There is part of me that likes the idea of an "all SPN, all the time" thread, because I think it would be easier to get into long, in-depth discussions about the show's mythology, characterization, etc.

On the other hand, I would not have started watching SPN if I had not been intrigued by the discussion I saw in-thread and decided to give it a try. Similarly, I would not have started watching Eureka, or BSG, and I wouldn't have known to check out Dresden Files when it started.

(Edit: Dude. What happened to post 6991?)

I'm with Anne. I think. Sort of. I am puzzled that people think SPN doesn't generate enough talk, but while I'd enjoy a dedicated thread for it, I'm happy with bucket threads. I also think it's a good thematic fit in Boxed Set. I'm a linear board girl at heart, so I'm happy to post about SPN anywhere, provided I don't have to use white font for current episodes.

I also feel kind of badly for Frank, right now. I'm just saying his name, because I feel passive-aggressive not saying it. He's one person, not 'people' and he didn't seem, to me, to be pushing anyone.

Frank asked a sincere question -- one I wondered about when I didn't watch SPN, and still wonder about now that I do, and not because I'm a YAY Threadista, or whatever that's about.

(Although Frank, I have to say (kindly) to you, that I was a little put off that you characterized the recent SPN conversation as squeeing and flailing, because we were actually having a semi-thoughtful conversation at the time. That said, I didn't feel like you were pushing us out.)

I've eyeballed the July posts in Boxed Set. I am probably somewhat off, because it's early, and the math -- she is not my thing. That said, here's a rough idea of what we've discussed in Boxed Set over the past couple of weeks:

340 Supernatural posts

170 Eureka posts

90 Dr. Who posts

15 Kindred: The Embraced posts

15 Should-We-Have-An-SPN-Thread posts

10 Painkiller Jane posts

20 to 30 miscellaneous posts

NOTE: If there was a conversation organizing a Watch & Post, I counted it toward that show's total. Also, all figures are approximate.

Someone might want to do a similar eyeball of a month where shows like SPN, BSG and the Stargates were all in first run. I don't know.

I definitely got the feeling that the Stargate(s) discussions in Boxed Set got shunted to the side, and starved because there was too much other stuff (SPN?) to find it and generate a connected conversation, FWIW. But then SG1 was finale-ing and not in a particularly noteworthy fashion IMHO.

I'd probably subscribe to an SPN thread if it was created. Back when I proposed the Heroes thread ( :: pets it fondly :: ), my other prominent candidate for a standalone thread was SPN. I suspect we wouldn't be proposing a Heroes thread now if history was reversed and SPN had been spun off at that point.

But, really, if the people who are discussing it (which includes me sometimes) aren't arguing in favor of a dedicated thread, then I don't see it as a need.

As the person who got this ball rolling inadvertantly, the above is the reason I was very reluctant to ask the question in the first place. That, and as someone else said, the idea of pushing people off to their own island, which was not my intention.

Although Frank, I have to say (kindly) to you, that I was a little put off that you characterized the recent SPN conversation as squeeing and flailing, because we were actually having a semi-thoughtful conversation at the time.

The timing was bad on my part, I'll admit, but it was a result of having used the skip link to get past the W&P and...finding more SPN discussion.

Who knows, I may end up converted yet. I've really liked the 3 episodes I've seen; it's just not a show I find particularly discussion-worthy yet - emphasis on the "I" statement.

To be completely honest, if this comes to vote (and if the people watching the show don't want the dedicated thread, than I think it shouldn't), I'm not sure I would vote for it at this point.

I have often thought that my personal attitude of "SPN likes carrots, and I will tell that to anyone who will stand still long enough" is a little... enthusiastic for a bucket thread.

I think it's the enthusiasm, not just the post count, that argues for a separate thread. I think that the enthusiasm level for the show can easily maintain a thread, much like the Firefly thread which is still going strong years after cancellation. Most of the shows in Boxed Set have limited seasons. Eureka generates a lot of posts while new episodes are on, but relatively little when they're not. Most of the other shows are similar. SPN seems to be active whether there are new episodes or not. It's not just that the watch & posts of new eps generate a lot of posts, it's that there are watch & posts of reruns and even watch & posts of DVD eps generating large numbers of posts. There is both flailing and long discussion. The people who like the show are super enthusiastic about it. Even Buffy didn't get a lot of W&Ps for reruns.

It does make it harder to follow the conversations on the other shows. There was a SPN DVD watch & post on 3/11, a night when there were also new episodes of both Dresden Files and BSG. There were 119 SPN posts on an episode that wasn't even airing, while the new Dresden had 20 posts and the new BSG had 15. That's a lot to wade through if you're not interested.

I don't think it's that SPN doesn't belong in Boxed Set, but rather that it's outgrown Boxed Set.

