forum reorganization

[X2Farm]

Kathy, thats a good idea...

I know a board that has an "On Topic" area, where idle chit chat is discouraged and pointed towards the more casual posting area, so the "meat and potatoes" discussion can be followed and discussed without wading through a bunch of other stuff.

I know we all enjoy some idle chit chat, but, there's a time and place for it, but sometimes we just wanna get down to the nitty gritty and discuss serious poultry things, breeding, genetics, critiques, etc.

 

[popcornpuppy]

I have to say that I feel the OP's pain. I have fallen off the forum because of the chat and getting a million emails from a thread that I subscribed to that on occasion has some information of value.

Maybe the solution is not to restructure the threads, but the rules instead. If a thread is supposed to be breed specific, it should stay breed specific and the chat should go on an other thread. Enforce a rule that discurages chat on threads with important topics that are conducive to the learning experience.

Chat is good in that it helps create frienships in the chicken world. A place where folks get to know and trust each other. But I am one of those less chatty people (not anti social, just shy) and like discussions that are informative. I came to BYC for the information and have stayed away because of the chat.

So I say chat in one place, talk breed specific in another place. Keep the 2 things seperate for the purpose of learning. And I say it with a

no disrespect or hard feelings intended

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

We actually have rules about taking topics off topic.

Unfortunately the policing of this policy can be really tricky with some threads that by their nature solicit friendly discussion. It's also often hard to determine where a post meanders cross the line of off topic. It all really is much more tricky than most think.

For example, a thread like, "Let's discuss Orpingtons!" is going to definitely include a lot of discussion about how much people love their specific Orpingtons, stories about their Orpingtons, and then those discussions slowly meander into "chat". This is where it is hard for the staff to know where to come in. At what point do the staff start sending warnings and deleting off topic posts?

On the other hand, a thread like, "Are your Orpingtons more or less broody than your other breeds?" would be much easier to keep on topic and moderate.

Hopefully y'all appreciate how gray a lot of this is and will help work with us to:

1) Keep non-social threads on topic as much as possible. Remind others to keep on topic and report off topic discussions as they meander way off topic.
2) Remember that the staff don't read all topics and posts. The only way we can help keep threads on topic is if the members report them.
3) Recognizing that BYC is a friendly community, so we need to realize and respect that there will always be a bit of sociality within even the most strict topics.

 

[thechickonthehill]

I think one thing that might help in this area is to be very thoughtful about the title of any thread that one starts. You can be pretty sure that the threads that start with something like "Post Pics of Your [insert breed here]" are going to be chatty, social threads. However, if you wish a serious discussion of something in particular, say so right off the bat and be specific. For example "An In-Depth Discussion of AI in Poulty" is probably not going to inspire a lot of social chit chat. So a reminder to those starting a thread to first think about what they hope to get out of that initial post might be a good idea.

I enjoy several of the "chatty" threads, but I REALLY appreciate the information that I glean from the serious breeding info threads (a good example is the heritage breed thread). I really like the idea of having a section for "chatty" threads and a separate "educational" area to post. An "Ask an APA Judge" section would be very nice too.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
The polite thing to do is search for the answer before asking what has likely been asked and answered in the past.

I have tried BYC's search engine many times and it is difficult at best. . .

 

[Katy]

I vote for a breed's club area too. Breed clubs are not in competition with BYC....they serve a different purpose...at least to me they do.

 

[scbatz33]

Quote:
The polite thing to do is search for the answer before asking what has likely been asked and answered in the past.

I have tried BYC's search engine many times and it is difficult at best. . .

Have to agree here. I try to search for answers before I ask a question because I don't want to bog down the site with repetative inquiries. However, the search engine pulls up every single anything that might have ever possibly maybe at one time mentioned whatever I'm looking for. After a few pages of "chatty" posts I just give up and ask the question. It's sometimes just easier to go that route.

 

[math ace]

I follow some BREED threads closely. I find they get real social when there are no posters wanting to discuss heavy topics. As soon as someone posts a serious topic - - - The community gets back on topic.

There is no need to read all 975 pages of the marans thread - - - if the search feature of BYC was a little easier to use.

Could I do a search on "crooked toes" in the Marans thread? ?
Could I do a search on "yellow legs" in the marans thread ONLY ? ?

Just my thoughts - - -

 

[smith2]

I totally agree with the original posters comments. I think the answer is just what the adm. said. Be more specific in your topic question and indicate whether it is "social" in nature or "serious" in nature. A thread for breed clubs is also a good idea. Sometimes I like to read the social for fun, but sometimes I want a serious answer to a serious question without all the fluff.

 

[snowbird]

I usually post on the Marans thread but it is a no win situation as most started saying it was too serious of breed discussion. Now the thread has turned into a family affair and a feel good discussion thread with very little actual Marans discussions going on at present. No one learns unless they are told the truth about critiqueing their Marans, it does not help them if you are not truthful with the new breed people.

It just seems that most thread have people that post for a couple of months and become experts of the breed when they are experts only in their own mind.

I believe their should be seperate thread for the idle gossip that goes along with these threads and have a seperate thread for actual discussion of the breed you are interested in on BYC. If only it were a perfect world. Don