I'd probably support a cooking thread for much the same reason I'd support a gaming thread.

I will say that i think a gaming thread fits with the overall theme of buffistas (in my head anyway, and in a way I can't quite articulate).

It sounds like the basic issue is that the gamers want a place to discuss their interest -- and there really isn't a place now.

I'm not going to take a stand on whether or not a thread is needed. But if (for whatever reason) one doesn't happen, would it be possible to come to an Understanding (also known as Bullshit Consensus) that one or more particular threads are Gamer Friendly? There are long-running ties between the SF/fantasy and gaming communities (or at least, there were strong ones when I was active in both too many years ago).

So given the significant SF/f interests on the board, I think the gamers deserve a place where they're welcome to discuss such topics. Maybe that's a dedicated thread, maybe it's a place in an existing thread. But a place, nonetheless.

And I'd distinguish a cooking thread because cooking matters seem to be comfortably discussed in the general interest threads. (Though I'd be happy to consider evidence to the contrary.)

I think the arguments for a gaming thread are the same arguments for a cooking thread, really.

Considering the number of recipes that pop up, not a bad thought.

It's not like we're leeching conversation. In fact, it would just be a small portion of us finding a corner to talk about things you're probably not terribly interested in.

Right! Which is why I'm again' it!

It's not leeching existing conversation, no, but it's shuttling off potential conversational topics into their own cul de sac, furthering the sprawl-based change from city to vast regions of suburbs.

I'd probably support a cooking thread for much the same reason I'd support a gaming thread.

I see them as very different. I may be wrong, but I would imagine that cooking is a subject of more general interest and relevance to a greater number of Buffistas, and is less likely to annoy non-interested readers.

Everybody eats, right? Most people cook at some point. Well, maybe not Sean, but most people.

Isn't Sean a cooking guru now?

It's not leeching existing conversation, no, but it's shuttling off potential conversational topics into their own cul de sac, furthering the sprawl-based change from city to vast regions of suburbs.

But the feeling seems to be that it's difficult to get such potential conversational topics started in the available threads. So a gaming thread wouldn't be shuttling such topics off to the 'burbs, it'd be creating a space w/in city limits in which such topics could fluorish.

Like a rooftop garden. With dice and body odor.

He is.

By the way, I clearly need more coffee.

When I first scanned the proposal, I read tabletop RPG as tabletop RPS.

And I'd distinguish a cooking thread because cooking matters seem to be comfortably discussed in the general interest threads.

Games have a lot more tie in with a board that sprung up around television discussions, because I see it as other media like movies, books/graphic novels, and music. I don't really see cooking as a media. Of course I may be doing it wrong.

But the feeling seems to be that it's difficult to get such potential conversational topics started in the available threads. So a gaming thread wouldn't be shuttling such topics off to the 'burbs, it'd be creating a space w/in city limits in which such topics could fluorish.

A space within city limits would be talking about it in an existing thread, like Natter.