So while I've stepped away from this discussion for a bit, I have been pondering the question of precedent. I guess it seems to me that what our precedents are are a little vague and could use some clarity.

The only precedent that I can think is really at issue every time we go through this is What are the acceptable reasons for new thread creation?

These are the possible reasons I have come up with. If anybody can or wants to help me flesh them out more, please do:

1 - A particular topic of discussion becomes so voluminous in a general thread that all parties involved agree a new thread should be created.

I have no idea if or when this reason has been implemented. I think possibly Movies and Music came about this way, but the problem with those threads is that they are legacy threads from previous boards. Not everybody is happy with them, and how much should we let their creation affect thread creation on the Phoenix?

2 - A particular topic of discussion becomes so voluminous in a thread the the topic is ejected into a new thread.

This is not meant to revisit the past, but what is precedent but "what has gone before"? Most importantly I include this because in our only (to my knowledge) implementation of this method of thread creation, it did not go smoothly, and seemed to be disliked as a method of thread creation by all parties involved.

3 - A group of people decide they would like a focussed area of discussion for a particular topic.

This actually seems to be our most common, and most successful method of thread creation, but it also seems to be met with quite a bit of resistance every time. As I type out these methods this way, I find myself wondering why this method is not preferable to the other two.

4 - No new threads should ever be created.

I'm not sure anyone actually holds this position, but if you do, why? What would you prefer the board look like?

5 - Thread creation should be at will.

I'm not sure anybody holds this position either, but if you do, why? What would you prefer the board look like?

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So, am I missing anything?

Why is 1 preferable to 3 ?

Does anybody think we should ever go through 2 again?

Have I misstated anything, or mischaracterized anything?

Is 3 fairly stated?

I think possibly Movies and Music came about this way, but the problem with those threads is that they are legacy threads from previous boards.

Nope, they were born here. Both grew out of Natter.

Okay. It was before I got here, so I wasn't sure.

Yeah, I think Movies and Music were more of a 3 than a 1.

As far as 2 goes, while I'm sorry that there were hurt feelings, I'm not sorry that Supernatural got its own thread. For all the reasons that were expressed at the time, I think it was ultimately a good thing for the board. So, yeah, if a similar situation presented itself, I would go through it again. What other option is there?

As far as 2 goes, while I'm sorry that there were hurt feelings, I'm not sorry that Supernatural got its own thread. For all the reasons that were expressed at the time, I think it was ultimately a good thing for the board.

It is not my intention to stir up trouble, but I have to reply to this. I'm still waffling about whether or not it was a good thing for the board. I know that I am far less likely to try and start a conversation or make lots of posts about something I'm enthusiastic about, because I'm worried that someone will decide that the conversation is annoying and want to shunt me and my enthusiasm off to someplace where that they won't have to read it.

Does this mean I think there should be a gaming thread? Eh, I'm waffling about that, too. I can understand the reasons people want a separate thread. But I, like Plei, worry it will lead to further splintering of what I think of as the Buffista community.

Jilli is me.

Well, you know, I can't aspire to Jilli-ness. But the situation has changed my experience of, attitude toward, and relationship to B.org as a whole. Change is good, they say and also, I'm just one board member, so grains of salt, as needed.

And Beverly is me.

I agree with Jilli.

I have a very different relationship with the board these days. And that's my choice but it's not the choice I wanted to need to make.

My relationship to the board changed years ago. I didn't like it but I wasn't in the majority so I just went with it.

What is so different about the board now than compared to the golden age you all are talking about? I wasn't here then, and I'm curious to know what changed or was lost.