The "state" of After Hours

AckwelFoley

**** wrote: »

Judging from the state of After Hours at the moment, it could only get better by banning everyone.

Firstly, this is not targetting anyone, its just a comment that was made that made me "think" (*enter gasps of shock horror*)

On what basis is the assumption that AH is going down hill? I see it as a comment made by many people on boards at times and am wondering what its being based upon.

Yes, threads in AH are bizzare to say the least at times and one is unlikely to get a serious reply much of the time, however if you are looking for a serious reply to a topic, boards.ie has more than enough areas to post your topic.

Are thread views, or replies falling from the stat counter if so, can we see them stats?

To be fair, Whitewashman has from my time here being very proactive in letting the members guide the AH forum, from putting up a sticky to nominate a moderator the members would like, to the current sticky requesting feedback or ideas on what changes or imrovments the members would like.
AH was created and is run in a way that makes it the most popular forum on boards.ie, if there seems to be an aparent problem identified, i am all in favour of addressing it, but is there a problem and what proof is there of one except for hersay.

If the problem needs to be addressed it is up to the staff and admin to laydown criteria on the content of AH and make a stance on it unilaterally across all threads and making a stance on what topics or posts are not acceptable anymore.

Its a great forum in my opinion, but as a member of many, we all have opinions and you know what they say about opinions, the're well.. rather plentiful.

Brian

Naos

Great forum, one of my favourites if not the favourite for a chilled and enjoyable read.

Two things that has been contributing to this alleged demise of AH are:

"I welcome our new X leaders"
and
"Your ma"

Both are overused so much and it seems people are just using them to postwhore.

They are neither funny nor original and both are really, really irritating to read.

r3nu4l

IMO, AH should be an off-topic forum with some banter and that's what it has been and what it is still. What has changed?

Well in the past there was a lot of good banter and off-topic chat with some background nonsense posts such as "yore ma" etc. These days the forum is looking like a slightly less ridiculous version of TCN (The Cuckoos Nest). The noise:general banter ratio has become skewed from 15% noise; 85% good banter to about 40% noise and 60% banter. The mods are very good however at leaving threads in AH when it's obvious that the poster wanted an "AH view" on the subject, i.e. light-hearted and funny, rather than serious.

On top of that the quality of some of the thread titles is lacking in some respects and are very unoriginal. Ocasionally, there are some real gems but for the most part nothing that hasn't been done a thousand times.

Now, I'm not one to talk, I enjoy AH but I'm not the type of person to start the most interesting or funny threads, I can admit that. Occasionally, I will post here and post something that makes people laugh but not that often. I am no Pighead! Pigheaded yes, Pighead, no

/My 2c

EDIT: I;m not disparaging TCN, it's a great forum but AH is becoming closer to it in many ways than it was before and I'd like to see it return to what it was.

TheVan

I reckon the people who complain are mainly posters who have been around for ages and so are seeing threads being repeated.

And let's face it, threads about poo and such that have been seen before are just irritating, but the majority of threads are welcome, and there's sure to be someone who hasn't seen them before?

So Vive le AH!

AckwelFoley

r3nu4l wrote: »

On top of that the quality of some of the thread titles is lacking in some respects and are very unoriginal. Ocasionally, there are some real gems but for the most part nothing that hasn't been done a thousand times.


/My 2c

Good reply thanks.

Have you some linkys or examples of threads you think are good AH type threads that are good for the forum?

Captain Ginger

People just love to complain.

On every other forum I'm on there is always someone bitching.

Riddle101

I like AH, it's great for a laugh and what's wrong about that? anyway i don't think AH is in a downward spiral but i do think people need to take threads seriously, especially when it's asking for advice

FlutterinBantam

TheVan wrote: »

I reckon the people who complain are mainly posters who have been around for ages and so are seeing threads being repeated.

And let's face it, threads about poo and such that have been seen before are just irritating, but the majority of threads are welcome, and there's sure to be someone who hasn't seen them before?

So Vive le AH!

What's wrong with threads about poo??

Whats wrong with this forum is that people seem to get their knickers in a twist over everything that THEY don't like.

As far as I am concerned this is an irreverent eclectic forum where all things can be discussed.
I check out the thread titles, and there are loads I have no interest in and therefore ignore them.

I don't go shouting from the rooftops about the content, if someone finds them amusing ,well fair fcuks to them.

Problem here is some punters take themselves far too seriously and if that's the case don't post or don't come in here.

