The ideal board.

**dohupa** · September 29th, 2010, 10:47 AM

2 distinct schools of thought here - a business venture OR a devoved fanbase. What started out as places to share & collect and have fun, soon diverted to money making machines. Personally, I'd prefer being part of a community with 5000 where we sort of know most rather than a huge forum with 500,000 members where 99% leech and request all the time.

So my ideal board must or should have the following features:

- All new members are required to introduce themselves and right down a few words in the Intro area. Getting to know your fellow members is a good thing if you want to maintain a cool well-behaved crowd. Link dumps we've seen plenty all these years - thanks, but no thanks.

- Any member that does not contribute anything for a month, will get a friendly PM about it and if 30 days later we still get zip as far as activity from said member - we wave goodbye.

In case you're wondering, yes there are boards on the Internet implementing this strategy.

Activity is not about uploading only; you can chat about the best Mayor of NYC or London for all I care.

Post a joke or a youtube Bruce Springsteen song or something - make yourself useful.

- Requests is for VIPs only, sorry.

If you're a valued member given time you will be noticed and eventually you'll login some day and your username will sort of stand out. Meaning your posts were appreciated and all the effort for the community was not a total waste of your time.

- No double posting allowed anywhere on the board. Easier to maintain and less stress on staff. Setting up an index for movies right from the start is always a good idea - impossible to do later on unless you have months of your life to devote which is not very likely if you're volunteering.

If the magic word financing comes in your mouth, well if you're not interested in attracting all the leeches and the cash whores out there - then there's no need to ask for sponsorship, now is it?

Anyway, I understand it's not a popular view, but it's mine FWIW.

/edit:
I've added a poll to satisfy my curiosity really.

MaxJoker · September 29th, 2010, 12:40 PM

A great idea in theory, although the practical side of it would be a bugger if you`re intending to allow anyone to post anything they want

My own ideal board would be markedly different to this albeit revered one , mostly as i have no particular desire to go down the porn route with all the hassles that entails.

Oh and i have the perfect name for it already plus many ideas for content, structure and longevity , all of which are unsurprisingly excellent , and all of which i`m keeping to myself

**pharoahegypt** · September 29th, 2010, 03:32 PM

there is the obvious problem associated with allowing anybody to post anything...... legally and morally...... you only have to land on such sites/forums that are open and unmoderated to see how that can go down so many 'wrong' routes...!!??

before you know it you'd have beastiality, kp, and law suits all over the place.... any forum that isnt regulated with rules and some degree of common sense will never last long....IMHO.
PhEg.

**dohupa** · September 29th, 2010, 07:05 PM

Never said boards should be left without any moderation. All I'm arguing is what kind of board we like and from what I see it's a pretty healthy result so far.

Aubrey · September 29th, 2010, 07:14 PM

I think this board's about right. Some others I have seen are really off-putting. It is always best if you contribute, but on those there is really nothing much to say. Here there nearly always is.

**DTravel** · September 29th, 2010, 09:43 PM

I'm in favor of a more open forum. I've been a member of some of the "post or else" forums and quickly found them to be unfriendly to new members as the new posters are in a position of having to force their way into a clique of established members which, human nature being what it is, rarely works out well. It also puts pressure on existing members to continue finding new material to post or else get the boot, which is a stress that I personally don't need. If I want to walk away and take a vacation for three months I don't want to have to worry about getting re-registered at a forum I frequent.

Another way it stifles new contributors is by not giving them much time to get a feel for the place or be inspired by people who already post. I've "talked" with a number of people, both here and on other forums, who became contributors themselves after a while because of the friendly examples of other posters. They got the chance to find some new material or a niche that no one else was filling because they didn't have to do so immediately and they were able, over time, to realize how much is available and to feel grateful for it and want to help. That doesn't happen when the rule is "Post NOW or else!"

Closed or limited membership forums also tend to not last as long as open forums. People are always dropping out, finding other hobbies, getting scolded by their women, etc. and a constant influx of "new blood" is necessary to keep forums like this healthy. You rarely can keep getting that "new blood" with a restricted forum.

Personally I don't want to talk only with the same small circle of people all the time. I like having new points of view adding to the discussions and not having to worry about 'Ol Bob in the corner always ranting about his pet peeve in every thread regardless of whether its related to the subject or not. (That's not to say it doesn't happen in open forums as well but at least in those its much more diluted.

)

That's my opinion based on my experiences. That and these two cents will buy you, well, not much these days.

**rotobott** · September 29th, 2010, 10:45 PM

I never thought I would say this, but I entirely agree with D'Travel.

I was very shy when I arrived here, took me ages to post anything, didn't know how to do most things as this was my first forum. This forum seems to work well with a lot of support for newbies, and a rigorous but fair level of moderation.

**dohupa** · September 30th, 2010, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTravel

Personally I don't want to talk only with the same small circle of people all the time. I like having new points of view adding to the discussions and not having to worry about 'Ol Bob in the corner always ranting about his pet peeve in every thread regardless of whether its related to the subject or not. (That's not to say it doesn't happen in open forums as well but at least in those its much more diluted.

