[BreakABone]

I think some solid ideas, some could work, some will need work (which means won't happen)

Originally Posted by Professor S

Personally, I don't think we have the capacity to operate a column or article driven website in today's day and age. People expect new content daily or several time a week at least and that's just not going to happen. It may for a little while, but it will drop off over time. The fact is this we do this for fun, not work.

I don't want to become a site on the internet really, in that regards, we will start to attract some people we really don't want to deal with (we've all been on xBL and the likes), but it would be nice to have some user generated content to show-off.

Even if it will hardly be seen by many.

1) Make all current/regular members staff (except me, I'm done with that) so that everyone has a stake in the future success of GT. Putting the success or failure of GT on just handful of people is a recipe for failure as we all progress in our real life exploits.

This is a pretty good idea, and along the lines of something TML suggested with a rotation of staff members. I mean I think everyone here is mature enough to moderate fairly and all that jazz, and if we limit it to just currently active posters, it won't be too much power spread out over too many people.

2) Give every staff member a specific and achievable task. EX. Dyne is in charge of collecting links to game reviews from all major gaming sites and posting those links/embeds on one thread each week. It's a small task, but might take all of 30 minutes to complete yet create a great source of content.

I don't think we can assign roles/tasks to people, but if folks want to volunteer for certain tasks that would be awesome. Like how I started the GT Twitter account (which has gotten us a few members, but no one overly active yet)

3) All staff are to originate threads as either reports of information for discussion or questions, not statements or opinion.

Bond was suggesting something similar with staff members making two threads a week or so.

Personally, doesn't effect me, I post more than that in a day, but I don't think forcing people to post threads in a certain format will help as we may get to the point where people just make threads to make threads instead of wanting to make them.

5) Create lists for debate as an editorial group. EX. Top 10 Action RPG's of all time. Are these ridiculous? Of course but the point is to drive up discussion and hits, not to create an authority of greatness.

One of the easier ideas to get working.
We can have a nice discussion and after the end of a week, can settle on a Top W/e for W/e, and people do love lists.

6) Lets all wipe the sand out of our vaginas and stop taking every goddamn thing so personally. We're a bunch of random people, most of us adults, talking about video games for Christ's sake. We need to recognize the absurdity of it all and laugh at ourselves. EX. I've known BaB for years and we've always had a good relationship, yet when I try and make an obvious joke and break his balls a little over his Nintendo preference people respond like I killed his puppy. The correct response would have been to ask me the last time a sodomized myself with my 360 controller... but NOOOOOOO... everyone gets defensive and sucks the fun out of it. No one likes a party pooper, especially new members.

In any case, if we really want this site to take off, it will demand a commitment from everyone, if even just a casual one. Follow-through has never been a strong suit of ours when it comes to expanding GT.

Thats my $0.02 for what its worth.

I will agree that GT has become a hostile environment even for long-time posters (and let's be fair here, you helped create some of that atmosphere) but at the end of the day, we are all words on a screen, and should learn to let things go.

I can attest to being a bit short with people especially when it comes to certain discussions, but its also like repeatedly running into the same wall over and over again, you feel dumb for doing it, but it can't be avoided.

I'm more concerned about GT not shrinking anymore than I am of expanding it, but if we can expand and keep the forum happy would be the best of both worlds.