No more megathreads

[Maddermadcat]

Prompted by this:


Fuck all of you for all of that shit not being in a separate thread. No wonder the forums always look like slim pickings, everything is squeezed into this thread and BN.

I've seen massive, centralized discussion threads mess up a lot of forums in the past. I suggest locking the existing megathreads -- personal news, boredom nexus, and the sketchbook (sorry Becca) -- as well as any future attempted megathreads. People need to start more individual discussions rather than dumping every inane thought into a single topic. The signature and preview threads should be left alone just because they're old as fuck and still going. seriously, someone mail medals to blackwater and cparty or something that shit is downright impressive

Also can we please make pony shit worth a warning at least? Those bullshit image macros are never relevant, and if I see one more "PONY LINGO SCRIPT LOOK HOW FUNNY" post from Cody I'm going to vomit.

edit: and get rid of the "describe the member above you" thread please holy fuck it is the biggest circlejerk this side of the linux userbase

[codbarley]

How do you plan on making a warning system? also, nothing needs to be relevent in BN thats the whole point of the thread :/ I only posted 2 images.

I'm starting to think you're against everything I post just for the hell of it.

[Maddermadcat]

Frankly I kind of am, but that's neither here nor there.

There's already a warning system in place. Oscar makes sure I know.

[codbarley]

I mean for when I or anyone else is going to post mlp related stuff.

[Oscar]

Lolz, Madder<3 Why should single image posts of ponies be warn worthy when others aren't though? A lot of people do them. I'd say its all or nothing.

But I see what you're getting into, it's a discussion worth taking. Personally I'd also rather see more individual threads instead of massive ones.

[Killing_Time]

I think it would be an improvement if people began reporting posts that are off-topic so we can move those entire discussions that spring from them into a new thread. I also suppose that a stricter hold on the rule of no off-topic discussions would be an idea, but it's just a little difficult in Personal News since a lot of the discussions there spring from some personal news announcement. It's basically about finding the right balance between relevant and for the thread concept and relevant for an entirely different discussion.

[Paperback Writer]

Alright, but you guys gotta go through me first. I'll fight for my Net-given freedom for megathreads

"Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite!"
"Posters of the Forum, Unite!:argh:

Eh... Whatever floats your boat.

[BanHammor]

I'd say that Madder's post is offensive by itself (at least, to an actual member of the linux userbase), but yeah, some things are true here. Discussion is threaded for a reason.
However, thing is:
Soaking every actually inane thought into one thread (E.g. BN) is actually good enough. We do not need forums to turn into one big SPAMZ! subforum.
Additionally, we do not need to have a thousand of threads like "I took a shot of whiskey today. Discuss" either.

[Shinoi]

edit: and get rid of the "describe the member above you" thread please holy fuck it is the biggest circlejerk this side of the linux userbase
Agree with this one. It has been fun, but now it's just like "3 words story" thread.

How do you plan on making a warning system? also, nothing needs to be relevent in BN thats the whole point of the thread :/ I only posted 2 images.
BN is for random DISCUSSIONS. Posting hundreds of pony images isn't a conversation and not everyone likes to watch huge pony macros all over the page.


I'm starting to think you're against everything I post just for the hell of it.
I'm too, when it comes to MLP. My eyes.

Making separate threads would be the best. Forums would be a lot more alive that way. It was getting annoying yesterday in PN thread. I admit I was among derailers, but still. Small discussions are okay about someones announcement, but those extending through whole page are awful.

Edit:
Additionally, we do not need to have a thousand of threads like "I took a shot of whiskey today. Discuss" either.
I doubt anyone would make a thread like this.

[Kreekakon]

I think the PN thread should stay, as we often have things in our life we want to induce small discussions with DQ members, but expect the discussions to literally be "small", and therefore not merit a whole new thread.

I agree with what KT says, it may be difficult to tell the difference between small discussions that come from news, or entire derailing. In my opinion, it will usually come down to the members', or mods' judgment to decide what has become derailing, and report it.

While many topics might do better as thread than personal news, I think it can be a bit hard to anticipate what could become massive discussions out of one small news post, or what couldn't. So even if new rules comes into action, people may have difficulty deciding what would be worth posting as a thread.