)

I agree with the consensus of your post; however if you go back and read mine again

you'll see that I'm not talking about the ones that do participate actively in discussions and the like.

99% of the established memberbase in all boards have 0 posts and 0 thanks and you only hear about them in the Request sections and/or when they decide 3 years after registering to post "Wrong Password" or something....

Know what I mean?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotobott

I was very shy when I arrived here, took me ages to post anything, didn't know how to do most things as this was my first forum. This forum seems to work well with a lot of support for newbies, and a rigorous but fair level of moderation.

Again, if you read my post above... I am stating that 2 months without posting anything (not uploading ), indicates you're a leech. If you want this to be extended to 3 months is fine by me - not 3 years though.

**DTravel** · September 30th, 2010, 04:01 AM

I did read your post Dohupa and I, respectfully, disagree. Sometimes it does take someone a year or more to start posting material or join in discussions. And I am aware of the statistics regarding active posters and zero post "leeches". (I've certainly tossed them out myself enough times.) My experience with forums of the type you are suggesting is that those that start out that way go nowhere and those that convert to that format from an open one have within six to twelve months dwindled down to a handful of posters somewhat desperately posting anything they can lay their paws on (and resorting to some really blatant link stealing to do so). I also think you are underestimating how much effect peer pressure and cliques have in those setups.

As I said, that's just my opinion based on my experiences.

**aphex1973** · September 30th, 2010, 05:35 AM

As you can see, I haven't posted a lot. I post when I actually feel I have something to contribute or if I happen to have some images I haven't seen on here a hundred times already. I do, however, greatly appreciate the time and effort of others and therefore make a point of thanking those that post. Does this make me a lurker? Should I be removed from this site?

I believe there should be rules, otherwise you end up with boards full of spam and other less than desirable offerings. But imposing a series of rather draconian requirements would likely kill this place. I joined up because this site is, pardon my French, rather 'classy'. Also, I truly enjoy the discussions and was never made feel like I was just some idiot newbie. Just my 2 cents

Thanks for the interesting thread dohupa!

View Poll Results: Less members and therefore no leeching OR an open board?
Definitely less - don't need the headaches...	11	31.43%
Are you out of your mind? Everyone is invited...	24	68.57%
Voters: 35. You may not vote on this poll

September 29th, 2010, 10:47 AM	#1
dohupa Beer, porn and whatnot... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Athens Posts: 3,643 Thanks: 5,623 Thanked 73,144 Times in 3,245 Posts	The ideal board. 2 distinct schools of thought here - a business venture OR a devoved fanbase. What started out as places to share & collect and have fun, soon diverted to money making machines. Personally, I'd prefer being part of a community with 5000 where we sort of know most rather than a huge forum with 500,000 members where 99% leech and request all the time. So my ideal board must or should have the following features: - All new members are required to introduce themselves and right down a few words in the Intro area. Getting to know your fellow members is a good thing if you want to maintain a cool well-behaved crowd. Link dumps we've seen plenty all these years - thanks, but no thanks. - Any member that does not contribute anything for a month, will get a friendly PM about it and if 30 days later we still get zip as far as activity from said member - we wave goodbye. In case you're wondering, yes there are boards on the Internet implementing this strategy. Activity is not about uploading only; you can chat about the best Mayor of NYC or London for all I care. Post a joke or a youtube Bruce Springsteen song or something - make yourself useful. - Requests is for VIPs only, sorry. If you're a valued member given time you will be noticed and eventually you'll login some day and your username will sort of stand out. Meaning your posts were appreciated and all the effort for the community was not a total waste of your time. - No double posting allowed anywhere on the board. Easier to maintain and less stress on staff. Setting up an index for movies right from the start is always a good idea - impossible to do later on unless you have months of your life to devote which is not very likely if you're volunteering. If the magic word financing comes in your mouth, well if you're not interested in attracting all the leeches and the cash whores out there - then there's no need to ask for sponsorship, now is it? Anyway, I understand it's not a popular view, but it's mine FWIW. /edit: I've added a poll to satisfy my curiosity really. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by dohupa; September 29th, 2010 at 11:05 AM..

September 29th, 2010, 12:40 PM	#2
MaxJoker Beloved Brother Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cemetery Gardens_Arterial Blood Lane_Rampton Secure Unit_Extra Violent F Wing_Cell 19 Posts: 69,106 Thanks: 372,713 Thanked 987,905 Times in 69,067 Posts	A great idea in theory, although the practical side of it would be a bugger if you`re intending to allow anyone to post anything they want My own ideal board would be markedly different to this albeit revered one , mostly as i have no particular desire to go down the porn route with all the hassles that entails. Oh and i have the perfect name for it already plus many ideas for content, structure and longevity , all of which are unsurprisingly excellent , and all of which i`m keeping to myself __________________ My hypocrisy only goes so To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

September 29th, 2010, 03:32 PM	#3
pharoahegypt Vintage Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Middle England Posts: 4,492 Thanks: 10,177 Thanked 43,624 Times in 4,155 Posts	there is the obvious problem associated with allowing anybody to post anything...... legally and morally...... you only have to land on such sites/forums that are open and unmoderated to see how that can go down so many 'wrong' routes...!!?? before you know it you'd have beastiality, kp, and law suits all over the place.... any forum that isnt regulated with rules and some degree of common sense will never last long....IMHO. PhEg. __________________ Arguing with a intelligent person is hard; but arguing with a stupid person is impossible!

