Support NeoGAF

[NintendosBooger]

I'm in the process of building a community message board, and I was wondering if there was a maturity process involved with building a community? Over the course of a few months or years, will forum members gradually act less and less dumb or obnoxious, helping to create a more diverse and intelligent atmosphere (like GA), or will the tone remain the same no matter what until some administrative changes are made?

What was GA community like when it was first established, specifically the level of intelligence, insight, and diversity? Was it the same then as it was now, and what helped make that change? Were time and administrative handling necessary ingredients?

 

[Matlock]

When GAF was first established, it was filled with intelligent discourse and competent posters.

Right now, we've got members with "booger" in their name.

 

[Manics]

Has the discussion of mincemeat having no meat in it come on your board yet? If so, then you've reached full maturity level.

 

[WasabiKing]

:lol

 

[miyuru]

bAn pEoPlE tHaT tYpE lIk3 tHiS...

 

[themadcowtipper]

the only way to have a successful board is to have mods bent power, Damn the patriots

edit: check out the board at

Spoiler

OA

 

[Lathentar]

a more diverse and intelligent atmosphere (like GA)

I stopped reading here.

 

[tedtropy]

bAn pEoPlE tHaT tYpE lIk3 tHiS...

You heard the man.

 

[Dan]

I stopped reading here.

Compared to most forums? I'd say it's true.

 

[NintendosBooger]

I stopped reading here.

To each their own, I suppose.

 

[Lemurnator]

GameFAQs is home to the most intelligent and insightful posters on the internet and beyond.

 

[Matlock]

Has the discussion of mincemeat having no meat in it come on your board yet? If so, then you've reached full maturity level.

(mince filling) includes pork, beef, suet (hardened beef fat), apples, raisins, sorghum (a sweet syrup), cranberries, sour cherries, and spices

 

[miyuru]

Heh they're just teasing you man. GAF is a really nice forum compared to others. A lot of members here are older, married, etc. too. They know what's up, and have lots of life experience - enough to know what's worth posting and what isn't. And it shows too.

I'm only 19 myself, but I like GAF because most disputes can be solved if you're clear about your opinion and bring yourself to accept the opinions of others. Not that it always happens with all posters, but it does work in my experience.

So if there's one thing I would tell you, it would be to encourage everyone to accept each others' opinion. Remember, an opinion is neither right nor wrong. The important part is in how you voice your opinion.

 

[Tazznum1]

There are three people on this forum.

You.
MAF and MAF alter ego.

 

[Manics]

(mince filling) includes pork, beef, suet (hardened beef fat), apples, raisins, sorghum (a sweet syrup), cranberries, sour cherries, and spices

Mincemeat used to contain meat but no longer. Don't know where the "pork" reference comes from.

Mincemeat

 

[Matlock]

Home recipe, lad. My grandma makes it with pork, sans beef.

 

[Manics]

Home recipe, lad. My grandma makes it with pork, sans beef.

I see, never knew that could be done. Must be good! I was only referring to the typical mincemeat you buy in the stores, closest thing to meat is the suet.

Now see booger, this is the sign of a mature discussion forum -- exchanging information and ideas about mincemeat.

 

[Unresponsive Bee Victim]

It really depends on the crowd you attract, alot of my friends are diverse individuals that joke around 90% of the time, so when I started up my forum inviting them it got annoying because serious conversation was not something anyone was willing to do.

My advice:
Find a good group of people too help you get started.
Find some good topics for forums
Paitence

 

[miyuru]

Fuck you guys, I actually posted something worthwhile! :lol

jk jk ^_^

 

[jenov4]

Make sure you allow huge signatures (with pictures) which takes up more space than the actual messages itself. End users love the ability to do that!

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

The words "Maturity" and "Forum Community" have rarely been used in a sentence to describe any Internet Discussion Groups.

 

[WHOAguitarninja]

I stopped reading here.

I think GA is a pretty intelligent little community. Much moreso than most. It just seems less so because it can get a bit hostile at times.

Even the smartest people have fisticuffs.

 

[Lonestar]

There hasn't been intelligent discussion since the Superkyro thread. That day, the Pandora's Box was surely opened.

 

[calder]

When GAF was first established, it was filled with intelligent discourse and competent posters.

:lol I must have missed that glorious epoch.

 

[belgurdo]

They know what's up, and have lots of life experience - enough to know what's worth posting and what isn't. And it shows too.

:lol

I like GAF because most disputes can be solved if you're clear about your opinion and bring yourself to accept the opinions of others.

:lol :lol

 

[Flynn]

You can probably look back through Internet history for examples of the dumbing down of communities.

As I recall, newsgroups experienced an onslaught of idiots when AOL started supporting them. I believe they've even noted the date that it occured as a huge benchmark, like the birth of Christ.

I imagine you could ask any early member of The Well and they'd say the same thing.

 

[Doc Holliday]

***-*** and Futami....nuff said.

:lol had no idea Sega's little flying thingy was banned.

 

[Wendo]

I think what helps is that most people here seem to be college-age or above. Other places like

Spoiler

TXB

are filled with 12 years olds.

 

[Hitokage]

The primary difference in GAF's early days may not be that it was any more or less intelligent, but rather with the reduced size everyone knew who the village idiots were and could easily know what to expect from them. That and IGN was functioning as a retard honeypot.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

GAF's saving grace is it's activity level. It has a sort of internal control that keeps it from total gamefaqs level most the time, but it never really soars far above it either. It's also modded enough that it doesn't turn into a cesspool. I've been to a lot of forums that are more civil and grown up, but their dead.

 

[demi]

GAF has demi lol there goes your maturity right there buddy

 

[Chipopo]

OT Clique ruined the integrity of Gaming-Age, so the rumor has it. Still hasn't recovered.