When one walks into a library they are faced with the daunting prospect of trying to find their books amongst thousands upon thousands of books, perhaps even located on multiple floors. By utilizing the Dewey Decimal Classification System, which subdivides books into predetermined classifications, one can then find their chosen books by using the old-fashioned card files or the newer computer systems.
In a similar manner, a pool forum that has thousands upon thousands of threads becomes much more cumbersome to use when the information is not somehow categorized into subdivisions (sub-forums). With sub-forums, one can group threads together by association which makes it easier for people to find the information they are looking for.
While we probably don't need to become overly granular by having too many sub-forums, I think everyone will agree that we do need some sub-forums for the more popular topics. Sub-forums like the one for "Straight Pool" make sense as those posters know exactly where to go to get the information they need.
When the decision was made to create a sub-forum for "Aiming Systems" over a year ago, that was also a highly controversial topic at the time, however, the decision was long overdue. This poll taken in 2010 indicated that 66% of the respondents thought there should be a new aiming forum: "Should there be a new aiming sub forum?"
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=189070 Now that we have a new aiming forum, posters know where to go when they have a question about aiming systems. Although some aiming topics tend to be more controversial than others, for the most part the discussions are much more civil than they used to be on the Main Forum.
With regards to CJ, I think his threads generate enough interest that it makes sense to group the threads together into their own forum. With CJ's own sub-forum, people can find information on TOI, people can ask questions and get answers from CJ, and CJ can share his experiences in a forum where people can easily find it.
The topics are much more civil because Mr. Wilson laid down the law on it. The fact of it is that when the aiming subforum was created the naysayers followed right into it and continued the same attacks that caused so much argument previously. Mr. Wilson issued a very clear statement about the situation well after the aiming forum was established and THAT is what made it somewhat more civil.
And the same thing applies here. If people would be civil and not post just to harass then these threads would die their natural deaths.
Let's examine a hypothetical thread.
How to USE TOI.
1. I am confused how to use TOI. - newplaya
2. TOI works like this........... - CJ Wiley
3. CJ what do you mean by a touch? - poolstudent
4. A touch is this....... - CJ Wiley
No further questions? Thread is done.
Now let's examine the same thread with negativity tossed in.
How to USE TOI.
1. I am confused how to use TOI. - newplaya
2. TOI works like this........... - CJ Wiley
3. CJ what do you mean by a touch? - poolstudent
4. A touch is this....... - CJ Wiley
5. WTH is TOI - you yanks are off your bloomin rockers with this nonsense. - snooker lover
6. why don't you admit that TOI is some bogus thing you made up? - amateur guru
7. Who did you ever beat? Did they play pool in 1996? - sirknocksalot
8. Pros don't know what they are doing and can't teach - instructoman
9. I was just over in England with the Mosconi Cup and had several conversations with snooker pros who like TOI - CJ Wiley
10. I didn't make anything up I was taught this by a road partner and I perfected in during my time in Tampa, TOI has been around a while as a top technique only known among top players. We play a different game than you do. Which is why we can give up the six to shortstops. - CJ Wiley
11. Well I beat Efren for the cash, beat Johnny Archer, and here are some of my videos of me winning in tournaments.....- CJ Wiley
12. Well maybe some pros can't teach but I have been teaching since 1996 and have hundreds of satisfied students, as well I have training in many other fields which allow me to translate those concepts as they apply to pool. - CJ Wiley
13. Well, you don't know best practice and state of the art in instruction in 2013..... instructoman
14. What those matches were in the stone age play someone now if you want to prove you are good, you scared? - sirknocksalot
15. you're a wanker with wanking ideas if you think any snooker player would seriously consider your nonsense as a valid way to play, all you pool players suck and pool sucks. - snooker lover
16. ........CJ Wiley
17. ........ Sirknocksalot
18. ..............CJ WIley
19. ..............instructoman
20 ..........Amateur Guru
21. ......... TOI student
22. ............. Pool student.
23. ............. Old Pro
24. ............. Forum Activist
25. ............... CJ Wiley
26. ............ Snooker lover
27. ...............
28. .............
29. ................
30. .................. Repeat
and the thread then has no end because this sort of conversation can and does literally go on forever sucking in people on both sides who all have to get their licks in.
. The Usain Bolt of pool, he can do the walk - effortlessly:smile:
