Maturity and Internet Forums


	/-/S'pht-Translator-Active/-/

Maturity and Internet Forums

Posted By: Forrest of B.org Date: 10/10/06 8:04 p.m.
In Response To: Re: yota part 4-6 (Adam Ashwell)

: And does anyone else think that the standard forum format (such as the one
: used at the Pfhorums) really decreases posting quality compared to
: whatever format we use here (WebBBS?)? Seems that people on such forums
: are much more likely to post with short stupid jokes, insults, etc.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that forum format (what I call the phpBB format - which is what everything uses nowadays - versus WebBBS format, which was modelled more after UseNet and older private BBS's) actually *causes* a decrease in maturity or post quality or what have you. However, that style of forum does seem more geared toward a less mature audience.
Lots of graphics and avatars and "look at me I'm special" type of attention-getting space-wasters attached to every post, along with the "ranking" system (where your post count is displayed next to a special little title that depends upon your post count), encourage the use of the forum as a, er... forum, for social hierarchy purposes, rather than just as a means of communication. Typical teenagers and less mature (i.e. typical) adults, as we all know, just love jockeying for position in a competitive social hierarchy whenever they can get the chance. There's a reason why post count is not prominently displayed here anywhere (my occasional mentions of the poster stats aside).
The other thing is the grouping of the forums into discrete 'boards' with specific sub-topics, and the lack of threading within those subjects, seems to conform both to authoritarian and populist ideologies and neglect the happy middle of allowing the individuals of the forum to direct the structure of discussion there. (Sorry to get all philosophical here). The discrete boards with fixed subtopics mean that the subject of discussion is being set by some admin, and the lack of threading within boards (which, it seems, is what the discrete boards are designed to compensate for) means that conversations within those boards are generally confined to whatever everybody is talking about at the time. The notion of "bumping" also plays in here, with the most-responded-to threads popping up to the top of the list.
The WebBBS-style mostly-chronological threaded format allows conversations to diverge in different directions, and one conversation can continue on long after the original message (now a completely different subject) has fallen off the board. Responding to that thread doesn't "bump" the originating parent message back to the top. (Thank god, or else Andrew's responses to two-year-old threads would bump those entire threads back onto the board). In short, having a single, multithreaded board (instead of a split-topic, linear-threaded board) allows for a more natural and organic progression of conversation here, less restrained by and impinged upon the popularity of a topic or by some admin's categorical discretion.
That explains *why* those kinds of boards are more popular - the appeal to the less mature aspects of humanity (social hierarchy jockeying for the win!). The fact that they *are* more popular in turn attracts the great unwashed masses (I'm really trying not to be elitist here, but it's hard not to be), resulting in the propagation of those less mature qualities. It's a self-propagating cycle.
But so long as those damn kids stay off my lawn, I couldn't give a damn.
-Fobo is starting to feel very old lately.

[ Post a Reply | Message Index | Read Prev Msg | Read Next Msg ]
Pre-2004 Posts

Replies:

yota part 4-6 goran 10/9/06 1:41 p.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 Johannes Gunnar 10/10/06 11:08 a.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 goran 10/10/06 12:11 p.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 RyokoTK 10/10/06 12:32 p.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 Forrest of B.org 10/10/06 2:39 p.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 goran 10/10/06 3:07 p.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 RyokoTK 10/10/06 3:36 p.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 Johannes Gunnar 10/10/06 10:45 p.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 Forrest of B.org 10/11/06 7:28 p.m.

i'll drop by at psyjnir later today :) *NM* Johannes Gunnar 10/12/06 3:10 a.m.

Is psyjnir down? *NM* Document 10/19/06 8:43 a.m.

the hotline server is up at the moment... *NM* Johannes Gunnar 10/19/06 10:07 a.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 Adam Ashwell 10/10/06 4:03 p.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 mitchellan 10/10/06 5:24 p.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 RyokoTK 10/10/06 5:44 p.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 RyokoTK 10/10/06 5:47 p.m.

viva la story forum! *NM* Johannes Gunnar 10/10/06 10:47 p.m.

Maturity and Internet Forums Forrest of B.org 10/10/06 8:04 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums RyokoTK 10/10/06 8:33 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums Forrest of B.org 10/10/06 10:24 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums RyokoTK 10/11/06 4:23 a.m.

Addendum RyokoTK 10/11/06 4:27 a.m.

Re: Addendum Document 10/11/06 7:43 a.m.

Re: Addendum Callie21V 10/11/06 6:58 p.m.

That took you way too long, man. *NM* RyokoTK 10/11/06 7:14 p.m.

ROFLCOPTER down! No LOL left behind! *NM* *NM* Forrest of B.org 10/11/06 7:30 p.m.

Re: Addendum Document 10/11/06 7:32 p.m.

L.O.L! *NM* Johannes Gunnar 10/12/06 3:12 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums goran 10/11/06 12:30 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums Aachim 10/11/06 2:48 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums RyokoTK 10/11/06 4:25 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums *LINK* goran 10/11/06 6:33 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums Forrest of B.org 10/11/06 10:43 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums Aaron Sikes 10/11/06 12:16 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums Forrest of B.org 10/11/06 1:49 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums Aaron Sikes 10/11/06 4:09 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums goran 10/11/06 11:56 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums Aaron Sikes 10/12/06 6:44 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums goran 10/11/06 3:02 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums Aaron Sikes 10/11/06 4:11 p.m.

Social evolution Forrest of B.org 10/11/06 4:37 p.m.

Re: Social evolution Aaron Sikes 10/11/06 5:34 p.m.

Re: Social evolution goran 10/11/06 11:49 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums xyfbzi 10/15/06 2:50 p.m.

Is this a movie quote? *NM* Document 10/11/06 5:44 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums D-M.A. 10/11/06 4:51 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums RyokoTK 10/11/06 5:04 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums D-M.A. 10/11/06 7:19 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums treellama 10/11/06 8:43 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums D-M.A. 10/11/06 9:05 a.m.

*looks at thread* What have I unleashed!? *NM* Adam Ashwell 10/11/06 3:27 p.m.

Re: *looks at thread* What have I unleashed!? Aaron Sikes 10/11/06 3:45 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums Aaron Sikes 10/11/06 3:43 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums treellama 10/11/06 4:36 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums Aaron Sikes 10/11/06 9:26 a.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums Tycho 10/11/06 4:55 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums RyokoTK 10/11/06 5:16 p.m.

I wasn't arguing your point, I agreed with it. *NM* Tycho 10/11/06 5:24 p.m.

Oops. *NM* RyokoTK 10/11/06 5:30 p.m.

Re: Maturity and Internet Forums Nicholai 10/11/06 9:19 a.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 D-M.A. 10/11/06 4:53 a.m.

Re: yota part 4-6 RyokoTK 10/11/06 5:26 a.m.

