Heads up!

[tonmo]

I said it in another thread -- basically, I think Mr. Wilson and company should make the NPR forum available only to paying members. Anything else on this forum that is not related to pool (I'm talking seed posts here, not replies) should be deleted.

It works well on my octopus / squid site. The only place you can talk about non-cephalopod related topics is in the Supporter's forum. To become a Supporter, you must donate a minimum of $10 to the site (one time).

AZ has an annual subscription model (my site used to, too). Either way, the point is that if you reserve off-topic threads to members-only, the content is better (since it's relatively "private"), it does not show up in Google search engines (because you have to be logged in and the search engine spiders can't get to it) and thereby your site relevance becomes much better in search engine rankings, for your target keywords.

And your fly-by visitors will get more of what they came for in the first place -- pool-related content. Then they will stick. And they'll get to better know their fellow AZ'ers. And they'll want to join the club, and eventually join in on the NPR banter, so they'll subscribe. And by being a paying member, they'll feel the NPR forum is special for them, making them more likely to participate.

Something to think about! I don't believe there's a downside to that model (haven't found it myself).

 

[ShootingArts]

keeping it on subject

I have been a member of another forum for about ten years. Once it was tightly policed and off topic posts were strictly deleted from the main forum. It became the most popular forum of it's type on the internet. Major sponsors came on board and at it's peak value the forum was probably worth over $50K.

Over the years, off topic posts were allowed on the main forum by popular demand. I no longer spend much time there but it is a great community with a bunch of great people there. Unfortunately for the owners the major sponsors have left since the original purpose of the forum is lost in the chatter and the last time I checked the forum was worth under $5K.

If we want to kill AZBilliards there is an easy way, drownd the pool posts in OT chatter. I haven't been perfect myself, I wanted people to see something and others posted OT on the main forum so I did too. However in the end if off topic posts are allowed on the main forum it will harm the site to the disadvantage of all of us.

Hu

 

[branpureza]

I have been a member of another forum for about ten years. Once it was tightly policed and off topic posts were strictly deleted from the main forum. It became the most popular forum of it's type on the internet. Major sponsors came on board and at it's peak value the forum was probably worth over $50K.

Over the years, off topic posts were allowed on the main forum by popular demand. I no longer spend much time there but it is a great community with a bunch of great people there. Unfortunately for the owners the major sponsors have left since the original purpose of the forum is lost in the chatter and the last time I checked the forum was worth under $5K.

If we want to kill AZBilliards there is an easy way, drownd the pool posts in OT chatter. I haven't been perfect myself, I wanted people to see something and others posted OT on the main forum so I did too. However in the end if off topic posts are allowed on the main forum it will harm the site to the disadvantage of all of us.

Hu

I agree, I mean we all come to this forum because we love pool... and there are a million pool related things we could discuss but a lot of times its easier for people to post a dumb video and say "haha take a looky here" than to think of something of substance and relevance to talk about. Folks is lazy.

 

[Williebetmore]

There is an NPR forum and you are expected to keep the non-pool stuff there.


.

Mr W.,
Of course you appreciate the irony here. Your warning is non-pool related; but you wanted it seen by the large core of AZB'ers. So you posted it in the Main Forum. It's really the only way to assure that everyone will see it. The problem will always be there.

 

[lodini]

Be advised, I am strongly considering giving warnings when NPR stuff is posted in the main forum.

There is an NPR forum and you are expected to keep the non-pool stuff there.


Enough is enough.

I am tired of fielding complaints for this.

Awesome! Thanks, Mr. Wilson. I think this will help everyone get along a little better too. Keeping the topics to pool will alleviate some of the spats that stem from people talking about personal things.

And I am sure once everyone is used to it... people won't mind fitting the NPR section into their daily AZ routine. (I've done it a few times recently... it's really not a big deal to click another button and see if there is anything over there worth reading or discussing)

 

[DeadPoked]

I agree, I mean we all come to this forum because we love pool... and there are a million pool related things we could discuss but a lot of times its easier for people to post a dumb video and say "haha take a looky here" than to think of something of substance and relevance to talk about. Folks is lazy.

I don't look at it that way. I look at the Main Forum like a virtual poolhall where we all can discuss many different things... not just pool related stuff. Do you guys only discuss pool at the poolhall? Of course pool should should be the main focus, just like it is at the poolhall.

Maybe there should be a rule that if something isn't pool related, the thread title should start with NPR: and then the rest of the title.

Are warnings going to be given for threads that are started and for off topic post in a thread? What happens if someone gets a warning for a post and then post another offtopic post? Will they be banned? Too much gray area.

