What Kind of Topics Would You Like to See in Miscellaneous?
- Thread starter Locutus of Bored
- Start date
I tried to participate in one of the ongoing story/street threads but I could never figure out what was going on or what it was about.
I think misc already has way too many ongoing threads and would massively improve if people focused more on discussing specific topics when they come up.
We have a bunch of "ego threads" here where people do nothing but post their own trivial bit of information. There's hardly any real discussion going on.
We have a bunch of "ego threads" here where people do nothing but post their own trivial bit of information. There's hardly any real discussion going on.
Ah, I'll just do it. Locutus has mentioned my original post in the forum that shall not be named. Everybody can look it up anyway so I'll just repost it here. Please keep in mind that this is in no way at all meant as an attack on anybody. I'm more interested in the dynamics of it all and you'll notice that it stems from a frustration with the state of online discussions and forums in general.
I wrote:
This is partly about "Misc" and partly me rambling about our "opinion"-society.
So what has happened to our beloved Misc forum over the past months/years?
When I joined this site there was still a lot of actual discussion going on there.
These days it's full of what I'd call "ego threads" where people do nothing but put random trivial ego information out there. Don't tell me you really give a damn whether "random forum member x" is currently drinking a Coke or a Mountain Dew?
Almost the whole front page is filled with these ongoing threads. There's like 3 or 4 that are just about what you're eating/drinking.
And "Express your life today in one word", really? Because that's so meaningful. (ETA: Discussing what's going on in your life is obviously not pointless. But this one-word thing isn't doing anything.)
And this leads me to the broader topic:
These threads aren't about actual conversation but mostly about just "being involved" by giving your own 2 cents (while nobody else really cares anyway).
It's a bit like the illusion of involvement that news media create by telling people to tweet their opinions ("Tell us what you think!") when in reality that hardly ever sparks a discussion because people don't really want to discuss or read other people's opinions. They just want to have theirs "out there".
And on the internet you can always pretend that there might be somebody who cares and reads it.
In the end it is just a way for the networks to get people to feel involved. And it works wonderfully in today's society where everybody thinks they need a blog because everybody's opinion on everything is oh-so-important.
"Opinion is everything", "Ego is everything". It trumps facts, it trumps discussion.
It creates attitudes like: "Your science/facts are no match for my anecdotal evidence and opinion."
And back to my original topic:
Why does Misc suck so much these days?
And is Locutus weeping in his sleep because of it?
I wrote:
This is partly about "Misc" and partly me rambling about our "opinion"-society.
So what has happened to our beloved Misc forum over the past months/years?
When I joined this site there was still a lot of actual discussion going on there.
These days it's full of what I'd call "ego threads" where people do nothing but put random trivial ego information out there. Don't tell me you really give a damn whether "random forum member x" is currently drinking a Coke or a Mountain Dew?
Almost the whole front page is filled with these ongoing threads. There's like 3 or 4 that are just about what you're eating/drinking.
And "Express your life today in one word", really? Because that's so meaningful. (ETA: Discussing what's going on in your life is obviously not pointless. But this one-word thing isn't doing anything.)
And this leads me to the broader topic:
These threads aren't about actual conversation but mostly about just "being involved" by giving your own 2 cents (while nobody else really cares anyway).
It's a bit like the illusion of involvement that news media create by telling people to tweet their opinions ("Tell us what you think!") when in reality that hardly ever sparks a discussion because people don't really want to discuss or read other people's opinions. They just want to have theirs "out there".
And on the internet you can always pretend that there might be somebody who cares and reads it.
In the end it is just a way for the networks to get people to feel involved. And it works wonderfully in today's society where everybody thinks they need a blog because everybody's opinion on everything is oh-so-important.
"Opinion is everything", "Ego is everything". It trumps facts, it trumps discussion.
It creates attitudes like: "Your science/facts are no match for my anecdotal evidence and opinion."
And back to my original topic:
Why does Misc suck so much these days?
And is Locutus weeping in his sleep because of it?
Do you consider "What are you reading" to be an ego thread?