[Flashlight]

Additionally, we do not need to have a thousand of threads like "I took a shot of whiskey today. Discuss" either.

That's a huuuuuuuuuge point.

[Rimmy]

I doubt anyone would make a thread like this.
I don't, I'm sure it can happen.

[codbarley]

Agree with this one. It has been fun, but now it's just like "3 words story" thread.

BN is for random DISCUSSIONS. Posting hundreds of pony images isn't a conversation and not everyone likes to watch huge pony macros all over the page.


you missed the last sentence there. I only posted 2 COUNT EM 2 images. nothing to get your panties in a bunch about.



I'm too, when it comes to MLP. My eyes.

Well I'm not overbearing in the least when it comes to mlp, and I haven't and don't plan on breaking any forum rules, so deal with it.


I doubt anyone would make a thread like that


Uh duh! Net would!

[Paperback Writer]

Uh duh! Net would!
He's right. There's nothing we can do about it unless we whine to Oscar.

[sgt_Angua]

Additionally, we do not need to have a thousand of threads like "I took a shot of whiskey today. Discuss" either.

This is pretty close to the point I was going to make. What about those single events in peoples lives that they want to mention without creating an entire and eventually stunted thread? I think some things are worth a mention but aren't worth a thread.

Edit: A further thought: posting an entire thread suggests you hope and want it to lead to a full discussion, but sometimes we don't want a big debate about personal stuff. This is a community that I like enough to feel that I want to keep people updated if there's anything significant going on in my life, but that doesn't mean I want a big debate about the stress I've been facing at school.

[Mattbot]

I don't even read BN and PN, no wonder i only notice like 10 active people on this forum D:



edit: and get rid of the "describe the member above you" thread please holy fuck it is the biggest circlejerk this side of the linux userbase

Tie it to the stake and burn it for the greater good.

[TheOnlyHorse]

People need to start more individual discussions rather than dumping every inane thought into a single topic.I agree on that part. It feels like some of these mega threads killed old DQ. I loved when people used to make their own art threads or new discussions that lasted for a few weeks or so.


I suggest locking the existing megathreads -- personal news, boredom nexus, and the sketchbook (sorry Becca) -- as well as any future attempted megathreads.I say we lock them when poeple loose interest.

And this makes my opinion is divided... These mega threads come in handy some times but kills the feeling of many smaller threads made by users that actually care. I made no sense by posting here yay

[Zola]

I'm against for locking BN and PN, if BN never existed half of our members would be banned due spamming. We need BN to steam off :P
As for the PN madcat I disagree with you, the debate about someones announcement isn't something boring nor spamming (have to admit that we exaggerated this time) and for that is the infraction button then will be some discipline. :P

[username]

My opnion is divided as well, actually.
But from what I'm picking up here is simply this; the real question is, do we want a forum full of individual, tiny threads that don't get a lot of action, or gigantic mega threads full to the brim of posts?
Either way it will *probably* end up as a lose-lose situation. But I'm sure we can make it work somehow.
Also, what's with all the pony hate on this forum?
I mean, it could be a whooooole lot worse. I honestly don't see it as spam, more like pleasant randomness packaged in bright coloring. Some of y'all need to cool down.
And don't pretend like you don't like the circlejerk. :P

[Shadowtime23]

I'm okay with BN and PN being locked (maybe we someone should start a poll)

And while we're getting rid of things, could madder also abandon his asshole-ness? And several other members as well please?

[Paperback Writer]

Why can't we like keep em both? I mean, it's only like one guy's initiative, right..?

[Killing_Time]

And don't pretend like you don't like the circlejerk. :P

See, funny enough it's exactly that which puts me off that type of threads. (Describe the above member). It's just stupid and pointless and a way for people to either flatter themselves or pass on passive-aggressive hatred or just make randomly stupid comments, spamming their own posts into the thread in the hopes they'll get more comments on how people think of them.
It's the ultimate platform for expressing insecurity and it's so sickeningly obvious it becomes stupid.

However Personal News and to some extent the pictures of yourself threads are different in that they give us insight in each other's lives and personalities. Personally I'd rather see the thread concepts merged into one new thread, with extraordinary news/rants/pictures of your new puppy litter being placed in individual threads.

