Let the thread die a natural and dignified death. The subject is still welcome, but the end of the thread seems not just like board housekeeping, but like a fitting way for it to go out.

This is exactly what I feel as well. thanks, amych

Or, we could bury it in the backyard next to Lovesick Ass, Atlantic Canadians, and Book Club.

It's just a thread. A dead thread. We could propose that if it doesn't reach 500 posts in six months, we take it off the feeding tube, as well.

We could propose that if it doesn't reach 500 posts in six months, we take it off the feeding tube, as well.

In the last year, it's only had about 1000 posts.

You know, the elves went into the West and left Middle Earth for Man. It was as sad as the end of any era, but it was time.

Uh, sorry Allyson.

Oh.

I think that's part of the process. When is the right time to close it going to be, if it's not now when it reaches its post limit? Are those who are in favor of it reopening suggesting that we continue with it indefinitely, making it an immortal thread? Will we wait another ten years until it hits the next 10,000?

I just want to make sure we have some sort of lifecycle management for our thread process. If we decide that Firefly, like Buffy, exists outside of that lifecycle, then so be it. But I don't want us to get caught in a thing where we feel like we can never close a thread. Each thread is going to generate its own subculture within the boards, and opening and closing those threads is going to affect the overall ebb and flow of the boards. That's only natural.

if we do decide to open the next thread, it might be fun to start with a group rewatch of the show or movie. That would give the thread a nice jump start and get it past the initial low numbers so it doesn't feel so sad to others.

this. I was coming in here to suggest this.

I composed this an hour ago, then got interrupted with actual work.

Just because a show was created by Joss, we have to keep a tombstone? In sum, I don't buy sentimentality as a reason for keeping something useless around.

I don't think sentimentality should be used to kill the thread either. As much as you might want to take emotion out of the equation, it seems like the strong feelings either way are driven by it. Also, it's not the only reason to keep the thread around. The thread is not dead, just slow. Firefly posts pop up consistently at least several times a month.

REAL TIME:

I just want to make sure we have some sort of lifecycle management for our thread process. If we decide that Firefly, like Buffy, exists outside of that lifecycle, then so be it.

I agree that there needs to be a lifecycle. I think Firefly should exist outside that lifecycle. I really do. The arguments for closing it have as much to do with emotion as the ones for keeping it open. Bookclub was a failed experiment which a few folks (including me) wanted to keep kicking long after it died.

I also think 1000 posts in a year for a thread that has the kind of history Firefly does is indicative of a very not-dead (slightly alive) thread.

And were it not for the 10,000 limit, would we really be having this discussion? That's not a natural death, IMO, but one brought about by a recognition that the thread is getting on in years, not as spry as it used to be, and maybe we should closet it in archives where we don't have to feel uncomfortable seeing the shadow thread of its former self.

How is that different from "I don't want discussion about *that* topic in *my* thread"?

It's not at all. I am confused, Dana, because I'm not sure what you are referencing.... is it an SPN/Boxed Set thing? In my mind, both stances are coming from the same place.

I do think the not re-starting a thread is different than closing one, which I hadn't considered before.