It seems to me the fundamental question is: What is the criteria for a separate thread to be created rather than have a show share Boxed Set?

Clearly at some point in the past this criteria was met for Buffy, Angel and Firefly. Is the criteria "spawned by Joss" or "the volume of posts [and how is this quantified?] regarding one particular show is drowning out all other discussion and thus needs its own thread"?

"To VM or not VM" is just a symptom of the problem. If this criteria can be determined, then the vote in question is academic.

Eddie, I don't usually do this, but you might want to read the FAQ for some board history. We started as one Buffy thread on the Table Talk boards back in ... what, 1997? And grew from there.

I'm going to vote for the thread, even though I'm still somewhat neutral on the show itself. Ideologically, I'm pro-proliferation (deadhorse deadhorse deadhose). In practical terms, I don't like the idea of having to wait until late February to discuss this again or create a thread, as we would have to should the vote fail. In my ideal world, I would want to wait on the vote until after the season premiere just in case the show sucks this season, but I didn't make the proposal.

I'm perfectly happy to register my discontent via the voting system (which I registered discontent about). Won't be the first time I've voted in the minority.

Me too.

At some point, I just grew tired of the sound of my own voice on this matter. I dislike thread proliferation. I will vote as such. If anyone newish to the board is interested in the longer version, feel free to search this thread (and B'craxxy 1) for the word "proliferation."

I'm actually not anti-proliferation, but I have come to feel that new threads, even when warranted, should be few and far between. Frankly, it seems that almost all the new thread suggestions (with one or two possible exceptions) are OOH, SHINY NEW SHOW!

I think a lot of those are going to fall by the wayside, and I say that as one who has succumbed to that very instinct.

In fact, I think I have a proposal to make in B'cracy.

Eddie, I don't usually do this, but you might want to read the FAQ for some board history. We started as one Buffy thread on the Table Talk boards back in ... what, 1997? And grew from there.

Yes, I read all suggested material when I decided I wanted to be a part of this community; I am aware of the published history. Granted, the Buffy thread in my example may not have been the most pertinent, but the creation of the Angel and Firefly threads support my point. Which is that someone at sometime decided that those two shows deserved their own thread based on some sort of justification (which I suspect was simply "Joss created it"). If that justification can be quantified, then we have a long term solution.

I see that Sean K understands where I'm coming from Sean K "Bureaucracy 3: Oh, so now you want to be part of the SOLUTION?" Aug 20, 2005 8:38:11 am PDT

All I'm suggesting is that if we establish a threshold such as what Sean K is proposing we won't have to go through all of this discussion in the future for new shows. If the threshold is achieved, a new thread is created, end of story. Otherwise, the show will have to share Boxed Set.

Otherwise, the show will have to share Boxed Set.

Why? Why not have whitefonted discussion in Natter or none at all?

Why? Why not have whitefonted discussion in Natter or none at all?

That works too. All I was trying to say was "general purpose tv discussion thread".

Why? Why not have whitefonted discussion in Natter or none at all?

Which works fine for most shows. Recently I've been skipping over a bunch of Rescue Me, other people get to skip over TAR, etc. I know some more people picked up VM over the summer, but looking back to last year, it didn't seem to me like an overwhelming amount of discussion. And assuming it's still up against Lost, I'm guessing Natter is slower than usual around then anyway, just because a fair number of posters are elsewhere.

eta:

All I was trying to say was "general purpose tv discussion thread".

Eddie, them's fightin' words around here. Just so you know.

All I was trying to say was "general purpose tv discussion thread".

We don't have one. If you want to propose it, hold onto that idea until Sean is done.

Eddie, them's fightin' words around here. Just so you know.

Really? Huh... is this like one of those 'cabal' things?

We don't have one. If you want to propose it, hold onto that idea until Sean is done.

Well, in my mind that's the function of Boxed Set, but that may be due to my television viewing habits. If Boxed Set is strictly sci-fi/fantasy (as the description states), then no, it's not general tv discussion.

As far as proposing it, if someone more senior than I wants to sponsor the suggestion, that's fine by me. I don't feel that I've reached my personal threshold to be so bold as to make proposals. I debated with myself as to whether or not I was entitled to even voice an opinion on the matter at hand but decided that if I want to be a contributing member of this group I have to participate.