Can I ask why this forum favors such long threads?

[jimbo_whales]

It seems like the policy on this forum is to lock/close many new threads, and instead redirect those questions or comments into existing mammoth, monolithic >90 page threads.

Is there a particular reason for this? Just a cultural thing? It's kind of intimidating as a newcomer to have to either a) slog through 100+ pages or b) try to join in on the last page having "lost the thread", as they say.

 

[TheAmazingAxolotl]

Autism.

 

[Null]

It seems like the policy on this forum is to lock/close many new threads, and instead redirect those questions or comments into existing mammoth, monolithic >90 page threads.

Is there a particular reason for this? Just a cultural thing? It's kind of intimidating as a newcomer to have to either a) slog through 100+ pages or b) try to join in on the last page having "lost the thread", as they say.

Having many shorter threads wouldn't help. Updates are small and come once a month. There's no use trying to break a conversation about a retarded gay transvestite's bootleg miniatures into multiple topics. You just have to lurk a week or two. What most people say is no longer important or interesting after page 3.

 

[Watcher]

Most people don't read the first few pages of a thread and completely ignore the middle. I'm fairly guilty of this myself. It's why lolcow threads in particular have to have a big FAQ thing at the start to properly explain the lolcow in question for new people and also to justify the thread's existence.

The other downside to having small ass threads is that you have to sift through a dozen threads about the something to find the information you want. Often it's better to just merge them into one topic.

 

[CatParty]

i just use the search bar

 

[SpessCaptain]

Because usually threads that go into the 90+ zone are the same thing sprouted over and over.
Those long threads usually have a lolcow in them and often locking them is a sign of DEFEATING THE DANG TROLLS.
Some people actually still read them fully because there's a lot of interesting content available within them.

 

[Glaive]

You know what they say about guys with big threads?

 

[BOLDYSPICY!]

You know what they say about guys with big threads?

They write long shitposts?

 

[Stratomsk]

Most people don't read the first few pages of a thread and completely ignore the middle. I'm fairly guilty of this myself. It's why lolcow threads in particular have to have a big FAQ thing at the start to properly explain the lolcow in question for new people and also to justify the thread's existence.

The other downside to having small ass threads is that you have to sift through a dozen threads about the something to find the information you want. Often it's better to just merge them into one topic.

I've had this problem quite a lot, especially with the much longer threads. I really don't have the time to read a thread that is hundreds of pages long or more and often get lost because important contextual information ends up lost in places where people including myself are unlikely to read it. Lolcows with dedicated subforums such as Jace or Chris are easier to follow because entire threads are dedicated to simple updates in a format that would be impossible to replicate in a thread where all of the information about them is exclusive to a single thread.

 

[That Guy]

If I'm trying to get into a new lolcow like Pixyteri or Nick Bate I prefer systemically going through a single thread. I bookmark my progress and do it in several sitings so I don't miss anything. It's preferable to digging through 4-5 pages of tiny little threads.

If a lolcow is going to be limited to one megathread it reallllllly helps having a big FAQ or a TLDR in the first page so I know what I'm reading about instead of having to find the info scattered to the winds.

 

[PeteyCoffee]

We could assign volunteers individual threads of their choice - Give them the job of updating the FAQ whenever something substantial is uncovered. (In the process, they keep up with the thread on at least a weekly basis.)

The massive threads could even have indexes. It wouldn't be difficult for someone to write a few lines of text for every couple of pages.

Spoiler: Example index, for Nick Bate 2: THE RECKONING

Page 1-3 : He's in prison, he could get 40 years, everyone celebrates.
Page 3-5 : Nick was convinced he wouldn't be arrested. More celebration.
Page 5-7 : Nick's rationale in sending a video of himself masturbating with shit to the investigator. He shouldn't be declared incompetent to stand trial. Feels.
Page 7-9 : Nick deserves agony. Even death may be too lenient. A-logging is justified.
Page 9 : The shit video probably won't be admitted as evidence. US prisons are generally good at protecting pedophiles from attack and rape. He might get placed in permanent solitary confinement for his own safety. Prison is worse than death. Sex offender. Possible permanent committal.
Page 10 - 13 : Talk about Ozzy Osbourne's prison experience. More celebration and a-logging.
Page 14-15 : They will force Nick to shower. Groups of prisoners might jump him. His only hope of significant leniency is a bad prosecutor.
Page 16-17 : His rotting teeth are so bad maybe he'll die in prison. Nick's miserable. Anna says Nick doesn't wipe. Nick ED Art.
Page 18-19 : Sweet memories of Nick being reported. I don't always a-log. A transgender brony named Thom advised Nick how to delete incriminating tweets.
Page 20-etc.

// I just skimmed and threw this index together as an example. It definitely needs some work.

With that bit of text, I've summarized 1/4 of the currently 76 page Nick Bate thread. Maybe if indexes existed, most people would actually know the content of long threads. Or maybe few people would want to use an index to explore a lol cow. I dunno.

If this worked, threads would become shorter and less repetitive.