Moving chat threads from US to Offtopic

Arthur Thomas said:The only post I ever made over there was just saying "coming soon," and honestly, that wasn't even meant for any actual people. It was more for my computer, which desperately needed some dust cleaned out—that's the only way it was going to understand what I wanted from it. 🙂
I already gave my reasoning for why the thread should be removed. To be honest, it reminds me of that line from a movie: "Some men just want to watch the world burn."

Are you going for something more along the lines of "Even if i go to Hell, i will Live to The end of this World. And if the world does not come to an end... I will destroy it with my own hands!"?

brightridge59 said:Do you really think the other people joining the US isn't lonely?
And is the chat truly the best or only way to meet and socialize?

The whole intention here is to make the subforum a much more constructive environment.
Chatting happens everywhere, practically within almost every thread, provided it contributes to a productive discussion. That's a perfectly normal occurrence, and frankly, we even encourage it ourselves. 😬

Have you perhaps had a chance to look over the rules? There's a reason why someone might get a warning just for posting a single smiley face or for putting something in their 'signature.'

For those users who have become close friends through chatting, there is a dedicated subforum where they can continue to socialize. There's also private messaging. There are all sorts of ways to build connections without it being solely about padding your post count.

Besides, the way things are set up, it encourages users to step outside their specific chat topics and wander over to other subforums. I won't even mention how peculiar it is to see people who NEVER post anywhere else except within a specific chat topic on one particular subforum. 🙄

Since you guys nuked all the chats on the US, why don't you be a dear and explain how you expect lonely people to actually connect and hang out—you think they're gonna do it via satellite or something?🙄

brightridge59 said:Do you really think the other people joining the US isn't lonely?
And is the chat truly the best or only way to meet and socialize?

The whole intention here is to make the subforum a much more constructive environment.
Chatting happens everywhere, practically within almost every thread, provided it contributes to a productive discussion. That's a perfectly normal occurrence, and frankly, we even encourage it ourselves. 😬

Have you perhaps had a chance to look over the rules? There's a reason why someone might get a warning just for posting a single smiley face or for putting something in their 'signature.'

For those users who have become close friends through chatting, there is a dedicated subforum where they can continue to socialize. There's also private messaging. There are all sorts of ways to build connections without it being solely about padding your post count.

Besides, the way things are set up, it encourages users to step outside their specific chat topics and wander over to other subforums. I won't even mention how peculiar it is to see people who NEVER post anywhere else except within a specific chat topic on one particular subforum. 🙄

Regarding the whole loneliness thing—honestly, I definitely relate to about 90% of the guys on this forum. If it wasn't for the chat, I’d still be, as one lady here put it, basically rotting inside my own four walls. Thanks to the chat and some of the people I've met through it, I've finally started stepping outside more.
As for everyone else—there are plenty of people who were just sitting there wallowing in their own misery, and I've sent them PP-ove, either just to give them a little pep talk or to see if they wanted to hang out. In 99% of cases, I got absolutely nothing back.
The whole point of their whining is really just... whining. They don't actually want to change, or they just don't have the metaphorical balls to try. Should the rest of us, who might actually be able to get out there, be punished because of them?

Jessica Watson4 said:Alright, let me put you on the spot here—hopefully, you can give me a response that actually holds water.
What is the actual logic behind not having a chat on a subforum specifically titled "Lonely Hearts"?
I mean, I could wrap my head around them not having a chat in some random PDF section, but we're talking about a subforum where lonely people gather, likely with the intention of meeting someone—even just virtually through conversation—rather than just posting on threads or leaving classified ads.
It just doesn't click for me, especially given the explanation from mistywolf17. Honestly, I'm surprised she even tried to frame that as logical; to me, it feels like nothing more than a whim, which isn't how she usually comes across on this forum.
If the concern was the chat drifting in an unwanted direction, then the solution should have been to moderate it.

A whim? Forgive me, but I have been very actively moderating US for over a year now, so I am extremely well-acquainted with the situation. The explanation is simple: on US, a chat doesn't make sense unless it stays on-topic. These chats aren't doing that. It is similar on ŽuD.
Explain to me what the purpose of a chat would be for US if it's filled with people who hardly ever even visit the subforum.

The purpose of a subforum isn't to provide a chat. A chat doesn't define the quality of a subforum. For a subforum to be high-quality, the threads themselves must be high-quality. Something you might notice lately if you actually stepped out of the chat and looked at what is happening on the subforum.

