We wanna be toGETHer!!

I'm not an Appreciator; I am very much a Non-Appreciator, but I would like to see the Appreciation threads back in the main body of the forum. It diesn't look like DS without Matt being Pointlessly Beautiful draped across the front page.

Surely there's plenty of room in the main hall for Pink & Fluffy, the DOTs and the 'discussion' threads? Actually, I non-appreciate the term 'discussion threads' = we're all discussing something, so let's get everyone back together!

[But please, no Greenham Common stuff - I'd look awful in dungarees]

Agreed. It's not that it's going to weigh heavily on my mind or any such thing, but I confess I feel a little saddened at the split.

All the swapping around between forums is time-consuming and annoying.

I miss having just one place where we could all agree and disagree and feel offended and grumpy and happy and whatever it is that keeps so many regulars coming back almost daily!

Agree, agree, agree

One small disagreement - Ballroom Bill Thread is FAB. A true Forum Great - along with Warm and Tranquil Room. May they thrive for ever No personal bias, cos don't post on those threads, but love and respect them for their longevity and their content

Oh look - spam threads already!

Nice going mods!

That just about sums it up doesnt it!!

As a inhabitee of the Bar Cutler I'm feeling very disgruntled!

I wish the Appreciation Threads could be placed in a separate section up the top like they are in the Big Brother forum.

They tend to clog up the front page where people want to have proper discussions.

Edit - I've just realised that's exactly what's happened and what this thread is about! Good move Mods. Thank you

As someone who doesn't post on appreciation threads, I have no problem with there being a separate forum. This could also be the solution to multiple threads for the same pro/celeb which tend to crop at this time of year.

I think it would have made a difference if the threads about the new contestants had been just straight names, not with the words "appreciation thread" after the names of the couples.

For instance, "Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan" nothing else.

How can people appreciate a couple without actually seeing them dance?

The same way you and I would appreciate Will before he set foot on the dance floor, Gill

The dancers have also earned a following and can be appreciated in advance.

The appreciation tag only means that a thread aims to be positive rather than contentious.

I understand the different viewpoints, but I liked the Strictly forum as it was, warts and all.

Having to switch from the main forum to the attic has lost the unique character of the forum ....for me.

Completely agree Layla - it really spoils the 'flow' of the Strictly chat - I think there's room for all of us on here - this seems to be change just for the sake of change.

It seems, from what I've observed over the past few years, that it is the vocal minority i.e. those who complain to DS mods, who are listened to and catered for. The silent majority who are either happy with how things are run or who don't complain at the drop of a hat are ignored - mainly because they are not asked for opinions before a major change is implemented. It would have been interesting to see the results of a poll if DS had asked whether the change would be welcomed.

My major annoyance with it is that it discourages people from posting on both the "main board" and "appreciation attic" because of the need to switch back and forth. Not exactly conducive to discussion. Also, the emphasis on "positive posting" is ridiculous - if I don't like the colour of a dress for example, do I have to start a thread on the discussion page because I am not allowed to say anything negative on the thread set up to discuss the couple?

Maybe we should set up 'discussion' threads for each couple so that all aspects of their performances can be discussed.

This sort of debate would have been helpful before the change was implemented rather than afterwards as I highly doubt the mods will take any notice of our complaints.

Or maybe the mods responsible for the Strictly forum were asked by their boss what they'd done over the past year and needed to be able to point to something!

Yes you do, and no you're not allowed to say anything negative in an appreciation thread. That's part of the reason appreciation threads seem to have been moved.

People have complained in the past that their nice, fluffy appreciation threads were being invaded by those who wanted to say negative things. Therefore, a rule was implemented saying that appreciation threads can only be positive. This makes them an exception to every other thread on DS. They're not designed for discussion, they're designed to say how much you like someone.

I suppose they can easily argue that now it is much easier to administer. No negative is allowed in the appreciation threads forum. If you want to discuss it is clear you need to be in the main forum.

Another thing is, some people on these "nice fluffy appreciation threads" use their thread to say negative things about other celebs and pros.

I may like more than one dancer, but not post on their thread for this reason.

I'd completely agree with this - although I've watched SCD from series 1, I've rarely ventured on to this forum because it's full of 'appreciation' rather than debate.

Perhaps this year will be different

James Jordan yes please seems to have escaped the cull

And James Martin PHWOAR! Hence my comment about maybe having the same first name has something to do with it lol.

I see James Jordan has now been culled. The thread that is, not James himself

very funny !!!!

Is it my imagination or has it gone a bit quiet on the main forum all of a sudden

They do sometimes and I think that's very poor form myself and rather cowardly. However there will always unfortunately be those who think the best way to support their favourite is to be nasty about others.


Course it has. Series hasn't started yet. Give it a week...

Put them back on the main page please.

Nothing worse that a forum with sub forums, I'm sure it stops people posting in the sub forums plus it means others start up duplicate threads as they don't relaise they are elsewhere. (and don't say there is a thread telling people they have been moved, I know that but others might not look what it says)

Hi Layumba - I really agree with your points here. See my summary below, since there's a few other posts I wish to quote first, then comment on them all!