DX's comments about the perennialness of the volume make sense. OTOH, I'm vaguely opposed to anything that decreases the cross-curricular contamination of TV shows, because I am mixy that way.

Also, without Supernatural, I'm not sure that Boxed Set will retain its media fandom flavor, what with Stargate #1 being over and most of the other original founding shows being discussed in the Fanfic thread, if at all. But that is possibly just me mourning the loss of a generalist media fandom thread; or possibly wondering if a Supernatural thread would secretly do double-duty as the media fandom thread, the same way that back on WX Due South became the home of Stargate discussion, without that ever being officially noted in thread title or slug.

In other words, I am conflicted. For practical reasons, I might say yes; but for social and psychological reasons, no is calling out to me.

As the person who got this ball rolling inadvertantly, the above is the reason I was very reluctant to ask the question in the first place. That, and as someone else said, the idea of pushing people off to their own island, which was not my intention.

Frank, I am sorry if it seems like I am picking on you, because I do believe that wasn't your intention. Unfortunately, that is how it came across to me from your post, and I suspect from the conversation here that I am not alone in that.

As a result, the threshold problem that I am having with this particular proposal is that it seems to have been made based on guilt on the part of the proposer, rather than perceived need. I think that guilt is misplaced, but even if I didn't, I wouldn't want it to be the basis for a new thread.

Also, without Supernatural, I'm not sure that Boxed Set will retain its media fandom flavor, what with Stargate #1 being over and most of the other original founding shows being discussed in the Fanfic thread, if at all. But that is possibly just me mourning the loss of a generalist media fandom thread; or possibly wondering if a Supernatural thread would secretly do double-duty as the media fandom thread, the same way that back on WX Due South became the home of Stargate discussion, without that ever being officially noted in thread title or slug.

I always feel a little out of my league when the topic of the media fannishness of Boxed Set is raised, in part, because I never manage to retain a good working definition of 'media fannishness' (and if I recall correctly, that's because it's a term quite at least a few people define differently).

I also feel out of my league, because it's not part of the Boxed Set slug, and it's not part of the Boxed Set thread header. It feels a bit to me like media fannishness is a secret rule of thumb, only known to some, and yet when I read posts like yours Nutty, I wonder if we're supposed to treat it as something that's codified, even though it's not.

I don't mean to come across like I'm discounting your reason, Nutty. It's just one I never quite understand and so I'm never sure where the line lies, nevermind whether we should cross it.

Slug:

Discussions of sci-fi/fantasy shows we watch. Smallville, Due South, Farscape, Stargate, BSG, SPN, etc. May contain HoYay.

Header:

A topic for the discussion of Farscape, Smallville, and Due South. Beware possible invasions of Stargate, Highlander, Supernatural, or pretty much any other "genre" show that captures our fancy. Expect Adult Content and discussion of the Big Gay Sex.

Whitefont all unaired in the U.S. ep discussion, identifying it as such, and including the show and ep title in blackfont.

Blackfont is allowed after the show has aired on the east coast.

This is NOT a general TV discussion thread.

____________

DX said:

It does make it harder to follow the conversations on the other shows. There was a SPN DVD watch & post on 3/11, a night when there were also new episodes of both Dresden Files and BSG. There were 119 SPN posts on an episode that wasn't even airing, while the new Dresden had 20 posts and the new BSG had 15. That's a lot to wade through if you're not interested.

Even though I'm now head over heels in love with SPN, and like discussing it in Boxed Set, I agree with what DX says above. When I wasn't watching SPN, I felt the same way. I sometimes feel that the SPN enthusiasm not only makes it a little more difficult to follow the other conversations, it also makes it a little more difficult to sustain them.

I have no idea which way I'll vote, but to some extent, I still can't understand the reluctance of the other SPN fans to have a dedicated thread, and I'd like to, before I vote.

As a result, the threshold problem that I am having with this particular proposal is that it seems to have been made based on guilt on the part of the proposer, rather than perceived need. I think that guilt is misplaced, but even if I didn't, I wouldn't want it to be the basis for a new thread.

Lee (and Beverly, Plei, Jilli and anyone else who feels somewhat opposed to the current proposal), if AmyLiz had made the proposal out of pure SPN love, would you still be leaning against it? If so, could you please explain to me why? As I said, I'm good with SPN in Boxed Set, or in its own thread. I'd like a better understanding of how what's swaying people (other than the fact that a non-SPN watcher brought it up).

Lee (and Beverly, Plei, Jilli and anyone else who feels somewhat opposed to the current proposal), if AmyLiz had made the proposal out of pure SPN love, would you still be leaning against it?

Almost definitely. I don't think SPN is enough to sustain its own thread, I like the cross pollination with the other shows, and I think it fits well within Boxed Set.

Thanks, Lee. If I'm understanding correctly, you're saying you'd almost definitely still be leaning against a dedicated SPN thread -- right?