Don't try to force your views on everyone.... if you don't like it there are loads of other fora you can contribute to.

I'm seriously pissed off with the PC police trying to destroy the free spirited air of abandon and irreverence that permeates the AH forum.

Cop yourselves on.

Kiera

It has gotten a lot more serious in the last few months. Its very hard to have a laugh in threads about paedos and the like.

I say bring the fun and pisstake back!

Zillah

After Hours has always been at the bottom of the pile. We just like to kid ourselves into thinking we haven't hit rock bottom yet.

Also, the veterans like to remark about the good old days.

Kintarō Hattori

AH is a great place to come for a light hearted read and a bit of banter but it has become a little crass to be honest. Do we really need to see threads about poo etc in boards most popular forum. Shouldn't threads like this belong to the cuckoo's nest or TCN.

Also when something is posted so much and without any real thought to where it might actually be funny, aka 'Yore Ma' and 'I welcome....' it fails to be funny anymore.

AH was a witty funny place but it's kind of become like that commoner neighbour you have up the road that was interesting but has now come to embarass you a little.

Repentant

snyper wrote: »

Firstly, this is not targetting anyone, its just a comment that was made that made me "think" (*enter gasps of shock horror*)

On what basis is the assumption that AH is going down hill? I see it as a comment made by many people on boards at times and am wondering what its being based upon.

Yes, threads in AH are bizzare to say the least at times and one is unlikely to get a serious reply much of the time, however if you are looking for a serious reply to a topic, boards.ie has more than enough areas to post your topic.

Are thread views, or replies falling from the stat counter if so, can we see them stats?

To be fair, Whitewashman has from my time here being very proactive in letting the members guide the AH forum, from putting up a sticky to nominate a moderator the members would like, to the current sticky requesting feedback or ideas on what changes or imrovments the members would like.
AH was created and is run in a way that makes it the most popular forum on boards.ie, if there seems to be an aparent problem identified, i am all in favour of addressing it, but is there a problem and what proof is there of one except for hersay.

If the problem needs to be addressed it is up to the staff and admin to laydown criteria on the content of AH and make a stance on it unilaterally across all threads and making a stance on what topics or posts are not acceptable anymore.

Its a great forum in my opinion, but as a member of many, we all have opinions and you know what they say about opinions, the're well.. rather plentiful.

Brian

Well Brian it is a matter of perspective. I'd guess it has to do with how long you have been about the place? People don't like change as much as they say they do. Say you joined in 2000 and by 2005 there was so much change you would say it had gone crap. So on and So on............

Tis the nature of the beast. In a few years you will be saying it yourself. To be sure to be sure!

Srsly.

FlutterinBantam

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

AH is a great place to come for a light hearted read and a bit of banter but it has become a little crass to be honest. Do we really need to see threads about poo etc in boards most popular forum. Shouldn't threads like this belong to the cuckoo's nest or TCN.

Also when something is posted so much and without any real thought to where it might actually be funny, aka 'Yore Ma' and 'I welcome....' it fails to be funny anymore.

AH was a witty funny place but it's kind of become like that commoner neighbour you have up the road that was interesting but has now come to embarass you a little.

One of the reasons why it is the most popular.

TheVan

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

What's wrong with threads about poo??

Whats wrong with this forum is that people seem to get their knickers in a twist over everything that THEY don't like.

Oh don't get me wrong, I love the poo threads....my point is that a thread that's about Annoying Things You Experience in XYZ can stand up to better repetition than a poo thread....


But original poo threads are very, very welcome.

You might say they're excrement.

Kintarō Hattori

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

One of the reasons why it is the most popular.

Hmnn I don't think so. AH was the most popular forum long before we saw these make an appearance.

SV

So what do you wanna talk about?

FlutterinBantam

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

AH is a great place to come for a light hearted read and a bit of banter but it has become a little crass to be honest. Do we really need to see threads about poo etc in boards most popular forum. Shouldn't threads like this belong to the cuckoo's nest or TCN.

Also when something is posted so much and without any real thought to where it might actually be funny, aka 'Yore Ma' and 'I welcome....' it fails to be funny anymore.

AH was a witty funny place but it's kind of become like that commoner neighbour you have up the road that was interesting but has now come to embarass you a little.

Why in the name of sweetness would it embarrass you?

Do you work for Boards.ie?
Do you post in AH.

I just cannot figure out how something can embarrass someone ,which they they have no hand act or part in!!

Kintarō Hattori

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

[/B]

Why in the name of sweetness would it embarrass you?