Take the Soccer subforum and its Offtopic chat, for example. Since you keep bringing up how many people met on Finger, do you honestly think they didn't meet there? Don't be ridiculous.
The difference is that the people there are active participants in that specific subforum; they are what make it what it is. That isn't the case on US.
I suspect if I were to pull one constructive post from any of you on this subforum from the last month that wasn't made in the chat, the results would be quite interesting. 😉

You can view this as a reorganization of the subforum intended to raise the overall quality. Currently, the chats just don't fit into that goal.

I can't tell if I’m just having a massive case of déjà vu, but it feels like this thread pops back up every six months or so!

Amanda James27 said:Are you going for something more along the lines of "Even if i go to Hell, i will Live to The end of this World. And if the world does not come to an end... I will destroy it with my own hands!"?

Something like that. 🙂
Honestly, I'm just sitting here enjoying the show, reading through all these heated arguments and seeing how worked up everyone's getting over this stuff. It’s making for a pretty hilarious Sunday afternoon. 😁

brightridge59 said:Do you really think the other people joining the US isn't lonely?
And is the chat truly the best or only way to meet and socialize?

The whole intention here is to make the subforum a much more constructive environment.
Chatting happens everywhere, practically within almost every thread, provided it contributes to a productive discussion. That's a perfectly normal occurrence, and frankly, we even encourage it ourselves. 😬

Have you perhaps had a chance to look over the rules? There's a reason why someone might get a warning just for posting a single smiley face or for putting something in their 'signature.'

For those users who have become close friends through chatting, there is a dedicated subforum where they can continue to socialize. There's also private messaging. There are all sorts of ways to build connections without it being solely about padding your post count.

Besides, the way things are set up, it encourages users to step outside their specific chat topics and wander over to other subforums. I won't even mention how peculiar it is to see people who NEVER post anywhere else except within a specific chat topic on one particular subforum. 🙄

Not necessarily the only one—honestly, probably the best way to handle it. It’s actually superior to other methods because staying in constant communication with someone really helps you bridge that gap and get closer to them. That’s especially true when you're hanging out in this particular subforum.

brightridge59 said:Do you really think the other people joining the US isn't lonely?
And is the chat truly the best or only way to meet and socialize?

The whole intention here is to make the subforum a much more constructive environment.
Chatting happens everywhere, practically within almost every thread, provided it contributes to a productive discussion. That's a perfectly normal occurrence, and frankly, we even encourage it ourselves. 😬

Have you perhaps had a chance to look over the rules? There's a reason why someone might get a warning just for posting a single smiley face or for putting something in their 'signature.'

For those users who have become close friends through chatting, there is a dedicated subforum where they can continue to socialize. There's also private messaging. There are all sorts of ways to build connections without it being solely about padding your post count.

Besides, the way things are set up, it encourages users to step outside their specific chat topics and wander over to other subforums. I won't even mention how peculiar it is to see people who NEVER post anywhere else except within a specific chat topic on one particular subforum. 🙄

I feel like everyone might be missing the forest for the trees here. Don't get me wrong, I totally get what you were trying to achieve with this move—the intention is solid—but honestly, shutting down the chat on a sub-forum like this? That feels like a massive misstep. It’s like taking away the water cooler in an office just because you want fewer distractions; you might get some focus, but you lose the soul of the community in the process.

brightridge59 said:Do you really think the other people joining the US isn't lonely?
And is the chat truly the best or only way to meet and socialize?

The whole intention here is to make the subforum a much more constructive environment.
Chatting happens everywhere, practically within almost every thread, provided it contributes to a productive discussion. That's a perfectly normal occurrence, and frankly, we even encourage it ourselves. 😬

Have you perhaps had a chance to look over the rules? There's a reason why someone might get a warning just for posting a single smiley face or for putting something in their 'signature.'

For those users who have become close friends through chatting, there is a dedicated subforum where they can continue to socialize. There's also private messaging. There are all sorts of ways to build connections without it being solely about padding your post count.

Besides, the way things are set up, it encourages users to step outside their specific chat topics and wander over to other subforums. I won't even mention how peculiar it is to see people who NEVER post anywhere else except within a specific chat topic on one particular subforum. 🙄

Yeah, so what was stopping you guys from sharing them?
There would definitely be fewer of them around.
Honestly, getting all worked up just because someone asked you to moderate when the rest of the chat crew was actually looking for it? There’s really no more graceful way to brush those chatters off than by just letting them drift away on their own.

brightridge59 said:Do you really think the other people joining the US isn't lonely?
And is the chat truly the best or only way to meet and socialize?

