News & Politics - ***All ideas welcome***

JW77 · 05-15-2005, 11:56 AM

The board has been pretty slow lately, so I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas on how we can get it moving again. If you have any ideas at all...doesn't matter if they're a little strange, or even completely crazy...feel free to either post them here or PM a mod.

- Jen - · 05-15-2005, 03:52 PM

I have been contemplating opening a thread to debate euthanasia, not sure if it would open a huge can of worms like the gay marriage/abortion threads...

Lexis · 05-15-2005, 11:57 PM

I think everyone recognises that this board (more than others perhaps) can really get people going when we discuss sensitive issues. However, euthanasia is a really important issue and I don't think we should avoid discussing it.

LittleMilkJug · 05-16-2005, 03:11 AM

The opening of the Strange and Shocking threads were a bit of a turn off to be honest..by the time one finished deciding where to put a story, well it was a turn off

. Also it was fun/interesting reading down the page all the thread titles..almost like skimming a real paper. Just my humble opinion

Citizen Sarah · 05-16-2005, 10:50 AM

perhaps a philosophy thread? I would love to start a "Does God exist/ is God racist" thread but im thinking things may get a little nasty

Subject · 05-16-2005, 11:21 AM

I think that things would get very nasty with a God thread. Religion is a very personal and touchy issue with people. Perhaps more then any other issue. I don't think that anyone would change their beliefs and only be forced to defend them against others. Leading to a lot of problems.

Perhaps a Jewish, or Christian thread..ect. but I think that falls more into the lines of the Communities board.

I sent this to a mod but I'll post it here as well....

I was thinking about what your stance is on news threads about other boards subjects. Keep things general with Television news thread, or Games news thread, FemaleCeleb news...ect.. That way you won't have an over-run of indvidual news threads for example threads for news on every show. If someone wants to talk about news for a let's say Jason Behr, it would go into the Male Celeb news thread.

I don't visit the N&P board that often but.. I think this might help to open the board to being a little less politics driven. As well as open it for posters on other boards. Giving it more of an all news center feel. If I wanted news on something even something on the boards I mod, my first stop could be the N&P board.

-Michael

In Fair Verona · 05-16-2005, 10:05 PM

By "all-news" feel, do you mean having news stories related to entertainment as well?

I have to strongly protest having any religious threads. As if shipper threads don't compete enough on FanForum, I would hate to see that happen to threads about even more important things to a person; their faith. I honestly think that more good than bad can come out of it, given the nature of this board. Religion threads definitely belong in the community thread where there is a sense of togetherness and unity instilled rather than debate and criticism, so I'm saying this out of consideration for those who would post at these threads if they were created here.

While I personally would enjoy a philosophy thread on God, but again this is another one of those touchy subjects. The only way it would work would be to place a ton of restrictions upon the thread, and when that concerns discussing philosophy... it just doesn't seem worth it, you know? However I'm not shooting it down because I am interested in the idea, it's just hard to think of a way in which it would work for all posters here.

While threads centered around religion would no doubt draw in quite a crowd, I don't want to start threads just to get traffic here at the sake of upsetting a lot of other people. I'd rather have the board stay to it's name of News and Politics. We do get it quite a bit of religious discussion in here as it is when it pertains to the topics, and as far as religion goes I think that's plenty without pissing anybody off.

I'm really leaning towards the enthanuasia thread, I agree with Lexis. Especially in light of the Schiavo case. I think it would call for a good discussion, though I don't doubt that it will get heated. That much is inevitable here.

I have noticed that the Strange/Shocking news threads haven't been faring well. We were just trying it out to give the board more organization but if it does continue to be unpopular than we'll discuss their removal. The idea of making the board somewhat like a newspaper is actually kind of appealing to me, if it can be that way whilst staying organized.

Lexis · 05-17-2005, 06:58 AM

I agree with In Fair Verona - we started the strange/shocking threads because the board was getting buried in stories that were very similar. We'll see how it goes.

VU&NICO · 05-17-2005, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by In Fair Verona

By "all-news" feel, do you mean having news stories related to entertainment as well?

I have to strongly protest having any religious threads. As if shipper threads don't compete enough on FanForum, I would hate to see that happen to threads about even more important things to a person; their faith. I honestly think that more good than bad can come out of it, given the nature of this board. Religion threads definitely belong in the community thread where there is a sense of togetherness and unity instilled rather than debate and criticism, so I'm saying this out of consideration for those who would post at these threads if they were created here.

While I personally would enjoy a philosophy thread on God, but again this is another one of those touchy subjects. The only way it would work would be to place a ton of restrictions upon the thread, and when that concerns discussing philosophy... it just doesn't seem worth it, you know? However I'm not shooting it down because I am interested in the idea, it's just hard to think of a way in which it would work for all posters here.

While threads centered around religion would no doubt draw in quite a crowd, I don't want to start threads just to get traffic here at the sake of upsetting a lot of other people. I'd rather have the board stay to it's name of News and Politics. We do get it quite a bit of religious discussion in here as it is when it pertains to the topics, and as far as religion goes I think that's plenty without pissing anybody off.

I'm really leaning towards the enthanuasia thread, I agree with Lexis. Especially in light of the Schiavo case. I think it would call for a good discussion, though I don't doubt that it will get heated. That much is inevitable here.

