Giraffe Boards

[TheFlame]

I really hope there can be a merger (is it possible to transfer phpBB posts onto a vBulletin board or vice versa?). I do however prefer the name 'DoMeBo' to 'GiraffeBoards'!

[Muffin]

If there are expenses that would be lost due to one or the other boards being closed, I expect that we could pass the hat. I'd be glad to kick in.

[TheFlame]

If there are expenses that would be lost due to one or the other boards being closed...I'd be glad to kick in.

+1

[Zuul]

If there are expenses that would be lost due to one or the other boards being closed, I expect that we could pass the hat. I'd be glad to kick in.

Same here. I have immense respect for everyone involved and appreciate what's being done to keep this community going. I'd be happy to show that appreciation.

[Muffin]

Giraffe
Capt. Ridley's Shooting Party

All we need now is a server in Africa, with communication in some indecipherable code.

[XJETGIRLX]

The best thing about DoMeBo, IMO, is that it's not identified with one person (although I am forever grateful to Crispy for his efforts). If we wanted to join a spinoff board like that, there's Fathom, Skip's board, or Una's board.

I may join up with Mr. Tall-Drink-o-Water, but my heart is here, already.

I agree with this. I prefer a board that is not based on a cult of personality. As much as I like Giraffe, I don't think that his presence alone is what will keep me entertained.

[Giraffe]

I agree with this. I prefer a board that is not based on a cult of personality. As much as I like Giraffe, I don't think that his presence alone is what will keep me entertained.

I'm not trying to campaign to get anyone to come over there, but I do want to address this. I absolutely don't want that board to be a cult of personality. This is why I'd kind of like to change the name. Alternatively, maybe I should change my user name.

My goal is to set up some fun forums, fair rules and then just all post at each other. As admin, I only want to be in charge of mashing the buttons that keep things working, not controlling the content.

[XJETGIRLX]

I agree with this. I prefer a board that is not based on a cult of personality. As much as I like Giraffe, I don't think that his presence alone is what will keep me entertained.

I'm not trying to campaign to get anyone to come over there, but I do want to address this. I absolutely don't want that board to be a cult of personality. This is why I'd kind of like to change the name. Alternatively, maybe I should change my user name.

My goal is to set up some fun forums, fair rules and then just all post at each other. As admin, I only want to be in charge of mashing the buttons that keep things working, not controlling the content.

And I'm absolutely down with that. Your attitude is a big part of why I like you. But I don't know that the people who will be attracted to your board will necessarily feel the same way. They may want to keep it an exclusive Giraffe-lovefest, and that's just not a model I am comfortable with, but time will tell.

I'm going to give both boards a chance and just see where things fall out naturally.

[featherlou]

Giraffe
Capt. Ridley's Shooting Party

All we need now is a server in Africa, with communication in some indecipherable code.

"I hear the drums,
echoing toNIGHT...."

[featherlou]

I'd really like to know why GiraffeBoards is Dope TPTB-sanctioned, and DoMeBo isn't...?

He probably asked, whereas we didn't. Not being a former mod, I didn't suppose I had the cachet to swing it that way.

It's understandable why you felt that way, given the circumstances of the creation of this board.

[fisheroo]

I agree with this. I prefer a board that is not based on a cult of personality. As much as I like Giraffe, I don't think that his presence alone is what will keep me entertained.

I'm not trying to campaign to get anyone to come over there, but I do want to address this. I absolutely don't want that board to be a cult of personality. This is why I'd kind of like to change the name. Alternatively, maybe I should change my user name.

My goal is to set up some fun forums, fair rules and then just all post at each other. As admin, I only want to be in charge of mashing the buttons that keep things working, not controlling the content.

Are you open to a merger? Why or why not?

What do you think that you can offer that this board cannot?

How are you planning on dealing with the perception that you are a branch of the SDMB?

[woodstockbirdybird]

If there are expenses that would be lost due to one or the other boards being closed, I expect that we could pass the hat. I'd be glad to kick in.

Add me to the list. I ponied up for the SDMB; I'd be willing to pay more here.

[Giraffe]

Are you open to a merger? Why or why not?

What do you think that you can offer that this board cannot?

Check out my post on page one (third time's the charm, link-wise). I'm open to merging what's here over there, if we can figure out a way to do it that makes sense. I'm not really open to shutting down what's over there and just coming over here, at least not right now. I greatly prefer the vBulletin over phpBB interface, I think it's a lot more powerful and scalable, and I think it has greater flexibility for modification. I've got a fair amount of coding experience, and might like to play around with building it some custom features over time.

I'd be happy to talk about adapting the forums there to be more attractive to people over here. I'm also not completely convinced that we can't coexist -- it could well be that different cultures will naturally spring up in each place, and some people will prefer one over the other, some will hang out at both. We can help each other out, even -- I like the idea of having a forum for off-board discussion, maybe we could do something similar and use it to talk back and forth.

How are you planning on dealing with the perception that you are a branch of the SDMB?

I'm not. It is what it is. Not a branch of the SDMB, but not completely disconnected either. I'm not planning to limit discussion or criticism of the SDMB, but I expect the board as a whole will be about more than just that.

Edit: Obviously, I don't know how to link.

[Veb]

A merger would be great if you guys can figure out how to do it.

If nothing else it would rock to name it Captain Ridley's Shooting Giraffes.

P.S.
Don't know if it would help, but while you were ships passing in the night you both incurred some expense in this. I'd be very happy to chip in to help defray costs. Of course you're both on your own for the standard hookers and blow expenses.

[McNutty]

My two cents:

I like vB better than phpBB. There's just something cleaner and easier to use about the UI. This might be due to the fact that I've gotten very used to vB over the years at SDMB, but phpBB's UI just doesn't seem to have had as much thought or time into refining it (e.g. I, like others have mentioned, have a hard time quickly figuring out who wrote a post, because the username doesn't stand out or isn't where I'd expect it to be, etc). I'm sure phpBB is tweakable enough to make this issue irrelevant, but it's unlikely that all that tweaking is actually going to happen (despite CRSP's apparent dedication and enthusiasm for making things better). It's better if it's just nice and clean out of the box.

On the other hand, I like (what seems to be) this board's philosophy of being a place to supercede the SDMB if the SDMB doesn't shape up real soon, with a nearly 1:1 correspondence in forums. I'm still not completely sure what's going on at giraffeboard, but it seems like (for example) there is no "General Questions"-like forum, probably because that is SDMB's bread and butter, and if you go after that, you're definitely a competitor to them. I really don't want to have two seperate boards I check on a regular basis in order to get what I used to get at the SDMB.

I would also be willing to do a paypal donate to offset some of the wasted setup costs.

[fessie]

$.02

I agree vB is cleaner - avatars are nice, though.

I'm liking CRSP's modding. 8-)

[DeadlyAccurate]

I would gladly donate to defray the cost for one of the boards. I don't care which one, though I have a preference for this one, it having the largest membership and being the first out of the gate. For software, I like vBulletin better than phpBB, but not enough to let that define which one I use.

But I like the name domebo, for some reason. I pronounce it Dough Mee Beau in my head, and I like how it sounds.

[Zuul]

But vB does allow for avatars. They just haven't been enabled either on the SDMB or on Giraffe's board.

[pepperlandgirl]

$.02

I agree vB is cleaner - avatars are nice, though.

I'm liking CRSP's modding. 8-)

Avatars are possible with vB. In fact, every single thing that posters requested at the SDMB is possible with vB. The staff at the SDMB just wasn't interested in implementing it, for whatever reason.

I prefer the way the vB looks, too. But I'm liking the way this community is beginning.

[fessie]

$.02

I agree vB is cleaner - avatars are nice, though.

I'm liking CRSP's modding. 8-)

Avatars are possible with vB. In fact, every single thing that posters requested at the SDMB is possible with vB. The staff at the SDMB just wasn't interested in implementing it, for whatever reason.

I prefer the way the vB looks, too. But I'm liking the way this community is beginning.

Me, too! It's sweet, fresh, new - right out of the womb!

Somebody will be along to smack it on the ass any time now.

[fisheroo]

Link to the ongoing conversation on giraffeboards.com

http://www.giraffeboards.com/showthread.php?t=49

[CRSP]

Hmm... :?

[Ensign Edison]

Can I say Mexican standoff or would that be hate speech? 8-)

[Orual]

I'm not surprised. I sort of think too early to get these boards merged - they've been set up differently, appeal to different populations, and emotions are running high on all sides right now.

[Zuul]

I'd thought merging quickly would be the best way to do things, but maybe people just aren't ready for it yet.

I like the idea of having a duel! An awesome duel. Whichever board produces the most incredible thread ever, wins!

[TheFlame]

I'd thought merging quickly would be the best way to do things, but maybe people just aren't ready for it yet.

It's not looking likely .

There are, it appears to me, fairly clear differences between GB and DoMeBo - GB seems to be much more like SDMB II (it's even effectively been endorsed by TPTB over there), whereas DoMeBo is already beginning to develop its own character and style. DoMeBo has attracted more of the vocal malcontents (hence more vituperative anti-TPTB threads); GB, from what I've seen of it, is more chatty and is developing a more informal feel despite the look of the boards being plainer.

At the same time, from a community point of view, one board would be better than two. I guess it's too early.

[fisheroo]

Yes, there is already a different feel between the two.

I feel like GB has decided that the ship is listing a little, and to dock the next town over.

I feel like we are sailing to a new continent on a bright and shiny new ship.


Hey, anyone know how to run one of these things?

Thanks to all that are here.

[Liberal]

I'm really looking forward to a theme here with less eye strain, but I'm willing to wait patiently for a bit. (Please hurry!)

A couple things do bother me about Giraffe's site, though. The rather weird approval of SDMB staff gives the impression that establishing the board might have been a tactic. In other words — and I know Giraffe wouldn't do this, it's just the appearance of the thing — mollify the malcontents by giving them a separate, but very friendly, place to have their rhetorical bowel movements. That way, they remain loyal to SDMB but do not sully its pages.

But the other thing is the attitude of the posters there, describing us in rather dismissive and parochial terms. They say they're the grown-ups and we're the teenagers. Interesting.

So I vote that if there is a merger, our own CRSP should be in charge. He has demonstrated considerable leadership ability. I feel good about him. I think he'll take care of the place and make it a good place for us.

[CRSP]

To keep you informed:

Giraffe and I have spoken privately. We do not see that it is possible, at this time, to merge the boards, as both of us have slightly different ideas over what our respective boards should be, and both of us have different opinions on the way forward. Rather, we've agreed to keep both boards open and to keep a dialogue between the admins over here and over there going. This does not preclude a merger in the future. We also expressly do not want an us vs. them attitude between the two boards.

Anyway, enough drama for one night. That should keep the Snarkpit going for a month.

Also, I was getting slightly worked up in that thread, where I perhaps had no reason to be. Sorry about that!

[TheFlame]

In fairness to GiraffeBoards:

A couple things do bother me about Giraffe's site, though

...

They say they're the grown-ups and we're the teenagers. Interesting.

I saw one post on there making this kind of suggestion, and it wasn't by one of the admins or mods, just someone who signed up there (who I don't recognise from the Dope). Has anyone else said something similar?

[fisheroo]

You've done a great job, CRSP.The more I see you in action, the more I like you.

Thanks for all the hard work.

[Liberal]

In fairness to GiraffeBoards:

A couple things do bother me about Giraffe's site, though

...

They say they're the grown-ups and we're the teenagers. Interesting.

I saw one post on there making this kind of suggestion, and it wasn't by one of the admins or mods, just someone who signed up there (who I don't recognise from the Dope). Has anyone else said something similar?

I couldn't say. I'm sure I overreacted. At any rate, I intend to honor CRSP's wishes and drop the confrontational stance. As to the first observation I made, if Giraffe and Ed want to work together, that's none of my business either. So, here's to detente at Domebo! [...tink...]

[EddyTeddyFreddy]

I'm going to repost what I just posted over at Giraffe's place:

Having registered now, after registering at DoMeBo yesterday, these are my thoughts:

1. It's probably a good idea to hold off on going into a merger, in either direction, for a week or two anyway, to see how each board shakes down. While there's bound to be a lot of overlap, in membership, structure, and kinds of content, I can see the two developing their own personalities, if given a chance.

2. In the meantime, how about putting a link to the other board on the front page? That would make it easier to toggle between the two, don't you think? I'm going to suggest the same thing at DoMeBo.

3. I enjoy the fun of avatars over there, and the choice of looks; I enjoy the clean simple lines of this place, as being familiar from my SDMB days. So format isn't that important to me, although having choices I think is better.

4. "Captain Ridley's Shooting Giraffes" would be an AWESOME board name.

[Weirddave]

But the other thing is the attitude of the posters there, describing us in rather dismissive and parochial terms. They say they're the grown-ups and we're the teenagers. Interesting.

Dude, can you get your mom's car tonight? Let's go turf their lawn!

[Hatshepsut]

Looking at the posts on all three boards about this situation, I think it might help if a significant fraction of posters move beyond the "uh oh, what a pickle, hope you can merge, love ya both" stage and state a preference for either Giraffe Boards or domebo. Since a merger doesn't seem to be in the offing, it would be nice to figure out as quickly as possible how this is going to play out.

So, I guess I'm voting domebo. If events show that there is only room for one new board, and it turns out to be Giraffe's, I'll happily go there when the writing is on the wall and I hope there will be no hard feelings. For now, however, I'm sticking with domebo for the following reasons:

1) It pre-dates Giraffe Boards.

2) It has a larger membership, so far.

3) It is much more obviously independent from the SDMB and serves as a potential replacement, not an adjunct.

[Julie]

So, I guess I'm voting domebo. If events show that there is only room for one new board, and it turns out to be Giraffe's, I'll happily go there when the writing is on the wall and I hope there will be no hard feelings.

Me, too.

[Zuul]

Looking at the posts on all three boards about this situation, I think it might help if a significant fraction of posters move beyond the "uh oh, what a pickle, hope you can merge, love ya both" stage and state a preference for either Giraffe Boards or domebo. Since a merger doesn't seem to be in the offing, it would be nice to figure out as quickly as possible how this is going to play out.

So, I guess I'm voting domebo. If events show that there is only room for one new board, and it turns out to be Giraffe's, I'll happily go there when the writing is on the wall and I hope there will be no hard feelings. For now, however, I'm sticking with domebo for the following reasons:

1) It pre-dates Giraffe Boards.

2) It has a larger membership, so far.

3) It is much more obviously independent from the SDMB and serves as a potential replacement, not an adjunct.

Yeah, pretty much this. I'm working on setting up a game with Ensign Edison for this board and I've already racked up a bunch of posts here. If Giraffe's board ends up being where everyone settles, I'll follow, but I'm quite comfortable here.

[Tinker]

Heh I don't really care about which board but I've already landed here, the admin is very responsive so I'm going to stay here. If I meander off far and wide from here then that's not a big deal.

[Jill]

Looking at the posts on all three boards about this situation, I think it might help if a significant fraction of posters move beyond the "uh oh, what a pickle, hope you can merge, love ya both" stage and state a preference for either Giraffe Boards or domebo. Since a merger doesn't seem to be in the offing, it would be nice to figure out as quickly as possible how this is going to play out.

So, I guess I'm voting domebo. If events show that there is only room for one new board, and it turns out to be Giraffe's, I'll happily go there when the writing is on the wall and I hope there will be no hard feelings. For now, however, I'm sticking with domebo for the following reasons:

1) It pre-dates Giraffe Boards.

2) It has a larger membership, so far.

3) It is much more obviously independent from the SDMB and serves as a potential replacement, not an adjunct.

What she said.

[5er]

My sentiments as well. This board has the human elements of the Dope without the eerie floorplan that makes me feel like I'm being fooled somehow. It feels I'm like eating fries at McDonalds because a potato is not meat, but I'm still eating the animal fats in which the fries are cooked. I'm not saying that Giraffe had this in mind, but it just feels too much like the SDMB in a a different package, and I want a fresh start, a place where I feel like I'm a part of a community I know while getting to the party early enough to make my introductions.

[Just]

I really hope the two boards find a way to merge. Whether domebo merges into GB, or vice-versa, I wouldn't mind either way, but it's in no one's interests to have the SDMB community fragmented.

[Veb]

::shrugs::

I'm not choosing because I like both and I don't have to choose.

I've been posting less and less at the Dope as time has gone by though. I still really like a lot of the posters and there's the sentimental/stuck in a rut thing going on. Some threads catch my interest but they seem to get fewer and fewer. Maybe the board's gotten stale or I've just staled on it. Either way, it hasn't caught much of time or attention for quite a while.

FWIW, I don't know that the off-shoot boards necessarily compete with each other or have to. People settle at places they like and can wander around at will. I'd sure never feel comfortable anywhere I felt like I had to declare an exclusive loyalty. Fathom was the only off-shoot board where Ifelt distinctly unwelcome. Since it was formed in direct backlash to satan being banned (funny to reflect now how that one turned out) I was ranked with the enemy, no matter how hard I tried to be pleasant and courteous. Not a pleasant experience, and not an atmosphere that should be recreated, IMO.*

It's one thing to be angry about how a message board is administered. It's quite another to require other people to be just as angry.

I'm blathering. No matter how fed up I am with TPTB at the Dope, there are still a lot of good people who still enjoy the place. And that's fine. The world's plenty big enough.

*In fairness, that atmosphere toned down fairly quickly and found its own identity apart from the Anti-Dope. The Dope shedding posters isn't new, is all.

[NinetyWt]

I absolutely don't want that board to be a cult of personality. This is why I'd kind of like to change the name. Alternatively, maybe I should change my user name.

I realize that, dear Giraffe, but I think that "flavor" would come from other folks' perceptions, not your intentions. I'd also hate to see you change your user name.

I will probably stick with DoMeBo, for the same reasons given above, although I may join at GB to post occasionally. I agree with others that the two boards will take on personalities of their own. Let it all shake out - we know how to get in touch with one another if we need to.

[Inner Stickler]

It's already very clear to me that there will be no merger. The two boards already have groups of people that have as much as said, "They can come over here, I suppose." I suspect both boards will grow for the next few days and then stop and maintain like every other off-shoot of the dope.

[Hatshepsut]

I'm not choosing because I like both and I don't have to choose.

Agreed, but I'd phrase it differently ... you ARE choosing, and you choose both. If you have time to be an active participant in both boards, hell, why not? If both thrive and take on complementary characters, I think we'll all be happy. But some of us will probably have to decide which one of the two new boards we're throwing ourselves into. It's not an us versus them thing or a popularity contest, it's just a time management problem. The choices that posters make in such circumstances may well influence how this whole affair turns out.

I'm just trying to rush the process along a little, I guess. Like someone who sneaks a peek at the end of the book. More power to both boards if they DO both achieve critical mass.

[Jill]

Veb, am I misremembering? I thought Fathom got its start when Melin was banned, not satan.

The only other thing I have to say about what I felt when I read the thread about the merger at Giraffe's board was that, while everyone here seemed enthused about merging, most people there said they checked us out and didn't like this thing or that thing, so it was just one complaint about us and our boards after another. I thought CRSP laid out the nuts and bolts about the additional bandwidth and storage space here, etc. And every reply by Giraffe kept making me feel like he was having a dick-waving contest, and sure enough, the next post I read he even called himself out for coming across like that.

I don't want to be "sized up", whether it's on our appearance, our board style or anything else. And that's what those guys were doing to us over there. So no, I don't think I'll be registering there, thanks all the same.

[wring]

I've never registered or posted at fathom. I've been at the dope for what, 9 years? Been at Unaboard pretty much for as long as it's been around, for reasons other than dope related.

Registered here 'cause of specific dope related shit. Have always admired Giraffe, hope some comprimise can be arranged.

[myskepticsight]

I do believe it would be nice if everyone could just use one board. And seems like over at the Giraffe board, people are there instead of here because:

-they like Giraffe
-they don't like the way this board looks

Well using a different skin, subsilver2, makes this board look a lot more like that one, and for some probably easier to read - I know for me it is. And the admin here seemed very willing to try a partnership with Giraffe. But it doesn't appear it is going to work out, which is a shame. I never bothered with any other offshoot boards because I only like to read boards that have a good level of activity. My life, at least currently, is boring to the point where I spend a lot of time online. And I have a habit of checking the same websites over and over; I like to see new content. Hopefully we will continue this level of posting or see it increase, because I am very disenchanted with the dope and probably won't post there again unless activity here drops too low.

[Savannah]

I'm registered at both boards - I don't mind splitting my time, but it would be great if there was any way to merge the two.

Yes. I agree, too.

I registered at the Giraffe board (but I can't post yet). I've been with other message boards (wink, wink, I'm no virgin) and eventually we drifted apart. I like it when there is enough of a population to provide a variety of viewpoints and topics, and a good selection of reading when I hit "new posts". Some small boards make me feel like I know too much about too few people and am reading the same things over and over again. The biggest I've registered on must be the Something Awful forums, but I'm a 43 year old woman, and a lot of the content is off-putting to me.

I hope this board takes off, with a Giraffe on board!*


*Pardon the pun.

[NinetyWt]

I just went and read the thread at GB. Not everyone in it was so negative. BUT the color of that board is too bright-white ... I had a hard time reading it.

I actually like the subsilver2 look here better than either SD or GB.