As long as were in the mode of pointing out changes to the way the Forge operates now, I'll point out the single trend that contributes the most to my current level of disatisfaction. To do this I'm going to use a "then" and "now" format but this shouldn't be taken too literally...it is merely to simplify presentation.

It used to be that threads were actual discussions. There was an initial post, people replied to the post. People replied to the replies. The replies becames a back and forth debate and progress moved forward.

Compare this to threads like Sylas Thanes Dragon thread. I'm not talking quality of content...I'm talking format of contact. 1 post...a dozen seperate replies. Few of the replies show any evidence of having read or cared about previous replies. They are all just stand alone "in my opinion try this" type posts. I hesitate to say it, but EXACTLY the kind of threads you see at RPG.net. A whole lot of people profering up their opinion du jour without any attempt at cross analysis of what others have said in a critical fashion. Its not a discussion...its just a list of ideas.

Now I know to some extent that thread may have supposed to have been a desire for a list of ideas...but...I think examination of other recent threads will reveal the same sort of pattern (at least I've noticed it). A whole lot of people posting a stream of ideas that don't build up to anything.

I don't have a solution for this...perhaps leading by example is the only way to break this habit. I bring it up only as emblematic of something that I think has changed (or is at least threatening to change) that I don't care for.

Overall, I'm quite happy with the Forge, and quite excited at the recognition that its receiving. I'm sure these are all just growing pains that will be overcome in time. But they are the types of things that we should be aware of.

Hi there,

I agree with you, Ralph. I think that not only should people read every post in a thread, if they anticipate posting to it, but they should provide some acknowledgment of having done so.

This doesn't mean a separate reply to each person who's posted so far; there are lots of ways to accomplish what I'm talking about.

"So far, people have addressed X, and I'm going to address Y."

"So far, people have addressed X' and B, and I'd like to take it back to X."

"Wow, people have really nailed X down. But that makes me concerned about X'. So-and-so (original poster), with your permission, this is what I mean by X'."

"So-and-so (original poster), do you think your X has been addressed fully? If so, I'm interested in talking about X'."

That sort of thing.

Best,
Ron

Hey Ralph,

I'm not talking quality of content...I'm talking format of contact. 1 post...a dozen seperate replies. Few of the replies show any evidence of having read or cared about previous replies.

I think this is an insightful observation. Had someone asked, I'd have been compelled to admit that involvement with threads on the forge was feeling different to me than, say, a year ago, but I'd have also been hard pressed to point to anything tangible. This despite when I find myself revisiting old threads in the archives, looking for a link for someone, I'm always very struck by the difference.

I can't speak to how others might be finding themselves contributing stand-alone replies to threads, but maybe I can say something about my own postings. I think I have developed quite a high level of trust in you, Ron, Mike, Vincent, Gordon, Josh, Jack, and the rest of the old guard, that you guys won't be contributing incoherence to a conversation, and that your contributions will be on-topic, worthwhile, and insightful. As a result, I don't, when posting, feel the need to respond, clarify, elucidate, or agree with what you may have written. We have a relationship of mutual respect so ingrained in me that your contributions stand on their own, requiring nothing more be said. And so I find myself typically motivated to post only when I see that something has gone unaddressed, effectively delivering a stand-alone response.

If that's the source of the stand-alone tone, I'm not sure how to address it. In retrospect, my suggestion that we re-orient our shared sense of purpose to facilitating efforts of designers to fish the larger pond may have been not wholly, but in part unconsciously compelling to me because it would have required the old guard to reestablish our respectful perimeters.

Paul