The whole intention here is to make the subforum a much more constructive environment.
Chatting happens everywhere, practically within almost every thread, provided it contributes to a productive discussion. That's a perfectly normal occurrence, and frankly, we even encourage it ourselves. 😬

Have you perhaps had a chance to look over the rules? There's a reason why someone might get a warning just for posting a single smiley face or for putting something in their 'signature.'

For those users who have become close friends through chatting, there is a dedicated subforum where they can continue to socialize. There's also private messaging. There are all sorts of ways to build connections without it being solely about padding your post count.

Besides, the way things are set up, it encourages users to step outside their specific chat topics and wander over to other subforums. I won't even mention how peculiar it is to see people who NEVER post anywhere else except within a specific chat topic on one particular subforum. 🙄

Yeah, but how exactly are you supposed to actually become friends just by hanging out in the comment sections?
So, here’s the deal: before I started interacting with Finger, I only ever hung out in specific threads. I couldn't stand the constant noise over on the main feed, so I stuck to writing constructive posts exclusively. In two whole years, I didn't get hit with a single warning or anything like that—my record was spotless. During that time, I actually managed to get to know two people quite well.
In just a single month of hanging out in the chat, I’ve actually managed to get to know about a dozen different people on a much deeper level!
Honestly, you guys don't need a chat here at all. Not one bit. This sub is specifically for lonely people looking for connection, and adding a live chat just ruins that whole vibe.
🤦

brightridge59 said:Do you really think the other people joining the US isn't lonely?
And is the chat truly the best or only way to meet and socialize?

The whole intention here is to make the subforum a much more constructive environment.
Chatting happens everywhere, practically within almost every thread, provided it contributes to a productive discussion. That's a perfectly normal occurrence, and frankly, we even encourage it ourselves. 😬

Have you perhaps had a chance to look over the rules? There's a reason why someone might get a warning just for posting a single smiley face or for putting something in their 'signature.'

For those users who have become close friends through chatting, there is a dedicated subforum where they can continue to socialize. There's also private messaging. There are all sorts of ways to build connections without it being solely about padding your post count.

Besides, the way things are set up, it encourages users to step outside their specific chat topics and wander over to other subforums. I won't even mention how peculiar it is to see people who NEVER post anywhere else except within a specific chat topic on one particular subforum. 🙄

Regarding that last point—before I joined the chat, I had already put out about 200 posts, and honestly, every single one of them was constructive and actually stayed on topic. But looking back at the whole experience? It’s kind of funny, really. Despite all that interaction, who did I actually meet? Practically nobody.
I met a whole bunch of people on the chat!
Wait, I’m trying to wrap my head around this—where exactly is the logic in that? How is everyone supposed to actually get to know one another better through this?
It’s starting to drop on my end.
If my post count is getting on your nerves, feel free to just clear out the old chats. As far as I'm concerned, I'd much rather keep things low-key and stick to as few posts as possible.
If the spam in the chat is bothering you, then do your jobs and moderate it! Honestly, the only reason the chat has spiraled completely out of control is because you moderators haven't been doing your actual work—it’s really that simple.

mistywolf17 said:A whim? Forgive me, but I have been very actively moderating US for over a year now, so I am extremely well-acquainted with the situation. The explanation is simple: on US, a chat doesn't make sense unless it stays on-topic. These chats aren't doing that. It is similar on ŽuD.
Explain to me what the purpose of a chat would be for US if it's filled with people who hardly ever even visit the subforum.

The purpose of a subforum isn't to provide a chat. A chat doesn't define the quality of a subforum. For a subforum to be high-quality, the threads themselves must be high-quality. Something you might notice lately if you actually stepped out of the chat and looked at what is happening on the subforum.

Take the Soccer subforum and its Offtopic chat, for example. Since you keep bringing up how many people met on Finger, do you honestly think they didn't meet there? Don't be ridiculous.
The difference is that the people there are active participants in that specific subforum; they are what make it what it is. That isn't the case on US.
I suspect if I were to pull one constructive post from any of you on this subforum from the last month that wasn't made in the chat, the results would be quite interesting. 😉

You can view this as a reorganization of the subforum intended to raise the overall quality. Currently, the chats just don't fit into that goal.

Alright, let me explain it to you for the millionth time since you clearly aren't getting it. People don't need extra threads because the Finger of Fate chat already covers basically EVERYTHING—deep human issues, fears, obsessions, shyness, sexuality, politics, job struggles. It hits every single topic imaginable through its own chats.
People actually get vulnerable there; Amanda James27 and Medeari shared their personal stories with you, and you really think they'd ever open up like that in some basic chat about football or offsides?

