tell me what you think of splitting 'a&e' into a separate forum

[Tron]

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-- El D.

Okay, simply put, I don't think things will change that much in OOT. I really don't see it as degradation, I see it as enhancement (of OOT AND 2+2)

And I do think a lot of OOTers would actually like it (yeah I know this is a lame-ish posit, as hardly any have piped up here: from the way this thread seems to be going, it feels like me and a couple of others vs the rest), and I'm sure a lot of non-OOTers would (which we agree on, I think).

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2 out of every 3 forum posters disagree

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wow, as it stands, 30% of OOTers agree. So I was right, a lot of OOTers would actually like it. cool.

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No, actually DB, because the link is also connected to the zoo. So this is an adequate representation of twoplustwo.

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So 30% of 2+2 want a separate entertainment forum. cool.

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70% of 2+2 thinks that a separate forum would be unnecessary and/or detrimental.

I realize that in democracies it is important to look out for the rights of minorities, but this isn't a matter of civil rights.

[MattSuspect]

This thread is getting ridiculous, we've explained why it's a bad idea, I mean look at the posters who are saying this, the one's who don't normally post the juvenile crap. "Quality Posters" whatever that means, all seem to be on the same page.

We need A&E to exist here to keep balance. I know we could continue posting in OOT, but the viability of that is nill. How many different ways can this be said? I get the feeling that this will happen even with a 70% against...

[BluffTHIS!]

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eb: 2+2 is expert in matters of poker, not forums and online businesses. Because of that, some missteps are to be expected. I have explained in prior posts why I believe this would be a big one if their goal is maximizing traffic. I think many who have experience with high traffic online sites would agree w/ my explanations.

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A&E would be a popular forum, I'm sure. However, for the reasons I've explained a few times, there's a very big chance it would result in a substantial decrease in total 2+2 non-poker traffic.

Note that every time there's a split (Politics, Sports, etc), a good chunk of people who used to be involved in those discussions are no longer involved in them. The same would happen for A&E.

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El D,

From the above 2 quotes as well as other comments you have made, your argument against the split boils down to:

1) You personally and many others would find OOT less interesting and not frequent it as much, even if you did frequent the new A&E some;

2) Because of the above, many posters would not visit OOT as often which as the forum with the biggest traffic is responsible for driving traffic to other forums, thus resulting in less traffic for 2+2.


But as said before by those of us who are pro-split, our main objective is that A&E type threads of interest to us don't get lost in the sea of new threads. And the top 2% of such threads exploding into general interest doesn't make up for the rest getting lost.

Now some posters here have said, well that's because they're not popular as other threads. Of course I agree as far as OOT goes. But the key point here, is that neither you or other anti-split folk disagree with this. It is a key point, because if they are unpopular, then they can't possibly contribute to OOT what you think they do, and thus would not affect OOT nearly as much as your dire warnings suggest.

So which is it? Are A&E threads extremely popular or not? If they are then that should be easily proved by how long such treads remain active and how many posts they get compared to non-A&E threads. And if the answer is they're not popular, then how can a split possibly have anywhere near the impact you are suggesting?

Finally, there is an easy way to prove all this, which Matt (Sklansky) has alluded to, and that is to try it with the readiness to go back to the old way if it doesn't work regarding traffic for the site and individual forums in question. Or do you object to a trial because you think there is a fairly good chance it might not have the negative effects you are predicting but still wouldn't meet your personal preferences, or that somehow such a split will irrevocably drive away posters who then won't come back if the old setup is restored after a split didn't work?

[MattSuspect]

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db,

"Because you can still post in OOT exactly what you post now. Why do you think it will change, given that? "

Having two separate forums on a poker forum where it is appropriate to post movie reviews, discussion of TV shows, concert reviews, etc. would make no sense.

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I can't wait to see the first "Cross Posted from A&E" thread.

[El Diablo]

db,

"So 30% of 2+2 want a separate entertainment forum. cool. "

You continue to miss the point.

What people want and what generates the most traffic/revenue for a site are often two very different things. I know a ton of people (myself included) who liked OOT much more as a much smaller, relatively tightly knit community of poker players discussing random stuff. I, for one, would probably prefer OOT if it was for 21 and older only. On balance, I'd probably prefer it if there was a 25+ age requirement, even though that would toss out a lot of good posters with the bad. These are among many ideas that would imo increase the average quality of OOT posts, but would significantly reduce traffic to the forum.

[El Diablo]

BT,

"So which is it? Are A&E threads extremely popular or not?"

I've stated repeatedly that A&E threads are very popular and for many posters the most important part of why they participate in OOT.

Everything you ask in your post, I've explained in detail in previous posts in this thread.

[diebitter]

El D.

I personally have got tired of doing reviews, other than occasionally, because they get snowed under so quickly. I'll probably stop completely soon. If anyone wants to call me out on this, fine, I'll stop posting them in OOT right now, if that's what it takes to demonstrate how pointless it's starting to feel.

So answer me this: Do you really think I'm alone in feeling it's a waste of time to bother posting them?

And if there are others who feel this way, where does that leave any A&E (that's more than a few lines) in OOT in the future?

Dead as a dodo, that's where, waiting for new blood that'll get tired REAL fast when your efforts disappear so quickly.

I just want to point out the issue isn't one of people seeing it and not responding, IMO, it's one of it flying off the first few pages so quickly that people never see it.

[BluffTHIS!]

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I've stated repeatedly that A&E threads are very popular and for many posters the most important part of why they participate in OOT.

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El D,

Where is the proof of that? And I mean regarding how much play those threads get in OOT compared to others, and not just what some posters say.

[Gildwulf]

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Do you really think I'm alone in feeling it's a waste of time to bother posting them?

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I'm guessing like 8 people agree with you and unfortunately they are mostly mods/administrators

[Aloysius]

DB - is what you really want an "A&E Reviews" Forum?

Because as far as I can tell, Lost / 24 / Sopranos threads, that are A&E, but not reviews, are very popular.

-Al