In light of the recent threads on this, and since some people feel that tradition just can't be altered, rules can't be changed, spam will run wild etc., I propose a compromise.

Lets see how Mike and the Admins feel about creating a new forum that allows for what Testing has become; a place where people can be as silly or as serious as they want, a place that still adheres, minus a few, to the rules of the board, a place where you can run AVs and sigs by people if you wish, a place that allows you to make birthday and other type threads. Basically a forum that doesn't fall under the purvey of any of the other forums. As Knife put it, a 'silly' forum.

Along with this, create an actual 'testing' forum that allows for the too serious, or too good for 'testing' people (and lets be honest, as some people have said, that is what this issue is about) to post only in order to test board functions, AVs and sigs (although, this is also a redundant reason for testing) or anything else a 'serious' testing forum would or should be used for.

What this thread can be used for, if this is an agreeable idea, is how to structure the rules of the new forum (my thoughts are to have it basically as testing is now, but without the auto-prune and page three locks, but with a dedicated moderator and the same rule set, with minor alterations), setting the ground rules for a possible new test only forum, coming up with an appropriate name for the forum(s), suggesting mods, seeing if the idea has merit or legs and if this is a compromise that is acceptable.

I'm going to restate my proposal to just re-badge the BoTM. Apparently the BoTM was what Testing is now, so we may as well just shove it over there. The forum sees very little use, it already has a Mod and the amount of actual porn in there has decreased drastically in recent years. In effect it's just taking up bandwidth and space, turn it into a useful forum, give Bear something to do.

Zod (?) raised the concern that the BoTM is adult oriented, a legitimate point. To which I'll ask how many regular posters are under 19 (or whatever the age limit is).

In order to retask BoTM, someone would have to go through and remove all the porn and adult material. That is ridiculous to ask anyone to do, which is why it wasn't part of my suggestion. I was also aiming for a public forum.

Point taken. I never considered that bit.

Besides which BotM is an invitation only group, not exactly evenly remotely useful as a replacement for Testing.

Yes, there isn't any reason why it has to stay that way though. Especially as not much goes on there, Hav has a good point though in that it is probably easier and quicker for the Admins to just whip a new forum.

You can consider the point conceded.

Regardless of however this current page three lock discussion turns out, I think the creation of a "new" Testing is completely unnecessary. Testing as it is has always functioned perfectly well as both a "casual" forum and one for more serious technical issues, and making two new forums with each of those partial functions would just be totally redundant.

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I believe in a sign of Zeta.

[BOTM|WG|JL|Mecha Maniacs|Pax Cybertronia|Veteran of the Psychic Wars|Eva Expert]

"And besides, who cares if a monster destroys Australia?"

I somewhat agree, but I think part of the perceived, possibly real, animosity of some of the board members towards testing is that the forum is no longer used for it's primary purpose. Really, look at the situation. BoTM is far more offensive, and just as silly as testing, yet there is no animosity toward that forum.
I feel that a large part of that is because it is supposed to be offensive and silly, that was it's purpose while 'testing' was co-opted for this purpose without 'permission'.
The rest probably comes from the open nature of testing, and certain instances that have caused knee jerk and over the top reactions. Of course those are no where near the norm, but hey.

If testing was recreated as a porn free BoTM type forum, with it's own rules and mod, I have this feeling that it wouldn't be 'hated' nearly as much as 'testing' in it's current form is now.

As for my 'somewhat agree', yes it would be redundant to make two testing forums that serve the same function, but I was envisioning more of a silly forum, where anything goes topic wise, and if people still wanted to post AV and sig tests, they could, along with anything else they wanted. While 'testing' would be strictly for testing AVs, sigs, functions, mobile logins, etc.

As long as it's publicly visible does it really matter how many posters we have under the age limit?

Nope.

If that's true, I think those board members have fucking mental problems.

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"There is no "taboo" on using nuclear weapons." -Julhelm
What is Project Zohar?
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Well as I said in the OP they are redundant reasons for testing. As I also said, this thread is to float the idea, not for me to fight tooth and nail for it. If there is no dedicated 'testing' thread that is fine. Perhaps just a redefinition of what 'testing' can be used for so people can stop with he 'omg no one is actually testing anything'.

Just rename Testing to "Shit Slinging Monkey Pit" or something like it. As mentioned previously the UCP already takes care of the testing aspect of avatars, sigs and so forth and the software will let you know if you've exceeded the allotted dimensions\file size\character length of the AV\sig\etc... Even if you want feedback from other members, you are most likely going to get a serious answer unless you post something seriously offensive.

Host a thread in which everyone can suggest a name and then have a board wide vote on it, then send it to the Senate or bypass them and go straight to the Admins. I'd also agree to dropping the page three lock and relax a bit if no abolish the auto deleting of the posts. But I wouldn't want any posts made there be counted to the user's postcount.

