Author Topic: The General Discussion subforum is a LAST RESORT (Read 1927 times)

Matthew · « **on:** December 17, 2013, 12:49:15 PM »

If you can't think of any other subforum to put it in.

It's NOT where you post something "when you want as many members as possible to see it" or "when I actually want people to read something".

No, every single post on CathInfo wants and deserves to be read. Putting a post in General just to be more "visible" is rude and is the equivalent of raising your voice to a yell at a social gathering, because you aren't content with your voice sharing equal attention with others. See how boorish that is?

Before you know it, everyone is yelling to compete. That would not be a very pleasant gathering! That's where we're at today on CathInfo.

You *have* to trust that if people are interested, they will find it and read it in the correct subforum.

Don't be lazy and post everything in General Discussion.

In 3 months, when someone tries to find an old thread it's *impossible* on a forum as large and busy as CathInfo unless things are properly categorized. It's not rocket science -- just take a few minutes to read the descriptions of each subforum.

Right now I'm going to demonstrate just how bad this problem is, by moving virtually every thread to where it belongs. I've moved about 25 threads in the past couple days.

Consider "General Discussion" to be the foyer of a library -- with a few bulletin boards on the walls to post general announcements and for a handful of people to quietly talk.

But you can't have your main activity in the foyer of a building! That's what the inside of the building is for.

Nadir · « **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2013, 03:00:19 PM »

Yes! And why not give your Topics more relevant labels, indicating what they're about? EG Just between you and me; now what would that be about?

And why not check the spelling in the title before you post? Because a spelling mistake will make a lot of difference if someone is searching.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2013, 12:17:42 PM »

I think that in some cases people get confused about the category into which something belongs as a single topic might touch on things in several different categories. As you know, every single thread eventually becomes a sedevacantist vs. sedeplenist discussion.

soulguard · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2013, 02:06:04 PM »

@Whoever has done this

Yeah, what is your major malfunction private??
Get with the program!

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2013, 02:59:08 PM »

Quote

Right now I'm going to demonstrate just how bad this problem is, by moving virtually every thread to where it belongs. I've moved about 25 threads in the past couple days.

So I wasn't just imagining that it's suddenly hard to find things?

How about asking members to use thread titles that are actually descriptive of their OP, instead of like, "Just Read This" or "Brainwashing" or "Oh, the Hypocrisy!" or "A Question" or "I need help."

And back it up with the warning that if you don't use an appropriate thread title, your thread will be moved to the Bunker or whatever. (A new forum area called the "Penalty Box" or "Timbucktu" or "The Isle of Patmos?") The forum owner shouldn't have to think up better thread titles; that's the place of the author of the OP, the thread-starter.

Nadir is right on target here:

Quote from: Nadir

Yes! And why not give your Topics more relevant labels, indicating what they're about? EG: "Just between you and me"; now what would that be about?

And why not check the spelling in the title before you post? Because a spelling mistake will make a lot of difference if someone is searching.

.

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2013, 01:26:55 PM »

Quote from: Matthew

If you can't think of any other subforum to put it in.

It's NOT where you post something "when you want as many members as possible to see it" or "when I actually want people to read something".

No, every single post on CathInfo wants and deserves to be read. Putting a post in General just to be more "visible" is rude and is the equivalent of raising your voice to a yell at a social gathering, because you aren't content with your voice sharing equal attention with others. See how boorish that is?

Before you know it, everyone is yelling to compete. That would not be a very pleasant gathering! That's where we're at today on CathInfo.

You *have* to trust that if people are interested, they will find it and read it in the correct subforum.

Don't be lazy and post everything in General Discussion.

In 3 months, when someone tries to find an old thread it's *impossible* on a forum as large and busy as CathInfo unless things are properly categorized. It's not rocket science -- just take a few minutes to read the descriptions of each subforum.

Right now I'm going to demonstrate just how bad this problem is, by moving virtually every thread to where it belongs. I've moved about 25 threads in the past couple days.

Consider "General Discussion" to be the foyer of a library -- with a few bulletin boards on the walls to post general announcements and for a handful of people to quietly talk.

But you can't have your main activity in the foyer of a building! That's what the inside of the building is for.

claudel · « **Reply #6 on:** January 04, 2014, 02:34:03 PM »

Quote from: Matthew

The General Discussion subforum is a LAST RESORT

As does everyone else commenting on the OP, I entirely agree with it.

The tiresome appearance of yet another Fukushima thread here in General Discussion prompts me to make a formal public request: Matthew, please consider creating a new subforum on the site, one to which are assigned, either voluntarily or willy-nilly, all threads alleging or proclaiming exaggerated disaster scenarios and utterly unsupported talk-radio-style conspiracy theories.

The name I propose for the new subforum is [cue fanfare of virtual trumpets]

Chicken Little

I further propose that the new Fukushima thread be Chicken Little's maiden entry.

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2014, 03:48:46 PM »

.

What if we can't find any thread or post that we want to reply to?

But we want to make a reply to SOMETHING!

So then, since we couldn't really reply to anything else, can we just post here, as a "last resort?"

.