Well, I'm sure the people frequenting Whatnots have noticed that we have quite a number of sports fans there. So I was thinking of making a separate forum for sports discussions. It'd provide a nice corner for those who are interested in it, and keep it out of Whatnots for those who aren't.

Vote, discuss...

Poll Information
This poll contains 1 question(s). 46 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: Sports forum? (46 votes.)

Should we have a separate forum for sports discussions? (Choose 1)
* Yes - 52% (24)
* No - 48% (22)

Not really sure if it's needed. It's quite a similar situation as with the idea of a relationship forum. I doubt it would see that much of use. Sports discussion tend to pop up now and then but I don't think there's enough sports discussion that it requires a separate forum.

I guess it can't hurt.

Actually, there have been a few sports discussions in Whatnots near the top continuously for some time now.

I don't think it's necessary.

If you keep subdividing Whatnots what's going to be left in that forum but RBP in the end? A forum with only a handful of threads isn't really appealing IMHO.

Not necessary. It's a big topic, but not big enough to deserve its own forum. We've got too many already, IMO.

Nah, I think Whatnots does the job well enough. It's also convenient to have the Sports threads and the RBP in one place, so it cuts down on the amount of flicking through fora that I have to do.

Yes, I'm a lazy, lazy man. :D

There are often one or two sports threads being actively posted to but then there are also large chucks of time with no sports threads. I just don't think that is enough to warrant sports having its own forum.

Yes please, I support this.

Maybe if we combine sports and relationships to form the ultimate "relationship sports" forum

There's quite a lot of sports topics in the Whatnots, but I guess we need that to keep the Whatnots random, while still keeping some more or less meaningful content.

Yup. Call it the "Slave Pens" after the CC. Or maybe name it after the Spectator Beholder... ;)

We still use the same 'World Cup qualifying' thread which is recyclable... speaking of the devil... saturday games....

Yeah, why not? Give me a licence to start even more sports threads and I'll take it!

Uytuun, I've heard the same argument every time before splitting Whatnots down, but there's still plenty of Whatnots material there, don't you think? ;) The purpose of Whatnots is to serve as an "everything else" forum, not to contain as much stuff as possible that could comfortably be handled in separate forums.

I'm sure that having a separate forum would also encourage sports fans to open more discussions on the subject.

Hmm, I don't mind either way.

I say yes to a sports forum. There are plenty of people here to support it; heck Barmy could do it by himself. ;) Also, if sports does separate from Whatnots, more lurkers might be willing to post or SPers post more frequently. Things might get slow during certain points of the year due to one or more sports seasons at an end.

Btw, whatever your opinion is, please make sure you've voted in the poll, as that's my primary indicator.

I voted yes but don't have strong feelings about. I think it would be nice. Sports fans would know were to look quickly and non-sports fans could easily avoid if so desired. I like soccer or whatever it is called in each country.

I guess I'm for it - ambivalent about sports, but don't begrudge their presence in whatnots. I imagine the fans could fill a seperate forum sufficiently.

I *will* say, though, that BoM did seem a little intimidating when I first started here, with its vast organization of fora...I got over it fairly quickly, mind.

Or perhaps "Battle Squares" would work as a forum title...

I would say make a "Sports and Recreational Activity" forum that encompasses not only the professionally played sports but also those played in our backyard. Practically anything done for fun that does not invole dice or mice.

Yes Shrikant has a point. Also it may encourage people to discuss sports they practice themselves. Beside spamming of course.

Well, I just made it a 50/50 split at 18 each. Bet that helps a lot, eh Tal? :lol: ;)

One question, if you decide that it isn't working well could you roll them back together?

If so I say go for it, of not, perhaps some further thought is needed.

Sure, it helps... because there's an inherent percentage of people who always vote "no" when the topic of changing anything comes up. So 50% is way more than a fair majority in this case.

Yea, we could always merge the forums back, but there's never been a need to do so thus far yet, and I don't think there will be in this case.

As for the forum not only encompassing professional sports, that goes without saying. There'll be more than enough room for discussions on all sorts of recreational activities.

Or the "The Fields of Slaughter"?

Or something to do with an arena?

Ooh, how about "The Coliseum"? :grin:

Voted yes.

I've already got a nice topic inside my head.

Uytuun, I've heard the same argument every time before splitting Whatnots down, but there's still plenty of Whatnots material there, don't you think? Honestly? I think Whatnots is pretty d*mn empty compared to what it used to be. And it's really handy to just have all the lighter topics gathered in one forum. Whatnots was where the fun was at. There was always something that could catch your interest: quizzes, sports threads, relationship threads...it's losing it's silly random character. I supported most of the other Whatnots subdivisions (the Alleys were obviously necessary),but well, I'm just not convinced. :)

And just for the record: I don't have anything against sports. ;)

Oooo! I tied the vote! 20/20!

All for a sports forum. A nice simple way to check the sporty things when I'm feeling in a sport-reading-sorta-mood.

Meh, I don't think it's necessary.
The current sports thread are neither overwhelming nor disrupting the current Whatnots.

It probably wouldn't be an all-bad thing, but I think it'd be rather pointless

A sports forum would be good. I voted Yes.

And so The Colosseum came to be ... and Tal took my naming suggestion! :banana:

Does this mean we can't Random Babble about sports anymore, though? :cry:
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.
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:idea: Maybe we could have Random Sports Babbling. :hmm:

Sure, make one in the new forum.

Anyway, since the new forum's now open and this thread is still fresh enough, feel free to comment on the opening here.

Here's the link to the new forum: http://www.sorcerers.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/forum/36.html

Hurray for the Dragon! Hurray for the Sports! Hurray! :banana: :banana:

Edit: There are you happy Olimikrig? :lol:

[ October 10, 2005, 01:57: Message edited by: Ofelix ]

Although I did not vote for it, I certainly don't object to one for those who would like to see a sports forum here on SP. There are a few serious issues facing sports these days, including the criminal element, drugs (of all kinds), over paid athletes, illegal gambling, etc - essentially a haven for organized crime...but some see that there are some benefits to sports.

Oh for the love of ...
@ Chandos: Its The Colosseum not the AoDA. Please keep drugs out of it. :rolleyes:

Hurray for the opening of The Colosseum. :banana: And the first Gladiators are Barmy and Harbs :p

Like pretty much all of the subdivisions so far, I find it unnecessary. But oh well.

Oh for the love of ...
@ Chandos: Its The Colosseum not the AoDA. Please keep drugs out of it. It's a topic that merits some attention by those who care about sports. But judging by your reaction, this may be correct:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1208/p08s02-comv.html

Right now, the voices yelling that sports is about entertainment (more home runs! more gold medals!) seems louder than the voice speaking to the virtues of sportsmanship (hard work, discipline, teamwork, natural talent).
If you would like we can continue this debate in either AODA or the sports forum. Either would be fine...

No, not either... Only AoDA. If there are any serious debates about drug abuse in sports in general, for example, they're better off in AoDA, so that we keep all the more serious stuff there.

Excellent! AoDA it is. Let the games...er...debate...begin, Shrikant.