And honestly, I want to know why you guys weren't handing out cards for emojis and actually doing your jobs by moderating when it mattered most?

Brandon Castillo4 said:Look, you really need to take a breath, grab a heavy drink, and then maybe come back when you're ready to actually talk. Seriously.

Technically speaking, I have never received a more intellectually profound piece of advice from a highly respected Mr. Moderator. Like, seriously.

:starry(homeo)stasis of UScid: 👍

But hey, brightridge59... why haven't you been nuking all those mindless posts yet? Or deleting the semi-intelligent ones? Honestly, we'd all be incredibly grateful if you did.

brightridge59 said:Do you really think the other people joining the US isn't lonely?
And is the chat truly the best or only way to meet and socialize?

The whole intention here is to make the subforum a much more constructive environment.
Chatting happens everywhere, practically within almost every thread, provided it contributes to a productive discussion. That's a perfectly normal occurrence, and frankly, we even encourage it ourselves. 😬

Have you perhaps had a chance to look over the rules? There's a reason why someone might get a warning just for posting a single smiley face or for putting something in their 'signature.'

For those users who have become close friends through chatting, there is a dedicated subforum where they can continue to socialize. There's also private messaging. There are all sorts of ways to build connections without it being solely about padding your post count.

Besides, the way things are set up, it encourages users to step outside their specific chat topics and wander over to other subforums. I won't even mention how peculiar it is to see people who NEVER post anywhere else except within a specific chat topic on one particular subforum. 🙄

So why did we even open this chat then? Wasn't the whole point to keep the other threads clean and give people looking to meet up one specific spot? Not everyone has the guts to slide into someone's DMs and just say, "Hey, I'm this guy, let's get to know each other."

The goal is to make this subforum a more constructive place.
The chat is everywhere, popping up in almost every thread, but it’s part of a constructive discussion. It’s totally normal. Honestly, we actually encourage it. 😬

Are you always trying to stir up the chat in every single thread? Since when?

Did you figure out the rules yet? There's a reason people get banned just for posting a single smiley face or using a signature.

So why didn't you moderate the chats and hand out bans then? You really think you were doing your moderation jobs perfectly on them?

There's a specific sub-forum for people who’ve become friends, so you can keep hanging out there. You can also use PMs. There are plenty of ways to connect that aren't just about padding your post count.

What about all these new people looking to hang out? Does being lonely mean you just scroll down to Offtopic to find someone to meet? Isn't there already a subforum called Lonely Hearts for that?

It actually encourages people to wander away from their specific chat thread and explore other subforums. Not to mention how funny it is seeing folks who NEVER post anywhere except for one single chat topic. 🙄

Prioritizing subforum quality comes first. Bravo. As for everyone else, don't blame me if you're feeling lonely or unhappy. Figure it out yourselves.

fadedheron892 said:Since you guys nuked all the chats on the US, why don't you be a dear and explain how you expect lonely people to actually connect and hang out—you think they're gonna do it via satellite or something?🙄

No, we'll just be sliding into DMs. Honestly, what's the point of the US subforum if we can just handle everything that way anyway.

My friends actually asked me to cross-post what I wrote over here. So, here goes:

I almost couldn't even find where this chat was tucked away. 🙄

It’s pretty obvious this has been planned for a while. Every time some users tried to step up and bring some order to this place—which was basically just trying to moderate—the people who were actually supposed to be doing it didn't even react.
If things spiraled out of control, I personally put that entirely on the moderators for failing to do their jobs.
I’d really appreciate it if someone in charge could explain why the US doesn't need this chat.
If we have chats for spirituality, psychology, ŽuD, and even LJES, then what's the logic behind this claim?
Are you saying US members don't have the right to communicate unless it stays strictly within predefined topics? Isn't that just plain discrimination?
The author of this thread herself admitted there was a specific intention behind this chat.
So why did you let things get to this point in the first place? You have the authority, yet it was honestly pathetic watching a handful of us essentially doing your job for you.
You claim those who were here at the very beginning are gone now. Whose fault is that? Ours, or yours for not moderating?
So many people met through this chat—myself included, and I'm not even from a big city like New York. It helped so many of us break through our shyness, insecurity, and all the stuff that brought us to the US in the first place, rather than being part of an Off topic group with a short shelf life, which is definitely not who we are.
Personally, I think pulling this move without any prior communication with us is incredibly rude. It’s a complete drop in the quality of communication—something that would be labeled as spamming if anyone else did it, but apparently, you guys have a free pass.
Is this about forcing your own will based on personal biases or preferences, or is it just covering up your own blunders for not doing the work you were assigned? I'll leave that for you to decide.

Michelle Palmer6 said:I can't tell if I’m just having a massive case of déjà vu, but it feels like this thread pops back up every six months or so!

Yeah, those notifications hit my phone too...

brightridge59 said:Do you really think the other people joining the US isn't lonely?
And is the chat truly the best or only way to meet and socialize?

The whole intention here is to make the subforum a much more constructive environment.
Chatting happens everywhere, practically within almost every thread, provided it contributes to a productive discussion. That's a perfectly normal occurrence, and frankly, we even encourage it ourselves. 😬

Have you perhaps had a chance to look over the rules? There's a reason why someone might get a warning just for posting a single smiley face or for putting something in their 'signature.'

For those users who have become close friends through chatting, there is a dedicated subforum where they can continue to socialize. There's also private messaging. There are all sorts of ways to build connections without it being solely about padding your post count.

Besides, the way things are set up, it encourages users to step outside their specific chat topics and wander over to other subforums. I won't even mention how peculiar it is to see people who NEVER post anywhere else except within a specific chat topic on one particular subforum. 🙄

Nah... I guess it's definitely better to just mock anyone who actually posts an ad.😁
That is... that's just hilarious. It's so incredibly optimistic and fits that very specific PDF vibe that the US absolutely requires.
Look, let's be real... I find it funny too, but in a... quiet way. Like, poking a finger at those desperate, pathetic, clingy, husband-seeking, tiny-dicked narcissists... and yeah, I could go on. But when I really think about it... if anyone else on this forum (not counting the favorites) opened a thread like this... they’d get banned instantly for harassment. All while being arrogant—which is fun, sure, but exhausting—and honestly, it's no wonder why the finger of fate doesn't point toward the US anymore. We find other ways to entertain ourselves, rather than making fun of others just to camouflage our own lack of fulfillment.

Supposedly a pretty great gig yesterday. Congrats.

mistywolf17 said:A whim? Forgive me, but I have been very actively moderating US for over a year now, so I am extremely well-acquainted with the situation. The explanation is simple: on US, a chat doesn't make sense unless it stays on-topic. These chats aren't doing that. It is similar on ŽuD.
Explain to me what the purpose of a chat would be for US if it's filled with people who hardly ever even visit the subforum.

The purpose of a subforum isn't to provide a chat. A chat doesn't define the quality of a subforum. For a subforum to be high-quality, the threads themselves must be high-quality. Something you might notice lately if you actually stepped out of the chat and looked at what is happening on the subforum.

Take the Soccer subforum and its Offtopic chat, for example. Since you keep bringing up how many people met on Finger, do you honestly think they didn't meet there? Don't be ridiculous.
The difference is that the people there are active participants in that specific subforum; they are what make it what it is. That isn't the case on US.
I suspect if I were to pull one constructive post from any of you on this subforum from the last month that wasn't made in the chat, the results would be quite interesting. 😉

You can view this as a reorganization of the subforum intended to raise the overall quality. Currently, the chats just don't fit into that goal.

I stay updated on all the other threads. If I don't post in them or repeat things that were already said in the first three pages, that’s my own fault for actually reading the whole discussion! Because on US, most threads basically boil down to just repeating what’s already been stated.

mistywolf17 said:A whim? Forgive me, but I have been very actively moderating US for over a year now, so I am extremely well-acquainted with the situation. The explanation is simple: on US, a chat doesn't make sense unless it stays on-topic. These chats aren't doing that. It is similar on ŽuD.
Explain to me what the purpose of a chat would be for US if it's filled with people who hardly ever even visit the subforum.

The purpose of a subforum isn't to provide a chat. A chat doesn't define the quality of a subforum. For a subforum to be high-quality, the threads themselves must be high-quality. Something you might notice lately if you actually stepped out of the chat and looked at what is happening on the subforum.

Take the Soccer subforum and its Offtopic chat, for example. Since you keep bringing up how many people met on Finger, do you honestly think they didn't meet there? Don't be ridiculous.
The difference is that the people there are active participants in that specific subforum; they are what make it what it is. That isn't the case on US.
I suspect if I were to pull one constructive post from any of you on this subforum from the last month that wasn't made in the chat, the results would be quite interesting. 😉

You can view this as a reorganization of the subforum intended to raise the overall quality. Currently, the chats just don't fit into that goal.

