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?

maybe the vote should include a "doesn't matter either way" type of choice. I am curious how many don't care either way. Of course, if that gets the most votes, then what do we do?

There is a system for this, most votes include "no preference" but there is yet another fun difference of opinion at b.org about if the "no preference" vote helps. I'm in the camp that would rather see people who don't care, not vote. If not enough people vote then we don't meet a quorum and the issue is sent back into discussion. If we do a "no preference" that can bump the quorum up to the minimum even if 35 votes are "no preference" and 4 are no and 3 are yes. The 4 no's win. The reason I'm in the camp that doesn't like this is that this in turn tables the discussion for 6 months. If a vote doesn't meet a quorum then it can immediately go back into discussion and be proposed in an altered form.

my god. I had no idea there were such detailed rules. Is there any filibuster provisions?

The infamous "cheesebutt" document runs down the voting process: [link]

I should clear something up - I was in no way suggesting upthread the Buffy/Angel topics should actually be closed. As with omnis_audis, I was just using it as an example.

And to give credit where credit is due, the original Phoenix boarders worked their asses off to craft these rules, and I believe that they're one of the main reasons b.org isn't like "those other boards" out in internet-land.

I agree KT, and the fact that this board is as it is is what makes it great. Huge applause to them. Even if FF is let run out, I'm not gonna leave in a huff. I've grown to love the board and it's peoples. (Grammar Police, please, these aren't the words you are looking for ::Jedi two finger wave:: )

Now reading the Law-speak, and I have to say, I think this is the first time I have truly seen "42" the answer to a question. I am *DYING* over here. LOVE IT. Also, very much agree the last item on the voting checklist "Everybody takes a nap."

I'm curious as to why no compromise has been suggested. It seems that at least part of the angst is being caused by the fact that closing the topic/not opening a new thread has been proposed with less than 100 posts to go.

Whether a person agrees with the reasoning or not, there are people who are attached to the thread. What is being proposed is essentially ripping off the band aid/unravelling the beloved sweater with no real warning. Sometimes people want to be prepared for the things that will hurt.

What if a the thread were continued for one last stand, 10,000 posts guaranteed, and at the end of that thread, the topic would be closed permanantly. That would give the users time to do a watch-and-post, arrange an on-line Shingdig/wake, etc. Give them time to organize and grieve and move on in one form or another.