Not necessarily if it sparks actual discussion about the books. But too many times ego threads are just people dumping their own trivial info. I'm sure some of the ongoing threads contain lovely exceptions. Can we please not make this discussion about the validity of any specific ongoing thread?
I'm not against "ego threads" per se. I just think there needs to be more of a balance and in recent months/years Misc has lost that balance. Sure there's room for stuff like "post your desktop" but it feels like these days misc is full of this type of thread.
The ongoing ego threads keep people involved but often on a very superficial level. A level that's comparable to many social media "conversations". The beauty of internet forums used to be the fact that they can be a place for a deeper discussion. That doesn't mean there shouldn't be any "small talk" or casual socializing.
The last one ended on a cliffhanger, I think, with Starbuckses somehow randomly popping up on a supposedly deserted island.
Would it be wise to consolidate some of these threads and maybe get some actual discussion going on? One thing I see is these threads have been here for years, and like you said, on the front page it is mostly these threads. You have what did you buy, what are you eating/drinking, what are you reading, stuff like that. What about putting all that in one thread and closing the others (And when I say close, maybe just completely close and start fresh).
As for the topic, I'm trying to remember what Misc was like when I first got here, and the only thing that comes to mind was the Trekbbs activity weekly rundown thread (Yeah I completely forgot what it was really called, which is a lot more catchier than what I just came out with ). I'm not saying bring that back, but I'm wondering why I'm drawing such a blank. Maybe it's because we added a few more forums and took out various things from the Misc thread, like what's on TV, various sports threads, etc. Maybe an idea is to fold the sports forum back into Misc and that might generate some discussion. I think the reason why I am drawing a blank was because most of the time when I posted in here it was about sports and it might lead to more activity. I was just talking to Danny99 about how the NHL thread used to have a lot of activity in it and not really anymore. We bring that back in here and people might actually see it.
After I posted, I figured out what it was, which was "The Week That Was". I think From the Ranks was the first incarnation of it though.
I insist on a revival of TrekTonight.
(Unfortunately, not all of the episodes are there. But it's a start.)
(Unfortunately, not all of the episodes are there. But it's a start.)
Maybe just an I Am ??? thread to replace all the What are you ??? threads.
I am listening to Fade To Black by Metallica (What are you listening to?)
I am eating a cheeseburger and drinking a coke. (eating/drinking right now?)
I am frustrated/happy about whatever. (Frustrated or happy thread)
I am happy it is sunny and warm out, 78 degrees! (weather thread)
I am Bored! (One word for your life)
It could cover a lot of threads.
I can start one if Misc MODs want to and the others get closed.
I am listening to Fade To Black by Metallica (What are you listening to?)
I am eating a cheeseburger and drinking a coke. (eating/drinking right now?)
I am frustrated/happy about whatever. (Frustrated or happy thread)
I am happy it is sunny and warm out, 78 degrees! (weather thread)
I am Bored! (One word for your life)
It could cover a lot of threads.
I can start one if Misc MODs want to and the others get closed.
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I wouldn't be at all pleased if the "What Are You Reading?" thread was closed as it is the one thread that I post in regularly and it has lead me to finding new books and new authors. It was the thread I first heard about Andy Weir's "The Martian" in and that ended up being one of my best reads of this year.
I don't think a thread about books would need to be because it is much broader. 
I wasn't thinking about the book thread. It's the What are you eating/drinking, Express yourself in one word, etc type threads I was talking about. Threads that promote more discussion like what are you reading and maybe even the purchases thread could stay.
Of course with the Purchases and reading threads, if it were me I would hope both of those would close and two new ones would open, just to get a fresh thread smell.
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I am going to post a new soapie thread but at the moment new broadband cables are being laid in my street and the internet and phone keep dropping out. I will wait until I have a stable connection before I start.
I also have a couple of other ideas for threads.
I also have a couple of other ideas for threads.
IT'S OFFICIAL, ALL THE FUN HAS BEEN SUCKED OUT OF THIS FORUM!
I don't know, that doesn't really seem like a good idea for a thread, but thanks for your constructive contribution anyway.
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