Scrappy, I not only get the argument when put just that way, but I even empathize strongly with it. You are ever wise.

That being said, I still like and want a gaming thread, and I think we'd certainly be welcoming to all comers.

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there was this total assface playing a Ranger and he did the dumbest shit ever...

Wait, I think I know who you are talking about!

As for the discussion at hand, I feel like I threw in the towel years ago. I'm spoiler phobic, this is what I bring up all the time. Multipurpose threads work about as well as a square wheel does for me. I don't go in Other Media because I'm slowly reading the Other Media that is contained therein and don't want to be spoiled. I gave up on discussion SF on b.org so long ago that half the time I forget that it's actually discussed here. I have deeper discussions about it with my grocery store checker at this point.

From my perspective the multipurpose threads have hurt my sense of b.org community over and over again. Yes, I'd love to talk gaming here. If it happens great. If not, I'll probably just stick with IM discussions about it.

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Hmm. I am... on the fence.

I'm hypothetically antiproliferation, as I understand that there are, in the end, infrastructure issues with endless thread proliferation--not to imply that this is the Beginning of the End or any such thing.

I have not noticed either gaming talk taking over other threads, or failing at conversation at other threads. But then since I'm blocked at work, I usually just hang out in Boxed Set, SPN, Fic, and Literary these days anyway. I would have expected gaming to show up in Other Media, as I consider Games a Media. In fact, I'm surprised it hasn't.

It does appear that, in general, a new thread will serve to generate conversation, but there also needs to be enough of a subpopulation already on the board to sustain it. Is six, eight, twelve Buffistas enough to sustain a thread on games and gaming? I dunno: how many people post regularly in SPN? Twelve, maybe? Which I guess answers my question.

I suspect that, as this isn't primarily a gaming board, creation of a gaming thread won't result in hundreds of new posters and lots of extra strain on the board. I also suspect that everyone in this thread that I've seen speak in favor of the new thread is someone who's often spotted participating in other threads on non-gaming topics.

So, if we're not going to put a big strain on the board infrastructure, and we're not sucking social engagement away from more general-interest threads, I'm in favor.

Of course, if we start it, and in six months there's only a hundred posts, I suspect someone's going to want to bring this back to the table.

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And I'm against threadsprawl in the first place, as it does feel like our increased sprawl has impacted the feel of community in a negative sense.

I agree with Plei.

It... actually happened just recently, when Boxed Set got overwhelmed with Supernatural talk, and the latter was split off. And while I won't deny there were some hurt feelings in the middle there, it all worked out and I think everyone's happy now.

Personally? I got over it, but it very much changed my interactions on the board and elsewhere. I loved being in Boxed Set but I haven't been back since that happened.

Please don't go there.

And, yeah, ita's point is good. It's the past and I am a much happier Buffista when I leave it there.

but there also needs to be enough of a subpopulation already on the board to sustain it.

This is a concern for me, along with the fact that the more we sprawl, the more we limit conversations. I like the larger threads because I am exposed to things I would never even think of seeking out in a dedicated thread.

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I loved being in Boxed Set but I haven't been back since that happened.

My issues with Boxed Set have more to do with the fact that it's mostly Torchwood/DW talk these days, and I don't watch the one and can't be bothered to ahem the other. I am hoping that we'll get some lively Sarah Connor Chronicles talk there in the fall...

... but that's all beside the point.

I like the larger threads because I am exposed to things I would never even think of seeking out in a dedicated thread.

See, I don't think I'm missing anything by having a gaming thread, because I don't think I've ever seen gaming conversation in Natter or anywhere else. Or if I did, it was in such small quantities as to be indistinguishable from the background natter. In which case, no net loss to the community, imo.

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I don't get to hang out here much anymore, but I did used to talk to Gudanov about computer RPGs in Bitches. We were on at different times, though, and there was so much other stuff in between it was difficult to sustain a real conversation. I would have liked to really dig in and talk about the games with him instead of mostly just finding out he likes a lot of the same ones I like and how cool that was.

Having said that, of course, I don't do much in the way of board games, or pen and paper RPGs or game systems, and I don't have much time on the board anymore, so I doubt I'd be very active in the thread anyway (though I might finally convince my husband to join the board).

(MM, insent to your profile addy.)

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I am hoping that we'll get some lively Sarah Connor Chronicles

I'd love to be able to talk about SCC with buffistas but because I'm always a season behind in Who and Torchwood I don't dare venture in Boxed Set.

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It's the fact that DW and TW are in there that might lead me to dip my toe back in. Which is kinda beside the point, except for where it's why I am antiproliferation.

I honestly only started watching those shows and a lot of others due to discussions other people were having about them. I'm not saying that gaming discussion either in a larger thread or a dedicated thread would make me a gamer, but I like the cross-pollination.

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And we are back to cross pollination vs. spoilerphobic.

Sigh.

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I am so weary of this discussion.

Somebody appoint me queen, and I will make an edict that anyone who wants to discuss any topic can create a thread to do that. B.org will be an old fashioned Post Office wall full of cubicles with neat little labels for carefully pared subjects and everyone will get to interact with the dozen or however many posters share their interest.

Was it ita? who likened it to a TableTalk platform for dozens of folders containing dozens of individual threads.

If we do that, we'll never have to have this discussion again. And it will make everybody happy to be able to create threads at will. Obviously being prevented from creating threads at will is making most people unhappy now.

Pay for it? I don't know. You guys are smart, come up with something. Code it? We'll probably have to hire people because it sounds like more of a job than can be done by a handful of volunteers in spare time. B.org? In name only. But all things pass.

This is an observation and an expression of my personal opinion, not an argument or a solicitation of an argument. It's only one opinion, but as much as I dread confrontation I felt I'd be cowardly not to express it.

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