Even though I like the "pop culture discussion/music analysis" type threads (and have posted in them alot), I'm starting to shake my head when I see a bunch of new ones coming up. People seem to be needlessly doing it alot lately.

I know the search feature crashes the server, so we can't bring that back, but is there a way we can maybe limit the number of new topics someone can make? Let's say 2 per day for each person. That might help if not stop it, at least cut it down a little. I wish we could make people more aware of searching, even if the actual Search feature is gone. Maybe that should be a sticky too? I mean, the board HAS been around awhile, so it has more of a history now.

Seriously, if someone wants to know when hair metal got mainstream or what the span for Generation Y is, etc - all they have to do is look through the old posts. It's been discussed before by lots of people (including myself), so there's no need to make new threads out of stuff like that. We also certainly don't need repetitive "Emo" or "MTV sucks and doesnt play music anymore" topics either, those were done to death ages ago.

Even though I tend to post in the "pop culture discussion/music analysis" type threads alot, I shake my head when I see a bunch of new ones coming up, and people seem to be doing it alot lately. I know the search feature crashes the server, so we can't bring that back, but is there a way we can maybe limit the number of new topics someone can make? Let's say 2 per day for each person.

If people want to know when music videos got mainstream or what caused grunge to die out, etc - I'm sure it's been discussed before by lots of people (including myself) if they just look at the history of the board. There's no need to make new threads out of "older stuff" like that. And we certainly don't need repetitive "Emo" or "MTV sucks and doesnt play music anymore" topics that have been done to death ages ago.


you can still search for topics in the archived threads...I do it all the time. :)

^ That's what I mean. :) No need for people to do brand new ones, I think thats what makes it annoying. I mean those are some of my favorite types of threads and even I'm getting sick of it. ;)

BUMP

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller, Bueller, Bueller? ;D



Seriously though, I have another idea that might help solve things. What about condensing pop culture-discussion stuff into one thread from here out, which could be made into a sticky - esp for the benefit of new members who would have no way of knowing? Maybe one per section, or at least just one in the 2000s section ('cause I bet most people go there, and it would include current stuff too)

You can always change the "header" in there (i.e. instead of the automatic "re: Hair Metal" you could make it whatever you want), to let people know you had a new idea. And if someone made a new thread by itself about something like that, it could either be deleted or merged with the "official" one.

Even though I probably wont be able to be on here AS MUCH pretty soon (I'm looking for a new job currently, so after I get it I'll be busier), I can still probably come on every other day or so if that helps.

There's no easy (or perhaps even possible) way to change the forum software to allow x number of topics started for each membergroup.

Making new topics of previously discussed material is okay with me - I wouldn't expect anyone to look through the 1000 or so topics in the 90s section alone to find one like they wanted to discuss. Threads that haven't been replied to in over 4 months display a warning to start a new topic anyway.

ISTM the issue is topic flooding, which is posting a lot of topics back to back, often with no intent of discussing or revisiting them. I like and encourage new topics, but posting a lot of them back to back is very spammy looking and is not going to make me read them. Flooding is *usually* not an issue, and I think most members here think the same and refrain from doing it.

I am considering temporarily removing the guest post ability in the 90s and 00s sections, which is where a fair amount of this stuff has been going on recently. Another avenue is prescreening/preapproving posts of brand new members or guests (ugh..) since issues with banned members, spammers and trolls have been increasing. Mod nastygrams and bans are last resorts, especially with flooding - it makes me feel completely stupid to have to send something like that, but I will if necessary.

Personally, aside from possibly system anouncements (including "MOVED: ..." notices) and when I headed up some of the parody contests (which can involve posting 4 or more threads back to back due to timetables), I've never posted more than three new topics in a day, let alone back to back. I don't consider that any kind of standard you all have to follow, but posting a lot of topics back to back, day in and day out... people's time here is limited, and throwing out more topics at once usually means less of a response to each.

Ant

^ Yeah that makes sense. I think pre-approving members and turning off guest posting in those two sections is a good idea.

However I think the problem with the pop culture threads is that, even though they're not "strict decadeology" (i.e. is 1995 more like the 80s or 00s) they have some "decadeology elements", and that kinda gets on people's nerves, especially when so many have been made before.

That's why I'm saying maybe someone should just make a "Discuss pop culture or music of " and sticky it, instead of starting a new thread just when someone has one question or a simple take on it. For instance, that VegettoVa dude is making alot of them recently.