analog

I don't think you've pissed anyone off- though I can't speak for everyone, there doesn't seem to be any animosity on anyone's part.

For what it's worth, and I mean this to everyone, the members are the only ones getting all fired up and upset over this. We (mods) have only been encouraging you (like Nikki) or telling you we simply don't see the interest in it, in the way of tangible threads (not just people asking for it). I don't think that any of us have said simply, "no," we're just saying there really isn't the "need" for it, and by "need" we mean existing threads to demonstrate the traffic to substantiate it. That's all. We're not yelling or upset at anyone...

...though to be honest, we're just as human as everyone else in this thread, and there comes a time when our intentions and statements are misinterpreted and blown out of proportions to the point that you all start putting "words in our mouths". You tell us in less than pleasant tones that we don't care or aren't listening when we do care, very much, about all of your opinions and you are being heard. Any normal person can only take so much of being told they don't care and are ignoring you when that's not the case, before their answers start seeming a little terse.

The mod staff doesn't just talk in this thread, either- we chat together and start threads of our own in the mod area so that we can all discuss it together. These are big decisions, however, and can't be made in the time span of a day. It may take several for adequate discussion to take place before we can really make a decision. The TFP has been around for many years- taking a week to make a big decision isn't that much time, really.

Well, by "show us", I was still speaking in the same context as the rest of the general message I was getting across- there aren't, in general, the threads to substantiate such a forum. That means starting a few yourself doesn't really make a difference- I can start a dozen threads right now on ANY topic, but that doens't mean it needs a forum.

I'm sorry if the directions weren't clear enough- I just meant we need to see it in action. We need to see new threads on a fairly regular basis, the threads need to have a decent enough amount of traffic, and then that tells us that people really do want this, and it's not just the very vocal desire of a half dozen people (and I say that because, despite all the traffic this thread is getting, it's only 5 members who vote yes. One member posted to say they see no need for it, and one posted to say it might be nice for a tilted animals, so it's 6 if you count that person. Everyone else posting have been mods.)

So really, we've only got 6 members who even posted to say they wanted this thing. While not everyone on the board may know about this thread, 6 people is not exactly a decree from the masses. I'm just pointing out the reality of that.

We'll try to have a decision for you soon, though understand that if a new forum is created, it will be probationary- meaning that if it stays dead for long enough, we'll be pulling it (don't ask how long "long enough" is, that would be impossible to answer). A dead forum does no one any good.

So in the mean time, keep up the good work and try to get those less-vocal-animal-lovers to participate in threads so we know people really need this.

- analog.