"Too Many Forums"

[RedPhoenix]

In Vekseid's new update he wrote:

Too Many Forums

Mainly for Elliquiy, but it is true BMR's forums could use some pruning and/or archiving. Fewer forums makes for a more active forum overall, generally.

I'll be going over this with the staff of each site, but if someone wants to put together suggestions, they are welcome to do so (in the Help/Questions/Suggestions forum on E/BMR).

I wrote up a long post about this during a conversation that was going on a half a year ago or so and was asked to send it to staff. Is that still around or should I send it again? And if so to where? Thanks! :)

[Envious]

To me! I got opinions! I want to see yours!

(but really, just post here imo)

[Vekseid]

What @Envious said : )

[Britwitch]

I have a copy of it here...

Okay here are my Suggestions for Spring Cleaning the forums! Thought I would post it public since other folks probably have better ideas to share. And some of these places may be nearer or dearer to folks who have a better input to give. But here goes.

Generally, I think every stickied topic should be looked at and if it's over a year old the question should be asked - is this still relevant? If the answer is no, un-sticky.

Site Header
- Ons & Offs and Find a Partner should be removed. They both link to something that announces it is dead.
- IRC should be removed. It hasn't been relevant in ages.
- Youtube should be removed. It links to a thread that hasn't been updated in a very longer time, almost all pointing to inactive members.
- Consider removing blogs. It's less problematic than the others but I'm not sure it's serving much of a purpose here.
- Consider adding things like to tutorials/help forums?

Rules and Announcements
- The "Site Changes" sticky can be un-stickied. Those changes have been in effect for four years now.
- The "Pillory" thread is obviously not being updated anymore, I think it could probably be un-stickied too if there isn't the time to keep it up to date. IMO its better to just say we don't have the resources to give full transparency than to have a thread like that which suggests transparency but doesn't deliver it.

Help
- Computer problems subforum can be merged into the main help forum. No real need for a separate place for that.
- Tutorials. Hmm. I like having them all in one place, I'm worried they're a little hidden. Maybe making it it's own "main" forum instead of under Help could increase visibility? This could also maybe encourage helpful topics be posted there about finding partners, writing, etc. type threads or helpful introductions to E's culture which I think could be useful.

Blogs
- This forum has always felt out of place here to me. I would consider merging it with some of the other forums, I'll talk about that below...

Requests
- I think for the most part this area is good. The one thing is I would consider moving the GM subforum as it feels a bit out of place here as it isn't really a place for talking about requests. Will talk more about what to do with it below..

Non-Adult Sandbox
- Non-Adult Storytelling and Non-Adult Roleplays can be merged together into a "Non-Adult Writing" Imo.
- I would consider removing "Non-Adult" Requests as its own forum. There's no reason people can't post non-adult requests in the other searching forums, and honestly they probably get more eyes if they do. I think new members sometimes post stuff here and get the sense of emptiness because, let's be honest, almost nobody reads that forum. Removing it and shunting all that traffic to the other request forums I think would overall be a good thing.

General Chat
- Elliquiy U, Off Topic, and Forums Socializing can all be merged into "Public Off Topic" or something like that. Pretty much all the stickies can be un-stickied across these boards. One place to be chatty means more chattiness chattering.

Proc
- Keep this as its own thing so I am reminded to avoid it. Put a big red warning label on it. Also the subforums can be merged.

Art and Literature
- ho'kay I think this whole are could use some heavy remodeling.

I would consider making a "Personal Creativity" or "Elliquians Being Creative" or...I can't think of a great name but a sort of all-in-one place for people to post their art, solo writing etc. forum and merging into it (all as one forum, no subforums):
- Available for Commission
- Members Who Want Something Done
- Storytelling Forum
- Poetry Forum
- Art/Media/Music (but not Finders/Seekers)
- Blogs

As all of these forums are very low traffic, merging it all together would increase the eyes that everything gets and encourage more activity from everything. I would also make this a place that members could plug their off site creative efforts - youtube channels or art insta/twitters etc if they wanted to. I would consider revising the requirement of a link back for small, personal things like this.

- I would make Finders/Seekers it's own main forum under that one since it's more than active enough to be a main forum.

- I would consider merging 'Literary Discussion' into 'On Topic'

- I would leave World Building as is. I would consider merging the GM's Corner into this.

I would consider an "Open Interactive Writing" Forum (again I'm so bad at titles, but hopefully you get the idea), which could go either in Art and Literature OR general sexiness but should be a main forum. In it I would merge
- CYOA
- Cardboard Villainy
- the public board games forum .... although I think that got archived... or I don't see it
- and I would make this the place for open, public in-character threads if we have any of those things too.

The CYOA stickies should be unstickied, they haven't been watered in years and are wilted, but a new sticky about what belongs in the forum would be helpful! Basically this would be a place where people could, if the rules of the thread permit, just jump in and participate and collaboratively write stuff without the formal 'group game' type structure.

I would consider making a 'mega level' forum (as in like General Sexiness) for 'Community Projects' under it I would move (as their own forums)
- Ewrimo
- Storyteller's Cafe (assuming this is still active, which I think it is?)
- Forum Contests
- And, if there's still chance it might become active again, The E H&P, although if there's no real chance of that happening it should prob be archived until that changes.


General Sexiness
- The Ons and Off Forums are probably fine as is. It's an important thing to have.

- I love having Completed Tales as its own forum. I would leave it there.

- System Gaming, I don't think is active enough to be split from on-topic, I would merge it back.

- Support and Advice for the Struggling. I can't think of any non-direct way to say this, but the neglected state of these forums to me more communicates that nobody cares than anything else. I would merge all of these together with "Bad and Ugly" into a "Struggles and Support" forum where people can vent or rant but also ask for help if necessary. Fundraisers and such could be clearly marked as such and would get more eyes this way I think.

- Apologies and Absences, I would leave as is.

- Good and Cuddly, I would merge with on-topic, or maybe adult socializing? I would move the celebrations forum as a subforum of that.

- I think Red Light District can be re-merged with Adult Socializing. Having the thread title make clear (NSFW, X-Rated, etc) I think should be enough.

- LGBT Board. Hmm. This is probably a can of worms that could derail this whole thing if we start talking about doing anything to it, and I appreciate that it's there, so uh, hmmm. I feel like it stands out a bit like a sore thumb but I'm not really sure how to change that, or if it's even a bad thing. You know what I'll just say leave it alone for now. Almost all the stickies might want to be looked at though, or redone to be fresh for 2023. Somewhat unrelated, I do also wonder if there are any similar groups who putting out a welcome mat for like this would be helpful? Again that might be a whole can of worms for a different topic, just sharing my thoughts.

- L Only boards. I assume they're all fine as is. Obviously I can see only one but I've always liked that these are there and I wouldn't change it.

As for all the in-character story forums. Honestly? Bravo on archiving the old group game threads! I don't have anything else to say on those!

Okay, well, that's what I came up with. Hopefully it is helpful or gives people better ideas! :)

It's worth noting that some of these things are already covered due to the recent changes and some changes suggested were already discussed by Staff 'backstage' as to their suitability or appropriateness. That said, it's definitely worth sharing to see what other opinions are out there now that the forum looks as it does.

[Vekseid]

One idea I had was merging all of the Big Boards forums into one.

Have also generally been confused by one shots. It might be better to merge them and move threads appropriately rather than have it be such a disparate part of the forum.

[Britwitch]

One idea I had was merging all of the Big Boards forums into one.

Have also generally been confused by one shots. It might be better to merge them and move threads appropriately rather than have it be such a disparate part of the forum.

From my experience One Shots is a constantly busy part of the site and works really well for those seeking shorter stories and games. I think it'd be a shame to lose it entirely.

[Sara Nilsson]

From my experience One Shots is a constantly busy part of the site and works really well for those seeking shorter stories and games. I think it'd be a shame to lose it entirely.

I honestly agree. The one Shots are a great thing, I will sing its praises until the end of my days.

[Cold Heritage]

I think the thing about One Shots that is confusing - to me, at least - is that - at least last time I bothered to check - anything the site rules permitted could go in there.

[RedPhoenix]

Oh thanks Brit!

One thing I will add is that links to the Discord and Patreon should be prominent in the top bar area or somewhere else equally visible.

And yeah so many old stickies and dead forums that should be un-sticked or replaced and forums that get little to no traffic reorganized to max the eyes on topics.

One shots I think is one the last places that needs to be looked at, it's a busy forum that's doing its job.

Merging all the big boards into one forum would also cut down a lot of superfulous forums, so seems like a good idea. While you're at it merge exotic and human.

[Rinzler]

You know, I don't think much of any value will be lost if the PROC board was gotten rid of altogether.

I know it's supposed to be a sort of holding pen for arguments which might otherwise poison the other boards, but I don't really buy that. I - and I suspect plenty of others - have never looked at any of the the other threads and thought, 'Wow, what this place really needs is my opinion on some societal or political ill.' And let's face it - there is absolutely no paucity of places on the internet if you've a hankering for that sort of thing.

And frankly, I've never seen the PROC board do anything but wind people up and generate bad feelings between folks who might otherwise get along fine without it.

If it has one saving grace, then it's at least free and doesn't cost you a fiver.

[Revelation]

You know, I don't think much of any value will be lost if the PROC board was gotten rid of altogether.

I know it's supposed to be a sort of holding pen for arguments which might otherwise poison the other boards, but I don't really buy that. I - and I suspect plenty of others - have never looked at any of the the other threads and thought, 'Wow, what this place really needs is my opinion on some societal or political ill.' And let's face it - there is absolutely no paucity of places on the internet if you've a hankering for that sort of thing.

And frankly, I've never seen the PROC board do anything but wind people up and generate bad feelings between folks who might otherwise get along fine without it.

If it has one saving grace, then it's at least free and doesn't cost you a fiver.

Mind you - this is personally me speaking as a user and not as staff, I do feel PROC serves a purpose and if it were to be gotten rid of, I do wonder how say, on or off topic as a board would handle it. I don't really like PROC as a forum, but it does feel like a 'cat's out of the bag and no way are you getting it back in' forum.

I do think that the 'Human' and 'Exotic RP sections of the various subforums should be merged together though. I would go so far as to say the entire 'Bondage' forum of the boards could be merged into 'Light' too.

[Rinzler]

Mind you - this is personally me speaking as a user and not as staff, I do feel PROC serves a purpose and if it were to be gotten rid of, I do wonder how say, on or off topic as a board would handle it.

If something gets heated, the mods can just tell those involved to take it off-site - just as they tell them now to take it to the PROC board. Again, it's not as if the internet is devoid of places for people to argue fruitlessly at each other.

I mean, there's an E Discord channel now - so maybe those folks afflicted with severe 'someone is wrong on the internet!' syndrome could set up something there.

[Revelation]

If something gets heated, the mods can just tell those involved to take it off-site - just as they tell them now to take it to the PROC board. Again, it's not as if the internet is devoid of places for people to argue fruitlessly at each other.

I mean, there's an E Discord channel now - so maybe those folks afflicted with severe 'someone is wrong on the internet!' syndrome could set up something there.

I'd rather not shit the PROC forums to the discord server at large personally, the Discord server is also a somewhat different group than those who travel to PROC.

The internet is not devoid of places to discuss sensitive issues, but I am just of the thought that once pandora's box is opened as far as sensitive issue discussion goes, it's not so easily closed. 

[Rinzler]

I'd rather not shit the PROC forums

I would!

(Damn. I feel the lack of smiley icons acutely...)

[Revelation]

I would!

(Damn. I feel the lack of smiley icons acutely...)

Haha, I meant to type shift but alas, some typos are worth keeping.

[RedPhoenix]

Yeah, honestly, PROC is a sewer. It's unpleasant and foul but if it wasn't around that stuff would overflow into everything else and that would be much worse.

I do think that the 'Human' and 'Exotic RP sections of the various subforums should be merged together though. I would go so far as to say the entire 'Bondage' forum of the boards could be merged into 'Light' too.

Agreed with this tbh. I understand having Non-Con off in its own place as well as Extreme, pretty much anything short of that could all be together.

[Greenthorn]

So it's all in the same place, this is my suggestion for the RP sections.

[RedRose]

Adult socializing is sometimes close to Off topic and On topic 

[Vekseid]

Computer Problems is no more.

[Lilias]

Agreed that we can do fine without the Human/Exotic dichotomy, and grouping all the system games under one board. I would rather keep the Light and Bondage categories separate, though.

[Karma]

I can also agree that the exotic distinction is unnecessary.

[Esoterica]

I would have to seriously think about it to throw out suggestions for trimming the excess fat off the forums. But the main thing that I can think off the top of my head, is that we have far too many forums, and if some of this was consolidated, especially if you keep this format, it will look so much better and be more user friendly.

[Wistful Dream]

I do think merging Small and Big group games into just Group Games for each section is a great idea. The 'Big' games get their own subforums anyway, so that provides the distinction enough.

Exotic going away as a classification works, but I would strongly be for keeping Light and Bondage separate because to me they are very different things.

I have to say I really love the idea of the GM's Corner being moved into World Building, as that feels like a great fit to me. Red's suggestions for Art and Literature make a lot of sense I think as a whole.

General Sexiness feels just... too big to me. Perhaps that's due to the fact that when I started out there was much less there, I don't know. I wouldn't know how to go about fixing it though.

[Envious]

I agree with a lot of what Red said, so I'm going to go a different direction just to provide some variety. I think some boards can be smashed together. Others can be turned into one-stop-shop stickies. Others can be removed entirely. Lemme spin up a drastic chop-chop.

• Section Name (blue headers)
  
  
  • Main Forum
    
    
    • Sub-Boards

Food for thought.

Current Boards Important Stuff Rules and Announcements In Memoriam Old R&A Permabanned Members Help Tutorials Introductions Introduction Archives Held Introductions Elliquiy Blogs Adult Roleplaying Requests One on One / Solo GMs seeking groups GM’s Corner Groups seeking GMs Non-Forum RPs Non-Adult Sandbox Non-Adult Storytelling Non-Adult Roleplay Requests Non-Adult Roleplays Members-only non-adult forum Non-adult archive General Chat Elliquiy U Off Topic Forum Games/Socializing Debates Politics, Religion, and Other Controversies Discussion of Dialogue Dialogues Art and Literature Available for Commission People who want work done Literary Discussion Ewrimo Storytelling Forum Storytelling Archive Choose Your Own Adventure Storyteller’s Cafe Poetry Forum World Building Art, Media, and Music Finders and Seekers Forum Contests Forum Contest Archive Elliquian Herald and Post Newspaper Archives General Sexiness O/o Legates O/o Lords O/o Ladies O/o Lieges Completed Tales On Topic System Gaming and ROleplaying Support and Advice for the Struggling Making Ends Meet Employment Resources SAS Discussions Fundraisers Apologies and Absences The Good and the Cuddly Birthdays and Anniversaries The Bad and the Ugly Adult Socializing Red Light District ApprovedBox Cardboard Villainy LGBTAQ Corner Legates/Lords/Ladies/Lieges Only Important Information One Shots Light Solo Small Group Exotic Exotic Small Group Big Group Bondage, D/s, S&M Solo Small Group Exotic Exotic Small Group Big Group Noncon Human Solo Human Small Group Human Big Group Human system solo Human system small group Human system big group Noncon Exotic Exotic solo Exotic small group Exotic big group Exotic system big group Exotic system solo Exotic system small group Extreme Solo Small group Big group

Suggested Changes Important Stuff Site Information Help Introductions Introduction Archives Held Introductions Roleplaying Requests & Discussions One on One Group Games Non-Forum Games Discussion (worldbuilding/gm) Roleplaying Boards Light Bondage, D/s, S&M Noncon Extreme Completed Tales Art and Literature Writing and Literary Discussion Art, Media, and Music User Index Ons & Offs Apologies and Absences Socializing Forum Games Life Discussion Red Light District Legates/Lords/Ladies/Lieges Only Important Information Debates Politics, Religion, and Other Controversies

[Chasing Dreams]

I feel like we still need to keep the forum games separate from the adult games/red light district since unapproved members wouldn't be able to the adult side of the site.