Call me contrary Mary but here goes.
In a sense the following is a dumb thing to post because I don’t really know which way to jump on this. However, for a while I’ve thought a bigger server would be the best way forward but as I’m now I’m not as sure I want to add some kind of counterpoint for consideration.
I was just thinking of all the times something that has worked well in one form has lost that special, indefinable quality that made it great because the natural reaction has been “Hey, lets make it bigger so we even more of what we like”. Bigger, in my experience, ain’t necessarily better – curiously, that’s happened often. IMHO, that isn’t the same thing as decrying progress, it’s just recognising that there might be a slightly more complex dynamic in play – one worthy of, at least, contemplation.
Here’s a couple of reasons why change might not be necessarily a good thing (just throwing these in the ring to counter the overwhelming push for a new server):
Preamble
A number of things make the Board great but they all come down to the same thing: the people involved, Members, Admins and Mods. It’s this, the quality of the people contributing in a variety of guises and the sense of community generated that makes it work so well. That much most of us would probably agree on.
My points
To make the Board more accessible does make it easier for the existing community but it also encourages more and yet more people to participate. And they will because it’s great. My problem with that is it endangers the sense of community: people recognise other posters, build weird relationships, warm or avoid posting styles, this leads to DoperFests,……we all know the story. If the number of active members increases, isn’t degrading this sense of ‘community’ a natural consequence ? I think size really does matter here.
Another thought: This is partially a guess but I would imagine the server load peaks and troughs through the day. It’s a 24 hour thing but my guess is the peak load time must be about lunchtime on the East Coast (you crazy sandwich munchers) which coincides with the West Coast stirring (breakfasting / hitting the office / getting back from walking the latest fashion accessory). Point being: The Board isn’t slow per se, it’s slow at pretty specific peak time only – if I’m right.
If that is the case, wouldn’t it more expeditious to invest in a little flexibility rather than buy one huge and expensive banana ?.
Finally, at peak times it’s a real hassle getting the page to load. Only the more determined stick with it. Why do they stick with it ? Because it’s worth it to them / us. It really is a bloody nuisance but doesn’t that time barrier act as some kind of cyber Darwinism by weeding out the half-hearted, the casual passer-by’s, etc ? It’s a pain but isn’t that weeding out what we really want to happen ?
I’m all for convenience and an easy time but I’m really concerned that (and I love this old chestnut)…….we might be throwing the baby out with the bath water ? And once ‘it’s’ gone, that quality you can’t always put your finger on but it’s enough to know it’s there, ‘it’ can never coming back. Is it a risk really, really worth taking for a few extra seconds of load time ?