September 29th, 2010, 07:05 PM	#4
dohupa Beer, porn and whatnot... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Athens Posts: 3,643 Thanks: 5,623 Thanked 73,144 Times in 3,245 Posts	Never said boards should be left without any moderation. All I'm arguing is what kind of board we like and from what I see it's a pretty healthy result so far. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

September 29th, 2010, 07:14 PM	#5
Aubrey Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 406 Thanks: 10,881 Thanked 3,513 Times in 392 Posts	I think this board's about right. Some others I have seen are really off-putting. It is always best if you contribute, but on those there is really nothing much to say. Here there nearly always is.

September 29th, 2010, 09:43 PM	#6
DTravel Lean Mean Screencap Machine Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Better you don't know. Posts: 23,899 Thanks: 10,485 Thanked 207,772 Times in 23,802 Posts	I'm in favor of a more open forum. I've been a member of some of the "post or else" forums and quickly found them to be unfriendly to new members as the new posters are in a position of having to force their way into a clique of established members which, human nature being what it is, rarely works out well. It also puts pressure on existing members to continue finding new material to post or else get the boot, which is a stress that I personally don't need. If I want to walk away and take a vacation for three months I don't want to have to worry about getting re-registered at a forum I frequent. Another way it stifles new contributors is by not giving them much time to get a feel for the place or be inspired by people who already post. I've "talked" with a number of people, both here and on other forums, who became contributors themselves after a while because of the friendly examples of other posters. They got the chance to find some new material or a niche that no one else was filling because they didn't have to do so immediately and they were able, over time, to realize how much is available and to feel grateful for it and want to help. That doesn't happen when the rule is "Post NOW or else!" Closed or limited membership forums also tend to not last as long as open forums. People are always dropping out, finding other hobbies, getting scolded by their women, etc. and a constant influx of "new blood" is necessary to keep forums like this healthy. You rarely can keep getting that "new blood" with a restricted forum. Personally I don't want to talk only with the same small circle of people all the time. I like having new points of view adding to the discussions and not having to worry about 'Ol Bob in the corner always ranting about his pet peeve in every thread regardless of whether its related to the subject or not. (That's not to say it doesn't happen in open forums as well but at least in those its much more diluted. ) That's my opinion based on my experiences. That and these two cents will buy you, well, not much these days. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. I rage and weep for my country. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. I can reup screencaps, other material might have been lost.

September 29th, 2010, 10:45 PM	#7
rotobott Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 32,135 Thanks: 174,873 Thanked 635,142 Times in 31,456 Posts	I never thought I would say this, but I entirely agree with D'Travel. I was very shy when I arrived here, took me ages to post anything, didn't know how to do most things as this was my first forum. This forum seems to work well with a lot of support for newbies, and a rigorous but fair level of moderation.

September 30th, 2010, 04:01 AM	#9
DTravel Lean Mean Screencap Machine Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Better you don't know. Posts: 23,899 Thanks: 10,485 Thanked 207,772 Times in 23,802 Posts	I did read your post Dohupa and I, respectfully, disagree. Sometimes it does take someone a year or more to start posting material or join in discussions. And I am aware of the statistics regarding active posters and zero post "leeches". (I've certainly tossed them out myself enough times.) My experience with forums of the type you are suggesting is that those that start out that way go nowhere and those that convert to that format from an open one have within six to twelve months dwindled down to a handful of posters somewhat desperately posting anything they can lay their paws on (and resorting to some really blatant link stealing to do so). I also think you are underestimating how much effect peer pressure and cliques have in those setups. As I said, that's just my opinion based on my experiences. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. I rage and weep for my country. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. I can reup screencaps, other material might have been lost.

September 30th, 2010, 05:35 AM	#10
aphex1973 I heard the bullroarer Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Left Coast Posts: 20,047 Thanks: 184,315 Thanked 333,838 Times in 20,005 Posts	As you can see, I haven't posted a lot. I post when I actually feel I have something to contribute or if I happen to have some images I haven't seen on here a hundred times already. I do, however, greatly appreciate the time and effort of others and therefore make a point of thanking those that post. Does this make me a lurker? Should I be removed from this site? I believe there should be rules, otherwise you end up with boards full of spam and other less than desirable offerings. But imposing a series of rather draconian requirements would likely kill this place. I joined up because this site is, pardon my French, rather 'classy'. Also, I truly enjoy the discussions and was never made feel like I was just some idiot newbie. Just my 2 cents Thanks for the interesting thread dohupa! __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Oh, look! A zyzzyva! The absolute last word in weevils.