[ Post a Reply | Message Index | Read Prev Msg | Read Next Msg ]
Pre-2004 Posts

Your Name:
Your E-Mail Address:
Subject:
Message:
: I wouldn't go so far as to say that forum format (what I call the phpBB : format - which is what everything uses nowadays - versus WebBBS format, : which was modelled more after UseNet and older private BBS's) actually : *causes* a decrease in maturity or post quality or what have you. However, : that style of forum does seem more geared toward a less mature audience. : Lots of graphics and avatars and "look at me I'm special" type of : attention-getting space-wasters attached to every post, along with the : "ranking" system (where your post count is displayed next to a : special little title that depends upon your post count), encourage the use : of the forum as a, er... forum, for social hierarchy purposes, rather than : just as a means of communication. Typical teenagers and less mature (i.e. : typical) adults, as we all know, just love jockeying for position in a : competitive social hierarchy whenever they can get the chance. There's a : reason why post count is not prominently displayed here anywhere (my : occasional mentions of the poster stats aside). : The other thing is the grouping of the forums into discrete 'boards' with : specific sub-topics, and the lack of threading within those subjects, : seems to conform both to authoritarian and populist ideologies and neglect : the happy middle of allowing the individuals of the forum to direct the : structure of discussion there. (Sorry to get all philosophical here). The : discrete boards with fixed subtopics mean that the subject of discussion : is being set by some admin, and the lack of threading within boards : (which, it seems, is what the discrete boards are designed to compensate : for) means that conversations within those boards are generally confined : to whatever everybody is talking about at the time. The notion of : "bumping" also plays in here, with the most-responded-to threads : popping up to the top of the list. : The WebBBS-style mostly-chronological threaded format allows conversations to : diverge in different directions, and one conversation can continue on long : after the original message (now a completely different subject) has fallen : off the board. Responding to that thread doesn't "bump" the : originating parent message back to the top. (Thank god, or else Andrew's : responses to two-year-old threads would bump those entire threads back : onto the board). In short, having a single, multithreaded board (instead : of a split-topic, linear-threaded board) allows for a more natural and : organic progression of conversation here, less restrained by and impinged : upon the popularity of a topic or by some admin's categorical discretion. : That explains *why* those kinds of boards are more popular - the appeal to : the less mature aspects of humanity (social hierarchy jockeying for the : win!). The fact that they *are* more popular in turn attracts the great : unwashed masses (I'm really trying not to be elitist here, but it's hard : not to be), resulting in the propagation of those less mature qualities. : It's a self-propagating cycle. : But so long as those damn kids stay off my lawn, I couldn't give a damn. : -Fobo is starting to feel very old lately.

If you'd like to include a link to another page with your message,
please provide both the URL address and the title of the page:
Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:

If necessary, enter your password below:
Password:

Problems? Suggestions? Comments? Email maintainer@bungie.org
Marathon's Story Forum is maintained with WebBBS 5.12.

yota part 4-6	goran	10/9/06 1:41 p.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	Johannes Gunnar	10/10/06 11:08 a.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	goran	10/10/06 12:11 p.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	RyokoTK	10/10/06 12:32 p.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	Forrest of B.org	10/10/06 2:39 p.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	goran	10/10/06 3:07 p.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	RyokoTK	10/10/06 3:36 p.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	Johannes Gunnar	10/10/06 10:45 p.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	Forrest of B.org	10/11/06 7:28 p.m.
i'll drop by at psyjnir later today :) NM	Johannes Gunnar	10/12/06 3:10 a.m.
Is psyjnir down? NM	Document	10/19/06 8:43 a.m.
the hotline server is up at the moment... NM	Johannes Gunnar	10/19/06 10:07 a.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	Adam Ashwell	10/10/06 4:03 p.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	mitchellan	10/10/06 5:24 p.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	RyokoTK	10/10/06 5:44 p.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	RyokoTK	10/10/06 5:47 p.m.
viva la story forum! NM	Johannes Gunnar	10/10/06 10:47 p.m.
Maturity and Internet Forums	Forrest of B.org	10/10/06 8:04 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	RyokoTK	10/10/06 8:33 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	Forrest of B.org	10/10/06 10:24 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	RyokoTK	10/11/06 4:23 a.m.
Addendum	RyokoTK	10/11/06 4:27 a.m.
Re: Addendum	Document	10/11/06 7:43 a.m.
Re: Addendum	Callie21V	10/11/06 6:58 p.m.
That took you way too long, man. NM	RyokoTK	10/11/06 7:14 p.m.
ROFLCOPTER down! No LOL left behind! NM NM	Forrest of B.org	10/11/06 7:30 p.m.
Re: Addendum	Document	10/11/06 7:32 p.m.
L.O.L! NM	Johannes Gunnar	10/12/06 3:12 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	goran	10/11/06 12:30 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	Aachim	10/11/06 2:48 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	RyokoTK	10/11/06 4:25 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums LINK	goran	10/11/06 6:33 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	Forrest of B.org	10/11/06 10:43 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	Aaron Sikes	10/11/06 12:16 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	Forrest of B.org	10/11/06 1:49 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	Aaron Sikes	10/11/06 4:09 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	goran	10/11/06 11:56 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	Aaron Sikes	10/12/06 6:44 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	goran	10/11/06 3:02 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	Aaron Sikes	10/11/06 4:11 p.m.
Social evolution	Forrest of B.org	10/11/06 4:37 p.m.
Re: Social evolution	Aaron Sikes	10/11/06 5:34 p.m.
Re: Social evolution	goran	10/11/06 11:49 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	xyfbzi	10/15/06 2:50 p.m.
Is this a movie quote? NM	Document	10/11/06 5:44 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	D-M.A.	10/11/06 4:51 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	RyokoTK	10/11/06 5:04 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	D-M.A.	10/11/06 7:19 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	treellama	10/11/06 8:43 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	D-M.A.	10/11/06 9:05 a.m.
looks at thread What have I unleashed!? NM	Adam Ashwell	10/11/06 3:27 p.m.
Re: looks at thread What have I unleashed!?	Aaron Sikes	10/11/06 3:45 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	Aaron Sikes	10/11/06 3:43 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	treellama	10/11/06 4:36 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	Aaron Sikes	10/11/06 9:26 a.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	Tycho	10/11/06 4:55 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	RyokoTK	10/11/06 5:16 p.m.
I wasn't arguing your point, I agreed with it. NM	Tycho	10/11/06 5:24 p.m.
Oops. NM	RyokoTK	10/11/06 5:30 p.m.
Re: Maturity and Internet Forums	Nicholai	10/11/06 9:19 a.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	D-M.A.	10/11/06 4:53 a.m.
Re: yota part 4-6	RyokoTK	10/11/06 5:26 a.m.