With all due respect, a lot of those threads aren't any higher in quality than the chat itself. Honestly, they're often worse.
Take any thread, read the first three or four pages, and everything after that is nothing but pure spam and repetitive nonsense.
And don't even get me started on the threads that are basically identical, or the ones meant just to mock an ad, entertain the crowd, or see who can win a contest of swearing, whining, and complaining about the same problem—even when someone else posted that exact issue just three threads down, or you're repeating a problem you already brought up on two other subforums.
Yeah, sure, it's "interesting" to me too, but after two pages, you catch onto the joke and that kind of humor just gets exhausting.
If that's what we're calling "quality," then we clearly have different definitions of the word.
And yeah, the chat hasn't exactly been top-tier either, but that's because you guys haven't put your finger on the pulse to fix it.

mistywolf17 said:A whim? Forgive me, but I have been very actively moderating US for over a year now, so I am extremely well-acquainted with the situation. The explanation is simple: on US, a chat doesn't make sense unless it stays on-topic. These chats aren't doing that. It is similar on ŽuD.
Explain to me what the purpose of a chat would be for US if it's filled with people who hardly ever even visit the subforum.

The purpose of a subforum isn't to provide a chat. A chat doesn't define the quality of a subforum. For a subforum to be high-quality, the threads themselves must be high-quality. Something you might notice lately if you actually stepped out of the chat and looked at what is happening on the subforum.

Take the Soccer subforum and its Offtopic chat, for example. Since you keep bringing up how many people met on Finger, do you honestly think they didn't meet there? Don't be ridiculous.
The difference is that the people there are active participants in that specific subforum; they are what make it what it is. That isn't the case on US.
I suspect if I were to pull one constructive post from any of you on this subforum from the last month that wasn't made in the chat, the results would be quite interesting. 😉

You can view this as a reorganization of the subforum intended to raise the overall quality. Currently, the chats just don't fit into that goal.

Sorry, but of course I'm going to have more posts in the chat than in other threads. It's because on the other threads, I try to avoid the chat style and write as constructively as possible. I read the entire thread and then I write what I have to say; I have zero intention of repeating myself a hundred times.

I’m leaving the chat right here in the chat, and honestly, your logic regarding deleting it while allowing it in other threads makes absolutely zero sense to me—especially when you look at the subforum title and the kind of people who hang out here.
The whole point of having a dedicated chat in a specific subforum is to keep it away from all the other topics. That’s how you actually raise the quality of the board.
And given what this subforum is called, it would be a great idea to just keep one single chat thread in one spot; that way, if anyone wants to hang out and talk with some lonely folks, they have a place to do it.
I think you guys are just missing my point, that's all.
It doesn't matter whether I personally join in or if this crew from Finger or USPSD participates; the bottom line is that it needs to exist there so we don't have random chatter cluttering up every other thread.

mistywolf17 said:A whim? Forgive me, but I have been very actively moderating US for over a year now, so I am extremely well-acquainted with the situation. The explanation is simple: on US, a chat doesn't make sense unless it stays on-topic. These chats aren't doing that. It is similar on ŽuD.
Explain to me what the purpose of a chat would be for US if it's filled with people who hardly ever even visit the subforum.

The purpose of a subforum isn't to provide a chat. A chat doesn't define the quality of a subforum. For a subforum to be high-quality, the threads themselves must be high-quality. Something you might notice lately if you actually stepped out of the chat and looked at what is happening on the subforum.

Take the Soccer subforum and its Offtopic chat, for example. Since you keep bringing up how many people met on Finger, do you honestly think they didn't meet there? Don't be ridiculous.
The difference is that the people there are active participants in that specific subforum; they are what make it what it is. That isn't the case on US.
I suspect if I were to pull one constructive post from any of you on this subforum from the last month that wasn't made in the chat, the results would be quite interesting. 😉

You can view this as a reorganization of the subforum intended to raise the overall quality. Currently, the chats just don't fit into that goal.

I've laid out my vision for improving quality above, because frankly, I think this decision was made without much thought. 🤷

Austin Chavez6 said:So why did we even open this chat then? Wasn't the whole point to keep the other threads clean and give people looking to meet up one specific spot? Not everyone has the guts to slide into someone's DMs and just say, "Hey, I'm this guy, let's get to know each other."

