Forums in a lull

[ZeaLitY]

I've noticed that things have been in a lull. These forums have always been interesting due to a high standard of maturity and a mood of actualization. From the very beginning, the Chrono Compendium was founded on the forums by science and mythology oriented people, most in college and seeking intelligent, thoughtful discussion. I believe this precedent (and our somewhat small size) are what have allowed us to retain this level of conduct. We are without flame wars, stupid topics, or fluff. The second factor contributing to this is the forum structure itself. I believe that since we haven't tried to make some kind of forum culture, with regulars, quirks, diversions and weirdness, the tone of the forum has been one of business, activity, and actualization. That is, if you stop by the forums, you're either here to analyze the series, investigate fan projects, or explore other parts of the games. These forums aren't a social institution; we mainly keep our problems to ourselves, instead meeting only to discuss current issues or the Chrono series. I think this set up is pretty interesting. I try not to engender a cult of personality for myself, as I personally hate it when people suck up to administrators (or the administrators try to bully or enjoy their power without meriting it).

Anyway, I think the forums are in a lull right now. This is odd, considering last week we hit over 2000 unique users daily (sometimes up to 2500). I think these factors may be responsible:

1. It's Spring Break right now.
2. Mid-terms have hit several colleges.
3. Lack of news since the encyclopedia / analysis were done.

There's one easy trump card to stir up activity in the Chrono community, and I'll be debuting plans for it later.

[ultramarine]

I always did find it odd how not a single Closed Topic was in sight...

[Burning Zeppelin]

Lemme guess, the trump card is "A Night in Jordan"?

Personally, I'm saddened. "n00bs" who are screwing up the forum with random, stupid questions (I'm not pointing any fingers) are, well, screwing up the forum. I know, I'm a hypocrite, but last year I could always come here, and expect to see a nice debate going on, one that didn't always end with flaming and tping a persons house. I can still see some going on, but it has lessened. But hey, this is for this forum, which is still the best going around! To say an analogy, its just like, well right now, the Compendium is Howls Moving Castle, and before it was Spirited Away. Or to the more Kubricky, its now Eyes Wide Shut, and before it was A Clockwork Orange

[Sentenal]

For me, its that the encylcepdia is finished.  Not much more to discuss.  We have discussed pratically everything there is to discuss.

[Chrono'99]

For me, its that the encylcepdia is finished.  Not much more to discuss.  We have discussed pratically everything there is to discuss.

We do keep on discussing 3 pages of name origins even though an article was made for it years ago though.

[Lord J Esq]

Sentenal is right, more or less, with regards to the Analysis Section. As for the rest of the site, and the casual boards in particular, I think we're suffering from a vacuum of interesting people. There're maybe five or six people here who have anything interesting to say, and not all of them terribly often. Meanwhile, most of the rest of the discussion around here is just fluff. The crop of new members seems to get less coherent by the month, and the quality of discussion is way down. My global warming thread was a serious embarrassment.

I'm not sure it's a lull.

[Sentenal]

For me, its that the encylcepdia is finished.  Not much more to discuss.  We have discussed pratically everything there is to discuss.

We do keep on discussing 3 pages of name origins even though an article was made for it years ago though.

I've discussed nearly everything that intrests me about the Chrono series to death, or at least that I know of.  You can only prove Zaper wrong so many times before it gets boring.

[Ramsus]

Maybe it's time we formalized a debate pattern for people in the analysis forums to follow when trying to settle varying ideas. Something that leads to shorter, clearer arguments that don't wrap around for several pages until all but one party gives up.

It wouldn't be a requirement for discussion, just another tool we could encourage forum members to use.

[Burning Zeppelin]

Sentenal is right, more or less, with regards to the Analysis Section. As for the rest of the site, and the casual boards in particular, I think we're suffering from a vacuum of interesting people. There're maybe five or six people here who have anything interesting to say, and not all of them terribly often. Meanwhile, most of the rest of the discussion around here is just fluff. The crop of new members seems to get less coherent by the month, and the quality of discussion is way down. My global warming thread was a serious embarrassment.

I'm not sure it's a lull.

Exactly.