Do you work for Boards.ie?
Do you post in AH.

I just cannot figure out how something can embarrass someone ,which they they have no hand act or part in!!

I don't work for boards, I reguarly post in AH, it doesn't embarass me but it does seem lately to cater to the lowest common denominator.

FlutterinBantam

Well then avoid the threads you don't like.

Don't try to push your views on everyone.

With respect, if you don't like it just post in the threads you do like.

Its just random people posting here, not a company you work for.

Kiera

I blame Snyper and Degsy for the AH downfall! Oh and Bono.

FlutterinBantam

Downfall.. what downfall???

Kiera

I'm tired and couldnt think of a better word. You think of one for me and i'll edit it

Tazdedub

I think people misunderstand what AH is for and maybe they should read the discription of what AH is "All things non-work related." Thats what is says on the tin. Maybe the problem with AH is some of the posters getting the wrong idea of what AH is about.

FlutterinBantam

No problem.. It's called common sense.

Common sense would tell you not to be worrying about things that you cannot control and that life is generally too short to let things like the status of AH worry you too much( unless you are a Mod or course) and I would have enough faith in those worthies to leave AH affairs in their hands.

We all need a little lightness a joy now and again and for me AH raises the odd smirk or two.

Jonathan

Every thread seems to come back to the cliques.
This isn't an after hours only problem, but it is certainly more obvious here than in other forums.

Nothing to do with jealousy because I'm not part of your sekrit club, but ye guys have your private forums. Would it not be an idea to keep clique posts in there and not have them spilling into other places such as AH?

My 2c

brianthebard

Who's in the clique? Can we have a list please?

Kintarō Hattori

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Well then avoid the threads you don't like.

Don't try to push your views on everyone.

With respect, if you don't like it just post in the threads you do like.

Its just random people posting here, not a company you work for.

How am I trying to push my opinions on everyone? Snyper asked what we thought so I answered the question. I think you're getting a little excited about this.

randylonghorn

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Do we really need to see threads about poo etc in boards most popular forum..

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

What's wrong with threads about poo??

I have absolutely no interest in threads about "poo" (Jebus, feel like I'm back in junior infants! ).

Heavens knows, my own sense of humour is ... less than polite ... most of the time, but it doesn't tend towards the scatological, and such threads generally bore me silly, I don't find them funny, in fact at times they annoy me ...

... so I don't read them.

I don't complain about them, I don't report posts, I don't gripe about them ... I just don't read them.

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Shouldn't threads like this belong to the cuckoo's nest or TCN.

There's two of them? No wonder the regulars are a bit schizoid! :pac:

And no, thanks ... tCN may be eminently silly, as it is intended to be, but it is not the latrine of Boards, and you would be surprised how little "poo" figures as a theme there ... certainly much less than in AH.

If the AH mods want the "poo" out of AH, the Recycle Bin would seem eminently suitable!

Or such threads could be moved over to the 'Dome, to Flutter's special place, and let the shit hit the fan! :pac:

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Whats wrong with this forum is that people seem to get their knickers in a twist over everything that THEY don't like.

A sweeping generalisation, but like many such, not entirely without foundation.

FlutterinBantam

Sorry Hintaro..... you have a good point there.


Apologies.

randylonghorn

Tazdedub wrote: »

I think people misunderstand what AH is for and maybe they should read the discription of what AH is "All things non-work related." Thats what is says on the tin. Maybe the problem with AH is some of the posters getting the wrong idea of what AH is about.

In fairness, Tazdedub, that tag was appended to AH in the very early days when there were far fewer specialist forums, and it therefore legitimately covered a much broader range of topics.

Even DeV. said in Feedback during the last year that it had been a less than inspired wording even then, and had become less accurate over the years.

That said, it isn't entirely inaccurate either, and well ... realistically ... what wording would accurately sum up AH?!

PurpleBerry

D'oh! I was expecting this to be a thread campaigning to get After Hours offically declared as a state and instigate its own governemt and law and by-laws.

C'est la ie...

brianthebard

randylonghorn wrote: »

That said, it isn't entirely inaccurate either, and well ... realistically ... what wording would accurately sum up AH?!

'The place where you talk about topics you wouldn't normally bring up in polite company, for fear of appearing retarded, deviant, racist, or all of the above'-hows that for starters?

FlutterinBantam

Close enough Missus

Repentant

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Close enough Missus

Have collection., Young kids included., Snper special.

For Reelllllss!

gcgirl

I you look at the Thread title really quickly its looks like ''The State Of Adolf Hitler'' me dislexia is not helping things

AckwelFoley

I think boards.ie has enough foura as it stands, that being said, how about a sub forum of AH called the 'bin' or 'the sand box' for example where the 'not so fancied' or a little juvanile or 4chanesq threads could be shifted off the main page keeping the mainstream AH a little less daft?

FlutterinBantam

So ....you are the new mod of AH eh???

AckwelFoley

What do u think poo man?

FlutterinBantam

Could live with it smartassman!!

funky penguin

I wish there were more like this:

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=238862

Whats funny is how seriously some people took it.

I'm looking at you, LonelyGuy911.

FlutterinBantam

Jeez!!! soo 2005 and soooooTCN... the clique all piling on.

Catari Jaguar

IMO AH has just turned into a sub section of the Cuckoos Nest.

I thought it was somewhere unbiased to post that isn't in a set category, but most of the replies are 'yore ma', smart answers and other retarded stuff.

Sometimes it's funny yea, but sometimes, I feel it can be a bit annoying.

funky penguin

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Jeez!!! soo 2005 and soooooTCN... the clique all piling on.

Whats wrong with 2005?

Oh. I see.

*cough* JD 06er *cough*

After hours is grand now. I just preferred it a few years ago.

FlutterinBantam

I can see that... the auld dated LUBNIP crap that infected the place then.

Well, each to his own I says, who am I to criticise.

funky penguin

Duh. Of course it's crap, it's LUBNiP.

randylonghorn

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

I can see that... the auld dated LUBNIP crap that infected the place then.

Well, each to his own I says, who am I to criticise.

Lol, you teetered on the edge of that logical paradox, but drew back in the nick of time!

FlutterinBantam

No kiddin' !!

Anyway, would hope Ah would not go down the TCN road.

Bunch of nerds just reinforcing each other with a clique running the show.

Would hope that Ah would retain a little free spirit anyway.

But... if not!! hey couldn't give Jack Schidt.

Just my opinion, good as anyone else's!!!

Mossy Monk

I think back to the days when Monty ruled with an iron fist. Them were the days.

dotsman

Yeah I think the general state of AH has fallen a bit. There are still interesting conversations on it, but too many of them just fall into complete nonsense.

Just looking at this now, and this had the potential for a good thread (and I think the Op was looking for, at the least, semi-serious replies), but was pretty much killed straight away.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

If we're going down that road, can we also ban the use of the word 'Ghey'?

Terry

Kiera wrote: »

I blame Snyper and Degsy for the AH downfall! Oh and Bono.

Banned for blasphemy.

jmccrohan wrote: »

Every thread seems to come back to the cliques.
This isn't an after hours only problem, but it is certainly more obvious here than in other forums.

Nothing to do with jealousy because I'm not part of your sekrit club, but ye guys have your private forums. Would it not be an idea to keep clique posts in there and not have them spilling into other places such as AH?

My 2c

There are some cliques, but you don't have to belong to them to enjoy the place.
I'm a member of two private forums; The mod forum and Slydice.
The latter is accessible to anyone who asks for access and the former just involves threads about troll spotting.
I don't belong to any cliques, nor do I want to. This doesn't lessen my enjoyment of boards though.

randylonghorn wrote: »

In fairness, Tazdedub, that tag was appended to AH in the very early days when there were far fewer specialist forums, and it therefore legitimately covered a much broader range of topics.

Even DeV. said in Feedback during the last year that it had been a less than inspired wording even then, and had become less accurate over the years.

That said, it isn't entirely inaccurate either, and well ... realistically ... what wording would accurately sum up AH?!

Time-killer. I hyphenated it, so it's just one word.

snyper wrote: »

I think boards.ie has enough foura as it stands, that being said, how about a sub forum of AH called the 'bin' or 'the sand box' for example where the 'not so fancied' or a little juvanile or 4chanesq threads could be shifted off the main page keeping the mainstream AH a little less daft?

To hell with 4chan.
If you want 4chan-esque threads, then go to 4chan.
It was all fine until those fúcktards decided to declare a short lived war against Scientology and drew attention to themselves, thus gaining more member who were also members here who then thought they were all comedians.


Edit: The default setting for thread display on AH is for the last ten days.
Two years ago the average amount of pages was nine. It is currently fifteen and growing.
Note that the stickies also only appear on the first page now instead of every page.
We must be doing something right.