Good idea. A poll would be good. It would really see where the majority lie. Although I doubt the mods will take any notice.

Also Im in favour of starting Discussion threads for each couple this year coz now I will feel scared of posting anything not positive (and frankly there is a lot I would like to say) in the "appreciation threads" as they stand now (in their separate attic room!)

Go ahead BBotN - start away!

What do you do to start a poll?

I acknowledge, that I seem to be in the minority here by a country mile, but as someone who mainly posts on an appreciation thread I prefer the new set up. I'm actually really surprised at the reaction to it. To me it is only a an extra click of a mouse to get to the appreciation section if that's where your looking for, so it's not exactly a complicated procedure ( and I'm not saying that in a smart or wind up way) but I can't see how it is so upsetting

I feel I'm more inclined with the new set up to contribute more on the forum in general than I would have done previously ( not really sure why, but I as soon as I saw the change yesterday, my first reaction was YES! Finally).

Sorry this post isn't as coherent as I would have liked it to be but I really don't see the problem. It's not Germany invading Poland. It's a discussion forum on a light ebtertainment show It's only been here 24 hours- perhaps we should embrace the change and wait until the series starts and see how things pan out.

It is a form of segregation - a value statement on who is worthy and who is not.

It is just entertainment and I do not want to be so serious about it all.

However, as an appreciator of all the threads, I am put out at being forced to hop around between 2 forums...especially when I see the quality of posts now taking the place of the appreciation threads...'strictly horrid'!

Yes please to the Poll idea and I will gladly accept the will of the majority - whatever it is.

I'm not sorry for referring to it. I used it as a comparison to what I see as a complete over reaction. I respect your viewpoint but I disagree about it being segregation. I just see it as a more sensible way of running a discussion based forum. Different strokes for different folks.

But sadly the posters who but up the "strictly horrid" type posts have always been around and always will be, and that person would have posted that thread regardless of whether there was a subforum or not.
Last edited by Lovely Leitrim : 09-09-2009 at 15:25

Last year, it became very difficult to have discussions about the competition itself because the Appreciation Threads cluttered up the front page.

I fail to understand why it's an issue that they've been moved? They are merely in a different place, they have not been removed altogether.

I've totally had the wrong idea of what an Appreciation thread was ever since joining here then...

I knew that it wasnt proper forum etiquette to go onto someones Appreciation thread and speak negatively of them....but I certainly didnt realise that anything other than a positively glowing comment was against Appreciation thread policy. ...or that Appr. threads werent to be used for normal strictly discussion unless every angle of that discussion was positive.

If for instance I decided I didnt like a song choice used on this years show, where would I write that??
Would it be in the Non Appreciation thread or would I have to start a whole new thread for it?...I cant write it in an Appreciation thread as thats not what they are for.

I kind of object to hearing that what is chosen to be spoken about in an Appreciaition thread, is less constructive to discussion than what a conversation in the Non Appreciation thread is....... The Terms and Conditions of the whole forum are a bit contradictory if we can only speak venemously about a particlar professional/celeb/group of fans in order for that conversation to be classed as a Discussion!

Because thats where lots of people do their discussions of the actual competition Sid...not everyone likes to post in lots of different discussion threads, and prefer to use the Appreciation threads as a place to have a chat about the show with the same people as they do the rest of the year.

It was made that way because several years ago there were lots of complaints on here about people going into appreciation threads and saying negative things. Many hissy fits, people got upset.

People argued (rightly, to be fair) that forum rules dictated they could post what they wanted where they wanted as long as it didn't end up going OTT and include personal insults against forum members.

To cut down on the hassle/arguments, appreciation threads were made an exception. You are not allowed to post negative comments on them and doing so repeatedly can get you banned.

However, that obviously does mean they are not places for discussion in the traditional sense.

Hello Dilly!

I don't think it means that you can't discuss the show. If you look at the locked "Appreciation threads" topic at the top of this forum, it just says you can debate and discuss in a "positive atmosphere". If there is a debate, obviously people are going to have different viewpoints.

The way I read it is that it just means we shouldn't be going on to the appreciation threads to slag off the celeb or pro. Likewise, fans using the thread shouldn't be criticising other dancers there.

See you next time I'm visiting flav's thread

Spare my blushes Slinky! Very nice of you to say so. That's made my day reading that. Also a bit terrifying, as clearly more people read us than I had realised. Thank you.

