What the hell's with all these lame new forums?

[Autolycus]

Well, if you really hated the new forums, why waste your time complaining to the administration? Do something about it! Here’s a few things you could do:

[ul]
[li]Make threads in them pretending you’re from Chicago. See how long it goes before people figure out you’re bullshitting.[/li][li]Purposefully make threads in them that aren’t related to Chicago.[/li][li]Make threads about how living in Chicago sucks.[/li][li]Give Autolycus five dollars.[/li][/ul]

Of course, all of those options are bad ideas, except for that last one.

[Nancarrow]

@Interconnected_Series_of_Tubes

I can’t be the only one who didn’t even notice until reading this thread.

You are not.

And for those who, like me, are rather annoyed to see six new Chicago based forums, here’s a suggestion. You’ve bookmarked the SDMB, of course. We all have.
Well, just replace your old link with this:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?f=15

Presto! It’s as if Chicago never existed!

[Bosstone]

@Dewey_Finn

Although I recognize that Ed Zotti is trying to appeal to local advertisers, I think that fragmenting the membership of the board by creating local sub-boards is the wrong approach.

I don’t think they’re trying to fragment anyone at all. I think they’re trying to bring in all-new members who are here just for the local boards. We navelgazers can stay over here.

[joyfool]

Yanno, as soon as I saw the announcement in ATMB, I knew someone would pit this. It was just a matter of time. For me though, it’s sorta like Revtim said… I’m not interested in those forums, but I honestly don’t understand why they can’t just be ignored then and allow everyone else to have their fun. Geesh.

[quixotic78]

@Ogre

Meanwhile, Dopers have been asking for a whole suite of new SDMB features that get lost in the shuffle, but you can implement a shitload of new forums for local interest?

I (a) didn’t notice the new fora, (b) don’t care about the new fora, and (c) think Ogre is overreacting, but this seems a fair point. Even if it’s simple to add a new forum and complicated to add other things, this recent change can be interpreted as a message from the powers that be – namely, new stuff will be implemented if (and only if?) it benefits TPTB, not the user base at large.

Or perhaps not. But I think it’s a point worth discussing.

[Starving_Artist]

@silenus

Reading comprehension would help here. The CL people are trying to launch websites and message board groups in all the cities they have newspapers, ideally. This is the pilot program to see if the idea will fly. Since they already have and maintain this board, it makes sense to run the pilot program as an adjunct rather than set up a whole new board. This also gives them some spill-over, which helps. It in no way interferes with this board or its operation. It’s not because Chicago discussions were all over the place here. It’s because they are trying to expand and modify their business model so they don’t vanish into the ether. Cut them some slack and just ignore the new areas if they annoy you so much.

This.

[Maastricht]

@Autolycus

Well, if you really hated the new forums, why waste your time complaining to the administration? Do something about it! Here’s a few things you could do:

[ul]
[li]Make threads in them pretending you’re from Chicago. See how long it goes before people figure out you’re bullshitting.[/li][li]Purposefully make threads in them that aren’t related to Chicago.[/li][li]Make threads about how living in Chicago sucks.[/li][li]Give Autolycus five dollars.[/li][/ul]

Of course, all of those options are bad ideas, except for that last one.

Sure. I’ve left them for you at this very friendly newspaper vendor. Go right outside the Bears’s stadium…

[Measure_for_Measure]

Awesome idea. Expanding the fight against ignorance is always a good thing in my view.

[Aeschines]

these new forums are going to be, and already to be, a flop?

There are not enough Chicago Dopers to make these work. There are not going to be any Chicagoans who join because of them. They won’t work.

[Koxinga]

@Aeschines

these new forums are going to be, and already to be, a flop?

There are not enough Chicago Dopers to make these work. There are not going to be any Chicagoans who join because of them. They won’t work.

I tend to agree: I’m not worked up like the OP, but seems to me that if the PtB are gonna start pimpin’ out this place, at least read one or two undergraduate marketing texts. Lame-o-rama.

[Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical]

No ire from me either - except it does point out all of the reasons for not having, say, a Political forum as the bullshit they were.

[ivan_astikov]

@Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical

No ire from me either - except it does point out all of the reasons for not having, say, a Political forum as the bullshit they were.

Which is probably why they waited until now before implementing it.

[Ramira]

@Ogre

Seriously. Cecil’s…I mean, Ed Zotti’s stupid vanity forum was bad enough, but now we have SIX new forums about all things Chicago. Meanwhile, Dopers have been asking for a whole suite of new SDMB features that get lost in the shuffle, but you can implement a shitload of new forums for local interest? I know the Dope is based in Chicago, but c’mon. Do this somewhere else, you idiots.

There are things to complain of, but why would you care of these forums? I did not even notice until the complaint.

It would seem not a good idea, but why not try if they are having problems with money?

[jacquilynne]

It takes about 45 seconds to add a new forum in software like this. How many of the features that people want could be implemented in less than 5 minutes and potentially generate substantial new revenues?

[Harmonious_Discord]

I was going to comment on the speed of adding a forum to the board and it’s just been done. That was quick.

I also thought that only a control freak would have a problem with every minuscule aspect of this board not conforming to their ideal forum.

[Ogre]

@quixotic78

I (a) didn’t notice the new fora, (b) don’t care about the new fora, and (c) think Ogre is overreacting, but this seems a fair point. Even if it’s simple to add a new forum and complicated to add other things, this recent change can be interpreted as a message from the powers that be – namely, new stuff will be implemented if (and only if?) it benefits TPTB, not the user base at large.

Or perhaps not. But I think it’s a point worth discussing.

I think I speak for everyone when I say that we’d all rather just pile on.

[CircleofWillis]

@Ogre

I think I speak for everyone when I say that we’d all rather just pile on.

No backtalk… just get in the barrel

[Duckster]

@Aeschines

these new forums are going to be, and already to be, a flop?

There are not enough Chicago Dopers to make these work. There are not going to be any Chicagoans who join because of them. They won’t work.

This will be confirmed later when we see Ed on the news sitting before a Congressional committee asking for a bailout.

[carnivorousplant]

@Duckster

This will be confirmed later when we see Ed on the news sitting before a Congressional committee asking for a bailout.

If he’s smart he won’t telecommute and waste bandwidth.

[Cisco]

@jacquilynne

It takes about 45 seconds to add a new forum in software like this. How many of the features that people want could be implemented in less than 5 minutes and potentially generate substantial new revenues?

Seriously, WTF??? How long have we been asking and patiently waiting for a politics forum, and now these second city fucks get one without even asking? Fucking bullshit. BULLSHIT. I have never seen a good explanation for why this board doesn’t have half the features that people want and pretty much all other boards have. The staff here hates their customers worse than the RIAA.