The goal is to make this subforum a more constructive place.
The chat is everywhere, popping up in almost every thread, but it’s part of a constructive discussion. It’s totally normal. Honestly, we actually encourage it. 😬

Are you always trying to stir up the chat in every single thread? Since when?

Did you figure out the rules yet? There's a reason people get banned just for posting a single smiley face or using a signature.

So why didn't you moderate the chats and hand out bans then? You really think you were doing your moderation jobs perfectly on them?

There's a specific sub-forum for people who’ve become friends, so you can keep hanging out there. You can also use PMs. There are plenty of ways to connect that aren't just about padding your post count.

What about all these new people looking to hang out? Does being lonely mean you just scroll down to Offtopic to find someone to meet? Isn't there already a subforum called Lonely Hearts for that?

It actually encourages people to wander away from their specific chat thread and explore other subforums. Not to mention how funny it is seeing folks who NEVER post anywhere except for one single chat topic. 🙄

Prioritizing subforum quality comes first. Bravo. As for everyone else, don't blame me if you're feeling lonely or unhappy. Figure it out yourselves.

Lol, yeah, exactly. Just a few days ago I caught a warning and had my post nuked because someone decided my sentence was "spam" and Off topic...

Keith Cox6 said:Nah... I guess it's definitely better to just mock anyone who actually posts an ad.😁
That is... that's just hilarious. It's so incredibly optimistic and fits that very specific PDF vibe that the US absolutely requires.
Look, let's be real... I find it funny too, but in a... quiet way. Like, poking a finger at those desperate, pathetic, clingy, husband-seeking, tiny-dicked narcissists... and yeah, I could go on. But when I really think about it... if anyone else on this forum (not counting the favorites) opened a thread like this... they’d get banned instantly for harassment. All while being arrogant—which is fun, sure, but exhausting—and honestly, it's no wonder why the finger of fate doesn't point toward the US anymore. We find other ways to entertain ourselves, rather than making fun of others just to camouflage our own lack of fulfillment.

Supposedly a pretty great gig yesterday. Congrats.

And more than that... my post that got deleted and flagged was literally just responding in the exact same tone as that one controversial person...

Jessica Watson4 said:Alright, let me put you on the spot here—hopefully, you can give me a response that actually holds water.
What is the actual logic behind not having a chat on a subforum specifically titled "Lonely Hearts"?
I mean, I could wrap my head around them not having a chat in some random PDF section, but we're talking about a subforum where lonely people gather, likely with the intention of meeting someone—even just virtually through conversation—rather than just posting on threads or leaving classified ads.
It just doesn't click for me, especially given the explanation from mistywolf17. Honestly, I'm surprised she even tried to frame that as logical; to me, it feels like nothing more than a whim, which isn't how she usually comes across on this forum.
If the concern was the chat drifting in an unwanted direction, then the solution should have been to moderate it.

The thing is, we were all discussing various topics, everyone had their own ideas, but the final call was to set things up this way.

The issue with the US subforum was that it had too many chat threads. Over time, it turned into this weird mix of the closed-off USPSD crew and those pathetic "woe is me, I'm at rock bottom and lonely" threads.

We decided to break those patterns. As for the threads, right now the US doesn't have a dedicated chat thread; it has a flamethrower thread that isn't meant for discussion, and the music threads are going to be closed because they are hands-down the most idiotic threads ever—people just dumping songs they listen to. There's an NP thread over in Music for that.

Second thing. Listen, guys, I don't have anything against you, but let's be real: I don't know most of you. Some I know, some are great friends, but you aren't really part of the US crowd. You get what I mean? You don't actually post on the US subforum; you just hang out inside your own little chat threads and couldn't care less about anything else. And hey, that's fine—nobody should do something they don't want to do—but why fight so hard to keep everything exactly where it is? Just so it stays at the top of the forum index? I don't see the point. If you aren't even posting there anyway.

Most of the other subforums have chat threads for people who ACTUALLY participate in discussions. In my opinion, maybe 3% of the people in those threads actually engage in the main discussions; the rest are just there for the chat.

And that's perfectly fine, I'm all for you guys messing around, but why does it HAVE to be under the US section when the US section clearly doesn't matter to you?

Brandon Castillo4 said:The thing is, we were all discussing various topics, everyone had their own ideas, but the final call was to set things up this way.

The issue with the US subforum was that it had too many chat threads. Over time, it turned into this weird mix of the closed-off USPSD crew and those pathetic "woe is me, I'm at rock bottom and lonely" threads.

