Future of Game Threads

[Brandon Glick]

Hey all. Just wanted to open this up to get some community feedback on how we're handling game threads thus far. I've seen a bunch of comments for and against the way we've handled it, and I'd like to use this space as a chance to hear some ideas on what we could change/keep going forward.

As a reminder for how the system currently works:

On Gamedays:

1) A new thread is created for that day's game in the morning. It is pinned to the top of the forums.
2) During the game, a banner announcement at the top of the site (the floating bar thing) allows people to click into the thread from anywhere on the site.
3) The previous day's game thread is placed into the memorial game thread forum. It remains open for anyone to revisit and continue using, though it is removed from the main "Red Sox Talk" forum.

On Days Off: 

1) The previous day's thread remains in the main forum, though it is unpinned from the top.
2) No banner announcement is created, nor any new game thread.

 

Again, please offer any suggestions you may have. We're open to trying anything that makes your experience on the site better.

[moonslav59]

I'm fine keeping as is. It seems easier to locate, to me.

We no longer have to worry about the thread being started, or not, and starting the thread early is a big plus.

[mvp 78]

If there's significant discussion in the prior night's game thread, I wouldn't be opposed to leaving it open on the main page for a little while (excitement over something in particular happening or something relevant happening in that particular game). For the most part, the conversations surrounding the prior game are typically over and done with by noon the next day. In the previous incarnation of TalkSox, the game threads would get locked and sent to the gulag. At least now, they can stay open in the game thread forum for a little while. I know most posters only stick to this one forum, but there are other forums that you can click on as well! 

[jad]

On 4/11/2025 at 11:28 AM, Brandon Glick said:

Hey all. Just wanted to open this up to get some community feedback on how we're handling game threads thus far. I've seen a bunch of comments for and against the way we've handled it, and I'd like to use this space as a chance to hear some ideas on what we could change/keep going forward.

As a reminder for how the system currently works:

On Gamedays:

1) A new thread is created for that day's game in the morning. It is pinned to the top of the forums.
2) During the game, a banner announcement at the top of the site (the floating bar thing) allows people to click into the thread from anywhere on the site.
3) The previous day's game thread is placed into the memorial game thread forum. It remains open for anyone to revisit and continue using, though it is removed from the main "Red Sox Talk" forum.

On Days Off: 

1) The previous day's thread remains in the main forum, though it is unpinned from the top.
2) No banner announcement is created, nor any new game thread.

 

Again, please offer any suggestions you may have. We're open to trying anything that makes your experience on the site better.

Not sure what was wrong with letting posters start game threads, where after a win, the poster was obliged to start the next one.  Seemed always rather amusing.   If no one cares enough to start a game thread ...  well there.

[Brandon Glick]

4 minutes ago, jad said:

Not sure what was wrong with letting posters start game threads, where after a win, the poster was obliged to start the next one.  Seemed always rather amusing.   If no one cares enough to start a game thread ...  well there.

I'm certainly not opposed to giving the community more game thread responsibilities. I know that's how it worked before.

The reason (Brock and) I are doing it this way for now is because the majority of community feedback has been about getting consistency into the game threads. If one of us is responsible for them, we can guarantee they'll be up around the same time every day. If we open it up to everyone, we don't want there to be an issue where a game thread is late or doesn't appear at all on a given day.

[jad]

Who loses if the game thread is late?  If anyone notices that, just start the thread!  If no one cares enough to start the thread, there doesn't need to be one.  

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 hour ago, jad said:

Who loses if the game thread is late?  If anyone notices that, just start the thread!  If no one cares enough to start the thread, there doesn't need to be one.  

From a site management perspective, we lose. Consistency is a *huge* part of bringing in new users and giving us the ability to promote game threads across the site and/or social media.

[jad]

Well, ok.  If consistency is a goal.  Personally. I'd go with raggedness and variety.  But that's just me.   (And I don't notice many posting on game threads that aren't pretty much the same ones who have been posting for years).

[mvp 78]

17 minutes ago, jad said:

Well, ok.  If consistency is a goal.  Personally. I'd go with raggedness and variety.  But that's just me.   (And I don't notice many posting on game threads that aren't pretty much the same ones who have been posting for years).

The mojo system worked great when we had active posters that were invested in getting game threads up. The past few years, that went away. Standardizing the system is a good change. Having games start without a thread is unacceptable.

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The mojo system worked great when we had active posters that were invested in getting game threads up. The past few years, that went away. Standardizing the system is a good change. Having games start without a thread is unacceptable.

I agree.

Maybe start a tradition where the first poster who posts on the game thread gets credit for the W or L.

[Brock Beauchamp]

49 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I agree.

Maybe start a tradition where the first poster who posts on the game thread gets credit for the W or L.

54 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The mojo system worked great when we had active posters that were invested in getting game threads up. The past few years, that went away. Standardizing the system is a good change. Having games start without a thread is unacceptable.

To be clear, anybody can start a game thread. We appreciate if someone wants to take the time to do it, they just need to get it posted before Brandon or I pop over here to do it.

Over on Brewer Fanatic, one user has decided he wants to start game threads most days so he just does it around 8am every day, which is before I get to the site to do it myself.

[jad]

1 hour ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

To be clear, anybody can start a game thread. We appreciate if someone wants to take the time to do it, they just need to get it posted before Brandon or I pop over here to do it.

Over on Brewer Fanatic, one user has decided he wants to start game threads most days so he just does it around 8am every day, which is before I get to the site to do it myself.

Good solution! So if one of our many poet/posters feels the enthusiastic fit on game day, they can have at it! Thanks.

[Brock Beauchamp]

2 hours ago, jad said:

Good solution! So if one of our many poet/posters feels the enthusiastic fit on game day, they can have at it! Thanks.

Yep! We aren't striving for uniformity or having it done a certain way. Literally the only thing we care about is that it's up in the morning so we can schedule things around it.

[vegasbob]

I think as long as the opportunity is there to start the thread then that is good to go.    If you fellows see it is not up when you check in, then do post it .