 

[branpureza]

I don't look at it that way. I look at the Main Forum like a virtual poolhall where we all can discuss many different things... not just pool related stuff.

I see where you are coming from but I'm looking at the entire forum as a virtual poolhall... the main forum is the table and the NPR is off in the stands... I'll come find you when I'm done playing pool.

 

[av84fun]

You do understand that a very small percentage of AZ'ers ever use the NPR forum? There are things that may not be specifically pool related but the person may want an AZ'ers perspective on it without having the NPR crowd turn there thread into a political debate. And if you post a thread in the NPR you might get 10 views by the end of the week.

I personally don't like the idea of AZ being turned into a police state.

What state do you live in? Doesn't it have police?

And what makes you think that AZ is as state (as in nation state)?

I thought it was a private sector business enterprise.

Jim

 

[corvette1340]

I don't look at it that way. I look at the Main Forum like a virtual poolhall where we all can discuss many different things... not just pool related stuff. Do you guys only discuss pool at the poolhall? Of course pool should should be the main focus, just like it is at the poolhall.

Maybe there should be a rule that if something isn't pool related, the thread title should start with NPR: and then the rest of the title.

Are warnings going to be given for threads that are started and for off topic post in a thread? What happens if someone gets a warning for a post and then post another offtopic post? Will they be banned? Too much gray area.

I agree with this. I have owned a pool room, been on the road with pool champions, know most everyone in the pool world, and gambled thousands during big matches and tournaments. I've also bought and sold a ton of sticks, sponsored players, and put a few tournaments on. 99.9% of the posters on here are here because its a pool and billiards site and they can relate to fellow posters and interact with them because they share a passion for pool.

That being said, I think its ridiculous to not allow people that have the same interests discuss other things from time to time (much like an actual pool room) because a few people simply can't skip threads that they care nothing about. When I see threads that are about OB-1 shaft weights or cue ball squirt I simply DO NOT OPEN THEM because they don't interest me.

However, if I see a thread where Fatboy is talking about giving poor people credit, or Smorgass Bored is being Smorgass Bored, or Jay Helfert is talking about poker, or anything else that might peak my interest then I will open the thread just like I do with all of the pool related stuff that I open such as gambling threads, tourney updates, player summaries, heated pool discusssions, etc...

I mean really, its just like the whole avatar thing where people can simply turn them off if they dont want to see them. Its the same with the different threads, just dont read the ones you dont want to. If someone purposely titles a thread wrong then I agree it should warrant a warning, but come on guys, isn't it a little childish to complain about a few threads that you had to skip over?

 

[av84fun]

Mr W.,
Of course you appreciate the irony here. Your warning is non-pool related; but you wanted it seen by the large core of AZB'ers. So you posted it in the Main Forum. It's really the only way to assure that everyone will see it. The problem will always be there.

With respect, where else would he post a warning about NPR posts in the Main Forum??

I'll let ye re-rack that one.

(-:

 

[junksecret]

I enjoy the board as is and think Mr. Wilson does a great job of booting the truly incorrigible, but that's just me.....I don't even mind speed pool OR watchin' Corvette eat cheese snacks while taking a poop. Maybe I'm just easily amused.

Just pass me that hat.....no,no.....the big pointy one...and I'll sit in the corner.

 

[Jason Robichaud]

What gets me more fired is people posting something not related to the topic. Like someone asking how to play a shot and the reply is... Play better shape. Or how would you kick this... Don't hook yourself. When people ask a question it would be nice to show them some respect or post nothing at all.

To make this related to the topic... I don't mind the none pool related threads... I think many of the high viewed and posted threads are none pool related. Maybe a rating system... G general, P pool, R Fatboy's relationship stories. At least it would give people a heads up before they open the thread. A little drop down box to select the rating.

 

[branpureza]

That being said, I think its ridiculous to not allow people that have the same interests discuss other things from time to time

They can and do discuss other things from time to time... this happens in the NPR section.

This forum doesn't have different sections for the heck of it... The main forum is a pool and billiards forum and it will cease to be just that when everything else is allowed. Then it'll just be a forum.

 

[ShootingArts]

seems reasonable

Corvette,

What you say seems reasonable but it totally destroyed another site that once rivaled AZB in size. I think the only reason the site still exists is that the owners feel an obligation to a few friends. That isn't a pool site but the same thing applies here. Let NPR take over, and it will if left alone, and the major sponsors will go away.