I have noticed that the Strange/Shocking news threads haven't been faring well. We were just trying it out to give the board more organization but if it does continue to be unpopular than we'll discuss their removal. The idea of making the board somewhat like a newspaper is actually kind of appealing to me, if it can be that way whilst staying organized.

I should agree, but isn't religion a POLITICAL issue? Since when hasn't religion interfered with politics? So, I agree that a philosophical thread about God can be a little off topic, but I think that a thread about religious interferences with moral and political issues is necessary.

sick little jag · 05-17-2005, 11:14 AM

I personally like having the strange/shocking news threads if only because of the fact that for a while, things were getting out of control. People were just posting these short little news blurbs about dumb, inconsequential stuff and then not even adding some comments or opinions to get a discussion started. These were filling up the first page and then all the other threads with real discussions going on got pushed down the first page and even onto the second page. Perhaps it has more to do with personal discression over what is really interesting to discuss and what is just "I can't believe this" kind of stuff.

Maybe we could do away with the shocking news thread, but the strange/humerous news thread should stay because I don't really think anyone would really adhere to limiting their posting of dumb news blurbs unless there was a specific thread for it.

Subject · 05-17-2005, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by In Fair Verona

By "all-news" feel, do you mean having news stories related to entertainment as well?

Yes.

FanForum is driven on entertainment. Most people come here to discuss their favorite shows which branches them out into other boards. This board takes a more serious nature with discussion of world issues. Which is important but I don't think that people are coming to FF just to talk about world news or politics

This board needs to change to better reflect the other boards here. Creating a bridge that allows someone to cross-over from talking about an actor they love or a show they watch to more important topics.

Almost every board on FanForum has a news thread. This is the News board. It is time to take advantage of that fact by taking news from other boards and bringing it into the place were news is the focus point, bringing it here.

I hope that made sense.

-Michael

In Fair Verona · 05-17-2005, 03:04 PM

It made sense, I just wanted to make sure that that was what you want.

I've thought about that, since it seems as though many of the FF members are very pro-active in discussing entertainment news. I honestly think that there are people who do keep up with the news and people who don't and the truth for the world in general is that the people who do are in the minority. So, even though I do feel like people should be a little bit more aware of what going on in the world of accord, given the state of the board I would definitely consider an entertainment bridge if it there's a chance that people will stop by and then notice all of the other topics.

-

VU&NICO - As long as it's a thread about religion and politics and their effect and relationship, not just the question of whether or not God exists. I realize that religion plays a huge role in politics because religion is brought up in almost every debate thread. So, I'm just saying that as far as religion in ties with politics go, it is most definitely discussed here. However, if you wanted to make a thread specifically discussing the relationship between the two, that would be fine with me, though see what Lexis thinks as well.

mh67511 · 05-18-2005, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sick little jag

Maybe we could do away with the shocking news thread, but the strange/humerous news thread should stay because I don't really think anyone would really adhere to limiting their posting of dumb news blurbs unless there was a specific thread for it.

I agree, it WAS getting a little ridiculous for a while.

I think all people have to do is post stories -- there is tons of interesting news. I don't really know about bringing entertainment news here. I mean occasionally someone will post a story about Britney Spears or whatnot, but this board is kind of an escape from all the entertainment madness. I don't think it's a good idea to bring them over, because then I think it's just going to be teenyboppers doing hit-and-run posts like "omg that's crazy! byee" and that's the last thing we need

. I mean I visit the movie board and stuff, but I like coming on this board to discuss more intellectual/political type issues.

Subject · 05-19-2005, 11:28 AM

Quote:

I don't really know about bringing entertainment news here. I mean occasionally someone will post a story about Britney Spears or whatnot, but this board is kind of an escape from all the entertainment madness. I don't think it's a good idea to bring them over, because then I think it's just going to be teenyboppers doing hit-and-run posts like "omg that's crazy! byee" and that's the last thing we need . I mean I visit the movie board and stuff, but I like coming on this board to discuss more intellectual/political type issues.

These are the general threads I was talking about. Or maybe just an Entertainment News thread. Although I think it would be better with these basics.

Television News
Movie News
Celebrity News
Sports News
Gaming News

I'm not sure about a Book news thread.

While I agree that an escape from the entertainment madness is good. You can't deny that entertainment news is still news. In order for this board to be a true News/Politics board it can not try to hide from the entertainment news aspect but welcome it with open arms.

With this idea, each of the little news stories like "Tom Cruise is dating Katie Holmes" will have a home thread and won't have a thread on their own. Yes, you may have some "teenyboppers" doing hit-and-run posts. However you may also have some people who see a serious topic thread and want to talk about it.

I'm not saying that this idea will bring in huge amounts of posters. I just think it is a step in the right direction to advertising this board a little more. It would also allow other FF boards to advertise here as well. Having someone post a news story on let's say Star Wars in the Movie News thread might have people going to visit the Star Wars board. A chance for boards to increase both post count and discussion.

In Fair Verona -I'm glad you are considering it.

In Fair Verona · 05-20-2005, 05:25 AM

I think we shouldn't have a games or books news thread, not because it wouldn't be discussed, but that traffic should really go to the books and games board. Well, maybe we could have a books one but the last time I visited the games board it wasn't very active and given that it is a very expansive topic it's hard to find more than one person who is into a specific game to discuss it with you.


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