Shoutbox

[Alex]

Mako you should go thank my amazing post on the previous page. I need more thanks.

 

[Username]

I agree Kenobi, so what are the advantages and disadvantages of shoutbox/chatbox?..i have a fair few disadvantages, being it brings spam..which leads to warnings, then people discussing things that will deprive a certain thread...and basic MSN convos. What are the advantages?

 

[Alex]

i have a fair few disadvantages, being it brings spam..which leads to warnings

Actually you're wrong. It reduces spam and keeps it out of threads and confined to the box.

 

[Username]

and that makes it better, so those members who never visit the spammy threads now have to read it all the time.

 

[kenobi]

I agree Kenobi, so what are the advantages and disadvantages of shoutbox/chatbox?..i have a fair few disadvantages, being it brings spam..which leads to warnings, then people discussing things that will deprive a certain thread...and basic MSN convos. What are the advantages?

I understand that the disadvantages of having a shoutbox can lead to spam and subsequently whatever happens after that; however, you do realize that spam can happen anywhere on the forum (and trust me, it does). Rejecting a shoutbox for that reason is like questioning why we even bother to have a forum at all.

Adding a shoutbox is kinda like adding another forum so that people can spam, but not rack up a post count, which is good because we won't have to warn people for not posting a certain amount of words, sentences or even staying 'on topic'.

Not only that, but I think the good things are that it might bring people back, like I mentioned, even if there isn't much going on in terms of hot threads. And if people are willing or able to moderate themselves, it could work out just fine.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Mako you should go thank my amazing post on the previous page. I need more thanks.

Me too!

I wouldn't say my post is amazing, but it has sense that's all common and whatnot.

 

[Makoeyes987]

I'm an open person, and have on more than one occassion changed my mind when presented with an argument that made sense and was respectful. So yeah, you're definitely right kenobi.

And sorry I missed your post Alex. I actually like some of this a lot.

I'll try and give a recap of stuff they've done over the hiatus. I'm not a member of the forum so I'm not completely in the know, but I check the site often enough to keep up to date on things.

Also because its a TV series as opposed to a video game series, not everything is going to be applicable.

-They did a complete rewatch of the 5 seasons of the show, and after every episode encouraged a discussion on it. This kind of thing doesn't translate perfectly onto a FF game, but I'm sure it is possible. Have people play through a section of the game at a time and then reflect on their experiences, thoughts on how the story is progressing, whether or not it was a good or poor part of the game. The same way that who would disect and criticise a chapter of a novel or TV episode.

Well that definitely sounds like a really good idea. I'd definitely would like to see your thoughts doing that for example.

-They've done numerous Top 50/Top 25 competitions on everything from quotes to significant objects, and a significant post to explain it. Whereby the thread starter would post one and then tease the next one in the series, people would try to guess what came next and win points in return. At the end the person with the most points would win. no actual prize involved but like could encourage some investment on their part. This kind of thing could be directly transfered to the FFVII universe easily.

I didn't get enough sleep last night, so could you like give me an example of that? Cause that sounds really cool too.

Moreover, If staff was int he mood to pool their money and purchase a prize for the winner of some talent competition. There's no reason to limit it solely to art. Given that TLS has a relatively intelligent community, you could offer competitions in writing the best essay on the FFVII world/themes/characters/etc, or even who can compose the best short story.

I suggested doing that for a Dissidia tournament but no one here apparently plays online, and then I suggested an art contest, but that too would alienate the members who aren't artistic so I'm not sure what type of contests or whatever we could have that would allow every member to participate and have an equal shot of winning.

And while an essay contest would work theoretically, would there really be enough? And would people not get butthurt if they didn't win?

All of these things could be advertised on the front page too. So it gives the impression of a constantly active community with lots of projects going on. This probably more than anything else will be more likely to draw in new members. Nobody wants to join a forum with a front page that hasn't been updated in ages.

I agree, those would be nice. And we are updating the frontpage. We had S&G write up an article on DC, and Squall_of_SeeD post some of his awesome FFVII FAQ and analyses of FFVII. And he's in the middle of writing another one for the front page too. But I definitely love your ideas. Thanks dude, seriously.

 

[Username]

i just think that it will be too spammy and make the whole site look stupid, but on the other hand...i don't care because i would be one of those spammy people..just looking at it from 2 different views.

 

[Ⓐaron]

Probably because not many new forum wide features have been suggested, if you take a look. And GF was asked for started in June.

Here's one:

http://thelifestream.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1971

I definitely remember others but can't find them now. I don't know if they've been moved, just weren't in this section to begin with or what. I really don't care enough to bother finding them because it's obvious you've already made up your mind on this topic anyway and finding cases where you didn't bother listening isn't going to make you suddenly start listening.

And four months, okay. It's still not all that far off from my estimate of six months.

So now you're going to pigeonhole which suggestions are to be counted? Again. Not many forum features have been suggested in the first place, dude. If the members asked for something fun to do on the site's anniversary, and we did it, that's enacting what the members wished for. Thereby listening to them and not denying them. That was your entire point in the first place.

My point is that unsolicited suggestions aren't listened to. My fault for not making that more clearly.

 

[Ⓐaron]

and that makes it better, so those members who never visit the spammy threads now have to read it all the time.

Or they can just disable the table that includes the shoutbox and they never have to read it at all.

 

[Username]

i never knew that..i did mention the hide thing earlier.

 

[Makoeyes987]

Anyways, I'm gonna repost what I said in the GF thread:

Actually, I'm gonna agree with Road and Kenobi here. My mind's been changed.

Kenobi and Road raised the good point that by opening a chat box, we can free up the board of the spam, since the shout box will catch it.

With that, we'll close GF, and hell, the Chit Chat thread for good. That makes the most sense and is a fair trade.

Here's one:

http://thelifestream.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1971

I definitely remember others but can't find them now. I don't know if they've been moved, just weren't in this section to begin with or what. I really don't care enough to bother finding them because it's obvious you've already made up your mind on this topic anyway and finding cases where you didn't bother listening isn't going to make you suddenly start listening.

And four months, okay. It's still not all that far off from my estimate of six months.

That points to the fact that I said earlier that this had been suggested before and we said no. And dude...4 months is not 6 months. 2 whole months is pretty significant. One's half a year, the others a third. And again, we just took the suggestion of the awards, which makes no sense not to even consider.

My point is that unsolicited suggestions aren't listened to. My fault for not making that more clearly.

Well suggestions are suggestions. Whether they're solicited or not, we're listening. And the fact that we also *ask* for member input clearly shows we're interested in what the members think.

Anyways, those are my thoughts on the chat/shoutbox thing now.

 

[Alex]

I didn't get enough sleep last night, so could you like give me an example of that? Cause that sounds really cool too.

Sure, I'll just quote someone's opening post from the Top 25 Most Shocking Moments on Lost thread:

Because of the great success of my last countdown thread listing my top 30 favorite quotes featured on Lost, I decided to follow it up with another countdown, this time numbering the most shocking moments. Like the previous thread, I will be keeping score for those who would like to guess. Some initial ground rules:

- From #25 to #16, you will be allowed three guesses and will be awarded one point for a correct guess.
- From #15 - #6, you will be allowed two guesses and will be awarded two points for a correct guess.
- From #5 - #1, you will be allowed one guess; the FIRST person to guess it correctly will be awarded three points, the SECOND person to guess it correctly will be awarded two points, and every subsequent correct guess after that will be awarded one point.

Those are the only rules, besides of course HAVE FUN! I will let this thread blossom for about a day before postion #25, so expect it to come up about 24 hours from this time.

And a sample post from the countdown:

23. Eko’s brother was on the drug plane - The 23rd Psalm

Image

In another one of Lost’s many interconnecting stories and tales of life intertwined, we find out that Yemi - Eko’s brother - was the priest on the drug plane, but also that Eko was supposed to have been on that plane instead. By sheer fate, Eko ended up on the same island as his brother’s resting place, and perhaps also by fate, he died there as well. With talks of the “dead” returning to life in Season 6, I would certainly not oblige another chance at seeing Eko in any context, and I’m sure many would agree with me.

This one is relatively short. In threads like the Top 50 Lost Characters or Episodes, the posts are much, much longer.

Some of the topic starters after one post, tease the next one on their list with a riddle or crude MSPaint picture in order to give people a bit of a clue.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Quoted from the GF thread.

No, don't you dare fuck with my Chit Chat thread.

That's for more lengthy discussion, we'll just have to be more strict on spam there once we set up the shout box.

 

[Alex]

Also, closing GF is counterproductive. Since thats used for a variety of general informal discussion. Not spam. If you were to close the Chit Chat thread for good and then open a shoutbox I'd say that would be a much fairer trade

 

[Makoeyes987]

OH! I get it now. That's interesting!

That might be really fun to post on the front page..the results of such userbase voted polls regarding moments of FFVII and shit. And we could post pictures and shit and...yeah. I like this. I like this a lot.

That's a damn good idea Ashes. Thanks for that. Seriously.

 

[Makoeyes987]

And LOL, we're at a crossroads here.

One says that the shoutbox should be traded for GF, the other for the Chit Chat thread.

Jesus Christ....

 

[Ⓐaron]

Anyways, I'm gonna repost what I said in the GF thread:

Actually, I'm gonna agree with Road and Kenobi here. My mind's been changed.

Kenobi and Road raised the good point that by opening a chat box, we can free up the board of the spam, since the shout box will catch it.

With that, we'll close GF, and hell, the Chit Chat thread for good. That makes the most sense and is a fair trade.

That's a terrible idea. Just because there's a shoutbox doesn't mean people won't have impulses to make off-topic posts. There's a huge difference between a real-time chat and a relaxed thread where you can toss off responses on an hour-by-hour basis. The two aren't even remotely comparable.

I still haven't gotten a rational explanation of why spam is a thing to be avoided. Light-hearted conversation in one part of the board may just encourage people to make more serious posts in another. At least, I find I'm a lot more willing to make long serious replies to a board if there's a place to let off steam on the same board as well. And my eight years of message board administration indicate I'm hardly the only one.

That points to the fact that I said earlier that this had been suggested before and we said no.

A shoutbox and an IRC room are not even close to being the same thing. One requires you to be constantly logged into the forum, the other is completely separate from it.

And dude...4 months is not 6 months. 2 whole months is pretty significant. One's half a year, the others a third.

You were the one saying two months so you're one to talk. And I made it clear that I was making an estimate.

And again, we just took the suggestion of the awards, which makes no sense not to even consider.

I just explained why I don't consider them: They're temporary, and once they're done they won't make a damn bit of difference other than something to gloat over.

Well suggestions are suggestions. Whether they're solicited or not, we're listening. And the fact that we also *ask* for member input clearly shows we're interested in what the members think.

yes, for trivialities like how to celebrate the forum's one year anniversary and pat yourselves on the back for a job well done. When it comes to how to run the board as a whole you've clearly indicated you don't really care what the member base thinks.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Also, closing GF is counterproductive. Since thats used for a variety of general informal discussion. Not spam. If you were to close the Chit Chat thread for good and then open a shoutbox I'd say that would be a much fairer trade

You stfu.

 

[Ⓐaron]

And LOL, we're at a crossroads here.

One says that the shoutbox should be traded for GF, the other for the Chit Chat thread.

Jesus Christ....

How about just don't bother closing either and that way you don't end up pissing anyone off by removing part of the forum they enjoy?

 

[Cat Rage Room]

My vote?

Kill General Fuckery.

 

[Alex]

Doesn't just have to be limited to moments though. FFVII is litered with dozens of unique characters and significant pieces of dialogue and items that can be converted into similar contests

 

[Makoeyes987]

A shoutbox and an IRC room are not even close to being the same thing. One requires you to be constantly logged into the forum, the other is completely separate from it.

Sorry, I just think of them as the same since it both leads to members just chatting with each other, rather than posting. *shrugs*

I just explained why I don't consider them: They're temporary, and once they're done they won't make a damn bit of difference other than something to gloat over.

So only count the suggestions that we implement/listen to, that support your point? Even though we've listen to said suggestion and did it because that's what members expressly wanted. Why does it even matter if its temporary or not. If that's what they want, go for it. And it's hardly temporary if its a yearly occurrence, which we were thinking of doing, especially with the creation of pixelated trophies and shit, like on ACF.

yes, for trivialities like how to celebrate the forum's one year anniversary and pat yourselves on the back for a job well done. When it comes to how to run the board as a whole you've clearly indicated you don't really care what the member base thinks.

Right, even though most of the shit here on the forum is here due to users asking for it and suggesting it. Okay.

 

[Makoeyes987]

Doesn't just have to be limited to moments though. FFVII is litered with dozens of unique characters and significant pieces of dialogue and items that can be converted into similar contests

Yeah. I agree. It just won't be moments. But it's a good start and we can branch this off into other things. Smashing good plan there. I wanna start implementing that, this week. I think it'd be fair to include all the Comp of FFVII though since that's this site's purpose, and we'd have a much more diverse pool of events or whatever to choose from.

 

[Username]

Do the shoutbox.chatbox, but i aint being drawn into no piss rows or shit, and no warnings for me in this shoutbox thing, i say what i want basicaully.