Hu

I agree with this. I have owned a pool room, been on the road with pool champions, know most everyone in the pool world, and gambled thousands during big matches and tournaments. I've also bought and sold a ton of sticks, sponsored players, and put a few tournaments on. 99.9% of the posters on here are here because its a pool and billiards site and they can relate to fellow posters and interact with them because they share a passion for pool.

That being said, I think its ridiculous to not allow people that have the same interests discuss other things from time to time (much like an actual pool room) because a few people simply can't skip threads that they care nothing about. When I see threads that are about OB-1 shaft weights or cue ball squirt I simply DO NOT OPEN THEM because they don't interest me.

However, if I see a thread where Fatboy is talking about giving poor people credit, or Smorgass Bored is being Smorgass Bored, or Jay Helfert is talking about poker, or anything else that might peak my interest then I will open the thread just like I do with all of the pool related stuff that I open such as gambling threads, tourney updates, player summaries, heated pool discusssions, etc...

I mean really, its just like the whole avatar thing where people can simply turn them off if they dont want to see them. Its the same with the different threads, just dont read the ones you dont want to. If someone purposely titles a thread wrong then I agree it should warrant a warning, but come on guys, isn't it a little childish to complain about a few threads that you had to skip over?

 

[Ed Simmons]

I do agree with the philosophy of keeping the main forum pool related.
The only exception should be that funny picture/Gif thread. That thing has been making me laugh out loud for 5 weeks now!

 

[DeadPoked]

What state do you live in? Doesn't it have police?

And what makes you think that AZ is as state (as in nation state)?

I thought it was a private sector business enterprise.

Jim

av84fun your ignorance never ceases to surprise me. I've come to fully expect it every time I see a post from you. A police state is a term in which authority exercises strict and repressive controls over the population. By me calling a website a police state, one might say I was using an analogy. I understand that a person of your weak mental caliber might not completely comprehend that. I apologize profusely. I'll try to keep it a touch simpler for you next time.

And yes, AZ is a private sector enterprise, but if they alienate their consumers who end up going elsewhere, who's going to flip the bill once all of the sponsors and paying members leave? AZBilliards, AZBTV & Runoutradio are all services that wouldn't be here without the support the members of this forum provide. So yes, they can do as they please with the forum, but if you don't try to please the consumers of your product you will eventually end up with a product that no one desires; which isn't good for business.

Please tell me what you do to support this site... All you do is cause the moderators grief by having to ban you multiple times.

 

[watchez]

Be advised, I am strongly considering giving warnings when NPR stuff is posted in the main forum.

There is an NPR forum and you are expected to keep the non-pool stuff there.

Enough is enough.

I am tired of fielding complaints for this.

I am with Willie & see the irony in this post by the moderator.

For example - the thread about 6 inches below this one for NO NPR IN MAIN FORUM on my screen is Funny pic/gif thread... that has currently 79,109 replies still remains in the main forum because?? Looks like you would have to start with 79,109 warnings just right there. You won't have time to field complaints.

And let's not limit it to just the NPR stuff being posted in the Main Forum. If you are going to police this site, you are going to open yourself up to

• Tournament Announcements (Mike Janis would be upset if forced to post only here)
• Wanted/For Sale
• Straight Pool
• snooker
• Carom Billiards
• Memories of Steve Mizerak
• Room Owners
• Mechanics (so no more threads or posts by RealKingCobra in Main Forum)
• Border Billiards (if anyone cares)
• DCC
• IPT
• Canadian 9 Ball
• Million Dollar 9 Ball (is that still gonna happen?)
• BCA 8 Ball
• US Bar Table Championships
• Seminole Florida Pro Tour (a shame as this is best bang for ur buck)
• Eurotour
• World Pool Championships
• US Open (that would make Danny H. happy)
• Bud Bowl (rest in peace Breakup)
• Cue Machinery, Review, Gallery & Cuemakers
• Da pros (Morris, Ulrich, Ginky, Sarah Bumper, Jennifer the movie star, HillBilly & Shawn 'I'll take any sponsor' Putnam) - I say we let Sarah post wherever she wants.
  

Wow - that is a lot of work for one moderator but as my employees remind me all the time - everyone should be treated the same & the rules the same for everyone.

 

[derekdisco]

I say we let Sarah post wherever she wants.

.

 

[rackem]

you just don't get it!

Do we really need to see the same darn NPR pictures every time you post? It takes up half a page and is rather annoying. Please give it a rest.

 

[steev]

just $.02 regarding visibility of threads, in question form:

am i the only one who reads AZB by clicking 'new' at the top? maybe i've got too much free time, but i see all the threads, regardless of what forum they were posted to.

that having been said, NPR should be restricted to NPR forum. period.

-s