It's a global DS thing. It's the same on the Big Brother and X-Factor sections.

At one time they did used to be part of the hurly burly of the main thread, but threads on the main board are subject to both positive and negative comments so it could get a bit tetchy. Appreciation threads are T&C'd as constructive and positive, I believe.

^^^ this. It was annoying when in series 5, there were appreciation threads from series 3 and 4 "clogging" up the first page

The Non App thread was created in series 6 I think just as a reaction to all the App threads being on page 1.....

.....but I think having all the App threads even the current series ones in the attic means the main board inevitably has quite repetitive threads and does get very negative

I don't think it's necessarily that a positive option has to be in the attic, it's more that a thread on the main forum has to take its chances with both extremes and the bit in the middle

If the OP was after a thread for positive and constructive only then the App section is the best place. If they don't mind hearing from people who differ in opinion, the main board is fine and dandy.

I have to say these are very good points (in my anything but humble opinion). Not liking personal sniping at a particular contestant does not necessarily equate to wanting to be a member of that contestant's appreciation thread.

Cliché no 46 (we all have different opinions) but, for me, the appreciation threads can be as clique-y as the non-app thread. I don't always want to go and chat with like-minded people because, frankly, I don't then learn anything new. Oh, and I'm saying that as a long-time member of the Kartem appreciation thread.

So, yes, positivity does not necessarily equate to appreciation and it is laudable for anybody to defend what they perceive as an unfair attack. I will join you in the Defence of Victoria League, which is not the same as the Victoria and Brendan Appreciation Thread, no sirree...

I think variety is the spice of life, but we are running into danger that all that is left is just the negative. I didn't think that the OP was just after nicey, nicey comments. I think it was quite clear that he/she wanted to start a discussion on why Lisa receives so much stick (I actually don't agree that she does). However, each time someone starts such a thread they are reminded that the attic is the better place.

To be on topic though, I think Lisa suffers a double backlash. Nobody expected her to be good, so everyone was surprised and impressed. Now everyone expects her to be good, but she hasn't lived up to the expectation.

She seems like a nice person, and is really enthusiastic, but people might expect more.

Generally I think she received less criticisms than some of the others (Louis, Victoria, Denise etc.)

Back on topic, I don't see Lisa getting anything like as much stick as Denise and Victoria

I do think though that quite a few people me included would like to see her push herself beyond the "fun fun fun" routines

She's clearly a naturally good dancer. She has timing and musicality and she's obviously having a great time

It would be nice to see her do something more "serious" though to show she can do it and i don't doubt she can

I'm finding Lisa and Robin a breath of fresh air this year - I don't think they are the best dancers on the show but I get the most fun out of watching them so more power to them, and Lisa is getting better rather than just milking her down-to-eath-have-a-go-me northern persona for all it's worth.

I dunno, she tried drama and it didn't really work for me in the tango. I'd like to see her paso just to see if she can bring her acting skills to a dance in a way that works better than the tango did.

There is an odd poster on the Beeb site who must clearly be fattist (or blind) as they think Lisa cannot dance because of her size. Whist Victoria is good because she is slim.

Nowt so queer as folk.

This I agree with!

With regard to Lisa, it's probably true to say that nobody expected her to be good in week 1. When she produced a great cha cha that (deservedly) topped the leaderboard, people were pleasantly surprised/gobsmacked. However, I think Robin then allowed her to coast on the back of that for a few weeks with the result that everyone started to think, "Same old, same old, been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and am now totally over it so have given it to OXFAM".

I think she's actually been showing a few signs of starting to improve a bit in the last couple of weeks but, I'm afraid, that as seems to be the case with Nicky, it may be too little, too late for some people. I don't see too many viewers rushing out to get their OXFAM donations back.

She can sell a performance but unfortunately she seems to have relied on selling the same performance over and over again. I really wish they'd lay off the fun and tone down the side by side. Then again, I'm never going to vote for her and those who do may well love the aforementioned so why would they do what I want ?

(back off topic for just a mo. I went and got a sarnie so missed the discussion...

Interesting, thanks for all the answers and different perspectives. I asked because there seems to be a kind of 'belittled' view of the app threads, as if you're a tender or feeble soul to visit them, whereas in life it often takes more out of you in every sense to like and support something. The negatives are easier and cost nothing.

But maybe I got the general view of the App forum wrong. I've not heard anyone say what kittles said 'one of the best parts of the forum' so plainly.

