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So I eventually (not sure when, maybe after a few years) deleted the aforementioned off-topic forum because it was getting very few worthwhile posts. Most of it was just spam and/or self-promotion.
I'm not too worried about those latter two these days because self-promotion is easy to delete or move to the correct section, and spam hasn't been a huge problem, so I have no reason to think that adding a new section would suddenly make it one. I also think it would see more activity because the forum as a whole is much busier these days than 2010 (~100 posts per day vs. less than 1).
What I am concerned about is the increased polarization of the internet, much more so now than in 2010, and whether to allow political topics on the new hypothetical off topic forum.
If I don't allow political and controversial topics, what even is there to discuss that can't be currently? This seems like it would be (or, become) its main purpose. Most other topics can just go in the existing General section.
If I do allow political topics, we run into the issue where some people will discover that their political opponents are right here browsing this site and will be unable to handle it. Currently we keep a lid on this by mostly not discussing it, which is fine because it's not like we need to do that for the site to function well. But if we allow it, suddenly now there's friction and conflict where there was no need for it, and we might lose people who are otherwise quality contributors to the site. At the very least it would require very strict moderation, and whoever is doing the moderating would be frequently accused of being unfair to some people, or sides of an argument.
I am open to being swayed here (let me know if there have been similar examples on similar sites, and how that went), or to ideas that would mitigate the conflict caused by choosing to allow political topics. One thing I've thought of is to make it opt-in only in some way rather than visible to everyone, but I haven't fully thought it through.
If I don't allow political and controversial topics, what even is there to discuss that can't be currently? This seems like it would be (or, become) its main purpose. Most other topics can just go in the existing General section.
I kinda feel like this is what the "Subcommunities" section is for, so that users can find other things in common with each other that aren't immediately obvious. The problem is that it's jumbled together with "Foreign Language" threads, so it's a bit of a mess.
Also, I always thought the "General" section was more specifically for female muscle-related discussions, and not necessarily just anything and everything.
What I am concerned about is the increased polarization of the internet, much more so now than in 2010, and whether to allow political topics on the new hypothetical off topic forum.
In a word: Don't.
There are plenty of other places on the Internet for people to talk politics. It will absolutely get out of hand, and that will be the rule, not the exception.
You and the Mods already have more than enough on your plates in maintaining GWM. Politics, if permitted, will suck too much time and energy from the Mods, result in countless user bans, and still get out of control.
Politics is by its nature "all" or "nothing" and no holds barred.
Opt for "nothing" for your sanity and to preserve the atmosphere of GWM.
If I don't allow political and controversial topics, what even is there to discuss that can't be currently? This seems like it would be (or, become) its main purpose. Most other topics can just go in the existing General section.
What else might be discussed in an "Other" subforum if politics is off limits?
No idea.
Best way to find out is to create the section and see what (if anything) is discussed. If it suffocates, put the section out of it's misery by locking it.
So I eventually (not sure when, maybe after a few years) deleted the aforementioned off-topic forum because it was getting very few worthwhile posts. Most of it was just spam and/or self-promotion.
I'm not too worried about those latter two these days because self-promotion is easy to delete or move to the correct section, and spam hasn't been a huge problem, so I have no reason to think that adding a new section would suddenly make it one. I also think it would see more activity because the forum as a whole is much busier these days than 2010 (~100 posts per day vs. less than 1).
What I am concerned about is the increased polarization of the internet, much more so now than in 2010, and whether to allow political topics on the new hypothetical off topic forum.
If I don't allow political and controversial topics, what even is there to discuss that can't be currently? This seems like it would be (or, become) its main purpose. Most other topics can just go in the existing General section.
If I do allow political topics, we run into the issue where some people will discover that their political opponents are right here browsing this site and will be unable to handle it. Currently we keep a lid on this by mostly not discussing it, which is fine because it's not like we need to do that for the site to function well. But if we allow it, suddenly now there's friction and conflict where there was no need for it, and we might lose people who are otherwise quality contributors to the site. At the very least it would require very strict moderation, and whoever is doing the moderating would be frequently accused of being unfair to some people, or sides of an argument.
I am open to being swayed here (let me know if there have been similar examples on similar sites, and how that went), or to ideas that would mitigate the conflict caused by choosing to allow political topics. One thing I've thought of is to make it opt-in only in some way rather than visible to everyone, but I haven't fully thought it through.
Hey Chainer
So I was thinking more along the lines of discussion of hobbies and interests that people here have outside of muscular women. For example, outside of my "preference" I am also into fitness, tabletop gaming and roleplaying, music, film and literature. I never really thought of it as a springboard for controversial topics like politics or other serious social issues. I personally think it would be a good forum for people to show more of who they are outside of the "fetish."
And while I could have discussions about, say, tabletop gaming on boards that are dedicated to that, I think it would be cool to share those interests with people who also are into buff women.
I think an off topic forum could be nice. since there are some things I want to say but they are only loosely related to strong women. and I can't think of a good place to post them
. politics should just be banned. I have a hard time imagining why someone would leave the entire site if they think members of their rival gang or tribe is on this site. but it's the way it is nowadays if only we could go back to 2010.
In a word: Don't.
There are plenty of other places on the Internet for people to talk politics. It will absolutely get out of hand, and that will be the rule, not the exception.
You and the Mods already have more than enough on your plates in maintaining GWM. Politics, if permitted, will suck too much time and energy from the Mods, result in countless user bans, and still get out of control.
I agree with phenoms about this.
I would be ok with an off topic forum that included politics if users were ok with and understood that stuff like repeated ad hominems and uncivil discussion were still liable for bans. Perhaps stricter in that way where you'd have a one strike or your out rule. Maybe people would learn to proofread their statements a bit.
Unfortunately, and predictably, it's two things: trans (and I guess LGBTQ in a wider sense but it's pretty rare) and the general AMerican conservative vs liberal area. Also predictably, most users won't even participate although they may lurk, and among the active users it'll be the usual suspects on each side of an argument.
If they weren't ok with formatting comments as an argument/discussion vs "you're a bigot" or "you're a commie" or whatever, then thney shouldn't dive in.
I think we've been plenty lenient elsewhere with deleting comments and only bans as a last resort for frequent flyers
Use it to post things that are not related to female muscle - including, for example, pictures of girls who aren't muscular (in fact, there's a thread in there just for that!)