Gotta disagree with you here. I agree that this is an LSU site, and LSU discussion should be the absolute priority. However, you can't get the members of this site's opinion on SEC matters if you go to other forums to discuss it. I think having a "room" for SEC talk would be a good thing. I also don't have a problem with just leaving the posts in the Den.
First and foremost we are a LSU site. I for one think the Den should be resevered for all and only things LSU. While other SEC schools have a direct pull on us there are some LSU fans that really only care about what is LSU and for someone that is stopping in for a minute to see if anything new has come up on LSU coaches to have to sit there and wade through the other schools post will get annoying. I think the object here is not to please one group or another but to make the site as easy to use for ANY and EVERYONE. With that being said rest assure that the mods are doing more then just moving threads and running TFFL, just be patient the voices and concerns have been heard and are being taken to heart by all of us!
And thus the purpose of this thread, Crip. I am sure Brett would like to know what TF Nation is feeling on this matter. And I am certain this thread will accomplish that. Brett is appreciated by all on here. We are fortunate to have such a great website to visit on a daily basis. I also think it's awesome that we can have our say about possible upgrades that will make this site that much better. Tip of the cap to the MODs as well. I think they do a great job on here, by and large.
As a registered, non-Contributor who enjoys lurking around this site, I’ll throw in my opinion, which is based on frequenting other sports forums – some of which I support financially, some of which I do not. To me, the most important questions are: What do TPTB want TF to be? How much site traffic do you want? Do you want a higher traffic site – with all the resultant pros and cons? Do you want it to remain a relatively insular forum? The more restrictions that are placed on registered, non-Contributor accounts, the fewer users the site will have. It is my opinion that there are just too many free sports forums for a site to expect high traffic when their free accounts are significantly restricted. I understand the “Giving away the site for free is un-American” argument, but the internet is the ultimate free market. Most people are not going to pay for something, like access to a sports forum, when they can get it elsewhere for free. I think access – including the ability to read, post, view images, give/receive reputation, etc. - to essentially all forums should be open to all registered users. There would not be any verboten topics – well, not any that don’t violate the TOS – to registered users. Obviously, there should be benefits for being a Contributor. Those benefits could include perks, such as a high limit on PM storage, customized titles, more space for sigs, larger avatars, custom avatars, the ability to turn rep on/off, ability to post images, and an area of the forum dedicated to Contributors – something like a TigerForums Contributor’s Haven. However, the Contributor forum would not have “rights” to certain topics as is the case currently. It would be more of a forum where Contributors could get away from the unwashed masses. Conversely, registered, non-Contributors would have a limited PM mailbox (maybe 10, maybe none), smaller sigs and avatars, general titles (TF Newbie, TF Neophyte, TF Junior Varsity, etc.), the ability to post links to pics, but not post images directly in threads, and no access to the Contributor forum. No matter how it is handled, the site (most any site) will always have a relatively small number of paying members. The question comes back to how many members and how much traffic do you want? I am in no way suggesting that more is inherently better. More traffic would result in the need for larger/faster servers, more idiots, more banned users, more sock puppets, possibly the development of an infractions system in which a user would receive an “Unsportsmanlike Conduct” penalty for minor flaming/stupidity and ejection/banning for multiple penalties, more moderating, the need for more Moderators, a Moderator’s forum open to Mods only, and a plethora of other issues. If you reduce restrictions on the registered, non-Contributor accounts you should see an increase in traffic, a small number of whom will become Contributors, but it may not be worth it. Regardless, thanks for the well-managed and informative site!
Death by snake or spider. Whatever he was trying to kill. Ive sort of changed my opinion My original idea was to move every thing to another forum but that was because I was assuming the mods would keep moving some stuff to the Roundtable. I have absolutely no problem with everything being in The Den and I think websites do better when there are less sub forums - I just didnt like... The threads going into the Rountable when it isnt really a sports forum. There are few events like random college basketball games that a few people enjoy but I know most of the board doesnt care about and it is probably not needed in the den...but where does it go? Ive changed my suggestion to leave everything in The Den and for the ones that still need to be moved or the random ones (the cbball thread I mentioned) that some like to create, they can go to the All-Sports Forum.
TB3, you know I am chuckling as I read that, right? Thanks for taking the time to give that feedback though!
This is a very important matter. I have almost spent as much time on it as I did figuring out how Nolimit died last year. And now that I think about it Im not sure I like my previous suggestion because there is still confusion. Hell I dont care what we do anymore. :grin:
