To answer some questions I have the answers to (since I have done a little research into this... )

1. Moving the post counter really isn't an option right now--it gets into the actual programming language of the site, and to be honest, unless I am mistaken (T?) Tiger has a lot of other higher priority things on his list to be doing... so, it will stay where it is for now...

1a. Awards: again, totally not advocating more & more & more of them... God no. I don't think there is a "simple" answer to this whole question I posted in the OP, which is, *grins*, why I posted it! It was to open the floor to have a discussion, not to get a a "right answer"--there IS no right answer! (wow, how frustrating that must be for some people *giggles*)

2. I don't see anything WRONG with the F&G-- which I believe I made clear with my first post. But eh, who knows. F&G, like all other areas of the forums, attracts some types of people, and what works for them, works for them.

That being said, posting short posts in the Welcome/Intro threads (i.e. "hello & welcome to the site"), IMO, serves an ENTIRELY different purpose then posting a word into an F&G thread. Saying hello & welcome to someone in the intro threads is like welcoming them into the family. Now, some will say "oh, but I do that elsewhere" or "oh, but I do that via PM" etc etc etc--and that's great. But the welcome threads are used for people to be able to introduce themselves & to feel welcomed to the site. And important thing, no? It's like when new people come into chat & everyone says hello and welcome. We do that for a purpose... it isn't just a coinkidink--and it breeds onto itself... so if new people are welcomed by others, they in turn will welcome other new people

And yes, as many have mentioned, the high rate of traffic into those F&G threads "helps the site traffic" and serves statistical "purpose"--of course it does. But why not have a high rate of traffic into all the other areas as well? *shrugs* Again, juuuuust food for thought.

As for marking forums... personally, I don't mark anything, but that could just be me being a loser. The forums are grouped on the site according to "broad topic," so I just scout through the various themed areas. Maybe others who are having subscribed thread issues, or issues with "list new threads" maybe could just try that? Just click right into the areas you like? I dunno, again, I don't have experience w/that whole subscribing thing to really know how it runs.

3. TomofSweden... Just to clear up a point you made. You mentioned you haven't seen me posting around lately. There are MANY reasons for this, some public, some private. But a.) I am in the middle of law school, thus time on the site is limited; b.) when I am on, I am in chat--I don't see you in there, so you don't see me here. Funny how that works *giggles*. I am the chat admin, so I do about 95% of my 'biness in the chatroom, and slide into forums when I have time, or when there is something pertinent I have to add to a substantive thread; c.) when I post, I generally (90% of the time) am posting something substantive, so I post a LOT less because they take a lot more time to write. And often it's into threads you aren't nosing around. Why? Who knows! LOL... Forums is a big place... hell, there are lots of people I don't even know because they don't post into the BDSM-related threads, or don't visit the chat room, so I don't interact much with them. Maybe you & I are just two people whose paths don't cross often

So why make this thread then, since I "don't post"?? Because I think it's important for people to just think about things & talk about things sometimes--there are many ways to have friendly, cordial debates & conversations--this thread is a great example! So why not? It's like the thread I started about fantasy partners--I personally like to get people thinking & talking & debating.


I akin this all to a r/l munch group... people talk about all sorts of topics, etc at munches & get togethers. Literally spanning everything from news to what ropes are best for certain activities... and that is much the same here on the forums... Nothing wrong with sticking to one topic in a convo, but why not expand your horizons & talk about other things? Or wander over & talk with a group you haven't talked to before? Perhaps awkward the first time... but you never know who you'll meet!


Again, just my opinion... And as we all know, with my opinion & $2, you can buy yourself a 1/2 a gallon of gas...