When we were a super young blog back in 2009, we had set up a forum for our fans. They went widely unused and became a haven of spammers that I simply couldn’t keep up with and decided to shut it down. Recently we’ve had some comments expressing a desire for CSTM to provide a forum apart from the comments to share with the CSTM community. This week’s poll is to ask if we set up a forum if you think you’d use it.
If CSTM had forums, do you think you would use them?
- I would stop in occassionally (43%, 307 Votes)
- Most likely not (30%, 215 Votes)
- Yes, definitely! (25%, 175 Votes)
- Other (Leave a comment) (2%, 11 Votes)
Total Voters: 708
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February 11, 2012 at 10:38 am
“I would stop in occasionally”. I come to CSTM for the news and guides instead of the podcast, and I really like the written work. I’d stop by the forums to search on lore and quests and maybe join the conversation. I know I can do that in many other database websites and forums, but I like the casual feeling of CSTM.
February 11, 2012 at 10:38 am
I would definitely use CSTM forums, but I imagine that that you would still have the same problems with spammers and trolls that you had 3 years ago.
February 11, 2012 at 11:10 am
My problem was more that ONLY spammers were using it. I was cleaning up spam for no one
February 11, 2012 at 3:12 pm
I think bringing forums back would be great also i would be willing to help moderate the forums i have xp in moderating forums and dealing with problems members also depending on which forum software you use there are many ways to prevent and block spam
February 11, 2012 at 10:43 am
Don’t think so. I mean, I find comments a good place where to discuss news, guides and so on.
A whole forum seems a bit too much for me since we already have LOTRO forums, they may not be the best forums out there (having to click 5 times on everything for it to work anyone?) but the community discussing there is great and so big I would for sure post there if I had something to say/ask.
Just my 2 cents
February 11, 2012 at 11:03 am
I voted I would use them ocasionally, however I think if you are going to have problems with spammers again the best course of action would be not to have forums. You can always try it first and see if it works, but atm I’m happy with the current format of having comments below a particular article or piece of news. Just my two cents ^_^
February 11, 2012 at 11:11 am
I put down “Other”.
We run a network (like a mini facebook) for our kin and our fandom obsession. Forums are hit and miss these days – most people don’t want to go through the trouble of registering and communicating in any long form. 146 characters is the temperament and patience of most new internet folks. We call them “drive-bys”.
FB and Twitter and the like are slowly killing genuine forums and genuine interaction of information and in most cases thought and facts.
*I* would LOVE for you to have a forum, we adore your podcast (as I tweeted my wife has a girlcrush on Goldenstar) and cherish all the tidbits of information you have given us.
It would be nice to interact on a higher level – but I don’t know how frustrating it would be for you to have a forum this day and age. After the last 17 years on the net running and participating in the whole “forum” concept it feels like it’s dying off. And that is very sad.
So the question is do YOU want to go through all that trouble of moderating it and de-spamming it for a “occasional” wanderer?
Like I said *I* would love for you to have a forum but then I am a very old geek living in a dying net world who enjoys others company and discussion, a rarity now.
February 11, 2012 at 11:16 am
i hope it would be a simple forum with a lot less categories unlike the official lotro forums which is kinda confusing
February 11, 2012 at 11:18 am
I would stop by the forums to check if there’s anything interesting and join in the convo whenever I can.
February 11, 2012 at 11:19 am
Count me in!
February 11, 2012 at 12:37 pm
If you make them, I will use them.
February 11, 2012 at 12:57 pm
That’s how I feel.
It’d be nice to have some alternatives to the LOTRO forums where help/news can be hard to find.
February 11, 2012 at 12:59 pm
I find forum drama exhausting and inevitable. I’d say, save yourself the headache. As Artie said above, unless you guys are really, really interested in having them, we seem to be getting along just fine without them. Ha!
February 11, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Yes! Here’s why:
a) Let me just start by saying this that if you don’t want to see forums on CSTM, well, nobody tells you to visit them. You can browse CSTM and participate in comments discussion and nobody as always and nobody is forcing you to click on the forums link. So I’m not sure why is this a problem for most of naysayers here. If I don’t like eating hamburgers, I just don’t eat hamburgers. I don’t walk around city advertising my dislike towards them
b) Comment section is fine for discussion.. but only to a point. If there’s less than 10 comments – it’s perfect. But there are times (and it’s usually Class Guides) when browsing through all of the comments is a chore and a mess. Forums could fix that without breaking what is already available to us at CSTM.
c) Spammers, yes, it is a problem. But there are tons of tools to help you with them. Heck, recruit moderators and they’ll do the job for you. I’m pretty sure there’s a ton of people that want to help CSTM.
d) Someone mentioned forum drama. Ugh. Hate that topic; but you know.. in order to have drama you need drama queens. I find that majority of CSTM visitors are far away from that description. Also, aforementioned moderators could help preventing that issue if it arises.
All in all it would be nice to have alternatice to Official LOTRO forums. I really hope you’ll implement them
February 11, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Bah, Is there a way to edit my comment?