Just my two sperm cells worth.

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ASVS('97)/SDN('03)

"Peppercorn Tomatoes slathered in broken guacamole sauce. Put it in the microwave and press puree. 5 seconds in the dumpster and it is ready to be cooked in the freezer at -350 degrees for twenty minutes. Apply pressure in various hamster spots and scream like a psychotic banshee." My reply when asked what was on my mind.

By the sacred crotch of Arkvoodle!

Drat, you beat me to it!


Then just make a thread in AMP. Mike made one for his sig banners, so I don't see why asking for feedback on avatars would be so horrible. Granted that only works for the graphics bit; if you're looking for feedback on layout, quotes, etc. AMP won't work. But as Enigma pointed out, even with Testing as it is you'll still get some measure of serious feedback if you ask for it.


Indeed. How many people really need to figure out how the bold tags work, for instance? Sure people fuck up quote boxes all the time, but that's honestly something only the preview button and a little effort will fix. No amount of testing in Testing is going to help you when you accidently have only one [/quote] tag when you should've had two because you accidently deleted one when trying to do multi-quotes. That's what the preview button is for: so you can see the screwup, see where the screwup took place, and go correct it.

And ever since they took away polls, there's an element of board software you can't even test in Testing. Yes I remember why, but has anyone bothered to see if the new board software's autoprune will be foiled by unlimited polls? Or do mods really not care enough to bother? Because I know I've seen when some mod made a poll thread in Testing, but I don't recall if they time limited it or not.

C'mon, the odds of anyone getting a new forum is pretty much zero. Even if the whole idea of testing (ie, testing sigs, avs, etc) is totally redundant itself. It could easily be replaced by a mail address for all the 'oh dear I can't login' problems.

I'm pretty wary of the idea that someone can change rules to move the testing posting into a different forum. If the posting is there because of laxer rules or avoiding the tryhards, it's not going to easily move into a forum with both. The suggestion that changing the name would change anything is absurd; the sort of people who 'hate' 'testing' would simply continue to refer to it as testing as they do now. It would change nothing, because the real issue is 'for serious' posters hating 'for fun' posters.

I know some people don't like it, but I strongly suggest they co-opt the BotM. It's private, designated for random content, and already in use. Testing could therefore remain a mod punching bag and technical aid, and the people who crave some sort of cultural segregation from 'tryhards' (a variation on 'main board sucks' that I see in increasing quantity this morning) could have their untouched privacy. Yes, kids couldn't currently get in to play with you, but when it gets right down to it, private usergroups are easier to change than public ones.

We could even rename it "Quebec" in honour of its distinct society and insistence that the feds don't give it enough freedom.

I don't think anyone would really visit such a forum. Just my 0.02$, but I do not really think this will be a success.

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Whoever says "education does not matter" can try ignorance
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"You know, you insist government is depraved for not legislating against what we can see on newsstands, or what we can see in an art exhibit, or what we can burn in protest, or which sex we can have sex with, or a woman's right to choose, but don't you dare try to regulate this deadly weapon I have concealed on me, for that would encroach against my freedom!"
- Sam Seaborn
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Et si omnes ego non

Being upset with the "tryhards" or wanting to cut down on the dog piling = board sucks? I could see if it was someone like Schuylar Colfax saying it but you've got several long time and respected members pointing this out, one of whom (Red) has been a member almost from day one and a long time member of the boards administration.

Again, the problem with just moving the unserious shit over to BotM is that not all of us who actually enjoy testing are members.

It's a small point of pride for me that I never joined the BotM. Anyway, I can almost guarantee if you shifted Testingstan into the BotM (or any other private forum), it would be deader than Napoleon in a few months.

Yeah. I joined BoTM last year some time. I think I have posted in there like 3 times. It is in essence, testing+porn-%50 randomness. Something about it being a private forum keeps it from being any fun to participate in. Obviously I'm not the only one that feels that way either.
Perhaps the change in testing over the years has been the major contributor to that particular forum's demise.

As I said, I wasn't trying to establish a private forum or new usergroup, but establish some new setup that doesn't treat testing as a forum that has been hijacked, but rather give it a facelift if you will, so that the people that are pissed that that is what they feel has happened can stop being upset.

How does one join this 'Brotherhood of the Monkey'?

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shroom is a lovely boy and i wont hear a bad word against him - LUSY-CHAN!
Shit! Man, I didn't think of that! It took Shroom to properly interpret the screams of dying people - PeZook
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PM Yosemite Bear, Shroomy. But Hav's right, it's deader than a graveyard at midnight in there.

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During a Michael Jackson video?

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Photography
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