Eyes on Final Fantasy Forums > Reference > Feedback Forum > Round 4's second task is going to generate a lot of pointless and redundant threads

[Flying Mullet]

To begin, I'll paste the bulk of my latest confessional entry for all to see, as I don't feel like retyping my feelings on this subject.

Originally Posted by Flying Mullet ^

I'm currently working on my topics for threads for the second half of Round Four's tasks and I have one word to describe it: Pointless

That's what kind of threads I feel like this is going to generate. I like the idea of injecting some new threads, ideas, activities, interaction and whatever else you want to call it into the forums, but I feel like half of it is going to be pointless crap that will be a duplicate thread of earlier threads where there's nothing new to discuss, be a completely irrelevant topic that no one cares about or be so vague in an attempt to be original that it will result in spam or a bunch of pointless random posts.

I've already hit road blocks in typing up my threads for FFVII:AC and FFXII.

My first idea for FFVII:AC was that it would be fun to create a structured review thread where people can post a condensed review of the film and rank various categories related to the film on a scale of one through ten including character realism, canonical accuracy and "Holy Bejesus!" moments. But then I saw that there's a "what are your impressions" thread above it and I don't feel that my thread will be different enough to warrant it's own thread. So I scrapped that idea.

Then I went on to FFXII where my idea was to generate some talk about what to include in Eyes on Plays Final Fantasy XII once it's time for FFXII. This included what challenges people would like to see, would the unique gameplay style of FFXII warrant any changes to the current style of system and challenges already in place and so forth. But then I realized that we won't be reaching FFXII for roughly a year, and it seems like the thread would be closed with a "Let's worry about this when we get a bit closer to FFXII's Eyes on month" note.

And that led me to this confession. I feel like I'm forcing myself to come up with thread ideas, which is the opposite of how I like to post threads and how I like to see threads created at EoFF. I think it leads to a lot of spam, regurgitated crap and pointless topics that no one cares about. I'm wondering if others are having the same problems.

Some forums lend themselves better to this task, like General Chat where you have a much broader range of topics to chat about. But when you're in a niche forum like FFVII:AC it really limits you to what you can discuss.

I know the staff was hurting to come up with a task for round four since round three's task was originally planned for round four, but I think this task is going to generate a lot of pointless threads, especially in niche forums and those forums that don't get a lot of activity. I think it would be better if the teams were required to create 15 threads amongst all of the forums and they can choose which forums these threads go in, with the stipulation that no more than four threads go in any one forum, similar to how no one person can make more than four threads.

[Loony BoB]

Some of the threads being made are rather interesting. If you are unable to think of a thread then maybe you have the wrong forum? You could try a new one.

Some will be pointless, I agree. Hopefully the good threads will balance out the bad ones, though.

As a CK, every now and then when activity is low we find ourselves wanting to encourage activity - to do that, we need to go out and try to make good threads ourselves. So it's all just part of the competition.

[Rye]

I think if someone is making pointless threads as their submissions, than that's kind means they're going to lose this round. xD I think a good CK can come up with really good innovative threads, as BoB mentioned.

That's an interesting look at this whole thing though, FM. I like this thread. :]

[Miriel]

Awhile ago, Del Murder went and made a funny interesting thread in every. single. forum.

It was really fantastic. He could do it, you guys can at least try!

[Flying Mullet]

Originally Posted by Loony BoB ^

Some will be pointless, I agree. Hopefully the good threads will balance out the bad ones, though.

Quality > Quantity

Originally Posted by Rye ^

I think if someone is making pointless threads as their submissions, than that's kind means they're going to lose this round. xD I think a good CK can come up with really good innovative threads, as BoB mentioned.

I don't think that even the best CK can come up with a quality discussion for every forum all of the time. Not even a team of them. That's why I like the idea of allowing the team to choose which forums they create threads in. This was they have a better shot of adding quality discussions to the site rather than meaningless drivel that fills a checkbox on their task list.

Originally Posted by Miriel ^

Awhile ago, Del Murder went and made a funny interesting thread in every. single. forum.

It was really fantastic. He could do it, you guys can at least try!

But we're mere mortals. How can we compete with him?

[Heath]

Originally Posted by Flying Mullet ^

Originally Posted by Loony BoB ^

Some will be pointless, I agree. Hopefully the good threads will balance out the bad ones, though.

Quality > Quantity

I agree with you, but I think even some ideas for threads that look terrible on paper can actually become good threads in the end. Obviously it's good if you've an innovative idea for a thread, but if it generates discussion (even if it's a bad topic) then it's still achieving its goal.

[Loony BoB]

Quality + Quantity > Quality - Quantity

I've been impressed once again with the new threads that are being made. I really like a bunch of them.

[rubah]

See guys, he's trying to trick us. He really wants confirmation on his idea for this thread being a good one, so he's trying to get us to say all these new threads are good and thus his is as well.

WELL YOU SUCK MUSSELS, MULLET.

<3