The interest driven threads pull people out of just their cozy pockets (I think) and maintain lines of discussion which foster the whole community.

But historically, I don't think this has been the case.

But historically, I don't think this has been the case.

Do you think my basic premise is unsound? I think trending towards natter threads without a tighter focus will encourage factionalization. I think interest driven threads focus the discussion on specific things which draws people in who feel able to join the conversation because it's on topic, and that they don't have to feel like they don't belong because they haven't spent months chatting in Bitches.

I do think historically the music thread and the literary thread have pulled people in from other groups.

What's your experience in other boards, Ple?

Do you think my basic premise is unsound?

Yes.

What's your experience in other boards, Ple?

Screw other boards. My experience *here* has been that factionalization increases with each new thread.

I think because of meeting and natter and lj and backchannel that factionization has already happened. The people I don't post with I probably wouldn't post with in a thread about why I am always right.

I do think historically the music thread and the literary thread have pulled people in from other groups.

Barely. Especially wrt the music thread. It's a pretty small number of posters in there, and it's a fairly intimidating group, honestly. I'll post there because I don't give a shit, but I can definitely see people not wanting to get into it because the stuff they want to talk about is the wrong stuff.

I can definitely see people not wanting to get into it because the stuff they want to talk about is the wrong stuff.

And of course that's self-perpetuating. I'm much more likely to post about Neko Case there than Evanescence, because I know one is "right" to like and the other isn't, but probably more people have opinions on Evanescence.

I'm not sure I see a solution, though, other than Jesse cloning herself.

Well, it's not like I post in there a lot anyway. Even in the movies thread, which I feel like should be much less like that, I feel like more often than not, I'm posting into a void. Don't know why, it's not a huge issue, but there it is. Every thread is different.

Yes.

Could you elaborate on that a little bit so I could have the benefit of your thoughts on it? I'm not interested in pushing an agenda, and it would help me sort through it.

Screw other boards. My experience *here* has been that factionalization increases with each new thread.

I'm interested in your previous experience because I'm approaching this as an issue of board/community dynamics. What happens when it gets too big? What happens when all the satellite groups lose the center?

I don't see the subcommunities to necessarily be a faction in the negative sense. People get to know each other, they establish relationships - all inevitable. I just think that topic driven threads allow entry into the group more readily. You're not obliged to talk about yourself or know the history of the other posters - just the subject under discussion.

I think because of meeting and natter and lj and backchannel that factionization has already happened. The people I don't post with I probably wouldn't post with in a thread about why I am always right.

Again, there will always be some subgroups and subcommunities and individual relationships formed. I just think having the equivalent of show threads is healthier for the board long term.

I'll post there because I don't give a shit, but I can definitely see people not wanting to get into it because the stuff they want to talk about is the wrong stuff.

I felt this way initially. And still kind of do, but now I'm with you in not giving a shit.

whitefont everything for one week, whitefont HSQ until the end of the season?

I can't see this working practically. And that's not even until you get to people that find spoiler font headache inducing.

What I think is the only practical solution is something like the WX TT TV folder. Except I still have to squint when I want to talk about Murphy's Law in the BBCAmerica thread, because I still intend to watch State of Play one day.

Also -- I'm way into saying what our mission isn't, without actually accepting we have one. Our mission? Not WX TT TV. Nor TWOP. We don't have the infrastructure.

So I could be assured that any new person MOST LIKELY was a fan of TV shows I was also a fan of. And that would make them less ike a stranger to me.

I respect that this is your reaction, but I don't get it at all. Because I don't like a higher %age of Buffy fans than I do of crocheters or martial artists. It's just a thing.