Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Fineus on May 16, 2002, 03:18:27 pm

Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Fineus on May 16, 2002, 03:18:27 pm
After thinking things over and looking at how things are doing lately I think a re-evaluation of the forums could be in order. So without further ado:

Post your thoughts, this is the time to say it.

To clarify things:

"Other" is anything that doesn't fall into discussion or art. Topics that are of a personal nature "I've got a new bike" for instance, would go here.

"Discussion" Basically the Hard Light forum as it is, minus art and personal discussion stuff. Purely news and other stuff related.

"Art" - Use your brain :)
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Zeronet on May 16, 2002, 03:22:36 pm
Art forum!
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Stunaep on May 16, 2002, 03:25:19 pm
we need some change, true (art forum would be good!), but don't overdo it.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Zeronet on May 16, 2002, 03:26:58 pm
Go Art Forum! Still the idea of a brag forum appeals.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: beatspete on May 16, 2002, 04:19:10 pm
Considering the number of OT topics coming up these days, i think it would be good to have a seperate section for them.  Although this is a generally a freespace orientated board, i think its important to have more than just freepsace (yeah, i know theres graphics stuff too) in disscusion if we really want to call ourselves a 'community' and learn more about each other.

Leave the rest though. :yes:

pete
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Kellan on May 16, 2002, 04:33:47 pm
Leave the art and FS together - they can spark off one another. :)

As for news...FS news or world news?

And you do realise that any attempt to make a 'spam forum' will end in disaster - spamming is all about interfering in other forums isn't it? :p

Seriously, the spammers would have their own insular little thing, and when they realise start branching out...
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Zeronet on May 16, 2002, 04:36:14 pm
Nah its not, i spam in the Rift for the fun of doing so.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Kellan on May 16, 2002, 04:45:39 pm
But the other forums are not free of spam. You're just caving in to the demands of Spam.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Shrike on May 16, 2002, 04:49:29 pm
Remind me to add a 'behead spammers' option.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Carl on May 16, 2002, 05:05:27 pm
art will be viewed more if it stays in the HL forum. if it has it's own forum no one will go there. this is because people go to HL to talk and end up looking at pics. (kind of like how people go into a grocery store for a gallon of milk and come out with a shopping carr full of stuff.)
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: WMCoolmon on May 16, 2002, 06:44:57 pm
I say art, and leave HL as the general discussion forum. I think that people will look through the art forum :nod:
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: CP5670 on May 16, 2002, 08:46:13 pm
Art would be fine with me, as there are enough topics on that to warrant a new forum, but we don't want to have things too compartmentalized. ;)
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Corsair on May 16, 2002, 09:10:52 pm
Leave it. :nod:

and if you don't, then just an art forum and leave everything else together.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Fineus on May 17, 2002, 01:55:28 am
I suppose then a possible crack down on spam threads would be in order? I mean if things were left as they are you do realise that anything other than general discussion and art (or other similar stuff) would be spam... so "I have a bike" would be spam, but "I have a bike, do you? I've found the blah-de-blah gears to be excellent now although the saddle can be uncomfortable" would be slightly more acceptable because it raises discussion.

Follow me? :)
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Sandwich on May 17, 2002, 06:12:04 am
Quote
Originally posted by Thunder
I suppose then a possible crack down on spam threads would be in order? I mean if things were left as they are you do realise that anything other than general discussion and art (or other similar stuff) would be spam... so "I have a bike" would be spam, but "I have a bike, do you? I've found the blah-de-blah gears to be excellent now although the saddle can be uncomfortable" would be slightly more acceptable because it raises discussion.

Follow me? :)


*PSSST!* Hey, Shrike! How about adding "De-spamitizer to this guys' title, eh? ;7
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Fineus on May 17, 2002, 06:13:59 am
[Die Hard]

Zeus! You remember, Father of Apollo, lived on Mount Olympus. Don't spam near me or I'll shove a lightning bolt up your ass? Zeus!!