I too would have liked to see the results of a poll before changes were implemented - I really do like your idea of the discussion threads for each new couple every year - this would solve the problem!





claire2281 and Strictly Red, I can understand what you are saying above - and as someone who posts on one thread but occasionally ventures out into others, I wanted to comment as follows:

I know that, like the TCA thread I post on, there are many longstanding threads which have their "regulars" and I like this - therefore, if I go into one of those threads to make a comment, I try to be aware of what is going on in the thread before bludgeoning in and trying to be part of something I'm just not part of, and making sure I try to introduce myself first before posting and being sensitive with what I post whilst still expressing my point of view - it IS possible! These longstanding threads are slightly different in etiquette to the ones which (although having equal value and validity) are new and have just started up.

Whenever I have gone into another apprecation thread - Gethin's last year and Matt&Flavia's, Brendan's, and Flavia's this year - the girls in there have always been really lovely and have always at least acknowledged me by saying hi - even though I am not part of them.

With regard to not being able to post a negative in these threads - my first thought is "oh how bloody silly - you should be able to have constructive discussion even if its not lovely!" and secondly, that I am just so unsure about how this fits in "my" thread (i.e. the one I post on!).

I am not sure where it fits in really - probably nowhere! Because although TCA IS for sure an appreciation thread for Matthew Cutler, we have always welcomed discussion on him, even if people come in and comment to the negative, so long as it is done constructively. We are all happy to have a discussion about what someone feels about a situation or dance etc even if it is not complimentary. So we are not really typical of an appreciation thread where you can only say nice things. Therefore, I am uncertain of where we should be!

I was slammed during SCD5 for saying on the thread that I really didn't like Matt's choreo for the salsa he and Alesha did! And I am utterly devoted to Mr Cutler! I think its okay to say those things and discuss them......this is what I mean about not being sure where we fit in in this new scheme - although we adore and appreciate him we don't just blindly think the sun shines out of him! We always support him absolutely, but are always honest about things that are not always right or that we don't entirely like.

I must agree wholeheartedly though with you about some threads using the safety of an appreciation thread to criticise other pros/celebs etc. I really don't like this - sometimes you get it incessantly - my view is that I prefer to talk about the one I like - will discuss the others - but rarely do I make nasty comments about them - would prefer to keep that to myself! I DO have one pro that I absolutely cannot stand! but I wouldn't talk about this person negatively in TCA nor would I barge into their appreciation thread and make negative comments there.

I don't really mind being relegated to the "attic" as one poster put it (thought this was a great description!) - but I DO agree with you that this new scheme will not promote good discussion.

By going "inter-thread" I have personally made such lovely friends in "real life" () from this - we meet up and have made some truly special friendships which have been proven to be enduring outside of SCD, and these friendships have come not only from the thread we post on the most.

By separating them I think it will kill the lovely experience that I know a lot of us have had by being able to go into all the threads because we can see them on the front page - and this is what has for me made DS far more special than other forums - it is kind of more than that.

I know we CAN still go into all the threads but it makes you less keen to do it since they are separated now - if you only have five minutes to post quickly, then its lovely to be able to see everything on the one page.

To make it like it is now only makes the forum like the BBC's or other forums, which due to their need for navigation, are far less friendly.

I think people will be less interested (or less bothered) in going into all the threads when they are split up like this - as Layumba said - I liked it before when it was all on the page together, warts and all!

I do also respect that people want "proper discussion" and want the appreciation threads out of the way, but to me, that is saying that "proper discussion" has a greater importance than an SCD related appreciation thread which talks about the pros and celebs who actually MAKE the show. Everyone has an equal place - or they should have - one is not more important than the other.

As has happened for some time now - we all choose which threads we go into - and it is no great hardship to ignore the threads you don't like or don't want to post in - its an extra click onto page 2 or whatever to find your "home" thread when all the new threads come each year, and if you bookmark your favourite thread, then you don't even have to do that.

All the "new couples" appreciation threads each year tend to mostly disappear by December anyway when the show finishes, leaving the front page to those of us who post all year round, so if it is the sheer number of new appreciation threads which bother you by cluttering up the first page, they don't hang around long. It doesn't mean either that anyone who doesn't post all year round is less entitled to a viewpoint than we are - the forum is for everyone at all times.

I find that the posters on the threads which are longstanding i.e. Ballroom Bill, TCA etc, to name but two, often post on other threads as well - so you get to "know" the regular posters and its great for forum discussion to see how people's views change over the years and why.

And for those who post just in the "season" I absolutely love seeing all the regulars coming back year after year - its great!

By making the appreciation threads separate, people who only post on the now "main" forum will not have the benefit of the regular posters' ability to compare and contrast seasons, and it will be poorer as a result.

I rarely post on any "new couple" appreciation thread for Matt though - instead I tend to make all my comments on TCA and don't venture into the new one very much each year - but that is generally because the thread disappears quickly, and because I post all year round, I love the longevity of TCA and that is where I feel most comfortable and at home, like many of us do on our "home" thread.

I liked seeing all the threads - appreciation AND discussion - on the same page!

I like seeing how different it is each year - I really do enjoy that - but this system is going to make for a much "drier" forum without the inter-relationships which make it such a lovely friendly place for the most part, compared to other forums.

I do think a poll would have been a good idea, so what about someone starting one before the change is old news and with a news series about to start there should be plenty of responses rather than mainly just the die-hards - a kind of feedback for DS.