Why So Serious?

[mattifikation]

http://www.reellifewisdom.com/files/images/the%20joker.jpg

This is a forum about zombies, right? I mean... fictional, entertainment-oriented creations of the imagination... right? It seems to me that a forum dedicated to discussing a genre of entertainment should air towards the side of being light-hearted and laid back.

That doesn't seem to be the case, particularly in US&D. I understand that things got out of hand on the old forum, but there was very little moderation then. Notice it was also significantly busier at the time. It was also about twice as much fun. Okay, so you had to address the problem, I get that.

However, it seems like ATZ has decided to fix one extreme by adopting another. I know it's not my site and I don't make the rules, I'm just offering some input: Your membership will not grow if people get scolded every time the topic drifts. On an informational forum, this wouldn't be the case: People expect order and focus. On an entertainment forum, people want entertainment.

Furthermore, the number of discussions (and thus, the amount of time people spend on your site and as a result, the amount of entertainment your visitors get here) will not grow or hold anyone's interest if every new thread that could even remotely overlap the discussion in another thread gets merged.

Nobody's going to read through a 30 page thread, but they'll gladly click through 10 three-page threads. Yes, some things would be discussed several times. That happens because people *want* to discuss them several times, and because it draws in *more* people to do the discussing.

Despite the policies this site has enacted in US&D, more people discussing the same thing in more places is actually better than only a small handful of people discussing something to death in one spot, and getting scolded should they dare let the topic stray.

If people come seeking entertainment, and they are instead given Catholic school style discipline, they'll go someplace else. It would be like if Wikipedia suddenly made it okay to make jokes in their articles... Wikipedia's userbase would bail because they are not there for entertainment. What's going on in US&D is the reverse of that scenario. People seeking fun are being handed church.

So feel free to be as strict as you want, but if you've ever sat back and wondered if there was a way to boost your traffic then you should at least consider my advice:

"Lighten up, yo."

[ZedHunter]

I like this.
Good suggestion.

I know its been like a month or more, but that picture of Max with his finger in the trigger guard. Too many uptight people. Not saying any names.

[rogeneck]

also less post merging. it causes confusion and often is not needed. let that thread spread or die on its own. when you merge threads it just causes confusion. like why did this guy start talking about umbrellas when were talking about rain coats.

[Bob]

How threads go off topic

Threads are organic in nature.
They tend to evolve as they grow.
Most people read only the last couple of pages of a super thread.

What happens is that as a person reads a thread the things he reads evoke thoughts that spark other thoughts and suddenly he is off topic and he posts in the thread that sparked the original thought.

For example I am reading a thread about hunting wild pigs by trapping them with a fence and it sparks a thought about hunting them with a gun.
Should I hunt them with a rifle or a shotgun.
What caliber, slugs or buckshot?
Man I sure could eat some BBQ.
Last time the brisket was not good.
(now I have changed animals)
Is the meat different tasting on a long horn?
What did beef taste like before modern methods of raising cattle.
(now I am no longer even thinking about hunting or trapping)
I wonder how much hormones actually gets used when they raise cattle?
Is that why Americans are fat, due to the hormones in beef?
What is it they call that Japanese beef where they give the cattle beer and massage them?
Bison might be as close to natural as large animal meat gets, I wonder if the ones they sell the meat from gets hormones.
(changed animals again)
The only Bison I have ever had was a burger at some restuarant.
It was not much different from beef, just leaner and consequently drier.
I wonder what a Bison steak cooked over an open fire would be like?
Would it be so tough I could not chew it or would it be awesome?

So here is where I go off topic.

Has anyone ever had Bison steak?

This progression all happens at the speed of thought.
In about two heart beats I have gone totally off topic.
If I got a number of responses it would make perfect sense to split the Bison steak part out as a thread of it's own.

Not saying one way or the other if the way it is handled is good or bad here, Just explaining how it happens.
Every forum deals with it differently.



Zedhunter
Are you referring to users being mean to other users.

[Birdman44]

I love bison burgers!! :lol: Makes me want to move to a farm out west, here in jersey we can't do anything.. Anyone know any good farm deals in pennsylvania?
Just kidding though :)

Yeah I see what you mean. Things have been light lately I think though, or lighter.

Oh and P.S. I love the Joker! "Lets put a smile on that face" :evil:

[ZombiesAteMyDog]

I concur with this sentiment whole heartedly , not to mention search is seriously broken, I have searched 4 or 5 times for something before making a new topic, found nothing even remotely close, made said topic, then it gets merged with a pre existing topic.

any day of the week I would rather peruse through 7 or 8, 2 to 3 page threads on vaguely related subjects then one massive , jumbled, confusing 30 page thread that by the time your done with the last post youve forgotten half of what you wanted to say in the first place.

