General Auto News sticky thread

[CodeRedR51]

Just had an idea and thought I would ask the Admins (specifically Jordan) if it would be ok to post a "General Automotive News" thread in the Auto News section, and have it stickied at the top?

This thread would be a place where people can post automotive news articles, etc that don't necessarily need their own thread or already have a place to go.

 

[Downhill Dino]

Wouldn't that possibly create a mess of conversations of the various cars that have been posted? Somewhat a good idea, but I see flaws. What auto news content wouldn't need it's own topic? Minor things like discontinuations, race tracks maybe, or something of that kind?

 

[CodeRedR51]

Wouldn't that possibly create a mess of conversations of the various cars that have been posted?

If something comes along that can go in a thread that is already there, then it should go in that particular thread. If it's a new topic that is fairly important, then start a new thread. But if its say, a recall or something similar that doesn't already have a thread and/or doesn't need a new one then it could go in the general news thread.

 

[Downhill Dino]

Oh I see what you mean. Still not sure if it's a good idea.

 

[CodeRedR51]

It's just a small attempt to harness all the news that would usually only create a single page or less of replies into one thread.

 

[Slash]

I support this, that is all.

 

[TB]

It's just a small attempt to harness all the news that would usually only create a single page or less of replies into one thread.

What's the issue with having multiple, single page threads? Personally, I favor that over a large, multi-subject amalgam.

 

[CodeRedR51]

What's the issue with having multiple, single page threads?

Waste of space? Some of them (or most) come across as not important enough to deserve their own thread. The Imports thread is a good example. We wouldn't want everyone posting new threads about cool imports, so we put them all in a single thread, unless it's important enough to have it's own.

Same idea here.

 

[TB]

We wouldn't want everyone posting new threads about cool imports, so we put them all in a single thread

They still have a common theme - cool imports. If I'm understanding correctly, the thread your proposing wouldn't necessarily do that.

Jordan has stated (in the Help Desk section, at least) that he'd rather have numerous threads with well defined topics than one large, random thread. I'm fairly confident his stance on that hasn't changed. Maybe, though.

 

[CodeRedR51]

They still have a common theme - cool imports. If I'm understanding correctly, the thread your proposing wouldn't necessarily do that.

Sure it does. Common theme - auto news.

 

[Jordan]

As TB mentioned, I am not a fan of monolithic threads, as they effectively ignore the elegant structure a threaded forum provides for discussion. Giant threads are difficult to search through, very difficult to keep track of (especially when they're moving quickly - you can forget thread subscriptions and new post notifications), and rapidly change topics.

There are certainly a diverse range of news stories which fall under the 'auto news' description, which is the reason I dedicated a forum to the topic. Some news stories will generate a lot of replies, some will generate only a few, and that's how threaded forums are designed to work.

Waste of space? Some of them (or most) come across as not important enough to deserve their own thread. The Imports thread is a good example. We wouldn't want everyone posting new threads about cool imports, so we put them all in a single thread, unless it's important enough to have it's own.

I think you'll find monolithic threads generate the most "wasted space". New posts are made and then quickly swept back into obscurity, without context or organization, likely never to be seen again. Contrast that with threaded topics, with appropriate titles, in the appropriate forums. It will appear in forum thread listings, so that everyone can easily scan it (along with any other new subjects that have popped up), it'll be indexed in search engines for posterity, it can be subscribed to, and comfortably explored and discussed in as much (or as little) depth as needed without interruption.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Okie doke. Forget it then.