[MOD] Fine-Tuning the Forum

[Izrail]

TL;DR version: I don't want "discussion" posts that are soap-boxing or airing opinions, instead of constructive story-based questions and feedback, taking over the forum.

The long version:

This forum came about after I bugged Villayna and the community in general about it for a long time. The purpose I had in mind was to improve the role-play of the server by giving people a place to network their stories and discuss their specific role-play ideas or plans. When the forum suddenly appeared and I found myself a mod without instructions, I cobbled together something that seemed to make sense and figured after a while I'd have a better idea of what the forum's focus should be.

Now I have a better idea. I want to narrow the focus and keep things in the spirit of the original concept: role-play help and productivity. So I'll clarify what the "discussions" part of the title means. It's for brainstorming, feedback, constructive criticism, and questions about how to RP or RP help in general. Basically, don't start a new thread unless it's about your own RP and/or your plans or ideas for RP on this server. Sharing opinions on role-play trends or topics is fun but unproductive, and not what I had in mind for this forum. The focus should be forward, not inward. The Rules and Guidelines will be updated to clarify that. Please keep it in mind when you make new posts.

Fine-tuning the purpose of the forum is an ongoing process and I'm willing to discuss the decisions I make. Please air any questions, comments, or complaints you have about this decision in this thread or via PM.

[Tirralys]

The best way to learn sometimes is to see what spills out when you try, then cleaning it up and fixing it.

I probably am guilty of this on several levels, and so I can only apologize but in the same time, I did help you come to the realization you have now.

I take checks and money orders.

But to the heart of the matter, these changes make sense. I would rather have helped someone develop their RP then to have pointed fingers at people who's names were derived from outside sources - I simply thought the topic would help sate my own curiosities, and perhaps others.

I do have a question however, do the other mods know of your changes? If we bring up a RP post in a different thread (such as WoW thread) will they kick us to your thread, and vice versa? I understand that we probably shouldn't be making the threads at all, but in the case we do, as we do so love making new threads about things that peak our curiosity, would it make other mods angry to fill their threads with RP threads outside of your scope?

[Izrail]

I do have a question however, do the other mods know of your changes? If we bring up a RP post in a different thread (such as WoW thread) will they kick us to your thread, and vice versa? I understand that we probably shouldn't be making the threads at all, but in the case we do, as we do so love making new threads about things that peak our curiosity, would it make other mods angry to fill their threads with RP threads outside of your scope?

Lo, a vision appeared unto me. I saw the floodgates were opened, and the forum became overwhelmed with threads; yea, and the network-seekers were obscured in the tumult, and lost under the riotous waves.

This is the way I see it. Since TNG is an RP website, and most of the topics relate to RP somehow, putting them all into this section would get cluttered and obscure the original purpose: help and networking. Topics that don't fit here can be batted around in Lore or the WoW Discussions where they normally have been. I doubt any other mod is as persnickety about thread locations as I am anyway. >>

[Taknar]

Thanks for the update Izrail. You're doing fine work.

[Xaraphyne]

Read and understood.

[Pearlle]

well. you're definitely the man with the vision. just, like that clothing thread. i wouldn't follow it to the lore section or wow discussion. to me it was a roleplay thread. i don't want to talk anywhere else but here. *rubs her arms a bit* i can see why we wouldn't want everyone arguing and discussing opinions on things, maybe. i guess i felt like i was getting comfortable and now it's changing again. i don't really want to talk about "warcraft". i want to just talk about roleplay things regarding warcraft and the like. not game dynamics or the history as set out by blizzard and stuff. i just want to talk about how ppl are roleplaying different events that happen, how ppl are handling their class or skill or talent in a roleplay sense. how they rp being horde and loving/hating on the alliance. is that what this will be for or? i don't want to check the other forums. it's just my way of keeping my play pure.

[LorFedorovic]

I... was actually just talking about this with someone about how this forum seems not only very active lately, but also full of "My opinion is this, what's yours?" threads (though I did jump in on the band wagon too quite often). My excuse is the death of my adult forums. >_>

I had to leave my dark little corner and don't know how to survive elsewhere, so I just play along. XD

Anyways, it all makes sense so I'm go. I'll try not to step outta line, but just smack me up a bit if I do... as I'm sure you will. ^ ^

[Grayslin]

I've seen a good bit of discussion in here that would actually fit fairly well in the lore section. The rest would be fine in the standard WoW discussion section.

[Chum]

I... was actually just talking about this with someone about how this forum seems not only very active lately, but also full of "My opinion is this, what's yours?" threads (though I did jump in on the band wagon too quite often). My excuse is the death of my adult forums. >_>

I had to leave my dark little corner and don't know how to survive elsewhere, so I just play along. XD

Anyways, it all makes sense so I'm go. I'll try not to step outta line, but just smack me up a bit if I do... as I'm sure you will. ^ ^

Being the person she was talking to I must say that being a very old member but little more than a spectator I have seen the boards change over the past years but one thing remains the same. People have their opinions and other people who do not agree with those opinions act on their instincts to disagree, it is the internet thats what happens.

I understand what your getting at as far as a guideline for this particular thread category but it seems like pointless censorship of things that are going to take place again and again, if anything that thread you locked was possibly one of the most ON topic discussions I have seen in a while compared to the usual thread derailment.

In saying this I am simply stating MY opinion that I have gathered from viewing these forums for over two years now.

[Izrail]

well. you're definitely the man with the vision. just, like that clothing thread. i wouldn't follow it to the lore section or wow discussion. to me it was a roleplay thread. i don't want to talk anywhere else but here. *rubs her arms a bit* i can see why we wouldn't want everyone arguing and discussing opinions on things, maybe. i guess i felt like i was getting comfortable and now it's changing again. i don't really want to talk about "warcraft". i want to just talk about roleplay things regarding warcraft and the like. not game dynamics or the history as set out by blizzard and stuff. i just want to talk about how ppl are roleplaying different events that happen, how ppl are handling their class or skill or talent in a roleplay sense. how they rp being horde and loving/hating on the alliance. is that what this will be for or? i don't want to check the other forums. it's just my way of keeping my play pure.

As I said, and as Sylennis the Real Mod confirmed, the sorts of topics you mention are and have always been conducted in the WoW or Lore section. This forum is for creative collaboration and feedback specifically. If you're that set on avoiding the WoW and Lore sections—which to be honest puzzles me—you could create a social group for the specific kind of discussion you seek. But threads of sharing what people think of role-play topics have always and will continue to be located on the WoW or Lore section, depending on if they're related to lore or not. There's no reason to act otherwise.

The RP Networking forum is not a new place to discuss the same old topics, it's a new place to strengthen RP on this server, using formats that the community didn't have already. Splitting a purpose with forums that already exist is silly.


I understand what your getting at as far as a guideline for this particular thread category but it seems like pointless censorship of things that are going to take place again and again, if anything that thread you locked was possibly one of the most ON topic discussions I have seen in a while compared to the usual thread derailment.

I've moved threads to more appropriate sections so people can continue the discussions. Which thread do you specifically mean?