February 11, 2012 at 5:14 pm
That pretty much sums it up perfectly. And of course, I’d be happy to do my share of moderating for CSTM. As long as it means we get more (not so) baby hobbit on the podcast more often, that always lightens up my day
February 11, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Who’s complaining? I mean they asked, we replied. I wouldn’t use them and that’s all
February 12, 2012 at 11:54 am
@Lapis
I wanted to edit that comment ‘cuz I don’t really mean complaining; more like – simply being opposed to the idea. Reading comments I’m getting vibe that some of the folks here have dog-in-the-manger attitude. That’s something I don’t understand. If you don’t like the idea of forums, don’t go to them. Ignore them. Why would you even say no if you’re not interested. It’s not gonna affect you in any way.
February 11, 2012 at 3:06 pm
I’m totally for a forum, I would definitely visit at least every so often.
I just hope it won’t turn in a cesspool of bitterness and hate like lotrocommunity did.
February 11, 2012 at 3:22 pm
As a professional spammer, I would defiantly use it (j/k)
I’d use it. I’d say put one up as long as it doesn’t interfere with your wonderful podcasts, news, and guides. And if its not too much work
February 11, 2012 at 3:37 pm
I would say no to forums because people just start flame wars & troll each other. Even the official LOTRO forums are a scary place nowadays, nothing but hate toward my favorite class.
February 11, 2012 at 6:21 pm
im curious, what class is that?
February 11, 2012 at 4:48 pm
I hope you bring this up on the podcast!
February 11, 2012 at 5:42 pm
I would like to see forums, but have the forums only talk about thing s youant CSTM to discuss(podcast, guide, article, etc.) or things that are being discussed( i.e. RoR)
February 11, 2012 at 6:20 pm
I voted no, as we already have built in forums with the comment section, which helps enormously with keeping spam and off topic ranting to a minimum. That said, it would be nice to get more personal feedback via forums… I reckon that I am on the fence with them. whatever yall decide is fine by me
February 11, 2012 at 6:59 pm
I would vote No.
1. Forums can be a huge headache, what with spam and moderation.
2. Moderation of said forums. Personally I think your comments section on posts gives you the control you need to keep things within the scope of your posts and purpose of your website/podcast.
With a forum, I think one has to be much more open to allow for discussion (both pro and con). The problem with moderation, and I’ve seen this in the many forums/discussions I’ve been a part of in my many years going back to the days of BBS’, is not letting said “moderation” be influenced to control the discussion to the point of stifling opinions that do not line up with the opinion of the moderators. Moderation has to allow for a great degree of objectivity and I don’t think that is really possible with today’s internet society. Everyone seems to be way to opinionated these days to allow for “healthy” discussion of anything.
February 11, 2012 at 9:31 pm
I’d stop in sometimes, but I’m not a fan of forums. Usually lots of fighting and moderators that become power hungry
February 11, 2012 at 10:00 pm
I would stop in From time to time
February 11, 2012 at 11:16 pm
I would likely visit the forums. I’ve dropped off using the Lotro forums lately, but I can see myself dropping in occasionally.
February 12, 2012 at 12:03 am
Yes!! And I would be happy to help mod. I have about 6 years exp on a heavy traffic forum modding.
February 12, 2012 at 12:43 am
The only reason I voted “no” is that the official forums are often so negative and acrimonious. One of the things I like most about the comment section at CSTM is that it is overall positive… and if people do complain, I tend to believe them. Versus the regular forums where it’s hard to separate the people who are legitimately upset from the people who are there just to troll and stir up controversy for no real reason other than anarchy
I’d be happy using CSTM forums and would even help out where I could (ie clicking on spammers and reporting them). My only suggestion would be to have forum guidelines that encourage constructive posts.
February 12, 2012 at 1:18 am
I’ve found that fansite forums are generally less embittered towards a game/topic than the official forums due to the fact that if they’re bitter enough to post, the haters generally post where they can be seen by important people in the game’s hierarchy. Plus, given that most of CSTM’s fans are mature, respectable people, I highly doubt forum drama to be a daily occurence and moderator’s could be trusted for the same reason as above.
February 12, 2012 at 8:40 am
That is 100% true Palladius.
The negative people always flock around the official “anything” over the fan run boards. I do not see a problem with mean spirited people or even spammers (it takes a really weak mod to allow spamming these days its so easily controlled with registration).
I only see the headache for Golden and Merric when people aren’t using it at all and all that work is for nothing. With the success of CSTM I would be surprised though if it was dead.
I offer my services too if you need help.
February 12, 2012 at 3:45 am
The articles of the blog can already be discussed today, which is fine.
Maybe a forum would add further possibilities and comfort to this.
I am not so sure, whether a forum to discuss further topics would be useful. There are already some other ones around and I find them sufficient.
February 12, 2012 at 10:16 am
Is there really enough stuff to discuss besides what we already use comments for? I don’t think so. (And I’m not really sure what I voted for, probably the third choice)
February 12, 2012 at 11:50 am
I’m on the fence. My typical routine is to read CSTM for the latest updates and news and then switch over to my kin’s forums for messages and what-nots. I’ll most likely stick with this routine. However, if a majority of listeners think this is something they’d actually use I’d say give it a try.
February 12, 2012 at 12:32 pm
im on the site a few times a week to check up on news and new posts i would hop on the forums a few times a week and i think they would be a great addition but wouldnt be the main event.
February 13, 2012 at 12:44 pm
I’d occassionally stop by-with the caveat that no matter how much I love
CSTM ( and I do) that if the forums follow the My ME pattern of requiring a whole lot of info to sign up, I’d probably simply read.