago. Right now, though it doesn't seem like it's going to happen, at least for a while.[/COLOR] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 [color=#707875]Also, you only have to take a look at our Dragon Ball forum. That was always our most successful forum. It is the one forum that has had the most insanely high activity -- during its peak it totally dwarfed the rest of the site. But really, since that period, we just haven't seen anything like it. Even the most successful franchises (which used to have their own sub-forums) were really dragging their feet. They were barely alive. So, the idea itself is great. The problem isn't with the idea, it's just a question of the reality at OB as it stands currently.[/color] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagger Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 While we're on this subject... Azure, I noticed you mentioned that you and others find extremely long threads to be off-putting or intimidating. What some forums do is designate one series-specific topic, but then lock it off after two hundred posts or so and start a new official topic--i.e. "Inuyasha Discussion, Part II," complete with a link to the previous thread. I think this might complicate things in terms of the directory sticky and searches and such, but I'm wondering whether you feel such a policy would make the most bloated topics seem more inviting. Also--and here's a question for everyone--do you think the majority of members dislike super-long threads? I know "Star Wars 411," for example, is really venerated here, but I can't tell if that's the exception or the rule. ~Dagger~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godelsensei Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 [COLOR=Gray][FONT=Courier New]If a topic has been going for a long time, coming in not knowing what's already been discussed can be rather frustrating. Also, searching for posts can get difficult, if you're trying to figure out who's been quoted so you can read their entire say. Very long threads typically end up spammier than shorter ones, as well. Things like that.[/FONT][/COLOR] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzureWolf Posted November 16, 2004 Author Share Posted November 16, 2004 [quote name='Dagger IX1']Azure, I noticed you mentioned that you and others find extremely long threads to be off-putting or intimidating. What some forums do is designate one series-specific topic, but then lock it off after two hundred posts or so and start a new official topic--i.e. "Inuyasha Discussion, Part II," complete with a link to the previous thread. I think this might complicate things in terms of the directory sticky and searches and such, but I'm wondering whether you feel such a policy would make the most bloated topics seem more inviting.[/quote][FONT=book antiqua][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue]Personally, I don't see why we need to cling to the past so strongly. Certainly, m@d_sk1llz isn't staring at his computer, twidling his thumbs and thinking, "Boy, I sure hope someone responds to my gripe about the music in Inuyasha from 2001 so I can reply!" What I mean is, if the posts have gone months (or weeks in some cases) without being addressed, not only will few people bother responding, but the person who made the initial post won't really care enough to continue discussing. Also, by making the thread big and scary, you have to wonder if your topic has already been addressed, and if your two cents were already mentioned. What's so bad about reiterating someone's two cents? Well, first you have the fact that there will be those people who posted the same two cents not caring since the person didn't care enough to address their post, and then you have the others who will be like, "wtf? That's already been discussed, so no need to respond." On the other hand, if you have a fresh new thread in what is ultimately a new environment (new members perusing the boards, catching members with more or less free time), the topic with poorly-developed discussion could now become the hottest topic because of others' opinions, new angles, and whatever-have-you. Let's not forget some people do change their minds. Keep in mind that all of these ideas are derived by my own feelings and opinions. I really don't know why others feel the same (never bothered to ask), but it is likely that some of our reasons overlap.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted November 16, 2004 Share Posted November 16, 2004 [color=#707875]I don't think that this is a question of clinging to the past at all. On the contrary, actually. I am always the person who is most eager to change things. lol The problem is that the suggested system has been attempted before in various ways and I don't believe that we have the membership activity to justify it at this moment. That's not to say that it can't work in future, or that we can't perhaps attempt a variation on that theme. Most of the threads we are talking about (the larger ones on one subject) [i]aren't[/i] that large in general. And even the very largest threads (like Star Wars 411) manage to continue to be active. People who are following the discussion know what's going on and people who join in late can jump in at any time. I don't really see any evidence of it being confusing or misleading -- people were complaining when we had far too many variations on one particular subject, previously (like a million threads about one anime). That problem is the reverse, where you have a discussion that isn't focused enough and that is dissipated far too much. So, yeah. My concerns stem from my experience running the site for several years. I'm always willing to entertain ideas, but this isn't a new idea -- it's been done and we've done it ourselves. But it hasn't worked here. So, that's really what it comes down to -- what will and won't work at OtakuBoards. Right now I think we're between being a very large and a very small community. It can be difficult to organize a site that has so many different behaviors/patterns within the one site. Edit: Just to add something, related to in-thread searching. We implemented the "topic per game" rule in Play It so that the search function's usefulness would be increased significantly. If we have multiple threads on one subject, members may accidentally post in older threads (as in, not the most recent iteration of a particular discussion), which causes problems. For one, their replies may not be responded to because they are not posting in the latest thread. [i]Or[/i], alternatively, a discussion gets dragged between two threads simultaneously, which has the effect of diluting both discussions at the same time. I don't believe that our current system is at all perfect, but that's not the point really; it's a question of getting a close to the sweet spot as we can. We're a lot closer to it now than we were when we had several forums for several different anime. If a member is too intimidated to post in a thread simply as a result of its size, then I would question whether or not OtakuBoards is the appropriate destination for them in the first place, really.[/color] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brasil Posted November 16, 2004 Share Posted November 16, 2004 To answer Dagger's question about super-long threads...it really depends on what the thread is, I think. I mean, Star Wars 411 is insanely long, but because the subject matter is actually interesting and engaging, I think that's why people enjoy that thread. Conversely, when particular mind-numbingly trite and dull threads in OL span into the 14-page length, and lack no real substance to them apart from repetition, I think people tire of those fairly quickly. I've not been in Anime Lounge lately...or ever, come to think of it, so I can't really comment there. But I think it's worth mentioning that a super-long thread is only good when the discussion is good, like SW411. A few pages ago, there was a fantastic debate over the Good/Evil aspects in the films, and there's a nice discussion going on right now about the various books and Special Edition DVDs recently released. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzureWolf Posted November 18, 2004 Author Share Posted November 18, 2004 [quote name='James']If a member is too intimidated to post in a thread simply as a result of its size, then I would question whether or not OtakuBoards is the appropriate destination for them in the first place, really.[/quote][FONT=book antiqua][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue]I take great offence to that comment. First off, just because a topic is extremely large and verbose doesn't mean it has as much content as it makes itself out to be. I dare say there are quite a few "legendary" threads in the RPG area that were just large for the sake of appearing "epic" and amazing. When you read for actual substance, there's little to be found relative to its reputation. Second, it's a big mistake to think that quality is directly proportional to quantity. Some of these threads have outdated information that can't be applied anymore - a wasted read (and time) for someone who wants to enter the discussion and introduce something new. A good example would be in the Play It forum, where a "preview" of the game isn't really useful anymore. People talking about the possibility of X being implemented, or Y character introduced, and so forth isn't something that can be used in the discussion anymore. In short, just because a member has little patience to enter a discussion doesn't mean it is deserving for him to wade through what could potentially be weak and wordy posts to do so. I know you are more experienced on board-related matters, and because of my inexperience, I have little choice but to agree. However, I was around for v6, whose anime section never missed a day for posting. On v7, however, I've seen this happen at least once or twice already. So, v6 was far more active that v7 - at least that what it seems to me. If things are truly better now than they were before, so be it. Haha, but it just appears to me to be the opposite is all. I don't enter many parts of OB. Only the Anime Lounge, Manga W, Otaku Lounge, and of course Suggestions/Feedback are the ones I frequent, so the inactivity may only apply to those forums. The others I may occasion and have little knowledge of. If the problem for everything is that OB is just too small for it, isn't there anything that can be done about it?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baron Samedi Posted November 18, 2004 Share Posted November 18, 2004 [size=1]There is an alternative, of course. In New Threads for the AL, why not have an 'Anime Selection' area. This would then be used in conjunction with a filter to display AL threads that have a particular anime selector activated. This way you can have lots of threads on individual animes, but at the same time, make it easy to find the anime you want.[/size] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted November 18, 2004 Share Posted November 18, 2004 [quote name='AzureWolf][font=book antiqua][size=2][color=blue']I take great offence to that comment. First off, just because a topic is extremely large and verbose doesn't mean it has as much content as it makes itself out to be. I dare say there are quite a few "legendary" threads in the RPG area that were just large for the sake of appearing "epic" and amazing. When you read for actual substance, there's little to be found relative to its reputation.[/quote][/color][/size][/font] [size=2][color=#0000ff][/color][/size] [font=book antiqua][size=2][color=blue][color=dimgray]Wait a moment, I don't quite think you're understanding what I meant with that comment.[/color][/color][/size][/font] [font=book antiqua][size=2][color=blue][color=#696969][/color][/color][/size][/font] [font=book antiqua][size=2][color=blue][color=#696969]I am not trying to imply that a large thread automatically equates to a high quality thread. In fact, that would go against everything I've been saying from day one. So we can throw that notion out the window right now. lol[/color][/color][/size][/font] [font=book antiqua][size=2][color=blue][color=#696969][/color][/color][/size][/font] [font=book antiqua][size=2][color=blue][color=#696969]What I'm saying is that if a member is intimidated by a thread's size, it probably has to do with them simply not wanting to invest a little effort to at least skim through it and see what's there. Make no mistake; just about all threads, no matter how large or small, are going to have varying quality from post to post. Substance is substance, regardless of the thread's length. But a large thread shouldn't be intimidating by default, particularly if we are always encouraging people to pay attention to the discussion.[/color][/color][/size][/font] [size=2][color=#696969][quote=AzureWolf][/color][/size][font=book antiqua][size=2][color=blue] Second, it's a big mistake to think that quality is directly proportional to quantity. Some of these threads have outdated information that can't be applied anymore - a wasted read (and time) for someone who wants to enter the discussion and introduce something new. A good example would be in the Play It forum, where a "preview" of the game isn't really useful anymore. People talking about the possibility of X being implemented, or Y character introduced, and so forth isn't something that can be used in the discussion anymore.[/quote] [size=2][color=dimgray]Again, I don't know where you drawing that assumption from. lol[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]I have always said -- and will continue to say -- that quality and quantity are not one in the same. Nobody here, as far as I can see, is making that argument. [/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]The comment about a preview thread is also somewhat erroneous. It ignores the possibility for a thread to evolve and change. Although people should remain on-topic, it's entirely possible for one thread to contain multiple strands of conversation -- and to change over time.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]The best example of this might be the Nintendo DS thread. That thread has had many points of discussion in it, but it's progressed beautifully. Everyone is keeping up to date with it (at least within the last page or two, which is fine) and as more information comes out, more questions are answered. When the system is released soon, people will be able to use that thread to talk about the system as someone who has played it themselves. In other words, the thread won't simply need to die just because it began by discussing a prospective release.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]The same is true for absolutely any subject. It would be possible to create a Star Wars: Episode III thread right now, and discuss the trailer...and then still be using that thread to talk about the movie itself upon its release.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][quote=azurewolf][/color][/size] In short, just because a member has little patience to enter a discussion doesn't mean it is deserving for him to wade through what could potentially be weak and wordy posts to do so.[/quote] [size=2][color=dimgray]He doesn't have to read the entire thread if he doesn't want to. He only has to take a look at the last page or two. And that's fine, I have no problem with that, even if similar points are raised that may have occurred a few pages previously. It's [i]better [/i]than having a second and third thread pop-up, with identical issues in them. [/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][quote=azurewolf][/color][/size] I know you are more experienced on board-related matters, and because of my inexperience, I have little choice but to agree. However, I was around for v6, whose anime section never missed a day for posting. On v7, however, I've seen this happen at least once or twice already. So, v6 was far more active that v7 - at least that what it seems to me. If things are truly better now than they were before, so be it. Haha, but it just appears to me to be the opposite is all.