[Rockonman]

Personal News also helps people receive sympathy for some major events, like:


Just got informed my grandpa died. I didn't like his asshole personality, but I respected him as he was a partisan in WW2 and a very important figure after the war.

[Rockonman]

Did I say it was a bad thing? No.

[Shadowtime23]

Did I say it was a bad thing? No.
Yeah that's my problem. I think it's very unnecessary. But I realized my opinion would start some other discussion which wouldn't do good to anybody so I deleted it. Sorry to make it seem like you double-posted...

[Rockonman]

Yea it's good.

We just need somewhere where we can tell others about what's going on in our lives, and PN is currently the place to do it.

[Maddermadcat]

You'll find that a lot of posts in the personal news thread don't receive many reactions. This is because no-one cares about the minutiae of your daily life (except for maybe Zola). If there's a significant enough event that people actually react to (e.g. the aforementioned death of a loved one) it would probably have been just as well off in a separate thread. As it is, you have to wade through pages and pages of bullshit to get to the parts worth reading.


However Personal News and to some extent the pictures of yourself threads are different in that they give us insight in each other's lives and personalities. Personally I'd rather see the thread concepts merged into one new thread, with extraordinary news/rants/pictures of your new puppy litter being placed in individual threads.

The pictures thread is fine where it is. The problem with personal news is how people don't just post small, insignificant things in there. They also post major events, which spawn discussions that would've been better off in their own threads. Sure, you could just tell people to post the major stuff in new threads, but how many people are actually going to? Taking that approach would just create more unnecessary work for the mods.

It would be easier and cleaner for everyone involved to just get rid of megathreads.


I say we lock them when poeple loose interest.

The problem is that these huge threads draw all discussion to them and the rest of the place gets no activity. Just leaving them alone until people get bored solves nothing.


A further thought: posting an entire thread suggests you hope and want it to lead to a full discussion, but sometimes we don't want a big debate about personal stuff.

Then don't post it. Save it for your real-life friends so they can pretend to give a shit instead. That's what they're there for.


BN is for random DISCUSSIONS. Posting hundreds of pony images isn't a conversation and not everyone likes to watch huge pony macros all over the page.

Well shit, Shinoi. Have a brofist.

Let us never speak of this again.


I'd say that Madder's post is offensive by itself (at least, to an actual member of the linux userbase)

deal with it


Lolz, Madder<3 Why should single image posts of ponies be warn worthy when others aren't though? A lot of people do them. I'd say its all or nothing.

I single out pony macros because I see them everywhere on the internet and they never have anything to do with anything. Obviously if someone is posting irrelevant non-pony crap, that warrants a slap on the wrist. It just so happens that people overwhelmingly like to post ponies for the sake of posting ponies.

[Rockonman]

Why don't we actually do something about it then, instead of bickering about it.

One last thing from me: if we close PN, there may be a truckload full of spam threads all about people who want to talk about their days.

[Zolen]

The human mind is not:
Point A
Point B
Point C
Point D

The human mind is:
Point C
Point A
Point D
Point B


Half the stuff that randomly gos off topic has no chance is Helheim of going farther then a few post, some might even get a whole page, but tend to die and it goes back to the regular discussion.

[Maddermadcat]

Why don't we actually do something about it then, instead of bickering about it.

No-one is bickering. The point of this thread is to figure out what to do about it.


One last thing from me: if we close PN, there may be a truckload full of spam threads all about people who want to talk about their days.

I don't remember there being much of this when the personal news thread wasn't around.

[Polo]

Have I not been saying this forever or what?

The answer is yes, I have said it many times before, whether you noticed it or not. Thus, I fully support what this thread is saying.

[Zolen]

Have I not been saying this forever or what?

The answer is yes, I have said it many times before, whether you noticed it or not. Thus, I fully support what this thread is saying.

Well there's your problem, you need to at least say it forever and a thousand years.

[Aval]

http://www.terrariaonline.com/attachments/12760-glasses-macro-rainbow_dash-serious_business-png.9917/

[Maddermadcat]

stress sigh

see me after class, mr. tuersley

[codbarley]

I single out pony macros because I see them everywhere on the internet and they never have anything to do with anything. Obviously if somebody is posting irrelevant non-pony crap, that warrants a slap on the wrist. It just so happens that people overwhelmingly like to post ponies for the sake of posting ponies.


ummmmm


I'm starting to think you're against everything I post just for the hell of it.



