I’m skeptical of this. :dubious:
On a purely conceptual level, this is pretty compelling.
Not really, since "“House bill 19473.3, regarding the regulation of 23-grain bullets violates the 2nd Amendment” would turn into another gun control/gun ban/2nd Amendment melee, guaranteed.
Perhaps a compromise?
vBulletin can use Thread Prefixes, which are short phrases automatically added to the beginning of a post. For example, if I start a new thread in GD, I might find a drop-box there with:
Election 2012
World Politics
Religion
I’d select Election 2012, then title my thread Is Palin Forked? The whole thread title would appear as **Election 2012: Is Palin Forked?
The thing is that these prefixes can be filtered. If you’re interested in seeing only the Election 2012 threads, those are all that you have to see. If you don’t want any of these hot topics cluttering your screen, then you don’t have to even see them.
On any of the forum listings (say here, for example), way down at the bottom is the Display Options section. Once Thread Prefixes is turned on, another box will appear in the space to the left of the Show Threads button.
With that box, you’ll be able to list the threads you want to see. If you only want to see threads about the election, select Election 2012 and click the button. If you don’t want to see any of the prefixed threads, select No Prefix. To keep things the way they are now, select Any Prefix.
Now, you can’t filter OUT particular prefixes (“Show me everything except Religion”), and you can’t combine them (“Show me just the unprefixed threads, but add World Politics”)–you can see one specific prefix, no prefixes, or all threads.
On the plus side, there would be no need to create a new forum or for new moderators. Since each forum’s prefixes can be tailored specially for that forum, the system is flexible.
On the minus side, the look and feel of the forums would change some. Also, as with any additional feature, there would be a slight increase in the Mods’ workload from people who forget to select a prefix.
Hey, Fenris? You see that little wheel thingie on your mouse? Or that scroll bar on the right of the window? Did you know you can use* either one* to breeze right by threads you don’t care to read? It’s amazing, this modern technology.
More to the point: When’s the last time you posted anything at all on this board other than “suggestions” about how it should be run? And why shouldn’t threads about this community by people who choose not to participate in it be breezed right by as readily as any other “uninteresting” threads?
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12341371#post12341371
There you go. Why would you even make such a jerky comment without a quick search? Sheesh.
So much for toning down the level of aggression, the name calling and the “us vs. them” mentality.
[Moderator Note]
Let’s avoid making personal jabs against other posters in ATMB. No warning issued.
Note:
I was talking about the post, not the poster and you clearly agree with me as to its character. But whatever.
[Moderating]
Please don’t put words in my mouth regarding what I “agree with.” The main point is to avoid having the discussion get personal.
Oh, goody, there was one. Great.
Sapo, doesn’t the “level of aggression” demonstrated by someone’s almost-pure stream of complaints about this board’s organization and operation concern you?
Moderator
Elvis. If you’re troubled by some of the posts on this board, just scroll on past.
No warning issued.
samclem. Moderator, GQ.
The following may be of interest:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12356157#post12356157