Neowin is not really a stardock site. We just host it and (IIRC) own a part-share.

 

Looking at the full recent posts list, taking the first two pages into account (latest 100 threads) it's currently holding steady at about a 50/50 mix of GC2 and not-GC2. Not quite entirely overwhelmed, but yeah, it's pretty thoroughly mixed. I don't think that causes the GC2 topics to be ignored by those who might be interested in them, though. You'd be surprised how many people do use the direct category pages rather than the recent posts list.

Most of the non-GC2 stuff is from Impulse, which can be relevant to GC2 users who may have issues in need of support in that category. It also sees some non-issue threads discussing games and DRM in general, which are of interest to a fair number of users, even if they're unrelated to GC2 directly (I understand that may not be the case for you guys, but most are not GC2-exclusive gamers). Same goes for the PC categories. The only one that I'd really argue is *completey* irrelevant to GC2 would be the OTF, but there's got to be somewhere for that stuff to go, and at present there's only one OTF thread in the last 100 anyway.

 

More to the point, I don't think the sharing itself is so much an issue (or at least, as has been said, it's Brad's choice and it won't be changing), so much as the attitudes of the posters. As Starkers said, even if the extra threads (on either side) aren't something of direct interest to any given person, they can serve to expand one's horizons. And if they're not your cup of tea altogether, is it too much to ask to leave them in peace? Yes, this is the internet, but if you're in a public space and some people nearby were discussing something of disinterest to you, or even something you actively dislike, would you jump in and berate them, or just tune them out?

Those reading from the GC2 side may not be aware of it, but yeah, WC has had issues in the past with the community being "unfriendly" at times, to put it simply. Zoomba and ID have both posted on that subject before over there. As the WC forums are much more wide-ranging, things are not moderated the same way as here at GC2, where we actively try to keep things friendly. Maybe that has contributed to letting it get that way; I don't spend much time over there though, so it's not really my place to make that judgement.

At the end of the day though, a bit more respect all around is definitely in order. If people can learn to not jump to assume the worst about someone else's comments (or to just let it slide or alert a moderator if there is no positive interpretation possible), and stop sending things into a downward spiral as often as not, we'll be well on our way to making the whole network a better, more friendly community which everyone will benefit from.

So... How long has this kind of thing gone on?

 

Define "this"

*Points and laughs at Mumblefratz's default desktop*  hahaha.

The whole forum seperation stuff.

 

So is your question how long forums have been shared or how long people have wanted them seperated? 

Score one for my thick-headedness. Both, I guess.

 

Sorry to have to say this, but this type of comment serves no purpose in reconciling the cross threads issue... nor does it help towards the image of WC or its users.  Mumbles has clearly stated that desktop customisation is not on his list of priorities or interests, so if he is happy to run with the default Windows look, it is a matter of personal choice and not something to poke fun at or ridicule, whether it be tongue in cheek or otherwise, given the current  'anti-cross thread' climate.

Whether or not we customisers share the same interests as the gamer fraternity is irrelevant, and visa versa... what is, however, is that we each respect the others choices and give no reason for either side  to be anti-cross thread.  The amalgamation of threads is not going to go away, so how about we all make the best of it and not say antagonistic things that could upset the apple cart.

Also, while I may have quoted pjdark to make a point, my comments here are directed at nobody in particular and are a generalised 'this is what I'd like to see/not like to see happening in the forums'.

It's also no big deal.

Actually I'm quite proud of the "look and feel" of my windows setup. I can't stand cartoonish stuff and I've basically configured XP to look the same as Win 95. Also the "My" stuff really annoys me and it did take Windows quite some convincing that "My Documents", etc should simply be Documents.

Anyway there's really not much to see but here's a couple of screenshots for any that are interested.

 

And here's one of my second monitor. Nice and clean just the way I like it.

I'm glad you posted before i saw this. Saves me from having a brain explosion and making the gamers out to be utter asses.

 

Depends. If someone is in a public place and is for example loudly talking on their cell phone to the extent that it interferes with the normal conversation that I may be having with someone else then I most certainly will jump in and berate them for it or at the very least escalate the volume of my conversation within reasonable limits to intentionally interfere with their rude public phone call.

However certainly if I'm at a resturant and a couple at the next table are talking at a reasonable level then I have no issue.

It's a matter of degree as in all things. It's not a black and white issue. It depends on your subjective opinion.

Just to bring neilos point across:

 

I usually check the newest posts on GC2.com from the long 'recent posts' list. Today, to find the first post in a GC2 forum, I had to scroll past 1 1/2 screens worth of Impulse complaints and cross-site threads. I'm sure if you had to do the same on WinCustomize, you'd complain as well.

I'm glad you see it that way.  So long as you are happy with how your desktop looks, that's all that really matters.  I mean, it wouldn't be for me, just as how I set up my desktop isn't for you, but then it would be a pretty boring old world if we all thought and did the same things.

The point of my previous comment, however, was directed more towards forum users in general refraining from saying things which may upset others.  In doing so, I believe we would all benifit because the forums are then happier, more respectful places to be.  Hopefully that is not too much to ask and the different factions of Stardockia can co-exist peacefully.

Well I am also glad that you saw my post before having a brain explosion... we are all better off for its prevention, yourself included.  A brain snap may have resulted in a stern dressing down from the moderators or worse, given the current climate and 3 of them already issuing recent warnings, etc. I'm sure the cross threading issue will work itself out over time, but in the meantime we need to show some patience and take the good with the (in our humble opinions)'not so good'

OK, maybe I've not had to scroll that much to find a thread of interest, but WC has had its fair share of inconveniences of late as well (I am repeatedly double posted when commenting on skins), but no, I have not complained... well not seriously. I did put up a tongue in cheek thread about it for fun when things were a bit quiet, but it's not that big of a deal and I can wait 'til it gets fixed.

Besides, what's so urgent that a few seconds of scrolling is gonna hurt... like it's not worth busting a valve over. 

That's part of the "problem" as well. With all due respect, and I do mean respect in all seriousness, there has been a noticeable change in the "climate" of the GalCiv2 site that correlates quite strongly with the more frequent appearance of moderators that until a few months ago very seldom if ever made themselves known to those of us that basically restrict ourselves to the GalCiv2 site.

Again, I want to stress that I say this with all due respect, in the interests of clearing the air and trying to rationally discuss something that has been discussed by many GalCiv2 forum goers "behind the scenes" in other contexts such as "off site" individual empire forums.

There is an "apparent" (i.e. subjective) feeling that the level of moderation has become somewhat heavier handed than what most GalCiv2 forum goers have been used to. In all likelihood it's probably due more to the fact that there are simply more contentious threads than there used to be, but there is no doubt that there have been a lot more warnings going around than there used to be.

That's not to say that everyone had been allowed to act however they like on the GalCiv2 site, it was mostly that the need for it arose far less than it apparently does now.

As with anything it's probably a combination of a lot of things, but still I think that there are quite a number of GalCiv2 forum goers that are chafing at the yoke that they previously did not have to wear.

Simply a result of the shared categories--you likely only see Zubaz, ID, and Jafo in the Impulse and PC categories, as these also appear on the sites they're responsible for. GC2 itself is still just me and the devs.