Frankly I kind of am, but that's neither here nor there.


posting ponies for the hell of it is no different than you being against all my ideas for the hell of it. Furthermore, It's the same argument I gave for my avatar madder. It's not my fault its all over the internet, and nobody is in control of what sites you visit but you. If you don't like it, don't look at it. quit the childish attitude and stop taking it out on me.

[Maddermadcat]

You'd be wise to think a little longer before hitting that submit button next time.

[Paperback Writer]

I suspect this whole No Megathreads movement is a cover-up for Madder's anti-ponyism.

[codbarley]

You'd be wise to think a little longer before hitting that submit button next time.


no I'm pretty sure I said what I wanted to say.

[Maddermadcat]

If you're done being thick, I'd really like to go back to the topic at hand. This thread isn't here for you to throw bitch fits.

[codbarley]

If you remember the very first post, the topic at hand is partially your issue with the pony shit. I'm not having a bitch fit, I'm trying to figure out what your problem is.

[Maddermadcat]

No more megathreads

I don't give a shit. Kindly take your bruised ego elsewhere, you're getting tedious.

[codbarley]

Lol bruised ego? now you just don't make any sense XD

[Rockonman]

I suspect this whole No Megathreads movement is a cover-up for Madder's anti-ponyism.

I gotta say, all this mlp stuff does get old after awhile.

[codbarley]

yeah which is why I don't really post them often.

[Killing_Time]

Madder stop replying and Cody stop reacting. You're both derailing this thread.

[Zola]

@Madder if the BN & PN threads annoy you, just simply don't open them. As for the PN, you can see how the other persons life is going (positively or negatively) and cheer them up or give them some advice.
Are Vic and you brothers? :P

[Killing_Time]

The problem with having those two threads is that almost all forum activity is exclusively kept there. Interesting conversations that may deserve a stand-alone thread and useless information like what you had for breakfast is all in there and that's a shame. Look around, how many threads are equally as active and has as varied an audience as those two?

[DrunkCat]

Kill them both. If you guys really want a chatroom I can set up an IRC server, but as it is now, 'megathreads' are acting like a black-hole; where not even the strongest of topics can escape its pull. I for one don't care nor mind having inane single shot threads. If you really want to make a thread that you had bacon for breakfast instead of pancakes then do it. If it's conversation-worthy it'll survive, if it's not it'll sink. These megathreads are making us lazy and complacent.

Boycott any and all congregation threads. For the good of the nation. I mean forum.

[Rockonman]

Why don't we try it for awhile, and if it doesn't work, eh, lesson learned. If it does work, sweet.

[GolyBlood]

I vote on closing. That might cause a stir but people will adapt.

[BanHammor]

@DC: the IRC chatrooms were tried, and we know them not to work. Also not working: Vent servers, mibbit IRC clients, mass meeti-dammit, that worked.

[Zola]

The problem with having those two threads is that almost all forum activity is exclusively kept there. Interesting conversations that may deserve a stand-alone thread and useless information like what you had for breakfast is all in there and that's a shame. Look around, how many threads are equally as active and has as varied an audience as those two?

Name me the treads which are inactive because of these two?
Also the all forum fun is in these two treads, if you all so want to lock them then lock them it's fine by me.

[GolyBlood]

Name me the treads which are inactive because of these two?

None. Because no one makes smaller threads when you can post it on BN or PN.

[Zola]

None. Because no one makes smaller threads when you can post it on BN or PN.
An that is suppose a bad thing :P

[Paperback Writer]

I vote on closing. That might cause a stir but people will adapt.
On what grounds?

[...I'm not telling you!]

The only thread I wouldn't miss would be the Boredom Nexus, but even that serves it's purposes. It does allow the less serious members to blow off some spamsteam if they need to, preventing it from going in to the others thread. If it wasn't there, there would be a lot more spammy threads around, cluttering the forum in shit. For some reason, you guys seem to think having a lot of new threads would be better, I suppose I'm fine with that idea, but you'd get a lot of spam threads in there too, so there'd be a huge downside to that. What's better, around 20 well thought out threads and five larger less meaningful threads in the back, or 20 good threads that are completely crossworded by 25 shit threads?