OK, my own view which is actually not really falling on one side or another. Forgive me, because I don't mean this to be a convoluted politicians answer. I have no problem myself with being on a sub forum. I know once the series starts there willl be a gazillion new threads on the minutest topic of non importance such as somebody not having their hair cut because Len told them to, so the fact that the forum looks a bit bereft at the moment will not matter then. It will be quite nice for me, when I'm bored of arguing the toss on the discussion to retreat into the appreciation side of it and forget it.

However.........

I am just a bit concerned about when the glitter ball gets hoisted up and most people depart in December, not to be seen again until next August. I do think it will be a bit weird and ridiculous to have the main forum like a boarded up High St to quote somebody else while everyone who like me posts throughout the year on various app threads are gassing away in a sub forum not visible. The main forum will be like Pompeii frozen in time with threads saying how great dancer A won and other threads saying, no it's awful. There will be hardly any movement between then and next August.

I propose a compromise. I'm fine with being where we are, as yes, it does free up space and movement on the main forum for the series, fair enough, but I think we should be moved down to the main forum again at the series end if possible. I am also in broad sympathy with app threads for the current couples being moved back down now because if I was posting on one, I think I'd find it annoying to say the least on having to keep jumping back and forth, especially on show nights when conversations move at the speed of light.

I do like your post tangoqueen btw. I fully understand the view that all us regulars on the app threads despite of, or perhaps even because of occasional arguments contribute a great family feeling for want of a better word to the SCD Forum which I don't think is elsewhere on DS. If the majority want app threads to go back on the main page, that's fine with me, if they want us to stay in the attic with a picture of Mr Rochester that's fine by me too. Only on a proviso that nobody is ever allowed to moan about app threads ever again.

But one can still do that

I agree with Sid - the AT`s were cluttering the front pages, especially those ATs covering Celebs etc., from previous seasons.

This way it`s much tidier imo.

Which is a point I am in full agreement with, but that doesnt mean that we are incapable of having a discussion within our Appreciaition thread about whether we like something or not.

I think the solution then is to have new Discussion threads for everyone then and let the Appreciation threads disappear. That way the would all be kept in the same forum.

And you can still do that Dilly.

Just in a slightly different location.

This way no one loses their Appreciation Threads and those that prefer to discuss more specific aspects of the show and in a more critical manner, can do so without their threads falling off the front page in a matter of minutes.

It's a win/win as far as I can see.

I agree, last year I was quite keen to contribute and discuss the series for the first time on digital spy. As a newcomer I found the incredibly long threads about couples from previous series a little bit off-putting.

I know we can..but we might also still want to view the rest of the discussions going on without having to switch forums to do so.

By the same token of its only another 'click' to get to the Appreciation threads, its also only another 'click' to go to page 2 to find the thread that you are looking for.

I actually use both the Appreciation threads, and the general discussion threads so I'm still in favour of it beong a united forum, but failing this...of the discussion threads being moved to the sub forum for the Appreciation threads to remain on the main page. Those are the ones that will still be here in Januay when the shows over.

But surely its easy enough to by-pass these threads and use the ones your interested in......They are usaully clearly marked with the couples name on them!

It just gives the impression that the board is more of an exclusive club rather than open forum if you know what I mean.

I am glad they have moved. I had to search for ages sometimes to find a hot thread I wanted.

The App. threads are discouraging to those of us who try to be objective because you just know that if you dare say that X is a delightful individual with fabulous posture but whose grimace drives you berserk you will be soundly flogged.

So I knew that half the stuff on there was a no-go zone for me.

Thanks, Mods!

I can only speak from experience.

The current system has worked very well in the Big Brother forum so I have no reason to believe it can't work here.

Totally agree and i am glad they have moved......I find the App threads more like exclusive clubs for certain posters,and have seen some completely ignore other fm,s if they dont *fit in with their discussion and ways* so they are certainly not discussion threads for all fm's. They are simply threads to worship certain pros and therefore im glad they have moved.

Agree it works well on the BB forum.

Having been on the receiving end of one such flogging in an AT last season it actually put me off going in there ever again.

Also I tried looking for details on something in another AT and had to go through pages and pages of `fluffy` stuff before I found what I was looking for. Totally frustrating.

The App. threads have their own rules.
In some of them you even get flamed if people think you might have posted on 2 different threads - as if you are not "allowed" to like two partnerships!
OK, not everyone is like that but they aren't really showing appreciation half the time - they are just blindly fan-worshipping....