If the thread is still being used and enjoyed by people, even if it isn't that many, why close it? I don't see a compelling reason to do it. If Firefly fit with Buffy and Angel, I could see folding it into that thread, but it doesn't.

When we've closed threads in the past, it was either with the approval of the folks who used the thread, or because we as a group thought reducing the number of threads would solve the system problems we were having at the time. Neither one of those seems to apply in this case.

maybe the vote should include a "doesn't matter either way" type of choice.

That's the purpose behind including the No Preference option, isn't it?

Of course, if that gets the most votes, then what do we do?

Again, there's precedent here. Even if more people vote for No Preference than vote for either Yes or No, we go with the majority of Yeses or Noes.

I don't remember now what the vote is going to be for. Is it for closing the thread or not opening a new one when the current thread reaches its end?

I think the wording of the proposal is:

I propose we close the dedicated Firefly thread and let conversation happen where it will.

Aimée "Voting Discussion: We're Screwing In Light Bulbs AIFG!" Oct 25, 2007 8:48:21 am PDT

Though I have been assuming that not opening a new thread is what we're talking about.

Aimee's latest proposal was to "close" the thread, but I'd suggest amending it to say "not opening a new thread when the current thread is finished."

But I'm with DX. When the community using a thread wants to keep it open, I don't see a pressing reason to close it.

I realize how ridiculous this is, but I don't think the Firefly community will ever agree to closing the thread, even if it goes without posts for ten years. It's this weird "you can't take the sky from me!" mentality.

It's solely my elephant in the room. And maybe it's okay to open a new thread for the occassional fandom wank, but it doesn't seem (to me) like a good reason to open a new thread.

It seems like the thing keeping the thread moving for so long was a dead sock puppet, random rumors about sequels, and of course, news about crazy!fans.

If there was never a Firefly thread, would we open one just for those purposes?

It seems like the thing keeping the thread moving for so long was a dead sock puppet, random rumors about sequels, and of course, news about crazy!fans.

If there was never a Firefly thread, would we open one just for those purposes?

If it were proposed and enough people voted for it, sure.

It seems to me that when Thread N reaches it 10,000 post limit, creation of Thread N+1 should be automatic.

To put it another way, I see the creation of Thread N+1 as a continuation of Thread N, and different from the opening of a new thread with a new topic for discussion.

Proposals to close a thread can be made, discussed, and put to a vote at any time.

Proposals to re-open an old thread or create any new thread can be made, discussed, and put to a vote at any time.

Is this a good time to close the Firefly thread? Possibly. I can see the arguments for both sides. But my own preference would be to see Firefly 5 created and then a vote to close the thread. Merely reaching the 10,000 post limit is not enough for me to vote to close the thread.

In fairness though, Allyson, I don't think there's that much of the wider Firefly community here. A majority of the people debating this one are long term Buffistas members, and the vote will very likely reflect that.

I still don't know which way I'm gonna vote. To me, in my mind, Buffy/Angel/Firefly had all gone hand-in-hand here as part of the community, so for that reason I would always have said 'Keep it'. I think I was wrong, as is so often hilariously the case.

Proposals to close a thread can be made, discussed, and put to a vote at any time.

Right, which is why I'm not concerned with the "if not now, then when?" question. If the vote results preserve the thread, after the six-month moratorium anyone who thinks that the amount of discussion isn't sustaining the thread suffficiently can propose closing. And if no one does that, there would seem to be no problem.

It seems to me, the predominant arguments for letting the thread end is:

1) the show is done, and has been. nothing new.

2) post quantity is low

Looking at the Buffy/Angel thread as an example (mind you, in no way shape or form am I proposing, hinting or whatevering that it should be closed, just putting it as an example)

All three shows are done. B/A are being re-broadcast on cable, so the coffin lid isn't closed on those shows. Firefly, er, not so much, tho they did have an HD rebroadcast this fall. B/A is a thread based on two shows that ran for a combined 12 seasons. Firefly is a thread based on one show that ran one season. In the past year-to-date B/A had 1143 posts, and Firefly had 571. Proportionally speaking, that would make Firefly more active.

So, that brings up other reasons to close it. Emotional and technical. I asked earlier if there were administrative or technical reasons to close threads, that hasn't been answered, so I do not know the answer to that.

That leaves emotional. It seems there is a camp that wants to keep thread-sprawl to a minimum (understandably, the home page has a TON of thread-links). There seems to be a camp that are of the mind "it's dead, let it go". And there is the camp of "you can't take the sky from me". The first (sprawl) goes back to my technical question. The 3rd is understandable for fans of the show. As for the 2nd camp. I dunno. I'm afraid any summation I make would be slanted and I really don't want to offend folks, and sometimes my sarcastic comments are taken wrong.

But I've read how "the site was originally..." Yes, true. But hasn't it evolved? I admit, I'm coming up to about 11 months or so on the board, and the first 4 or so not very active. It seems to me, this board is a SOCIAL gathering place for people with common interests. If a thread is active with discussion, a social avenue, why close it?