If it's DS-wide, there's no way they'll change it back in any case.)

I think it's a 2 way street
Often people post positive comments or start positive threads and then put some thing like - let's wait for the haters to start ... or the nasty comments to come. Which actually only attracts the comments it wanted to avoid or labels even quite mild disagreement as 'hate' (when I rule the world I will make it wrong to label people as 'haters' just for saying a Jive didn't ring their bell ).

Anyway, I don't think Lisa has been getting that much in the way of negativity - more frustration that the dances went through a period of bing interchangable and no progress seemed to have been made.

I really enjoy Lisas dances. I never had low expectations for her, I made no assumptions. I certainly never assumed she wouldn't be able to dance because of her size. I've seen several highly skilled dancers who happen to be 'large'.

I was pleased she broke some expectations. But as some mentioned, people were so impressed, they expect that kind of shock every week. Whilst she's been good, and one of the better dances there, she certainly isn't the best. She has improved, but not in leaps and bounds. For some that shock hasn't been sustained, which no one would be able to do. It's all to do with expectation.

Lisa is a great dancer with very respectable overall technicality and even better 'performance'. I want to see her refine her moves some more. She showed last week she is starting to focus more on the technicality and I really hope she continues that this week. But no matter how much she refines her moves, some people will always find spurious reasons to bitch about her, which is fine, they can do as they please. But most of the reasons I've seen so far have very little grounding other than a kneejerk dislike of her. At best, some of the reason have been greatly exaggerated.

But she is one of, if not, my favourite contestant in the competition. She's a respectably good technical dancer and has clean lines, great rythym, light footwork and energy. Most importantly, what she has that no one else does is warmth and charisma when she dances. She shines on that floor and sells it.

As for the negativity. Just take the bits you like and leave the rest.

That'll be two of them, then....

Well I didn't support it at the time and I don't support it now, not the least because having the app threads separate means a hell of a lot more space on the mb for particularly pointless, aggravating, repetitive and annoying threads that have sprouted over the last couple of years and never used to be there. Give us back the app threads which are for genuine fans and not wums. Nobody is forcing anybody to read them.

I clearly missed something but I thought I thought the t and c for the whole forum was constructivism based?

Then again I advocate being unappreciative constructively, (a la Ms Bussell) or at the very least in a non personal manner.

I think we'd need neither separate app nor non app threads if that was the spirit of all posters and postings, but maybe I am being too "fluffy"...

I think I need to catch up here.

I agree with you.

Having the app threads on the main board made it easier to identify which FM's supported which couples and bolstered the whole community feel. These days I have a quick gander at various App threads and I have no idea who some of the posters are. It was a much nicer place to be when you pretty much knew who everyone was.

It was also a hell of a lot easier to nip into App threads - particularly on Saturday night - and say congrats if someone had danced well or whatever, even if you didn't support them. Now there's just a massive disconnect.

The App threads have pretty much stayed the same, but with far less interaction from other FMs, whilst the main board has got nastier.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that some FMs have seen the absence of App threads to promote their own particluar brand of nastiness - no counterbalance in place.

I think the Mods should be asked for another poll - maybe at the end of this series.?

Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes! Er........and yes!

The point about the disconnect is especially true.

There's less footfall by the App threads too. They're off the beaten track. I'm often surprised to see someone on the main forum supporting a couple when I've not seen them on the couple's App thread. I fear that the App threads are portayed as / seen as uncool. It means the uncool amongst us (throws hand in air) miss out on meeting loads of folk on their thread who would add to the chat and serious discussion.

Also I think there's a negative effect on news sharing. Far from fans rushing to say Lisa's doing this... Louis said that... App threads often hold the news in, fearful perhaps of how it will be received at large.

I'd break down the walls if poss.

That's why we need another poll to try and get the board put back together again.

Mind you, the regular appers might not want to come back "down here". And who could blame them?

You make some very interesting points that I think the majority would agree with.

Teachers and no doubt others will recognise the phrase "inclusion and differentiation". More widely there is "equality and diversity", but basically, it means that activity is designed so everyone feels welcome and involved, whilst at the same time differences are respected . A difficult balance, and one that only works if everyone willingly and fully plays their part.

Is it really that bad? There's a bit of a sense of humour failure on the main board this year and the same minority there have always been who cross the line into nasty, but I guess that line is different for everyone.

But then maybe I'm at the more cynical end of the range of posters.