To the old board members: Do the same threads always come up?

[Hypersmurf]

* How should I interpret this vague, poorly-conceived rule? (generally confined to the Rules forum, here)

Not to be confused with the "How should I interpret this perfectly clear and unambiguous rule?" threads... but fortunately there seem to be a far higher percentage of those on the WotC boards

-Hyp.

 

[LightPhoenix]

The best thread ever was the "Fireball/pellet" thread, followed closely by the "I can cast magic after my head is cut off" thread. We haven't had one of those in a loooong time though.

I would add the various Katana vs. Longsword/Japan vs. Europe threads to the list of highly regurgitated topics.

 

[Altalazar]

I think threads that show up show up because people still have something to say about them (plus there are always new members joining - unless you read the boards every eight hours, you will miss many topics forever, unless you have time to dig through past the first page of posts).

I do admit it annoys me when I bring up a thread that has been discussed before, or when I "ressurrect it" by posting to an old one, and people just respond to it to point out that it has already been discussed before, or even worse for the old threads, to make snide comments about bringing back a thread from the "dead." Seems like a big waste of bandwidth to me.

In any event, I think the topics that resurface do so because they haven't been exhausted - there is still something useful to say. The really meaty topics probably will NEVER be exhausted - they are the things you can be sitting on the porch in the rocking chair, your teeth in the glass next to you, talking about until you shrivel up and die. Those tend to be the most interesting discussions, too, because you can really dig deep into the topic and get to its soul. Sometimes threads go on for a long time before that really even begins to happen.

 

[Henry]

Actually, I would take out the "Jack Chick" and "Industry Person X sucks" thread, and just widen it into the "I can't believe he said that!" thread.

It can then apply to Jack Chick, your 12th grade English Teacher who scoffed at D&D, or one of a half-dozen industry pundits who make controversial statements on a recurring basis.


Also, don't forget the "are you an X?" poll - stingy DM, grim& gritty gamer, male/female/geeky/autobot/thundercat...

 

[Henry]

...followed closely by the "I can cast magic after my head is cut off" thread. We haven't had one of those in a loooong time though.

I think we decided if the spell was stilled, silent, componentless, AND had a hefty concentration check, it could be done...

I do admit it annoys me when I bring up a thread that has been discussed before, or when I "ressurrect it" by posting to an old one, and people just respond to it to point out that it has already been discussed before, or even worse for the old threads, to make snide comments about bringing back a thread from the "dead." Seems like a big waste of bandwidth to me.

I don't think anyone means any harm in bringing it up, but it may be disconcerting to them to start reading a "new topic" and suddenly find that it is a month to a year old, and they've even replied to it before!

And personally I think you should wear your Badge of "Patron Saint of Thread Necromancy" with pride. I had something new to add to one myself today.

 

[diaglo]

Not to be confused with the "How should I interpret this perfectly clear and unambiguous rule?" threads... but fortunately there seem to be a far higher percentage of those on the WotC boards

-Hyp.

and on the WotC board they always get rude responses...like

RTFM from guys like....

Spoiler

tarkin

 

[Hypersmurf]

... from guys like...

Bleh. Yeah.

And a good percentage of the time, the rules he preaches (in bold capitals) are wrong anyway.

-Hyp.

 

[hong]

In any event, I think the topics that resurface do so because they haven't been exhausted - there is still something useful to say.

You confuse "wanting to hear the sound of my own voice" with "something useful to say".

The really meaty topics probably will NEVER be exhausted - they are the things you can be sitting on the porch in the rocking chair, your teeth in the glass next to you, talking about until you shrivel up and die. Those tend to be the most interesting discussions, too, because you can really dig deep into the topic and get to its soul.

How idealistic. Hang around for another five years and see if you're saying the same thing.

 

[EricNoah]

Now, now, hong, be nice. Plus "there is still wanting to hear the sound of my own voice" doesn't make grammatical sense!

The real reason topics crop up repeatedly isn't necessarily because there's more to say on the subject -- it's because not everyone is here and paying attention at the time the topic originally comes up. So it's new people discussing new-to-them/old-to-others topics rather than old people (you know what I mean!) discussing old topics. We "old" people (the ones around when we heard the topic discussed before) should just butt out and let the "new" people have the same fun discussing it just like we did the first time. Or participate but be nice about it. Rubbing people's faces in the obvious truth that something's been discussed before is just kind of pointless.

That's my story and I'm sticking with it!

 

[Hypersmurf]

We "old" people (the ones around when we heard the topic discussed before) should just butt out and let the "new" people have the same fun discussing it just like we did the first time. Or participate but be nice about it. Rubbing people's faces in the obvious truth that something's been discussed before is just kind of pointless.

Although occasionally a link to old threads may provide exactly the answers that the thread starters are looking for...

-Hyp.