# Forum changes coming - feedback needed **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 26, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933 "2015-01-26T17:12:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/1 "2015-01-26T17:12:08Z")
Just a heads up - we’ll be making some changes to the SDMB forum and moderator lineups over the next few days. I’ll make announcements as things happen, but first wanted some feedback. We’ll be opening the much-asked-for Thread Games forum, and at the same time closing the low-traffic Straight Dope Chicago and Barn House forums. We need to move threads from SDC and BH somewhere else; the obvious repository would seem to be General Questions. However, they can go somewhere else if there’s a consensus. Comments? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/2 "2015-01-26T17:19:47Z")
GQ seems to be the logical choice. Certain threads that involve ratings or discussion can go into MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/3 "2015-01-26T17:58:04Z")
As a non-Chicagoan, MPSIMS is the obvious choice for everything in the Chicago forum. 🙂 Seriously, I agree with GQ for the Barn House. There are probably some threads in Chicago that would be better suited for IMHO or MPSIMS, but if no one wants to take the time to go through them individually then put them all in GQ and people can report ones that should be moved. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/4 "2015-01-26T17:59:53Z")
The Barn stuff seems to be GQ-worthy; the Chicago posts from the past 100 days seem to be a mix of GQ and CS. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/5 "2015-01-26T18:03:35Z")
These all look like good moves. I agree with others that GQ is the best spot for the threads from closed forums. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/6 "2015-01-26T18:24:24Z")
I assume threads from SDC and BH will keep their post dates which means they’ll mostly fall well below the current threads. I’ll bet most people don’t even notice. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/7 "2015-01-26T18:25:15Z")
This sounds like you are unwilling to have sub-forums (aka child forums) within a main forum. Does this mean the game threads will have their own forum and sports in another? As for the low traffic forums like Barn House, SD Chicago and Marketplace, why not put them all in “side conversations” at the bottom. It’s not like it’s important page real estate. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/8 "2015-01-26T19:34:43Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > This sounds like you are unwilling to have sub-forums (aka child forums) within a main forum. Does this mean the game threads will have their own forum and sports in another? > > As for the low traffic forums like Barn House, SD Chicago and Marketplace, why not put them all in “side conversations” at the bottom. It’s not like it’s important page real estate. For simplicity we prefer a flat forum structure (all one level, no subsidiary forums). If the forum list got so long it was unwieldy we might do child forums, but since we’re dropping two forums and adding one that’s not an issue. The envisioned split is that threads that are themselves games go in Thread Games; all other game and sports threads go in Game Room. Low-traffic forums are inconspicuous in Side Conversations, but we still have to staff them, get rid of spam, etc. Not worth it in view of low usage. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/9 "2015-01-26T19:37:46Z")
First of all, thanks for asking. I really appreciate it. I think that your plan is a good one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/10 "2015-01-26T19:38:19Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > The envisioned split is that threads that are themselves games go in Thread Games; all other game and sports threads go in Game Room. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/11 "2015-01-26T19:44:58Z")
While you’re at it, would you consider changing “Elections” to “Politics?” It really makes more sense. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/12 "2015-01-26T19:48:22Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > While you’re at it, would you consider changing “Elections” to “Politics?” It really makes more sense. Either that, or tighten the reins so that it’s actually only about elections. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/13 "2015-01-26T20:13:09Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > Comments? Questions as well? 🙂 Are suggestions/nominations for moderator accepted? ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/14 "2015-01-26T20:20:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Either that, or tighten the reins so that it’s actually only about elections. We had a long internal discussion before Elections was created about what to call the forum. We didn’t want to call it Politics because there was no obvious way to separate the subject from Great Debates. The distinction between Elections and Great Debates is also vague; here’s what I said about that at the time: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12525157&postcount=1](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12525157&postcount=1) This still holds true. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/15 "2015-01-26T20:26:37Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Questions as well? 🙂 > > Are suggestions/nominations for moderator accepted? We don’t have a formal nomination process but suggestions or inquiries (whether on your own behalf or someone else’s) are always welcome - email me at edzotti at straightdope dot com. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/16 "2015-01-26T20:32:21Z")
I’ve never really seen the point of sub-forums, on message boards that have them. There’s really no functional difference between them and completely separate forums; you still only open one sub-forum at a time (or alternately open up the parent forum, which contains _only_ those threads which aren’t in some sub-forum, so it’s effectively another subforum). All it really amounts to is a statement by the mods that these forums are related, and we can generally figure that out by ourselves, without the official statement. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/17 "2015-01-26T21:15:50Z")
Ideally I think a slightly better grouping of the current forums like this might work better, in this order!; \*'Cause this should be at the top,\ ***About This Message Board** \*The basic mission of the board, questions and answers,\ ***General Questions** **The [DEL][COLOR=“Black”]Barn[/DEL][/COLOR] House and Garage Barn** **Comments on Cecil’s Columns & Staff Reports** (A slightly modified **The Barn House** could still stand as the forum for all questions related to houses and cars in general; plumbing, wiring, HVAC, appliances, backed up toilets, “Which new tool should I buy?”, “Why is my car making this noise?”, “Which car should I buy?”, etc, instead of them ending up all over the place like they do now. Or it could get folded into GQ where most, but definitely not all, of those questions get asked now. I think “The H&G Barn” would be a much better idea.) \*The general “culture” forums,\ ***Cafe Society** **The Game Room** **All Games, All the Time** **In My Humble Opinion (IMHO)** **Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share (MPSIMS)** **[DEL][COLOR=“Black”]The Marketplace[/DEL][/COLOR] Mundane Potently Useful Stuff I Must Sell (MPUSIM$)** \*The forums for, politely or not, arguing about things,\ ***Great Debates** **Elections** **The BBQ Pit** So the only “forums” getting killed would be **Side Conversations** and **Straight Dope Chicago** (The **SDC** questions could get moved to where they’re most appropriate). This sorting makes much more sense to me, YMMV. (Though I’m clearly unsure if doing this all at once is more of a headache that TPTB wish to self inflict, or not. (It could be phased in over time, instead all at once.) CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/18 "2015-01-26T21:38:08Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > First of all, thanks for asking. I really appreciate it. I think that your plan is a good one. Me too. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/19 "2015-01-26T21:50:47Z")
Another offering of thanks for asking us; it totally fucking rocks. Also another wish for “Elections” to be re-labeled “Politics”, since discussions are not limited to elections, nor are they even the primary thread subject. Other than that, I love the idea of actual games having their own place so discussions about games can be gloriously uncluttered. I am curious, tho: where would discussions of the games being played in the Thread Games forum take place? ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933/20 "2015-01-26T22:47:32Z")
Hearing no objection, I’ll go ahead and have Jerry make the changes described above, with threads from the closed forums moving to GQ. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-changes-coming-feedback-needed/710933.md?page=2)