The only major pro I have seen is what Ellie has said, but that only requires one group, and a bucketload of rules for that group.

Zandian-I wouldn't say the groups would be clique because they are not going to put together that way, and cliqueness isn't necessarily a bad thing. If everyone is part of a group, it can bring a sense of unity to that group, and it may also be less intimidating to newcomers.

Would this only add boards? Or would you like, make the Fan Art section available to one group and not another?

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^ By me and my SS *squiggle hugs*

I definitely agree with those who are worried about dividing this forum up ever more than it already is. We've tried so hard in the past for unity, and I'd hate to see all of that go to waste.

Thank you, Ellie, for explaining about the usergroups. I'm going to assume the mods are discussing things on their own right now since no one seems game for answering our questions.

No. I'm not for this idea. I don't want AU to be divided up. One of the greatest things AU was, was that it was a gigantic forum, with members from all walks of life, who came together because they shared one strong thing: a love for LotR. I loved having at least the possiblity of getting to know many, many people... if you separate the forum into usergroups... well, I think it will take away that unity.

But, if people think it's really necessary... I wouldn't objecy to a debate usergroup.

Well, the debate issue has been covered (thanks Arweb!) so my vote is no.

I don't see a reason to make groups. What would one group be wanting to see that another wouldn't? If it's all LotR, as Haldir guessed, it just doesn't make sense that some people could see some things and others couldn't. I really don't see the point. As to the clique-ness, sure we have cliques on here. But I believe they are good cliques. In a way, each club, the WT, graphics people, etc. are all kind of cliques. But each group is welcoming to anyone else who comes into the forum, and you can be a "member" of all of them. So while we do have some people we talk to more than others or see around more than others, I don't see a need to set a clear divide between them.

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going on a journey through my old claims

I vote no, except for a possible debate group. My reasons have pretty much all been said. I think we're divided enough as it is, and i'd like to keep our unity as one big forum. I don't visit many threads often, but i always know i can if i want to, and that people in that thread will be friendly towards a fellow AU-er, even one they don't know that well. I'm not saying the friendliness would stop with the addition of groups, but as i said i like the unity and also the "free range" quality of the forum now.

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Avi and banner by ForeverFrodo. Words on banner by me.
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<center>-In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song-

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Eh. The idea sounds like fun on the surface, but there's really no need for it, and it's likely to make us more divided and the forum less accessible for new members.

So, I wouldn't hate it if it happened, but no. Why bother?

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<center> all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us


Thank you for five-plus wonderful years of obsession, friendship and fun

Does this really have to create more cliques though? It's not really any different than being a Maia or a Tolkien Scholar like our ranks [just more permanent and obvious] and it's certainly not any more different than all the other clubs we already have going. If we have been able to survive and conquer all the past clique wars we can survive and conquer anything!

This forum is already somewhat divided. These usergroups might actually help break those cliques up a bit because I hardly think everyone who is friends with one another will join the exact same usergroup. It's just a fun idea to show your fellow forum members where you feel like you belong. It's really not that serious.

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(¯`•¸·´¯`·._.·[TRUE VAMPIRES DON'T SPARKLE]·._.·´¯`·¸•´¯)

Those are good points Eru, and like I said before, I don't think that usergroups would hurt the forum as much as there's just no need for them. We can already form clubs and such to talk to each other--plus you can join many of those and none are invisible.

In the words of PD...

[quote=Calloniel (PD)]Well, what smeag said was more of what I was saying here. Dividing AU up into a bunch of sections just doesn't make sense to me if it's worked fine this far. And sure we have lots of cliques here, not that that is a good or bad thing (in it's place), but since we already have those cliques do we really need extra sub-forums to just enhance them?[/quote]

Agreed. I think that usergroups would really only enhance the same benefits and quibbles we have now because of cliques and such, not change them or really benefit them. I don't see the need...

And of course it might be a fun little way to choose a 'rank'-type category and meet new people. But it doesn't seem like it would do much.

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<center> all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us


Thank you for five-plus wonderful years of obsession, friendship and fun

I say no. I like to be able to see what others say, and restricting acsess to non-group members that are members of the A-U forum seems unfair to me. It's like saying that they aren't good enough to belong.

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Married Artemis Fowl on July 16, 2007
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The Seemingly Nice But Actually Really Nasty Nazgul
School ate my life. *sigh*

I think that Usergroups wouldnt necessarily be a bad thing. They could be used to allow people who like debate on topical issues the freedom to do this, in a controlled environment, where a mod has, (to use a phrase from my WoW mates' vocabulary) "Kicking priveleges". So if anything kicks off, the offending member(s) can be isolated, and the incident dealt with without a forum wide brouhaha. I know that Arweb said "No debate societies", but I think that its going to be a thing that will always be there. In specifying the terms on which such a thing would be allowed, the Mods and Admin will have provided an honourable concession to members, and retain control of the situation.

As for the clique thing, well, is the military's system of dividing battalions into companies,and companies into units cliquey? If we are so concerned about this, then just have members randomly picked and assigned to a particular usergroup, like troopers in a squad. This usergroup could have its own forum,like a bulletin board, and this might help to free up sticky space and such on the main communal threads. Exceptions such as debate societies could be set up, with Mod control over who enters,(invitation only?) and these could be kept to a minimum.

If anything, such groupings would help welcome newbies, as there would be a large number of people ready to welcome them into their respective group. We could even have WT'ers who worked in each usergroup to promote friendlienss to newbies, and possibly have group officers, who maintain discussion and possibly act as the first line in stopping any trouble (like fights/trolling/flaming)

As for dividing the forum, I think that social interaction would still continue as normal, and I believe that a random set up would help get people who previously had not talked to each other, talking.Old cliques and mistrusts run deep, so make new trusts, and new "cliques" to help fill them in is what I say.

But at the end of the day, its all down to Arweb and the Mods. This forum is essentially a dictatorship (a kind one though ) so, although I think that it might not be a bad idea, given correct implementation, well, its down to them

Mephiston

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A definite "nay" on my part.

It's an interesting premise, but I am one of those who see it as only dividing people up. Most of us are part of little cliques that we've fallen into, and a lot of us are part of more than one, so to say. Others interchange between them. And of course they're all very open and welcoming. So to say that "You are in this group with these people" is a bit extreme to me, even if we do get to chose. It excludes people. I see a lot of potential for people to start thinking, well, I do really like my group but that group looks like it's a lot of fun, too, and I wish I could be part of it, too. Or you could be a new member, join a group, and then make a friend from another group and want to switch over. Or all your friends could be scattered. So it's just impractical and excluding.

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Opinion of mine has changed; too much trouble and thought for something so simple... I'd stick to what we've got now, I don't see the point of doing all that for something that might work. What's the purpose of having those anyway, I fail to see.

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I agree with Larael.

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

sounds like fun!

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