[/Die Hard]
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Redfang on May 17, 2002, 06:37:27 am
I'd say leave things as they are. If that fails, create an art forum and leave everything else as it is.
 
The reason for me to leave things as they are is, because I'd still check both forums. :p
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: wEvil on May 17, 2002, 09:06:31 am
if we cracked down on spam threads anymore the general post/day count would drop below zero.

Obviously i'm exaggerating but a little spam never hurt anyone.  Or maybe spam is too strong a word?

General banter, that sort of thing.  As far as i'm concerned it tells me the place is alive and kicking - I don't particularly want to spend loads of time on an overly-sanitised forum - I get enough of this IRL.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Fineus on May 17, 2002, 10:42:08 am
Thats just it though, spam comes in different forms. So it's kinda up to admin discretion what is spam and what is... well - acceptable. I mean we don't need topics saying "I've got a bike" followed by everyone else on the forum posting a smily or two. Thats not a thread - it's pointless.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Stryke 9 on May 17, 2002, 01:24:55 pm
It's what people wanna talk about. Otherwise, those sorts of topics would die rather quickly.

Anyway, keep it as it is. Otherwise, the only people actually looking at the renders would likely be posting their own, and a buncha topics comparing a render to half a dozen others would just plain suck. Besides which, some of the best renders have nothing to do with FS, and there'd be the compulsion to lock OT renders on the admins' part if it were a specialized forum.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Fineus on May 17, 2002, 03:17:35 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Stryke 9
It's what people wanna talk about. Otherwise, those sorts of topics would die rather quickly.

Either that or one or two people create the topics and everyone else just joins in by posting a smily - it doesn't take much to do that.

Anyways, the poll seems to indicate a desire for a seperate art forum. This won't happen immediately but it's something to think about.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Thorn on May 17, 2002, 03:34:31 pm
I dont think cracking down on spam would hurt...
Just look at Relicnews, those guys are Nazis when it comes to spam, immediately locked, and they still have quite a bit of posts (it may not seem that way now, they've switched boards a few times recently). Actually, they have quite a bit more discussion than you would get here.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Mr. Vega on May 17, 2002, 04:13:50 pm
One of the reasons I come here is because of the [l]spam[/l] discussion. The best threads I think are the OT threads that don't get out of control.

Now please tell me there are some people who have a life here(NO SPAM RESPONSES TO THIS).
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: beatspete on May 17, 2002, 04:41:05 pm
Quote
Originally posted by beatspete
Considering the number of OT topics coming up these days, i think it would be good to have a seperate section for them.  Although this is a generally a freespace orientated board, i think its important to have more than just freepsace (yeah, i know theres graphics stuff too) in disscusion if we really want to call ourselves a 'community' and learn more about each other.

Leave the rest though. :yes:

pete


I've reconsidered.
A separate Art Forum is probably the best idea, leaving Hard light forum for general discussion.  There's a seperate forum for modding in the freespace section, a similar move for Art would help seperate it from the 'spam' of hard light.

pete
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Windrunner on May 17, 2002, 05:10:49 pm
I vould like a new art forum
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Carl on May 17, 2002, 10:41:56 pm
without the art weaved between the other threads, there will be alot more room for spam.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Stryke 9 on May 17, 2002, 10:51:34 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Thunder
Anyways, the poll seems to indicate a desire for a seperate art forum. This won't happen immediately but it's something to think about.


Should this separate atr forum come about in time to ruin my main RS video release, I shall make dire predictions. You have been warned.:D
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Fineus on May 18, 2002, 02:19:15 am
Um, yea... whatever... :wtf:

Anyhow - we're still really only looking at this, my exams are in three days time so I don't intend to do much about this. It was just to get a feel for how people wanted things.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: an0n on May 18, 2002, 06:22:47 am
The balance of HL is good as it is. If you try to remove any one part of it (art, spam etc) it becomes too focused.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Vortex on May 18, 2002, 08:02:46 am
OT forum would be nice, then we wouldn't have to post OT in front of all those OT topics! (yeh ok I'm lazy) :D:D:D
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Scorpius on May 18, 2002, 10:26:17 am
Art for the Artiste'!
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Galemp on May 18, 2002, 08:49:36 pm
If you want an example of how "spam" is controled, channeled, and organized, check out the layout of the Freespace 2 Sector forums. (http://www.sectorgame.com/f2s/forum/) Seems to work just fine.
I don't think we should cut down on OT stuff. I mean, if people want to talk about their lives OUTSIDE of cyberspace, who better to discuss it with than the people here we all know and love? It's nice to be able to see the personalities behind the screen names.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: beatspete on May 19, 2002, 06:22:13 am
Quote
Originally posted by GalacticEmperor
It's nice to be able to see the personalities behind the screen names.


:yes: i agree

pete
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Fineus on May 19, 2002, 06:28:36 am
Mm, ok - perhaps "personal" conversations are acceptable... I'm just not quite sure how it'll work in the long run. I suppose communities do get this kinda thing wheras mere game coverage sites don't. And it's rapidly looking like we're a community not a game coverage site (which is a good thing if you ask me).

I guess as long as topics are meaningful then it's not spam, no matter the topic discussed (within reason). I still stick by the fact that if one person says one thing and everyone else posts a smily that's not really a conversation.

We'll see how it goes...
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Stryke 9 on May 19, 2002, 07:48:16 pm
I like killing things...

[ducks]

Thought not.:D Ah well...
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Gortef on May 20, 2002, 07:43:57 am
Leave it as it is... if not then Separate the Art section
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Zeronet on May 20, 2002, 03:03:36 pm
I think the create art forum vote won.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Darkage on May 21, 2002, 04:49:49 am
I voted for the art forum, as i like to see more usefull reply's in my art thread and not only smillies and this also counts for other people that post art topics.

Example.

Dude1: I made a new render, any constructive critism on how to improve it?
Dude2: nice:nod::D
Dude3: "                "
Dude4: hehehe...cool:)
Dude1: No one got anything usefull to say?
Dude4: what usefull? :confused:
Dude5: I LIKE COOKIE'S !!
Dude2:Who cares.

You see my point?
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Fineus on May 21, 2002, 09:35:38 am
That's my illustration of spam right there - there's nothing constructive to be said by using the word "nice" and a few smilies.

And it's certainly looking like we'll have an art forum...
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Darkage on May 21, 2002, 11:45:06 am
There must be a art forum, imo. Just a place where the artist can talk about each others art. Whit out all the spam crap in it.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Fineus on May 21, 2002, 11:57:03 am
You'll probably still get some element of this spam in there, but at least it'll be filtered so there'll only be art and texture related stuff in there.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Darkage on May 21, 2002, 12:26:31 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Thunder
You'll probably still get some element of this spam in there, but at least it'll be filtered so there'll only be art and texture related stuff in there.


Treu, as long as it's allot less then it is now, i am happy whit it:)
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Fozzy on May 22, 2002, 12:28:36 pm
If you want to cut down on spam just create a "General Spam" forum, i think that the HLP forums are fine the way they are.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Stunaep on May 22, 2002, 12:30:08 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Fozzy
If you want to cut down on spam just create a "General Spam" forum,.


NOOOO!!!! Anything but that. Spam is BAD!!! Any forum, any thread, its BAD!!!
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Wildfire on May 22, 2002, 04:05:10 pm
The more you split the forums the quieter each one will become.  Keep the art mixed with other topics as it means more people vist the forum and may browse through other threads that they see.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: NeoHunter on May 24, 2002, 05:57:32 am
I'm pretty happy with the current state of the forums. Don't see a need to change anything.
Title: Time to make some choices people!
Post by: Fineus on May 25, 2002, 06:09:17 am
Hmm, seems to be half/half (more or less) now. Thanks everyone for your input - nothing will be happening any time soon but this is very useful material for the future :)

Oh, unstickified...