Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General No Gen, Pre Gen, Origen

Perhaps a thread title change? Something more to do with forums etiquette and decorum, or like "a friendly reminder to please play nice" or something along those lines? I find the conversation here somewhat interesting and worthwhile, but the thread title isn't very topical anymore. Also last warning notes about creating a negative or antagonistic environment are less likely to be seen when buried in the middle of a thread. Regarding the ignore option, I think the ignore function on these boards (the actual button I mean) has downsides. The ignore button is a bit like putting on a blindfold and earplugs, which may seem expedient, but has other consequences. Ignoring someone means removing all their past as well as future content from view, so a later apology or attempt at explanation or redress would go unnoticed and it also creates non-sequiturs within the public conversation from the ignoring person's POV. I think flagging a post or poster for moderation is a better solution than the ignore button, unless one is being harassed in PMs or something. Regarding the generally negative atmosphere or infectiously low morale, this is harder to combat. There's only so much one can do, short of producing positive content or curating such content. As a moderator the task tends to be putting out fires after they've already started, but more fire and flame prevention might be achieved via a forums restructure and especially with the addition of more stickies. Stickies not just as guidelines with rules or reminders to be on best behavior, but to curate the threads that actually model that and which are also still current and topical and interesting to read. Many of the threads in the mega-thread section are rather amplified and dated. The stickies in the other sections are a bit dated too, just kind of hanging around like glass cabinet curiosities from 6 months ago. "A list of ongoing discussions and other miscellany" locked and stickied in both sections seems less relevant now for example. It's cool to sticky and unsticky material or archive it periodically. I have been hoping for a year that a major forums migration or restructuring might be imminent, but it seems less likely as time goes on, so that has me thinking that a general house cleaning might be in order to try and get the best we can out of what we have to work with. In addition to suggestions about general etiquette and how to play in a particular section, some other stuff might be useful as well. Like a note for how to attach images using outside hosting and a BB code, link to direct feedback portal, or stuff of that sort. But have it very clearly titled like "READ BEFORE POSTING!" or something with blinking lights like that, if it's going to be stickied and locked. Not sure if this is on topic or off topic now, or if I should have posted it here or in the other thread hehe. General section can be kinda confusing, I think I'll dip and come back after Thanksgiving. Best!