Quoting from that other thread since it’s going to be locked soon …
Bantari wrote:
I am not really an OGS user, so my opinion probably does not count as much as yours,
TBH, I’d rather see us both as
L19 users here, and ones who may have similar or different preferences about where to play, so I think all our opinions should have the same value.
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but still - I disagree. I think we should try to consolidate english-language discussion rather then splinter it. I honestly wish there was no OGS forum and all the discussion would take place here instead of there. Would also be a much stronger argument for creating an OGS sub-forum on L19.
TBH, when the OGS forum first opened, I was quite shocked and also feared an increased splintering of “our forces”, but soon I realized that it was really useful for the OGS community.
Not only do the user names from the Go server transport to the forum, which makes it easier to know who is who (I for example used to have different nicks for servers and forums [long explanation omitted], OGS is the only exception), but as others have already said, it also is mainly a support forum for OGS users, the other threads are (IMNVHO) just for some added entertainment. But of course there also are lots of teaching and review request (etc.) threads there, naturally, and it is easier for OGS users to interconnect that way.
Also, I was happy to see that the L19 community is
not going to be hurt by the existence of the OGS forum, which was one of my largest concerns. Apparently the Go community allows for some polyamory
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I get your point about bigger chance of devs and admins reading the OGS forum, but... I see no reason the devs and admins cannot as easily follow a sub-forum here as they do the OGS forum. Or does the OGS forum offer important features that L19 does not have? In any case - having a separate OGS forum is a choice, not a necessity. And a bad and harmful choice, I think.
I have adressed a few points above already.
For me, who uses both forums, the most important point is a beautiful and modern forum software (discourse) … heck, I can even paste images from the clipboard (e.g. screenshots) in posts and comments … very useful for support posts (but there are many other very practical features as you’ll see once you’ve joined and checked it out.)
In hindsight, to me, it seems to have been a
good choice. And see, even I am still here
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As for concrete and practical reasons for the above, there are many. It would lessen the need for site-jumping for lazy people like me. As it is, I look at L19, reddit, rgg, and some more stuff, just for Go talk. I would much rather it was all neatly in one place, and I really dislike aggregators.
Yes, I also sometimes abhor the multitude of places where I get or spread Go information (I’m also in r/baduk & rgg, and in a Go community on Google+, and a Facebook group with ~7,500 members, and the more specialized computer-go mailing list, and the German forum …). So, I’d love it if one day all will be united under the OGS roof some day
<jk>
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Another reason might be advertising. Posting about OGS in OGS forum does not give much exposure - its like preaching to the choir. Having threads about it where non-OGS people can easily read is would be nice. Just imagine how much good it would look for the OGS if people could (more) easily see threads like asking devs/admins for help and seeing this help being offered in timely and polite fashion! I bet this would be a drawing point. Especially compared to the IGS/KGS response (or lack thereof.)
Well, the problem is as you stated before: too many places … imagine how much work it would be (and how many more support folks were needed!) if all these places would
have to be watched … so the OGS devs and mods can have it all in one place.
I have noticed, though, that questions
are being answered here, in the FB group (there I also sometimes answer questions), and on r/baduk. Which is not a necessity, but a choice, and what a nice one
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[..] its an opportunity for a new customer. Why waste it?
Well, I for one view the users on OGS rather as …
users, Go players, community members … not “customers”. And take note that I am also a supporting member, but I don’t see myself as a customer either, but rather as a
supporting user (even though I do some forum moderation there, which I see as just another form of supporting OGS).
<edit>BTW I’m also a supporter of L19—would you then call me a customer because of this fact?
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