This is not really accurate. It doesn't take into account all the threads that are created as multitopic or multishow buckets. Yes, a new thread is created, which is against the anti pro, but it's done with as many topics as possible in one thread which in many ways works for the anti pro.

Well that's where you get to the other great buffista cultural divide (at least with regards to TV discussion): spoiler-phobes vs. spoiler-whores (or neutrals).

spoiler-phobes vs. spoiler-whores (or neutrals).

For Spoilerphobes, it also seems like "ability to scan a thread without being spoiled" is a part of it. I, for instance, seem to have this ability. I keep up with Boxed Set, but if I ever start watching Battlestar Galactica, I think the only thing I'll be spoiled for is the Dylan song.

Right, I read reality and have no idea what is going on with Top Chef or AI. Not that I watch those shows, but I scan for the shows I watch and seem not to catch anything else.

Whereas I am not a good scanner, and tend to zoom in on the most spoilery part of something being discussed. Which is why I love white font. But then we come up against the people who do not love white font.

I'm with msbelle. No explanation in the world will overcome that disagreement; if we're to deal with it, I think we would be dealing with methods for accommodating disagreement.

Like Nutty and msbelle, I think we need to deal with the reality that no (or few) minds are going to get changed in this or any other proliferation discussion.

How do we minimize the conflicts? Kristen suggested an "open enrollment" format upthread for new thread proposals. I think guidelines would help, but it would require both sides giving a little bit.

Antipro's will have to agree to some minimum of thread creation where proposals meeting that minimum would not have to contend with debates about proliferation.

Pro's will have to agree to a threshold below which they simply cannot propose a thread. They may even have to agree to a threshold below which an existing thread should get closed. (I think these should be different thresholds, but I may have to give on this too.)

I think it's going to have to be painful compromise on all sides.

I'm Dana! (I had not aspired.)

Antipro's will have to agree to some minimum of thread creation where proposals meeting that minimum would not have to contend with debates about proliferation.

Pro's will have to agree to a threshold below which they simply cannot propose a thread.

How will those be different from the thresholds we already have? You seem to be suggesting that we make it harder to propose a thread, but that if the thread proposal meets this threshold, then people will be forbidden from talking about proliferation issues. I don't see that going over well, but I'm willing to be proven wrong.

Which is why I love white font. But then we come up against the people who do not love white font

I suspect even if we did create a "threshhold" for thread creation (say that fast three times), we'd still end up in acrimony of this very point. I tend to vote "no pref" when it comes to white font issues, but there are many of us who take firm stances on it and would end up being alienated about a new thread that, while they are enthusiastic about, they couldn't participate in. Do we then go to a strict "white font/black font" rule, too?

You seem to be suggesting that we make it harder to propose a thread, but that if the thread proposal meets this threshold, then people will be forbidden from talking about proliferation issues.

Yes, exactly. From what I've seen (and feel free to prove me wrong) proliferation is an issue that, although relevant, applies fairly equally to every thread regardless of purpose or content. One new thread = one new thread.

I suspect even if we did create a "threshhold" for thread creation (say that fast three times), we'd still end up in acrimony of this very point. I tend to vote "no pref" when it comes to white font issues, but there are many of us who take firm stances on it and would end up being alienated about a new thread that, while they are enthusiastic about, they couldn't participate in. Do we then go to a strict "white font/black font" rule, too?

There are going to be arguments that come up in nearly every thread proposal, and whitefont/blackfont is one of those, but it generally has to do with the content/purpose of the proposed thread and not with the fact of creating the thread. Since it's subjective, a threshold format is not going to work very well. To answer your question, I don't advocate creation of strict fonting rules.

Antipro's will have to agree to some minimum of thread creation where proposals meeting that minimum would not have to contend with debates about proliferation.

Pro's will have to agree to a threshold below which they simply cannot propose a thread. They may even have to agree to a threshold below which an existing thread should get closed. (I think these should be different thresholds, but I may have to give on this too.)

I think it's going to have to be painful compromise on all sides.

I definitely admire where this is coming from, Wolfram, but I have grave doubts that further "legislation" of the thread creation process, as tempting as it might be, will make things better. I suspect it will actually make things worse.