Boredom Nexus doesn't do anything wrong, and neither do the other megathreads in my opinion. They just sit there minding there own business, they have no negative effect on the site, and so keep members around. I personally don't care if the community's only in one thread, at least it's together and talking to each other. Even if it is arguing like 5 year old girls over the quality of My Little Pony.
Or even if those two annoying rival students from different years are arguing it out on the pavement about...nothing, actually.

I suppose the only disadvantage to megathreads is that members will start talking shit-but that's a given, don't blame the thread for that. If you get rid of the thread, people'll just behave the same way in the other threads. Unless of course there was a harsher crackdown on spamming by the mods. I remember when the sixth BN was starting out, someone was really keeping that under control, and that was working well. I personally think that'd be the better solution. All of the threads serve purpose, personal news thread, Net gave a good example here with the yo mama jokes, and the personal news thread does have it's own acceptable idea in general, but it's main issue is that people tend to spam in there easily. Post pictures of yourself in fairness doesn't serve a purpose, but that's not the most used thread to begin with so it's no issue. I think BN and the Personal News thread, from what I remember, are the only mega threads that get consistently posted in at a constant rate, the other one's aren't an issue here. And again, they both serve a purpose. The only issue with them is the spam-so that's the issue, and should be cut down on.

[Rimmy]

this thread is a great example of why megathreads don't take away all the activity in the forum, just look how much it has grown with different opinions and discussions since it's been made.

[DrunkCat]

@DC: the IRC chatrooms were tried, and we know them not to work. Also not working: Vent servers, mibbit IRC clients, mass meeti-dammit, that worked.

They're working right now. That's what 'megathreads' essentially are.


We don't need an overwhelming swarm of shitty threads to compensate for a lack of activity. If the necessary activity is in the threads than that is where it is.

In the same way, I don't need to make a new thread for every damn funny video I find on Youtube or else half the forum would explode in a fury of hate. Half of the extra activity would be complaining about how shit "isn't funny" or how something or someone is childish when really they should just keep those comments to themselves (and naturally let it die off rather than bumping it to attention).

If something is worthy (for example: Nyan Cat) it gets put into it's own thread, discussion ensues.

Lastly, there's no reason both systems can't exist. There's nothing stopping you from making a thread about whatever exciting event you went to on the weekend.
Everything you said are the reasons why both systems can't exist. There is no 'compensation' of activity. Activity exists. It's just funneled into two disorganized and homogeneous threads. Just because you're brass enough to make threads on your own doesn't mean everyone else is. Most people will take the path of least resistance, which currently are these megathreads. You can never guess or know what topics will go where, so I feel it better to give them all equal ranking and let the community decide as a whole.

We have moderators to prevent 'fury of hate', so I don't think that's a valid counter-argument either; especially when megathreads have been proven to be susceptible to it on more than one occasion.

The purpose of this request is to instill a greater emphasis on discussion. We can not have that emphasis when we accept as a minimum short quips and non-sequitors to be post worthy. Or in your own words "We don't need an overwhelming swarm of shitty posts to compensate for our lack of discussion."


Chat rooms don't work because of wide time zones and a requirement of constant supervision of a channel.
That's the lamest excuse if I ever heard one.


this thread is a great example of why megathreads don't take away all the activity in the forum, just look how much it has grown with different opinions and discussions since it's been made.
This isn't a megathread, this is a thread with a centralized topic of discussion. This is in fact a great example against megathreads.

[Rimmy]

I don't think of this as a megathread
I wanted to say even though we have megathreads, interesting threads still get a lot of activity.

[Tyemdi]

I think it everything discussed in this thread can be summarised like so: megathreads (nice coinage MMC) can be necessary and postive and vice versa, if not both.

Btw, can we please have a POLL so we can clearly see the opinions of everyone in DQ on megathreads instead of continuous debate that doesn't seem to have a clear result?

[Maddermadcat]

Polls aren't useful here. The goal is to form a consensus, not just state our opinions immediately and leave it at that.

