Show041: Forums and the ” i ” word
Not much to say about this show. I talk about how I’ve been thinking about creating a forum for this site, and what those thoughts are exactly. Then I talk about immersion and how it’s more than most people think it is.
8:53 pm on July 14th, 2008
Yes to Forums. You know I’ll be reponding!
3:27 am on July 15th, 2008
I like the idea of limiting the posts per day. I don’t know how easy it would be to set it up on the back end, is there forum software that would allow you to throttle people back to 3 posts a day or would you be doing it manually?
3:34 am on July 15th, 2008
Hey Len,
Thanks.
Hi Nathan,
Right now I’m not aware of any software that would make a hard limit on number of posts, but I’m really ignorant of the capabilities of different software. So my assumption would be I would be making the limit clear, and dealing with people who didn’t listen.
5:30 pm on July 15th, 2008
Clyde,
Really enjoy the podcast. I did a little research and you can put a daily post cap with the phpBB forum software. There is a hack called “PostCap” for phpBB at http://www.phpbbhacks.com/download/4774 that will allow you to put a post per day limit on specific users.
I don’t know if you’ve chosen a particular software platform to use, but I’d be happy to help.
1:44 am on July 16th, 2008
Hey Ed,
Thanks a lot. I appreciate the effort.
How secure is phpBB? I see it’s under the GPL which typically is the first thing that reassures me about security, but I have some niggling feeling I’m heard bad things about it.
2:17 pm on July 16th, 2008
Hey Clyde,
If you set up a forum I’ll do my best to post there, even though I can barely keep up reading all the other places already (Forge, SG, Cultures, Knife Fight, Grumbling Dwarf…I’m even checking ENworld now for the 4E stuff).
Instead of a post limit, have you considered an email list with a daily digest?
1:00 am on July 17th, 2008
Clyde,
There looks to be security related mods you could install on the basic phpBB. I’ve also found some configuration tips to keep you from being vulnerable to known exploits. Where you thinking of any other forum software, such as SMF (The Forge uses) or Vanilla (Story Games uses)? There’s also vBulletin, much beloved and acclaimed, but that’s a commercial product that costs $180 or so.
Send me an e-mail if you’d like; I was a programmer in my former life and am happy to support what you’re doing on the site and podcast with my skills. (For all I know, you could have mad skills in this area, but the offer’s on the table.)
Ed
2:28 am on July 17th, 2008
Hey Tim,
Well the idea behind three posts isn’t so much about reading everything. The idea is that if someone has a limited ability to express themselves and they wish to become known and valued by a community they will use the resource of communication more valuably.
One of the things that typically happens on message boards by someone who is looking for meaningful communication is a tendency to have a me too phase to become known. Also there is a tendency for some people who have abundant internet time resources to make a lot of meaningless chatter posts. As much as I’m complaining I’m not sure I’m free of this criticism.
What I would like to see is a place where people wanting to have meaningful discussions could come without a bunch of side-talk, and chatter. I’d also like it to be where someone with a lot of internet time can’t conduct a browbeating via not listening and burying someone under constant posting.
Is this making more sense?
2:34 am on July 17th, 2008
Hey Ed,
I appreciate the offer, I may have to take you up on it. I’m a bit of a security wonk due to paranoia, but I don’t have much practical experience other than trying to keep my computers safe.
Right now I’m weighing options, and seeing if there’s enough demand to put the time in.
If this happens it won’t occur until after Gen Con as most of my free time is being used for the podcast, or my game. Both of which have a lot of responsibility coming due at Gen Con.
2:19 pm on July 17th, 2008
Forums sound cool to me. Another option could be to partner with another forum (from another show, or a community) and host your forums there as well. Either way, I like the idea.
2:22 pm on July 17th, 2008
Clyde,
Sounds good.
Ed
12:44 pm on July 18th, 2008
Clyde,
I’d be interested in forums. I suggest that you not put a cap on your own posts per day, so that you don’t have to spend your posts on administrative stuff.
Also, you should sticky the “Stuff I Hate” so that people will have a clear idea of what not to post. This will decrease the number of accidental crap, although some jerks will still bring crap to the forums intentionally.
On another subject, Thanks for the time you put into your show.
-Josh
12:54 pm on July 18th, 2008
Hey Daniel,
Thanks.
Some folks have hit me up with that idea… I’m going to talk to them in upcoming weeks and see what’s up. Two problems are; I don’t share authority well, I can follow someone else’s lead no problem, but sharing authority can be difficult. Second I think they are looking for the more standard social hangout place, which being completely introverted is anathema to me.
12:57 pm on July 18th, 2008
Hey Josh,
Thanks for taking the time to listen. I know it likely sounds cliche, but without listeners there would be no point in the effort.
You make a good point. My thought is I could have one account for “meaningful” posting and one for administration. Also making a good “read this first.” sticky is a good plan.
2:58 pm on July 22nd, 2008
Hey Clyde,
Regarding setting up your own forum, you really need to want to do it. Really need to want to do it. They do take a lot of work to keep going. To keep a forum alive, you need a forum of at least 5 people to post regularly. Community takes time to build and content to keep going. If you’re happy that you can do that, then great!
I’d recommend phpBB http://www.phpbb.com as a forum system. It’s pretty easy to administer, familiar to many, free and has a mod that limits the number of posts.
I’m not sure if limiting the number of posts a day is going to help get the community going. Community requires a fair number of ‘hi, how are you?’ small talk and chatting about nothing important. That’s one of the reasons people keep going back to some communities – regular faces.
Are you going to refer to the forum results in the podcast? If so, you need to be careful to attribute ideas correctly. It can be difficult to do in a shared environment. Alternatively, you could not refer to the forum in the podcast and instead interview people that have big ideas on the forum. Just a thought.
Good luck with it, sir!
1:24 am on July 24th, 2008
Hey Rob,
I hear what you’re saying. The question as I see it is… are there enough people like me who want a place without that kind of friendly chit-chat and just focusing on ideas? I really want that. However from most of the responses I’ve gotten I’m either not communicating very well, or the idea is too outside peoples experience, so much so they can’t really conceive of what it is I crave.
That’s the idea of limiting posts. My thought is in that kind of community you wouldn’t gain community respect and prestige by how many threads you could spam with one liners, but the quality of your communication.
9:41 am on July 24th, 2008
At times like this, I think it’s best just to give it a go. I’ve been on LOADS of communities and I’ve not seen this done, especially in the RPG field. Sometimes the only way to find out if its a good idea is to go and do it.
1:18 pm on July 28th, 2008
I recommend Vanilla due to the fact that it’s very easy to set up, although my friend Jeff Collyer chose SMF for his “There is no screen” forum at http://thereisnoscreen.com
I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the direction of forums here.
1:24 pm on July 28th, 2008
Hey Sam,
If you have the time, can you unpack why you’re looking forward to seeing what happens with forums here? I’m not looking for praise, I’m curious if there is some unmet desire you’re hoping gets filled?
1:27 pm on August 2nd, 2008
Hey Clyde,
I would love to see a forum here and would most definitely contribute. Good luck.
2:29 am on August 5th, 2008
Hi Clyde, I tried to email you but it bounced. I sent you a long message on facebook. Anyway, I hope you consider “Spooky Outhouse” as I’d love to have more Story Games oriented podcasts there:
http://www.spookyouthouse.com/forum/index.php