Extra-long threads

[Toby]

Hi guys,

We have some fantastic threads in the community that are very long and contain hundreds or thousands of messages. These threads are really special, such as our Introduce Yourself, Wanty's Place or the Virtual Lounge.

Myself and the team are reviewing whether these long threads have any affect on community performance. So we may, at some stage, open up new versions. I've already done this a few times with the Introduce Yourself thread.

This wont be happening soon and if we don't see a benefit of closing and opening new threads, we will of courseleave them as they are. I just wanted to post this as an FYI, as these threads mean a lot to many of us

[jonsie]

The last time we had major changes like this we all saw our post count reduced by some 5000 posts as threads were deemed unnecessary and irrelevant to the 'new' community, We also saw the withdrawal of our 'superuser' status even though we were responsible for testing the new community when we changed over to Lithium. For three months we were the guinea pigs and then we were kicked in the teeth so to speak.

I'm not sure what you wish to achieve by this?

Those threads are off topic and are a social media for members and have been going for a couple of years. Change for change sake? Those threads are very popular and any member can feel free to post in them and will be welcomed by regular contributors. We have always had Wanty's which was started by an O2 staff mamber before the community was in existance, indeed when it was just the O2 forum.

The members here are used to the virtual threads where anything goes apart from discussing mobile phones. It's our escape, especially at iphone launch. I look forward to admin explaining exactly what changes this will involve.

[Toby]

Hi @jonsie,

I think you're misunderstanding what I'm saying. This would not be about closing any of those discussions. We would create new versions and link to them. Very long threads can at times affect page-loading times and other factors. 

This is in no way indicating that any of these threads will be gone, just continued in a different thread ID. Its purely for the benefit of everyone. As I've said though, if we don't see any benefit to page loading, we wont do it. Its purely to help us all here.

[Cleoriff]

Personally would be upset to see either Wanty's or the Virtual Lounge revamped. I think it's a testament to the forum to see how long they have been running and they are open to everyone. They allow people to talk about anything and everything without the need for new off topic threads to be started about non phone related issues. 

When I click on Wanty's I have no problem with page loading.....This is my opinion for what it's worth

[Anonymous]

Hi, I created the virtual lounge because att there was a certain amount of shall we say kerfuffle about off-topic being non-tech

I'm not being at all 'precious' about 'owning the thread' ... = ... I don't feel that way, it's a good way as is Wanty's for members to socialise on the forum

I would not wish to see either Wanty's or the virtual lounge go or be altered 

[Toby]

Hi Cleo,

It wouldn't be a re-vamp, but a continuation. We'll look into the performance across the whole community too.

If we dont need to do it, we wont. I just thought I'd post as an FYI

[Anonymous]

@Toby to clarify my post above

I remember the time when a lot of the forum's senior members were rather vocal in the sense that eg they felt off-topic had become rather shall-we-say like Facebook

Several of your senior regular posters left the forum for good

I would not wish whole-heartedly for that to happen again

I get so much out of the forum not only knowledge, a place to ask questions re: my mobile

I'll own up to probably being a bit of a newbie att to perhaps fissing off some people as mentioned above 

I can still run amok imho on off-topic, but hopefully not fiss people orf as before  

thank you

Smile 

[Cleoriff]

Well I was never one who had a problem with Off Topic. Most of my medical innovation posts feature in this section.

We also discuss some news items and give tribute to those we have lost

It's called freedom of choice. If I want to join in with something I will...if I don't I won't. It really is as simple as that.

There is an old saying. 'If it ain't broke it doesn't need fixing'

[MI5]

Just delete off topic completely 

[Beenherebefore]

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@MI5 wrote:

Just delete off topic completely 

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