There is clearly a demand for such space. I have just trawled through QSF and noted in addition to the ENT Chicks posting in this style, three of our mods doing the same thing. And enjoying it (God forbid! people enjoying themselves!). There are now a lot of what might be called 'spam' threads in Misc (certainly as spammy as the bar threads every got at their height). Basically the posters are telling us (and have been for a long time) that they want a board type environment where they can be friv and chatty. (With or without post count)

So here's my suggestion. Let's kill two stones with one bird. Open up the lounges into two open fora: Ten Forward, for the more serious lounge type threads and the Coffee Bar for the truly frivolous chat. I realise that this would be at the expense of the 'smaller community' argument. My reply to that is that TBA and the ENT Chicks have clearly demonstated that you don't need a restricted forum to create community. Community develops from shared interests and posting styles.

I have suggested this in here - I am quite willing to 'go public' and suggest it in QSF. I think we need to face the fact that posters want somewhere to be friv. That was what the Terran people wanted: it's what the Ent Chicks want. If this board is a 'good' business, it will be concerned to give the public what they want. And a new/revamped forum would do that without causing mayhem in our existing 'niche market' fora for Trek Discussion.

Responses?

89ares has taken over Lisa's body; the entire BBS is in jeopardy.

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Originally posted by RevdKathy:
Since the Misc mods have said that they don't want the 'spam' threads (the present ENT material or the former bar threads),

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I never said that. You have to understand that [b]susannah is a purist when it comes to the misc forum and she has become a real hard@ss about it lately

If the misc forum is good enough for bar threads, toga threads, flirting threads, kissing threads, snuggle threads, hugging threads, cuddle threads, burping threads, farting threads, fart lighting threads, wet willie threads, dating threads and stare-at-me-while-I-dress threads, it is good enough for your Reed Rage threads.

Secondly, some of the Misc mods really don't like the chatty, frivilous threads and would prefer that they go far away somewhere else. (although I specifically remember one who was quite willing to be reasonable about them, even though she hated them, lol!)

There does need to be one area like you suggest RevdKathy. I remember suggesting this during the infamous bar wars. Nothing ever came of it, basically I got the "but that's what the lounges are for!" thrown at me. But when the group isn't all the same rank, they can't mix together in the lounges.

I really think we need a space where this stuff is accepted. I don't remember it being suggested during the Bar Wars - I wasn't in here then. It might have saved a lot of aggro then.

No, I do not like the chatty, spammy threads, and I would be enormously gratified if I never had to read another one again. However, I recognize my duty to do so when they are genuine Misc threads. Posters have their right to their little frickin' Kaffee Klatschen (Klatsche? Klatsches? Help me out here, Zun, Christian, somebody), so long as they're not totally, egregiously, blatantly spam; and so long as they're not another forum's material. My objection to the Reed Rage threads taking up residence in Misc is related to that second criterion.

And yes, it's rather amusing that you can't gain rank in the lounges, but NEED rank to access them.

This rank thing is a pain in the ass. Should have just done away with it!

And Susannah, I appreciate your viewpoint. Even though you hate the stuff, you were never anything but decent about them, and willing to work things out. Folks know that too. If they don't, why then I'll tell 'em so!

I feel the same way about most of the stupid sex things in ENT. They're annoying to the extreme, but as long as they're allowed by policy, I smile and accommodate them and straighten out disputes on them. But if I never saw a T'Pol catsuit/titty/Maxim thread again, I could live with that!

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Originally posted by susannah:

Hardass signing out.

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I don't really think we need to divide up misc into frivolous Misc and serious Misc, even if only because we already did that when we created TNZ. Surely we don't need to have frivolous Misc, medium Misc and serious Misc?

As for the character worship threads in 'Enterprise,' that's quite simple - if the content of the thread deals with 'Enterprise,' they should be in 'Enterprise'. If the content has turned into general chat of character fans, it should be in 'Misc'.

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Originally posted by Christian:
Surely we don't need to have frivolous Misc, medium Misc and serious Misc?

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quote:

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It might be a good idea to take a little excursion to the Slipstream BBS and see how things are being handled there - worship groups have existed for well over a year there.

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This is true. I lurk there and those threads have been there and no one seems to mind. Folks that don't like them hop right over them.

quote:

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Originally posted by Christian:
It might be a good idea to take a little excursion to the Slipstream BBS and see how things are being handled there - worship groups have existed for well over a year there.

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Well, I guess that becomes reason #2 that I would rather have a hot poker shoved through my eye socket than be a member of Slipstream. Reason #1 of course being "Andromeda."

Gotta agree with Christian on the rest of that, though. Creating even more lounge/Misc type forums doesn't really accomplish anything.

As for the topicality of the spammish threads in ENT, it's hard to argue with him. Damn.

What's wrong with the threads, Revd, is that they lack the very content and general relevance that the policy requires. They're spam. At least that's how I see them. But I'm apparently in the minority here.

As for Slipstream, I don't pretend to know. It may have to do with the type of person who actually enjoys "Andromeda."

What we really need is a full-on Liquor Bar!

I, myself, never begin my modding duties without at least two shots of bourbon in me. Only then am I ready to tackle the VOY forum.

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I want a pure, virgin, Star Trek gaming forum.....

Oh, heck, I'd also settle for a...err, um...