[Axem]

When Fury started #hard-light, it was small and there were just a few of us. Back then there was good amounts of FreeSpace activity and off topic non-sense. But since then the channel has grown from 10 or so to 40-50 on a good day. Not really big mind you, but when it gets active, there can be easy for your attempts to talk about FreeSpace be drowned out by everyone else talking about how bad their day was, or how drunk they got last night. This can put people off from sticking around too long.

So my question to you is... Would you join a FreeSpace Specific channel?

Vote above! Debate below!

To really show your dedication /join #freespace on irc.esper.net to see if this could get off the ground! (Also there's free Lemonade there!)

[MatthTheGeek]

Could be a good idea to keep a "serious" channel out there. You got my vote on #2.

[Fury]

When the admins started #hard-light

I wish it was in plural, but alas it was just the old me.

And yes, I support the idea though I'd really want to keep the number of channels low. Right now we have #freespace, #scp-fsu and #scp, it might be worthwhile to consider combining those three into same channel. Freespace related subjects are rare commodity so I don't see why it would have to be kept split in three semi-active channels.

[Axem]

OP edited to reflect the proper history.

I can see your point, but (this is just me) I always felt that #scp was pretty stand alone anyway. It's mainly for coders or for advanced troubleshooting. Would some of the semi-active channels want to merge into #freespace? I don't want to force anything here.

[mjn.mixael]

I don't really care if people want a specific freespace channel, I probably won't bother to spend much time in there myself though. However, I definately do not support the idea of merging #hard-light, #scp, and #scp-fsu. That is specifically because the FSU team uses #scp-fsu to gather much needed feedback from the team from time to time. Basically, we actually do use it as a project channel quite often.

[Shade]

Merging #scp into the #freespace channel would seem like a bad idea to me. Code talk is complicated enough without having it broken up with unrelated chatter.

[IronBeer]

Having a "serious" FS channel, as it were, is probably a good idea. No points for guessing my vote.

[CommanderDJ]

I'd pop in from time to time. I think it's a good idea as I always feel weird interrupting an off topic conversation with a FRED question or whatnot.

[Flipside]

Sounds good to me, IRC is always going to contain banter and NSFF stuff, so if people want to seriously discuss FS stuff it can be difficult to fit it in under the general discussions going on in there.

[Dilmah G]

I think this is a good idea, although then we might see the Gendisc/restofHLP divide a lot more strongly with regards to who frequents which channels. I don't really chill that much on IRC anymore anyway.

[karajorma]

It's a good idea. I rarely visit #hard-light cause it's too much of a distraction. I might spend more time on a dedicated FS channel.

[NGTM-1R]

On some level this sounds a bit like Bittervets complaining about the noobs and how things were so much better years ago, so I'm not totally convinced you're going to actually improve anything.

[RangerKarl]

What do you mean by serious FS topics? Are you guys really going to deploy the mod stick if someone starts to segue into a different topic? IRC's a fairly informal channel, and in my opinion should not be treated the same way as a forum. Besides, every time someone wants to start an FS discussion in #hard-light I see no shortage of people willing to take the topic up. This idea seems superfluous to me.

EDIT: sprinkle IMOs on this paragraph, I forgot to season.

[Hero_Swe]

This idea is kinda superflous, but not in the way you think. Since I just recently started the teamspeak channel I have already had a fair bit of success in your eyes of "Cleaning up the non-fs" talk from #hard-light, since the people who usually don't ALWAYS just speak of freespace come into the teamspeak to talk there about non-fs related stuff. I say the TS should be displayed more prominently with that intent of it being a more relaxed place where it's not just always FS talk.

Segregation is definitely not the answer (Having TS open and IRC at the same time is not segregation )

[-Sara-]

Do agree it is a good idea, as long as not too many channels form, people tend to like to flock or spread over a few channels only. So would be good if it's anything freespace, including modding etc.

[General Battuta]

The channel's been up for several days and has worked perfectly fine, so concerns seem misplaced.

[Getter Robo G]

99% of the time i care to talk about FS, particularly the MODDING aspect.

or just listen to you people rant while I mod.

Hint: PUSH TO TALK Iamzack & Hades!!!!

 

[Androgeos Exeunt]

I thought #scp was where serious talk regarding FreeSpace should go.

[peterv]

I needed an opinion last night, went into #Freespace, and took it in 5'. No way to do that in #hard - light.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

While unlikely, using #freespace is probably a better idea because we may be able to answer the queries of more people from beyond HLP, just like how most newbies post support threads in GenFSDisc instead of the proper support board.