Considering shutting down the General Discussions board

**nvoigt** · 08-14-2002

It's probably too much work, but what about opening the GD on weekends only ?

Or moderate it more closely only allowing stuff that is in some way related to programming ?

Don't know...

**TechWins** · 08-14-2002

One way to promote less GD posting is to not have your post count increase when you post in GD. So basically the only way you can increase your post count is by posting in the other forums. Then again that will only increase the amount of worthless posts in the other forums.

On a side note, a lot of the discussion on the GD board is related to programming.

Either way, have no worries, because all in all it doesn't really matter, so i vote no, keep the GD board up.

**Salem** · 08-14-2002

If you want to make the post count less, then I would suggest a mass prune of the GD board - say anything older than 6 months.

Having deleted a couple of my ancient messages on GD, this works well (if a little tedious).

Now you could either put these messages in the bin, or move them to a "read only members only board" so that they are available for the terminally bored\b\b\b\b\bcurious, but otherwise invisible to the casual visitor.

**novacain** · 08-14-2002

>>shutting down the board would help concentrate on programming

But I'm here trying NOT to concentrate on the fact I spend ten hours a day programming.

**Fordy** · 08-14-2002

Originally posted by Salem
If you want to make the post count less, then I would suggest a mass prune of the GD board - say anything older than 6 months.

This sounds like a good policy and I know its in place on some other forums I visit....every thing on their equvilent GD board is time limited...this keeps the board in a manageable state and prompts people to post meaningful threads in more suitable places.....

If you close the GD board, you do run a risk of reducing the fun factor of this place......and I dont think that would help anyone.....

**adrianxw** · 08-14-2002

I think Salem's idea is pretty sweet actually. It'll solve your post count conundrum, and may encourage that damned Unregistered guy/girl to register.

Let's be honest, other than a few trolls, how many people want to look at last years kitty litter?

**Fordy** · 08-14-2002

One problem is that occasionally (yes rarely I know

) there are some worthwhile threads put on GD relating to tech issues, software problems, virus problems, issues spanning multiple languages/platforms etc that dont easily relate to the other boards, but are still rather useful and occasionally worth refering back to........

Maybe the inclusion of a Tech board to cover this stuff would be worthwhile?

You could perhaps have a constantly pruned GD board for all the banter and junk....and another board for worthwhile issues that cant be easily categorised under other boards?........

**maes** · 08-14-2002

Maybe start by deleteing those "how do you tie your shoe" and "It's hot" threads. No offence to the ones that posted them but it is just dumb.

I also like Salems idea about putting all threads older then x months in a read only archive board (members only).

Or if some mod has some spare time, sorry, I mean a lot of spare time. he can go through the posts (+6 months) and starts deleting the ones that aren't technical or usefull. some members here will lose maybe half their postcount, but who cares.

>>Maybe the inclusion of a Tech board to cover this stuff would be worthwhile?
I also think this is a good idea (maybe the best so far). the techboard will be for questions like "I have this problem with my pc" and the GD-board for things like "How do you tie your shoe". And then you can put the prune for that board on a month or maybe two.

**hk_mp5kpdw** · 08-14-2002

Something close to what nvoigt sad, try to limit the posts in general discussion board a bit more closely to tech/computer/programming related postings. Do a mass purge of all the posts that have nothing at all related to these topics?

**ober** · 08-14-2002

I think it's a bad idea. I see a lot of people coming to the GD board for help other than programming... say, hardware related. And I know there are other forums for this. But it's a nice haven for those of us that know there are people here and know they can get help here fairly quickly. I vote no.

vasanth · 08-14-2002

Well why do you need to cut down on the posts in GD.. Thats the truth that the GD board has more posts.. So leave the truth alone..

**Fordy** · 08-14-2002

I can see the problem with the GD board being so huge......especially when its largely rubbish being posted...

At one point I used to read the majority of what was posted there......now I hardly skim the top........

**The Dog** · 08-14-2002

shut down GD?

but the private game is my life

shut it down if you like, it would help

**lightatdawn** · 08-14-2002

Shutting down the GD for a while would give me a much needed break from having to read things like the above from Dean. There hasnt been much of interest in the past while, though I enjoy the GD when something interesting does come up.

Still, people enjoy the GD so I inclined to wonder if it shouldnt stay open. The only reasons I said yes stem from exhaustion.

>>At one point I used to read the majority of what was posted there......now I hardly skim the top........

Exactly. Anything good gets lost in the garbage.

**biosninja** · 08-14-2002

If GD board gets shut down (even if its temporarily) the other boeards will get flooded with nonsense threads that has no relevance to that specific board.

Or perhaps make the board undergound(but atleast it still exists)