	Your Name:
	Your E-Mail Address:
	Subject:
	Message: : I wouldn't go so far as to say that forum format (what I call the phpBB : format - which is what everything uses nowadays - versus WebBBS format, : which was modelled more after UseNet and older private BBS's) actually : causes a decrease in maturity or post quality or what have you. However, : that style of forum does seem more geared toward a less mature audience. : Lots of graphics and avatars and "look at me I'm special" type of : attention-getting space-wasters attached to every post, along with the : "ranking" system (where your post count is displayed next to a : special little title that depends upon your post count), encourage the use : of the forum as a, er... forum, for social hierarchy purposes, rather than : just as a means of communication. Typical teenagers and less mature (i.e. : typical) adults, as we all know, just love jockeying for position in a : competitive social hierarchy whenever they can get the chance. There's a : reason why post count is not prominently displayed here anywhere (my : occasional mentions of the poster stats aside). : The other thing is the grouping of the forums into discrete 'boards' with : specific sub-topics, and the lack of threading within those subjects, : seems to conform both to authoritarian and populist ideologies and neglect : the happy middle of allowing the individuals of the forum to direct the : structure of discussion there. (Sorry to get all philosophical here). The : discrete boards with fixed subtopics mean that the subject of discussion : is being set by some admin, and the lack of threading within boards : (which, it seems, is what the discrete boards are designed to compensate : for) means that conversations within those boards are generally confined : to whatever everybody is talking about at the time. The notion of : "bumping" also plays in here, with the most-responded-to threads : popping up to the top of the list. : The WebBBS-style mostly-chronological threaded format allows conversations to : diverge in different directions, and one conversation can continue on long : after the original message (now a completely different subject) has fallen : off the board. Responding to that thread doesn't "bump" the : originating parent message back to the top. (Thank god, or else Andrew's : responses to two-year-old threads would bump those entire threads back : onto the board). In short, having a single, multithreaded board (instead : of a split-topic, linear-threaded board) allows for a more natural and : organic progression of conversation here, less restrained by and impinged : upon the popularity of a topic or by some admin's categorical discretion. : That explains why those kinds of boards are more popular - the appeal to : the less mature aspects of humanity (social hierarchy jockeying for the : win!). The fact that they are more popular in turn attracts the great : unwashed masses (I'm really trying not to be elitist here, but it's hard : not to be), resulting in the propagation of those less mature qualities. : It's a self-propagating cycle. : But so long as those damn kids stay off my lawn, I couldn't give a damn. : -Fobo is starting to feel very old lately.
	If you'd like to include a link to another page with your message, please provide both the URL address and the title of the page:
	Optional Link URL:
	Optional Link Title:
	If necessary, enter your password below:
	Password: