Get to see what goes on in the background of this site, and perhaps gain some insight as to why I can be a "jerk" to some.
Further notes on the changes...
Posted 08-31-2008 at 11:53 PM by Steven
We have made the forum changes. We still have to add the other new features. However, from this point forward, all "Official xxx thread" megathreads are no longer allowed. This includes "xxx general discussion" threads (they fit the same idea that we really need to split up).
Exceptions are in the Rumors and Construction forums. As far as the new "Sports Bar" forum, we'll keep an eye on it, and find ways of keeping some organization.
The reason is this. We simply want to get you to start new discussions on particular topics. A thread is linear in discussion. A forum is non-linear. It's easier to start new discussions in new threads, than to start new discussions in a megathread about Cedar Point or the current NFL season.
We have never been hard-nosed about the forum layout. However, if we find we need a subforum or a new forum for something, we'll create it.
As I noted in my last blog, the Sports forum came from an idea by one of your fellow creators. We kept note of the idea, and we found the need for it, we acted upon it.
We realize that this may not sit well with all members. However, we felt that the threads were beginning to hurt participation. Seasoned members (especially those who have been here since we started the forums in 2001), you might see repeat threads started by newbies. Please don't harass them about it. Help them with whatever questions they have, and help them find a way to keep the discussion fresh.
Exceptions are in the Rumors and Construction forums. As far as the new "Sports Bar" forum, we'll keep an eye on it, and find ways of keeping some organization.
The reason is this. We simply want to get you to start new discussions on particular topics. A thread is linear in discussion. A forum is non-linear. It's easier to start new discussions in new threads, than to start new discussions in a megathread about Cedar Point or the current NFL season.
We have never been hard-nosed about the forum layout. However, if we find we need a subforum or a new forum for something, we'll create it.
As I noted in my last blog, the Sports forum came from an idea by one of your fellow creators. We kept note of the idea, and we found the need for it, we acted upon it.
We realize that this may not sit well with all members. However, we felt that the threads were beginning to hurt participation. Seasoned members (especially those who have been here since we started the forums in 2001), you might see repeat threads started by newbies. Please don't harass them about it. Help them with whatever questions they have, and help them find a way to keep the discussion fresh.
Total Comments 7
Comments
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While I see your point, I think having threads on individual topics will get cluttered fast. I've seen other forums where a thread that was last posted in only 1 hour earlier fell to the second page amid many others. It gets frustrating having to sort through all of the individual threads just to find what you're looking for. I like having a discussion all in one because you may catch things that you otherwise would not have seen.Posted 09-01-2008 at 01:56 AM by 89magnumxl200
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I do have to disagree with you about having to find everything in one thread. If I were a newbie or a veteran that doesn't necessarily look at certain threads all the time, and I'm trying to look... looking for what I want is going to be far more daunting, even with the search function.
If you used our search function, it returns the entire thread as a result. If a thread is 10-20 pages, I'm not going to want to look through 10-20 pages, and if it's something that is on page three and the discussion is on page 18, I myself won't be apt to talk about that. Others, including newbies, might be the same way. The only way around that is to use the advanced search every time, which gets to be work every time.
We never had such threads before, but since the threads popped up as in "The official Cedar Point thread", "The official NFL Football thread", or "Carowinds general discussion", the the thread/post ratio jumps up. I have three examples of three forums prior to this reoganization (comparing the current with the archive dating back to 2001)...
After looking further, I found that they could be attributed directly to the megathreads. A healthy forum has discussions with an average of about 25 posts, not 37 or 46 posts.Quote:Example 1:
General Talk: 525 threads, 24,656 posts (46.96 posts/thread)
General Talk Archive: 3,772 threads, 78,113 posts (20.71 posts/thread)
Increase of 127%
Example 2:
Roller Coasters: 668 threads, 28,193 posts (42.21 posts/thread)
Roller Coasters Archive: 6,467 threads, 136,441 posts (21.1 posts/thread)
Increase of 100%
Example 3:
Parks: 511 threads, 18,945 posts (37.07 posts/thread)
Parks Archive: 3,016 threads, 47,023 posts (15.59 posts/thread)
Increase of 138%
If a thread gets long and hard into discussion, that's one thing. It's another thing to try to consolidate everything into one thread. Really, that is not what a forum is for. So, we want to break it up a bit. Instead of one megathread about a park... there may be four or five on different topics about that park with less posts per thread, while being easier to search and reply within.Posted 09-01-2008 at 11:24 AM by Steven - I do see your point, but individual threads for each NCAA game is a bit overboard. Maybe lump those by week like the NFL one. I still think a general thread for a sport is needed though; some things don't pertain to the games and are just general comments about the state of things around the sport.Posted 09-01-2008 at 08:46 PM by 89magnumxl200
- I have no problem with the threads going week by week. The real point is that they were getting to be too general, and really have been for some time.
With one week of this new policy, it seems to have worked out smoothly.Posted 09-06-2008 at 08:00 PM by Steven -
I have to agree with you there Steven. I mean I have seen some threads that date back so long, that once you are able to post something, the subject has actually completely changed. It's kind of like whispering something in one persons ear and they pass it on. Do that 20 times and I guarantee you the topic will change completely. I like the forums that are only 2-3 pages long. The much longer ones I rarely add something to.Posted 09-07-2008 at 12:28 PM by Nitro Luvr -
I kinda see it as a double edged sword,I mean what's the point in even having a "parks" sub forum here when members aren't really allowed to discuss parks from a general standpoint?
Perhaps what should be done is to open up a new sub forum for some of the more popular parks in the states(CP,KD,SFGRADV etc.) so that we can at least continue to discuss & debate the changes/improvements being made to these parks as they come up.I'm glad to see that the Carowinds thread(the one that started it all) is finally closed though as I was getting sick of reading it day in/day out all the time.Posted 09-14-2008 at 12:45 AM by BatwingFan SFA - The policy has always been if it warrants it, we will re-examine the forums and decide on any new forums or subforums. At this point, I don't see enough discussion to warrant such subforums.
When it came to doing this, we couldn't simply apply the rule to one thread, like the Carowinds thread, as you noted that you were glad that it was closed.
If you also look at the now-closed general discussion threads, you'll find that virtually anything in those threads are brought up elsewhere in the forums, creating duplicate discussions. As I said in the blog entry, threads are linear and become much harder to sort through when they are grouped into a megathread. There is always a way to narrow down a topic's discussion just enough, and once we see how things break up and work out, we'll look at the subforums for each park or park chain as things warrant.Posted 09-14-2008 at 01:26 AM by Steven