We decided to break those patterns. As for the threads, right now the US doesn't have a dedicated chat thread; it has a flamethrower thread that isn't meant for discussion, and the music threads are going to be closed because they are hands-down the most idiotic threads ever—people just dumping songs they listen to. There's an NP thread over in Music for that.

Second thing. Listen, guys, I don't have anything against you, but let's be real: I don't know most of you. Some I know, some are great friends, but you aren't really part of the US crowd. You get what I mean? You don't actually post on the US subforum; you just hang out inside your own little chat threads and couldn't care less about anything else. And hey, that's fine—nobody should do something they don't want to do—but why fight so hard to keep everything exactly where it is? Just so it stays at the top of the forum index? I don't see the point. If you aren't even posting there anyway.

Most of the other subforums have chat threads for people who ACTUALLY participate in discussions. In my opinion, maybe 3% of the people in those threads actually engage in the main discussions; the rest are just there for the chat.

And that's perfectly fine, I'm all for you guys messing around, but why does it HAVE to be under the US section when the US section clearly doesn't matter to you?

Look, I participate, and plenty of other people do too, but isn't it just common sense that I'll end up posting more in the chat topic than anywhere else?
I post whenever I actually have something to say. Usually, I'll read through an entire thread only to find that everyone is just repeating what was already said on the first few pages—it basically turns into endless bickering and nonsense. Does it really make sense to jump into those discussions just to claim I'm a member of the US?
Sorry, but I'd much rather keep the casual chat in the chat topic. On the other threads, I prefer to write only when I feel like I can actually add some real value or bring something new to the table.
To me, that feels way better than cluttering up every single thread with off-topic chatter, repeating the same point five times over, or turning everything into a giant complaining match or an argument.

My advice? Just open a dedicated chat topic and moderate it properly, then keep the other threads focused. Because let's be real: the US needs a space for chatting much more than it needs it scattered across every random PDF thread.

Edit: More people have met up and made real-life friends through finger than they have across the rest of the sub-forum combined, whether it's IRL or via VL. Every day, someone new shows up, stays, or moves on. Without the chat, that community spirit just won't exist anymore.

Brandon Castillo4, you and mistywolf17 clearly don't get that the Finger of Fate is way more than just some random chat.
Do you seriously think your little "Are you guys screwing me over better than this chat?" thread actually matters?
If you had actually dropped that nonsense about gold diggers and why people stay in toxic relationships right there in the main chat, believe me, you would have been flooded with actual quality, constructive feedback—and you probably would've even met someone in the process. So tell me, how much weight do you honestly give to an opinion from a total stranger on one of your own threads?

Why don't we want to be Off topic?

Because this chat is the one damn bright spot in all of America amidst a massive pile of whining, insults, mockery, and useless advice.
Because it's through this specific chat that so many lonely hearts have found each other and started hanging out.
Because no new lonely heart is ever going to wander into the Off topic section looking for other lonely hearts to connect with.

Jessica Watson4 said:Look, I participate, and plenty of other people do too, but isn't it just common sense that I'll end up posting more in the chat topic than anywhere else?
I post whenever I actually have something to say. Usually, I'll read through an entire thread only to find that everyone is just repeating what was already said on the first few pages—it basically turns into endless bickering and nonsense. Does it really make sense to jump into those discussions just to claim I'm a member of the US?
Sorry, but I'd much rather keep the casual chat in the chat topic. On the other threads, I prefer to write only when I feel like I can actually add some real value or bring something new to the table.
To me, that feels way better than cluttering up every single thread with off-topic chatter, repeating the same point five times over, or turning everything into a giant complaining match or an argument.

My advice? Just open a dedicated chat topic and moderate it properly, then keep the other threads focused. Because let's be real: the US needs a space for chatting much more than it needs it scattered across every random PDF thread.

Edit: More people have met up and made real-life friends through finger than they have across the rest of the sub-forum combined, whether it's IRL or via VL. Every day, someone new shows up, stays, or moves on. Without the chat, that community spirit just won't exist anymore.

I'm sorry, but most people don't really participate. In fact, Amanda James27 is probably the one most active on this sub-forum. As for everyone else, some might leave maybe 5 to 10 posts a month, while others don't post anything at all outside of the chat.

Regarding moderating a chat, it would take me several hours a day to monitor it properly. Do you really think any of the moderators have that kind of time or even want to spend it that way? 😕 But that's not really the point right now, because those chats aren't very productive anyway.
Like I've mentioned before, I think a themed chat would actually make sense.