:drinking:

[Amish]

Merging topics is just about the worst thing you could possibly do to these or any other forums. I've been on more forums where this has happened than I'd like to be in an entire lifetime.

It's like you're saying: 'That's it. I'm done with your stupid ideas. It's me or you, and if it's me, I'm going to rearrange every fact you know to the minutest of details. Your ideas are no longer considered 'good enough' for their own thread, so I (or moderator/s) must re-write your ideas for you.'

I'm not going to name-drop publicly, but the backlash was intense, and for many, very painful. To have their own thought out ideas merged into someone else's; to say that latter fact, to basically re-write their post (which I've seen mods do elsewhere) is humiliating. It makes that poster feel stupid, and shows to some that the mods feel that the poster is too stupid to even be a member of the forum, to have a part in the over all conversation.

It's human nature to stray into other mildly related topics, and off topic as well. We can't change that. However, the 'Search' function can be fixed/changed. Recently, I searched on a topic I was wanting to write about. I got back the entire US & D board. Needless to say, I did not make my post there, nor to any on this forum for several days. It is human nature to want, to need, to know about things; the why's and how's they work. The search fits under that category.

Still, the way it is now, even with a drab front page that says no one is home, I fully believe this is one of the greatest Zombie Forums I know of. I would miss this forum terribly if that nightmare scenario of merging/re-writing threads/posts were ever to occur.

Amish
:)

[DarthJoe8]

I don't mind the merging of threads...sure the search function isn't perfect but I've found the proper thread 3 or 4 threads below some ones "new thread", to me that's just lazy...not all the time but.....

Look at upcoming zombie flicks, you have 4 threads titled Dead Air...:lol: Do we really need 4 threads about the same thing?? I think not. :think:

I personally like a thread going a little off topic once in a while, it gives you a bigger picture and a better conversation!! :drinking:

[VegetarianZombi]

This is a good site and all, but it reminds me of zombie itself. Besides the forums, the rest of the site is dead - a gazillion broken links accompanied by reviews of video games produced six years ago. It just keeps lumbering forward.

There's need be some active site management here besides merging topics and ban threats. For instance, it'd be nice for new users to have some sort of appropriate FAQ so that old tired arguments (this is a zombie movie / this isn't a zombie movie) can be redirected there.

Right now, this site is all about inertia which ultimately, will come to a close.

[DarthJoe8]

This is a good site and all, but it reminds me of zombie itself. Besides the forums, the rest of the site is dead - a gazillion broken links accompanied by reviews of video games produced six years ago. It just keeps lumbering forward.

There's need be some active site management here besides merging topics and ban threats. For instance, it'd be nice for new users to have some sort of appropriate FAQ so that old tired arguments (this is a zombie movie / this isn't a zombie movie) can be redirected there.

Right now, this site is all about inertia which ultimately, will come to a close.

I'm picking up on what you're laying down but I must point out that while I've personally been a member for about a year and a half I see that this place is still going strong with a good amount of activity. Sometimes more so than others but this is still the place to come for all things zombies and on top of that, we have a great member base that continues to contribute regularly, keeping the information flowing despite the main site being dead...:eat: which of course attracts new members daily.

That said, would I love for the main site to get the attention that it deserves?? Hells yeah!! I've spoken to Dead Kev a few times about contributing and until he's ready to raise the dead this place will be what it currently is...a great place to come and talk about all things zombies...:drinking:

[Darkness]

"Also, most other sites get grumpy if you dig up old threads and topics. Here we don't care, dig as deep as you like."

"There are instructions posted, even, on how to find the Temporary Archived Threads." :)
http://www.allthingszombie.com/forums/showpost.php?p=336295&postcount=7

[VegetarianZombi]

I'm picking up on what you're laying down but I must point out that while I've personally been a member for about a year and a half I see that this place is still going strong with a good amount of activity. Sometimes more so than others but this is still the place to come for all things zombies and on top of that, we have a great member base that continues to contribute regularly, keeping the information flowing despite the main site being dead...:eat: which of course attracts new members daily.

