I have a ton of respect for the creators of this forum. IMO you guys have created an amazing site.
I do have one complaint. I don't like when reasonable topics get moved from the main page to the romper grave yard. You might as well toss it 3 pages back. You come here to talk to a group of people but you have to go from one room to the next. It's just inconvenient and it's hard to get consistant discussion because your thread takes forever to get a hit.
I'm not saying we should overload the Packer forum with OT threads. There is a line to draw and sometimes it's not so clear. Everyone's line probably differs a little bit. I know there are some here who would restrict conversations and language to the point where it is more uncomfortable than chirstmas at the inlaws and there are some who would have profanity posted on every thread. I just want to let my forum voice be heard.
Here is why I think an OT thread like AP or FYI is good for the health and well being of the forum:
1. People hit the main page most frequently. Sometimes you just want to hear what your forum friends have to say on a topic so you drop on by. You immediately head for the dark dingy corner of the forum and kick up a discussion in the so called Romper Room *great idea, bad results*. What happens? Nobody responds. Why? Because they are on the main page for 3/4 of their visit and either miss your thread or catch it when it's too late.
2. I think conversation on the main page and overall volume is only a good thing for any forum. Diversity and free speech help to feed an enviornment that is comfortable and welcoming.
On the flip side, a forum can be overtaken wiht OT threads and junk. I spent a lot fo time at JS and sometimes days went by without a mod checking in. It was a great place for a long time untill one idiot started doing rediculous things. The forum became unusable. Untill that happened, the forum was great. There was OT stuff. Sure we all could have gone to a different forum to talk about Kobe or Barroid or whatever the hell was on our minds that day but we chose to talk to our usual buddies about it instead.
If you tihnk back to JS, there were some great times. Sure we didnt' like every homosexual OT thread that popped up but for the most part, that stuff made it a fun place to visit. Honestly, I think a part of H.H. and Tank died when we came here because they had a ton of good info and insite on a lot of that stuff and now it is designated to the dark corner. I respectfully request that those in charge move that gray line a little to the left. I liked our old internet personalities and I think it's possible to let them live on the main page without harming the integrity of this board. Acctually, it makes it a very comfortable place.
If you look at a thread and you ask:
Is this really offensive to large groups?
Is this thread damaging the football integrity of the board?
If the answer is yes to either, move that mother beeper right to the romper room. If the answer is no to both then why? IMO you are hurting the board by taking away from it's livelyhood and personality. The romper room was a great idea and I at first thought it was great but honestly, I feel like putting OT comments in a new room has made it harder to discuss them and brought about a general discomfort to speak on the main page.
That's my damn rant. Whew....
I resepect the intentions of the authority, but I think somethings might get misplaced. Thanks for hearing me.
