The mods would end up flooded with requests to move threads from one section to another, based on people's interpretation of what makes each find "great".
I don't think so. I'm talking about things like people asking $500 for a grimy Model M 1390401—you know, clearly audacious stuff. It's amazing how much of even these extreme examples come up. We could be very specific about this in the section's description.
I think there was a thread a year or two ago suggesting the same thing.
So I'm not the only totally loony person here—that's good to know!
The mods would end up flooded with requests to move threads from one section to another, based on people's interpretation of what makes each find "great".
But dude, posts like that already
do appear in
Great Finds, when people use the topic sarcastically. That's my whole point. And it's distracting to those looking for genuine bargains, and seems like a misuse of the section. If anything,
"Great" (?) Finds would
improve the board's organization, not diminish it.
If you're still concerned, let's make it clear that if something's posted to
"Great" (?) Finds that's not clearly ridiculous—for example, an opinion that a particular switch technology isn't bothering with, or paying a reasonable price for—it can stay there and people can
argue about it discuss it however they wish. I'd be glad to moderate and keep things from getting outright abusive. (That's what mods do in other sections, right?)
No one's ever required to participate in any topic. And in this section, no one would be required to determine if a topic was appropriate for it or not. That takes the pressure off other mods—make sense?
There's one thing I'd want to be clear about: Since the topic would be intentionally and inherently funny, I'd want to reserve the right of those who post to it to be funny (non-serious). So if some of our "drier" members were to wander into a discussion about something that's clearly silly and post a completely "straight" remark, they shouldn't be surprised or offended if they're not taken seriously. This doesn't mean they can be outright insulted—that can't encouraged in any part of GH—but we could definitely have some fun with that kind of thing, where it might not be appropriate elsewhere.
We've all seen threads which OPs have made in a tongue-in-cheek way regarding "great" (read: overpriced or questionable) items, which under the proposed new section would be self-submitted there, but you expect others would message the mods seriously for a thread move? Can't imagine who.
Whether they would or not, we could avoid the situation by having a section where such topics would not only be appropriate but welcome. It seems to me like a solution for exactly what you've described.
Edit: you know what, one could just prefix titles with something like ["Great" find] instead. I could see that working without the need for an additional sub forum.
I guess—but then you'd have a section, one intended for genuinely good deals, peppered with sarcastic topics. Why not used the board's capabilities to organize them so we can view one type of topic or the other, depending on our moods and needs?
Historically speaking, "Great Finds" has always been home to both quirky and genuinely useful great finds. Adding some kind of a distinguishing keyword in thread title could work, though I can also see some people disregarding that rule when posting.
Yup, there is that. (It took me a while to encourage people to add "[SOLD]" or "[ENDED]" to their expired
Great Finds subjects, and it's still not a consistent thing.)
I realize this is primarily a technical board, and that many GHers don't seem interested in any non-serious discussion. But there
are examples of fun and humour throughout GH nonetheless, so it doesn't seem like something we've actively shied away from on behalf of everyone.
It seems to me that more peeps are enthusiastic about this idea than not—so why don't we just give it a try and see how it works (or doesn't work)? I think it'll be hilarious, personally, and will be glad to do anything I can to help with it. – A.