[/quote] [size=2][color=dimgray]I guarantee you, v6 was not more active. It was less active than the current v7.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]Right now, at this very moment, Anime Lounge isn't terribly active. But if you look at it during the v7 launch until now, you'll find that the activity has been consistently higher than it was in the previous Anime Lounge.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]There are multiple reasons for this, not least of which being that Anime Lounge simply used to be a forum for "all anime that doesn't have its own forum". The end result was that discussion was being split unnecessarily between multiple locations. That, in turn, allowed Anime Lounge to go for long periods without much activity.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]It also meant that we were accommodating forums (and having Moderators in them), which were highly inactive. Need I remind you (or anyone else) of the old Yu-Gi-Oh forums, or the heavy decline that we saw in the Dragon Ball and Digimon forums? It's true that in the latter case, you're talking about the end of a series -- and perhaps the end of a discussion.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]However, what you have suggested here would mean that we'd be making near-frequent changes to our database, because we'd constantly be creating new forums everywhere. This would mean frequent mass-thread moves. Apart from the fact that it would be an exercise in needless busywork -- where such work could be devoted to other things -- it'd also be potentially very confusing for members.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]I am not trying to suggest that our current system is perfect, but it's a [i]lot [/i]better and a lot more organized than anything we've had before. [/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]And I'm not just mentioning that on the basis of v6 - v7. I'm mentioning it as I look back from our version first version 'till now. There has been huge change at this place over that time, including what is almost a complete re-alignment in what has become popular (ie: OB is now far more bottom-heavy than top-heavy, lol).[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][quote=azurewolf][/color][/size] I don't enter many parts of OB. Only the Anime Lounge, Manga W, Otaku Lounge, and of course Suggestions/Feedback are the ones I frequent, so the inactivity may only apply to those forums. The others I may occasion and have little knowledge of.[/quote] [size=2][color=dimgray]Well, this goes back to what I mentioned a moment ago, about the change in traffic. [/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]Even Manga Workshop was a huge stretch for me to create, because we [i]barely [/i]have enough interested people to fully utilize it. And Otaku Lounge...that place is always shifting in one way or another. It'll be quiet for a while, then it'll spark up again (as it has recently).[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]I think that if you look at the gaming areas as well as the Arena area, you'll find where most of that activity has gone. The fact is, the members are making their voices heard, ultimately; they are deciding which parts of the site are going to be more successful.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]If Anime Lounge was maybe four or five fold what it is now, in terms of activity, I'd definitely consider your idea more closely. In fact, I might even be prepared to hire all-new staff just to deal with the constant forum shifts. But as it stands, we just can't accommodate it, no matter how good the idea itself is.[/color][/size] [quote=AzureWolf] If the problem for everything is that OB is just too small for it, isn't there anything that can be done about it?[/color][/size][/font][/QUOTE] [size=2][color=dimgray]Not really. The reason that v7 has generally seen more activity than v6 and previous versions, is because the site has become more centralized. With v5 and 6, things were dividing up a little too much. Discussion was being stretched around the site and that was resulting in a net loss of activity in specific forums.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969][/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]I mean, v7 is growing (as all previous versions have). But OtakuBoards doesn't grow quickly, by virtue of the steep entrance requirements (more steep than those at myOtaku.com or at other forums, for example). So OB's trends tend to take a while to reveal themselves.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]The main thing I am concerned about for this site right now, is that the staff keep on top of these issues. I mean, I am concerned about some areas of the site becoming a little sloppy due to a lack of staff activity.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]But that is somewhat understandable, in the sense that we are relying on fewer staff than we've ever had before. So, as we move into our new upgrade, more staff will be added across the site, to keep it that much more in-shape.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=#696969]Whatever we do, though, it has to be done with an eye on growth, as well as with an eye on our current levels of activity. That's what makes running a place like OB difficult. If I immediately dive in with certain ideas, I run the risk of making a great mess of the place. So it takes care and patience, as well as an understanding of how the place operates in general.