Let's be serious for a second.

[ShockSlayer]

Something that's been on my mind lately, and finally manifested itself into a topic, is the condition of this forums community. I believe we could probably use a discussion topic about whats been going on around here. Honestly, here recently we've been seeing many topics that have absolutely no point at all, and usually gets out of hand quick. I believe bic brought up an interesting point, we kinda are in a cycle. And I think it's time to change that.

My views on the subject are that I'd like to see this issue come to a verdict, and be one that we all can agree with. Personally, I don't like to see anyone complaining, whether it be mods about spam, or posters about strictness. I believe it's finally time to ask everyone what we are going to do about this. Ideas have been presented, such as a spam forum, but I agree that there are better sites for crap like that. I don't like seeing mods giving up on the forums either.

Please don't turn this into a flame war/who can yell louder competition. Instead, please post your thoughts on the subject, and do keep it in moderation.

SS

[jjhammerstein]

RAGE FLAME RAGE FLAME

I think that meaningless posts are inevitable to a point. Almost everyone throws one out there every once in a while, despite better judgement. If we prosecuted harshly, we might drive away a lot of users that could otherwise contribute some pretty good content. I believe that if we had a specific "Trash" forum, the "Real" forums would stay a lot cleaner.

And that's my 2¢. (Make that Canadian, US money is still worthless!)

[Rekarp]

And that's my 2¢. (Make that Canadian, US money is still worthless!)

1 USD = 1.25035 CAD

RAGE FLAME RAGE FLAME

[palmertech]

I don't think a whole forum is good, we do not have nearly enough active posting to sustain that. A topic called "Pointless discussion RAGE FLAME SPAM" would be a decent idea, though. I had a whole response writton out for Twighlight Wolf's thread on this, but it was locked before I could click submit, or anyone else, for that matter.

[jjhammerstein]

I say, dedicate a whole forum.
Who cares if it doesn't get filled?
I know this is a low traffic site, but the point isn't a "sustained" forum, it's one that is separated from the rest.

[palmertech]

The problem is, we would lose a lot of stuff in forum 42, so we would have it split over both.

[jjhammerstein]

The problem is, we would lose a lot of stuff in forum 42, so we would have it split over both.

I don't understand.
Explain, por favor.

[palmertech]

We have little traffic compared to most forums. Forum 42 contains quite a bit of silliness. If all this silliness/pointless threads were moved to another forum, 42 would lose a lot of traffic. I say either make a pointlessness thread/sticky, or allow pointlessness in forum 42 (Not a good idea).

We dont HAVE enough content, silly or otherwise, to go splitting it up.

[jjhammerstein]

I don't think it's fair to count the silliness as "content."
Discounting that, F42 is already low content. Make sense?

[Metallica Man X]

I don't really care either way really. Albeit, there have been a mess of totally pointless posts lately...Perhaps something to get them somewere else would work. Or maybe change the description on forum 42 to say "no pointless threads allowed" or something of that sort, to help limit the spammy topics that pop up.

[Rekarp]

Whats wrong with pointless threads in Forum 42 to begin with? Its not like its destroying the project logs, trading, technical forums? Yall are over reacting.

[jjhammerstein]

It's cluttery and annoying.
Weak argument, but worth looking at.

[grossaffe]

I have other forums for pointless drivel. This forum, to me, is for actual discussion on things

[jjhammerstein]

As do I.
But not everybody does.
Isn't it fair to offer a little of that here too?

(I actually don't agree with anything I'm saying, just playing Devil's Advocate. Don't take it personally.. against me!)

[bacteria]

I think that there is a clear difference between a thread that sidetracks into non-relevant postings and one that starts off that way, has no purpose and gets post replies that are even more meaningless.

There is certainly a place for "Forum 42" type stuff, but not spamming.

What I have asked for recently is an "other retro systems" forum here, to cover systems not included - for example, I am working on a Turbo Grafx system at the moment, and have nowhere to post it here. Making quite good progress on it so far. Bicostp is polling the other admin/mods at the moment about adding this; if we get the section I can post my topic. After all, this is a modding community forum and adding "other systems" will assist in further system documentation for more unusual platforms! I would hope that a forum like that would be far more relevant than a spamming forum?