Discussion Match Threads. Do We Need Them?

[guero]

Bit harsh mate, rookies are the future of this league.

Thanks Neutral. I knew I'd be able to count on you for support.

 

[omgfridge]

More importantly. guero do we need him?

 

[MWPP]

• Could reducing the days that a match thread is live help raise engagement in them, or help alleviate the feeling of a week dragging on? Could that have an affect on retention? Would reducing the "live" days have an affect on fixturing?

I'm seemingly in the minority in that I'm more of a match thread than media poster, but I'm honing in on this as I I do like your second suggestion. I said this in the Tittybong thread too, but I felt that its shorter duration and the presence of multiple teams in the same thread gave it more of a carnival atmosphere (in a good way) . Having condensed games without multiple teams invited in the thread could result in far fewer participants though. Either way, the multiple teams in one thread approach is worth a try.

 

[Kennedy Parker]

Bit harsh mate, rookies are the future of this league.

You know who use to say "rookies are the future of this league" all the time?

Ant Bear

 

[guero]

More importantly. guero do we need him?

Don't tag me here rookie.

 

[Genghis Tron]

More importantly. guero do we need him?

 

[omgfridge]

Don't tag me here rookie.

Sorry guero

 

[Genghis Tron]

I'm seemingly in the minority in that I'm more of a match thread than media poster, but I'm honing in on this as I I do like your second suggestion. I said this in the Tittybong thread too, but I felt that its shorter duration and the presence of multiple teams in the same thread gave it more of a carnival atmosphere (in a good way) . Having condensed games without multiple teams invited in the thread could result in far fewer participants though. Either way, the multiple teams in one thread approach is worth a try.

I really enjoyed the Tittybong thread. In saying that, I don't think it would work for the match threads really. I feel like that might be overload. Maybe... It worked for the Tittybong Cup, but match threads/in season games are pretty different if you feel me. I don't know if mixing teams is the right idea, I don't think it would have that much support,

While I would support shortening the duration of match threads, that might lock out certain posters that don't have a lot of time and only check in on various days. Even with that I think shortening the week would encourage less shit shitposting. Add a bit or urgency to burning the opposition with better material before the weeks out.

A few people have raised good points in here and given me a bit more appreciation for the place of match threads in this little world. Still think they could improve, but they aren't all bad.

 

[VainGlorious]

Match threads are an important part of the league in more ways than one,

• Gives the new posters a chance to see what it’s all about

• Gives the league SOME content to create media threads

• Allows Wayne and EJW to fight about nothing for 15-20 pages

Personally, I’d like to see match threads go up on a Wednesday night/Thursday, allowing for other content to be produced in the early stages of the week.

4 days including match day should be plenty of time to tell each other how shit we are, get over the initial angsty starts to match threads that seem to happen most weeks, and focus on what I PERSONALLY find more enjoyable.

Humour and terrible photoshopping skills.

I’d be much happier with a 4 day match thread, but it doesn’t affect my contributions. If I feel like posting, I post.

Take last week against the Furies for example. GREAT match thread, had a bit of everything, but it went for too long, resulting in nearly 100 pages.

The earlier rounds do tend to generate larger post counts, and with the current state of affairs giving a greater number of people more time to post, its not uncommon.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

A few people have raised good points in here and given me a bit more appreciation for the place of match threads in this little world. Still think they could improve, but they aren't all bad.

That is how I think about media threads. There really is a lot of dross but there are some pearlers.

I think OPs in match threads, help set the tone. Many are remarkably clever, with a lot of us reading each of the six. The manangatang 'boys own' adventure OPs last season were the pinnacle of these.

I think it is clear more posters engage in match threads than in Media and that is the meat and potatoes of the joint. I really see no reason to impose limits.

 

[Headless]

All match threads longer than five pages should be permanently locked.

 

[Test Tickle]

I'm with you on this. Tuesdays for match threads.

Match threads pop up to early and then seem to drag a bit mid week, Wednesday arvo for my liking

 

[Callums_Guns]

All match threads longer than five pages should be permanently locked.

 

[Barrybran]

All match threads longer than five pages should be permanently locked.

And that, kids, is the story of why the Bombers have 15 match threads each week

 

[Chipmunk]

You bring up some very good points in here.

I was discussing similar with TheInjuryFactory the other day, the best part of the SFA always occurs outside of match threads, the drama and the controversy that occurs. That is not to say there aren't good match threads, there are, but if people listed their top 5 moments in the past few seasons, I would almost guarantee they will not name a match thread.

I don't mean to sound like a "back in my day" type, but match threads have declined in overall quality over the seasons. People are in general more interested in their post count, activity and insular team mate banter than they are actually engaging with the opposition. We got accused of being inactive in our match thread this week despite being one of the most active teams in the league. Honestly, this says a lot about the mentality and attitude of many in the league where having 5-6 getting over 100 posts every week seems to have become to "standard" for being an active team.

imo, this sort of mentality is a huge turn off for rookies. I remember when I was a rookie and thinking I had to keep up with akkaps and his spammy posting, I can only imagine how many rookies look at their spammy teammates, or opposition and go "sh*t, do i seriously have to keep up with this?" and turn off and not post again.

I don't think the match threads themselves need to change. The time frame for them is fine and the great thing about the SFA is you don't have to post every single day (or even every week) in order to keep your spot on a team, it's what you make of it really. The attitude of "bigger post count iz better" needs to stop though.

Sorry to turn this thread into another "Is the league too spammy" debate, I'm not as anti spam as some here, but some in the league do need to chill the fu** out.

Good stuff, I was thinking of what to say and now I don’t need to.

Can confirm was a problem for this S29 rookie, post count/inteam banter was a turnoff. You do get into it but you’re peddling your own lane for a while. Maybe just greater encouragement for rookies to post content in match threads to make themselves known to the opposition.

That said, I think media threads also have a barrier to entry in terms of understanding/banter. Perfectly fine of course, it’s the writer doing what they feel but posting on a match thread was less intimidating than posting on a media piece.

 

[guero]

All match threads longer than five pages should be permanently locked.

#fivepagesmax

Sorry Mr Mr Tiler God I know you don't like me posting here, but I just couldn't resist.

 

[Genghis Tron]

#fivepagesmax

Sorry Mr Mr Tiler God I know you don't like me posting here, but I just couldn't resist.

Post here all you like, just don't have an opinion, assert yourself, have fun, post in this thread, breathe or exist.

 

[Headless]

To be fair, our match thread the last half hour or so has simply been lovely.

 

[Barrybran]

To be fair, our match thread the last half hour or so has simply been lovely.

Noone's posted in it?

 

[GremioPower]

The damn things are like a plague around SFA lately

And we thought that nothing could be worse than last season...