[/color][/size] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzureWolf Posted November 19, 2004 Author Share Posted November 19, 2004 [quote name='James][font=book antiqua][size=2][color=blue][color=dimgray]What I'm saying is that if a member is intimidated by a thread's size, it probably has to do with them simply not wanting to invest a little effort to at least skim through it and see what's there. Make no mistake; just about all threads, no matter how large or small, are going to have varying quality from post to post. Substance is substance, regardless of the thread's length. But a large thread shouldn't be intimidating by default, particularly if we are always encouraging people to pay attention to the discussion.[/color][/color][/size'][/font][/quote][FONT=book antiqua][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue]I think there's a little misunderstanding from both sides. I was talking about how most long threads are so large that a good deal of it isn't relevant to the discussion anymore, so a person wanting to post will get increasingly flustered trying to find and catch up on what is being discussed. In response to that idea, you made that statement about unwillingness (which could also be a lack of free-time) to wade through a post could be indicative of a member not being suitable for OB. I said I took offence to that comment because not every person is willing to waste their free time on material that is out of date and useless for discussion. Sure, if a person wants to, for example, see what people thought of a game before it came out, they can dig in the archives to find out. However, I don't think it's right or fair for a person who wants to enter the discussion to be forced to sift through pertinent and dead material. [B][i]That's what I was saying[/i][/B]. I just wanted to clarify where I was coming from when I felt you were implying "size = quality." Anyway, after reading your recent post, I am more than satisfied. Thank you for taking the time to address my gripes, heh; and sorry for taking up too much of that time, haha.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baron Samedi Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 [size=1]Is my idea viable or not, do you think? Because it would both solve the problem of thread size, and difficulty in finding threads.[/size] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 [quote name='AzureWolf][FONT=book antiqua][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue']I think there's a little misunderstanding from both sides. I was talking about how most long threads are so large that a good deal of it isn't relevant to the discussion anymore, so a person wanting to post will get increasingly flustered trying to find and catch up on what is being discussed.[/quote][/font][/size][/color] [color=#707875]Well, that's the job of Moderators; to keep it relevant. Or as relevant as possible, while still allowing a thread to grow. Basically I'm not too concerned about it. I've jumped in on plenty of long threads in the past and it doesn't take long to get your bearings. If you read through the last page or so, you're pretty much going to be up to date with the goings-on.[/color] [quote=AzureWolf][font=book antiqua][size=2][color=blue] I said I took offence to that comment because not every person is willing to waste their free time on material that is out of date and useless for discussion. Sure, if a person wants to, for example, see what people thought of a game before it came out, they can dig in the archives to find out. However, I don't think it's right or fair for a person who wants to enter the discussion to be forced to sift through pertinent and dead material. [B][i]That's what I was saying[/i][/B]. I just wanted to clarify where I was coming from when I felt you were implying "size = quality."[/quote][/color][/size][/font] [color=#707875]I understand what you meant. That was my interpretation of it, lol. But like I said, it's not necessary to read the first page of a 20 page-long thread. That probably [i]would[/i] be a waste of time. But reading the last page or so will allow you to jump in without much problem.[/color] [quote=AzureWolf][font=book antiqua][size=2][color=blue] Anyway, after reading your recent post, I am more than satisfied. Thank you for taking the time to address my gripes, heh; and sorry for taking up too much of that time, haha.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]It's okay, you made the effort to make a suggestion and I'm making the effort to explain the reasoning behind the current system. I think it's only fair. Baron; your suggestion is a good one, but I don't know if it's technically feasible. We would have to make significant programming changes to the site's search function, I think. What I mean is, it's not something we can just do -- it's something we'd have to build and design on our own. Although we've been able to do some modifications to the vB technology, it's very difficult to mess with it too much -- to alter those fundamentals. It's a very tricky and complex system. But you never know. It really depends on the technical side of it. If that were possible, then it'd definitely be something to consider.[/color] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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