I'd like to repeat something I touched on in my opening post: I have seen megathreads take over other forums like this. Invariably they've been removed, and invariably their removal has only benefited the community. The benefits you think you see to megathreads simply do not exist, and I've yet to see any valid ones brought up in this discussion.

[Tyemdi]

You can still form a consensus with something that gives an immediate, clear opinion. Plus if you perhaps want to actually have these megathreads removed, a poll can give a majority-minority opinion.

[Maddermadcat]

I don't think you understand the purpose of a poll. I'm not trying to collect opinions, I'm trying to change them.

[Jedi-L]

Well we're halfway there. BN is closed.

[Zola]

Well we're halfway there. BN is closed.
I've think that moderators used the argument over MLP to close it because it's a megathread.

[Kreekakon]

You can still form a consensus with something that gives an immediate, clear opinion. Plus if you perhaps want to actually have these megathreads removed, a poll can give a majority-minority opinion.
You're missing Madder's point. Some people have different alternatives rather than simply killing off the threads, or keeping them. People will still vote but it won't really reflect on what they really want, The posts would still have to be read.

[Tyemdi]

OOK, gotcha. It's just that this may very well lead to another fiery debate which would then lead to an abrupt and saddening lock.


I've think that moderators used the argument over MLP to close it because it's a megathread.

No, I think they closed it due to it becoming an argument involving trolling about something already argued over but revived. The megathread became focused on one singular topic instead of being random, its actual purpose.


I suppose the only disadvantage to megathreads is that members will start talking shit-but that's a given, don't blame the thread for that.

"It's not the thread's fault, it's the people's."- Great point INTY. :thumbsup: Getting rid of megathreads won't cease arguments or anything. It's all up to human psychology and interaction.

[Shinoi]

I've think that moderators used the argument over MLP to close it because it's a megathread.
It was closed because it became a ranting and arguing thread going nowhere. Even though some were trying to get it back to rails, it was just becoming pointless to let continue that conflict. Every thread like this gets closed, be it megathread or not.

[Maddermadcat]

There's nothing wrong with heated debate, and I don't remember a thread ever getting locked because of it.


You're missing Madder's point. Some people have different alternatives rather than simply killing off the threads, or keeping them. People will still vote but it won't really reflect on what they really want, The posts would still have to be read.

That's not what I meant, but it's valid anyway. What I'm trying to say is that had I just said "vote on my idea," the results of the poll would probably have been largely negative because a lot of people like their stagnant hugbox the way it is. A poll encourages people to stick with whatever preconceived notions they might have, whereas a discussion can actually change someone's mind.

tl;dr I want this place to be not shit but you apparently do so fuck polls

[Varthonai]

That's not what I meant, but it's valid anyway. What I'm trying to say is that had I just said "vote on my idea," the results of the poll would probably have been largely negative because a lot of people like their stagnant hugbox the way it is. A poll encourages people to stick with whatever preconceived notions they might have, whereas a discussion can actually change someone's mind.

tl;dr I want this place to be not shit but you apparently do so fuck polls

What kind of argument is that I don't even

You can get to say your piece and try to convince people before the poll goes up, man, but not having a poll at all is just retarded. I mean what, just argue until you're pretty sure everybody agrees, then go ahead and implement the idea without any kind of formal gauge of opinion? I think I just stepped on the head of a shovel and got slapped with a faceful of goddamn democracy.

As for the main thread issue I never pay attention to BN or PN except when there's a post reported in them, which is rare. But neither do I get the sense that the forum is "slim pickings"; frankly it seems perfectly paced to me. But then, I am a bit Entish when it comes to conversation. I'd be willing to try closing BN and PN on an experimental basis.

[Paperback Writer]

That's the lamest excuse if I ever heard one.

I'd have to disagree, I remember when DQ tried for a chatroom with the reasons such as timezone and the strain of opening another page away from DQ made it a total flop. A shoutbox however would work rather well since the posts are preserved unlike the IRC.

[DrunkCat]

You might have leverage on resistance to change, but timezones is a weak excuse because of things like the DQ D&D games and such that occur outside of DQ demonstrating that it is possible for sections of DQ to be active in them at any given time.

Your idea of a shoutbox though is an acceptable middle ground which I agree with.