That said, would I love for the main site to get the attention that it deserves?? Hells yeah!! I've spoken to Dead Kev a few times about contributing and until he's ready to raise the dead this place will be what it currently is...a great place to come and talk about all things zombies...:drinking:

Some one needs to do a little rattling on Dead Kev's cage. It's painful to see a site with so much potential wither on the vine. The problem now ... people go to the main site, see all the neglected content, then leave. For every new member being signed up, I'm guessing three other people navigate away. And mind you, I think it's fine that the site is just forums only, but users should be redirected to forums once they hit the main url.

I'm happy to contribute content to the site and I'm sure other people are as well.

[DarthJoe8]

Some one needs to do a little rattling on Dead Kev's cage. It's painful to see a site with so much potential wither on the vine. The problem now ... people go to the main site, see all the neglected content, then leave. For every new member being signed up, I'm guessing three other people navigate away. And mind you, I think it's fine that the site is just forums only, but users should be redirected to forums once they hit the main url.

I'm happy to contribute content to the site and I'm sure other people are as well.

Yup, I totally agree!! :drinking:Until that time, we must keep the dream alive!! :lol:

[VegetarianZombi]

Yup, I totally agree!! :drinking:Until that time, we must keep the dream alive!! :lol:

Besides the inboard messaging system, does anyone have any way to get in contact with Dead Kev? Does he own the domain?

[paultagonist]

Some one needs to do a little rattling on Dead Kev's cage. It's painful to see a site with so much potential wither on the vine. The problem now ... people go to the main site, see all the neglected content, then leave. For every new member being signed up, I'm guessing three other people navigate away. And mind you, I think it's fine that the site is just forums only, but users should be redirected to forums once they hit the main url.

I'm happy to contribute content to the site and I'm sure other people are as well.

I actually did navigate away from the site a couple times upon seeing the neglect on the main page. I mean, it's called "All Things Zombie," and yet there was movie "news" several years old. Disheartening. But eventually I checked out the forums, because I'd heard others talk about the ATZ forums on other sites.

Users should definitely be directed towards these forums from the main site. Something big and flashy. Maybe with naked ladies. As it is now, though, unless you're desperate for a place to talk about, well, all things zombie, and click on the forums link just for kicks, you'll surf elsewhere.

[kiltedninja]

Here's my official opinion on this topic. But be careful, you might not be able to take it, this is some seriously intense shit right here. Alright, here goes, here's what I have to say, and this is the only way you're gonna hear it from me.

Tacos.

Told you it was intense. Carry on.

[Frallon]

I agree with most of your suggestions, on the Dead Island Forums we had a time where there was NO moderation, and it lasted for several months. We strayed a lot, set up little inappropriate topics, but we had fun all the same. We drifted from the topics into just basically talking, but we all bonded a hell of a lot more than any other site I've ever been on, and it was the most fun I've ever had online...Slight moderation ftw

[VegetarianZombi]

So is anyone going to do anything with this conversation, or is this all just piss in the wind?

[rogeneck]

if darkness reads it then thats all we can do untill another mod gets more active.(sorry bad zombie night you dont do a lot of moding and thats just great.)

[hotlead]

If enough of us piss into the wind, the people who can make changes will start to get sprinkled on.

[TastyRidesAgain]

First off, congrats to Darkness on getting the Mod gig. You've always been a pretty cool zombie chick.
Anyway, I've been away for a couple years and upon returning I have noticed a very different atmosphere in USD. It doesn't FEEL as welcoming. I've been lurking for a couple weeks, trying to read through hundreds of pages of threads to find something I can comment on that hasn't been covered--as though bringing up a topic already discussed will bring the ban hammer down squarely upon my noggin'. That is the FEEL of USD to me. It doesn't feel fun.

Just my :2cents:

[Darkness]

"You know, the only place, in these Forums, that requires any type of heavy Moderation, IS the US&D Section."

"You get that many, 'usually drunk/weapons collecting/ego bumping/testerone driven', males in one place, and SOMEONE has to have the dirty job, of keeping them from 'killing each other', verbally, so to speak."

"And I'm the only one, on the Forum Staff, brave enough to go there." :evil: :lol:

;-)

[Darkness]

as though bringing up a topic already discussed will bring the ban hammer down squarely upon my noggin'. That is the FEEL of USD to me. It doesn't feel fun.

Just my :2cents:

"Read my first post, in this thread." ;-)
http://www.allthingszombie.com/forums/showpost.php?p=428001&postcount=11

[hotlead]

"You know, the only place, in these Forums, that requires any type of heavy Moderation, IS the US&D Section."

"You get that many, 'usually drunk/weapons collecting/ego bumping/testerone driven', males in one place, and SOMEONE has to have the dirty job, of keeping them from 'killing each other', verbally, so to speak."

"And I'm the only one, on the Forum Staff, brave enough to go there." :evil: :lol:

;-)

Sounds like you know all about us dumb ol' menfolks, it's a good thing we have someone to hold our hands accross the street or we might try to fight the car coming down the road for challenging our manly ability to stand in it's way.

[Darkness]

"It was just a joke, hotlead, but if the shoe fits................" ;-) :lol:

[CAVU45]

I like this.
Good suggestion.

I know its been like a month or more, but that picture of Max with his finger in the trigger guard. Too many uptight people. Not saying any names.

Too many people don't seem to understand that stupidity should be called out. Not saying any names.

[CAVU45]

I agree with pretty much all that's been said here. I might add that lately alot of posts are getting deleted. Why? Because it may be "political" or "religious" in nature? Why not delete all posts that don't adhere strictly to the thread topic? Seems rather silly to me and can be very confusing to people tuning in after the fact. It all seems rather "dictatorial" in a forum supposedlky dedicated to a fun topic. Let the conversation flow for God's sake! Opps! I mentioned religion! The heavy hand may just make people leave for other forums that aren't so....strict.

[mattifikation]

How many other zombie discussion forums are there? I know there's Zombie Squad, but browsing through their threads I find very little actual zombie discussion.

[CAVU45]

There are at least two others. I won't mention names though. At least at this time.

[Noc]

Yeah, Bob and I had a little discussion/argument about religion that was deleted, even though I'm pretty sure there is no hard feelings.

That being said, this is still the best zombie forum I have ever seen.

[Crombie]

Religion and Politics have been verboten on this forum as long as I have been here. There are just too many points of view that get inflamed within those topics, and it is one of my favorite rules with this place. I know of quite a few decent size boards that imploded because the politics/religion discussions just took over until everyone took their ball and went home.

[CAVU45]

Religion and Politics have been verboten on this forum as long as I have been here. There are just too many points of view that get inflamed within those topics, and it is one of my favorite rules with this place. I know of quite a few decent size boards that imploded because the politics/religion discussions just took over until everyone took their ball and went home.



And I know quite a few boards where the subjects can and have been discussed without folks going postal.

[Noc]

And I know quite a few boards where the subjects can and have been discussed without folks going postal.

Same here I visit a forum where the thread that gets the most traffic is about religion, even though it is a video game forum, and that thread has been open for 2 years.

[Donny Donowitz]

I'd like a Religion/Debate avalability, without it we're stuck talking about possibility of a zombie outbreak :x

JUST HAPPEN ALREADY! I HATE ALMOST EVERYONE!

[Darkness]

"Those are two things that have been taboo in here since the beginning. Trust me, that is NOT going to change."

[Donny Donowitz]

Yeah, I guess that may be a good choice for religon because some people say very offensive things... But Politics, ehh, Im more on the open-it-up side of that, I mean if we can be respecable to the opposing viewpoint then there may be a few good friendlyish debating :)

[CityOfChicago]

Matt, I agree with everything you said in the OP.

When I came here, Matt and I had a pretty heated, uhh, 'discussion' regarding weapons and snipers. Some mild profanity and name calling was slung. But you know what - that's cool and I was cool with it. This is an internet forum, of all things- about zombies. I take it all in stride. Darkness stepped in and gave us the Mod beatdown, and I was pretty much OK with that. Truth be told, Matt is probably my favorite poster here - he's got a sarcastic pair, steps up and jumps in my poo, and makes me laugh with all his other posts. I'm here for the good times, peeps.

Bob - you're an OK chap, too. :drinking:

[Noc]

I'd like a Religion/Debate avalability, without it we're stuck talking about possibility of a zombie outbreak :x


If you really want to debate Religion there is a good website I can show that is all about Debate, but be warned there are some really really really smart posters there. If you want the link PM me I don't wanna promote another site on this board.:)

Darkness you say religion/politics has been taboo for a long time, just out of curiosity how long has the forum been running?

[Darkness]

"Before, or AFTER the Great Meltdown in 2004, Noc?" ;-) :lol:

[Noc]

Well if there were enough members for somthing to be called 'The Great Meltdown' in 2004 it kinda answers my question.

A very long time.

[Zedo]

I have to agree with Crombie. I'm all about banning all political/religious debate in this forum. :evil:

[mrlaughingman]

i would just like to be able to talk about whatever we wish i mean that is what a forum is.forum (a public meeting or assembly for open discussion).o