[Ivyn]

I'd have to go with net on this. I don't think the site will last with a never-ending shitstorm of gifs, youtube videos or other crap. Thats why it makes me sad that the boredom nexus is locked, as I can't post any more fucking stupid pictures because of it getting fucked anally by a huge argument over codbarley not being able to post stupid shit in a thread DESIGNATED for stupid shit without being ridiculed. Also Madder, I have a firm reason to believe that you're just bitching because of Codbarley posting photos of ponies on the Boredom Nexus.

:razz:

[Big Boom]

My goodness....where did this argument even come from.

And on another note...some people need to stop nagging about how they dislike the constant bickering occurring lately...when they themselves get involved in the fighting. >_>

[Paperback Writer]

You might have leverage on resistance to change, but timezones is a weak excuse because of things like the DQ D&D games and such that occur outside of DQ demonstrating that it is possible for sections of DQ to be active in them at any given time.
Only 5 people were in the D&D. (http://forums.deletionquality.net/showthread.php/12674-THE-ORION-REBELLION!-(Listen-to-DQ-Mods-and-Members-mess-around-and-get-yelled-at!)?highlight=Dungeons+Dragons) If you consider that a "party", then I guess we'd have to argue about what is "many" in terms of DQ's population.

It's rather a real let-down for me to go on only to realize that the other members are asleep halfway around the world. Sure, I could wait for them to go online, if I had a super-flexible schedule - but it just ain't prudent.

[DrunkCat]

A shout-box (maybe a bit more robust one then and linked to the forum) would probably be the best option then.

[Wadling]

Only 5 people were in the D&D. (http://forums.deletionquality.net/showthread.php/12674-THE-ORION-REBELLION!-(Listen-to-DQ-Mods-and-Members-mess-around-and-get-yelled-at!)?highlight=Dungeons+Dragons)

Just for the record, there were 7 people. Myself, Mattbot, Sgt. Angua, Victory, Aval, Hyperion and Varthonai, who joined later. I'm pretty sure there were plans for Killing_Time to join as well. But yeah I think we're a pretty big exception to the rule of people not being bothered to combat timezone differences due to the fact that we're in constant contact with each other outside of DQ and have been good friends for a few years now. Not that this feat cannot be achieved by other people on the forum. I mean I'm not saying that we're a lot better and more likable than anyone else on the forum but we're a lot better and more likable than anyone else on the forum.

[sgt_Angua]

And the rest of the guys think nothing of making me and Warren get up at 9 am on break or on a weekend. On the other hand, we think nothing of keeping playing until after midnight their time :3

[DrunkCat]

http://troll.me/images/forever-alone-20/not-invited-to-friend-circle-forever-alone.jpg

[DataaX]

I doubt anyone would make a thread like this.

I would, if I took a shot of whiskey. That shit is real.

[Mr.Evilmidget]

*straightens [apocryphally existent] glasses.*

Well, when it comes to lengthy and rather putrid discussions [ahem BN], there aren't many things to say. As you all know, BN is designated for such content, which does lend it a bit of validity for what it is, but not a lot. That meaning, "this thread is made for stupid shit" isn't a free ticket to be a deposit for all the virtual faeces west of Albuquerque. I say that only a select two or three threads like it should attain the ability to endure for a long period of time. And, I do admit that BN saves the rest of the forums from stupid, pointless threads by letting people just dump it in there. It also allays the possibility of the PN being completely overloaded with "yeah I just farted and it felt way better than it should have" thusly.

As mentioned before, shutting down or even expanding these megathreads [which, sadly, usually veer towards being derailed] would just end up acting like a massive cancer on the forums. At the same time, as already mentioned, doing the opposite and closing them would result in all of their pointless crap spilling everywhere.

However, some much more linear threads, like the Preview, Sig + Avatar, PN, etc., are almost necessary to the forum. They provide a sense of compactness, but they don't quite take up as much of the forum as BN et al, and aren't as redundant. I don't think that anything should be done to them - or, any megathread currently existing at that. I just think that we should inhibit their numbers, as to prevent any further expansion on their part.

[Ivyn]

This is just fucking stupid, let's just forget about this, open a new boredom nexus and get on with our lives or lack of them.