Would You Delete the Alfredo?

[Mike Ryan]

In the words of OMA: "More art, less chatter." Edit: I would like it to be made clear that "More art, less chatter" was the inspiration behind the question, and not necessarily the source of the question.

So, if you could delete the Alfredo knowing that it might decrease some forum activity however boost Pictorium and other forum activity, would you?

[ShK_828]

if there was no alfredo, i wouldnt be coming here. i dont use paint.net often. i use photoshop more, but even with photoshop im using it less because sG closed down

i just come here for the great community.

[david.atwell]

Neh, it serves its purpose; that is, being a lightning rod for off-topic discussion. I'd leave it, 'cause we'd otherwise have off-topic posts and games all over the place.

[DarkShock]

Nope. It makes the forum more entertaining.

[APShredder]

So who's the one person who would delete the Alfredo?

[Goonfella]

I would keep it. You always need somewhere to have an off topic chat and if it was taken away all those posts would just end up crowding out the other sections.

[BoltBait]

I remember asking Rick to create this forum... and he was resistant.

[Rick Brewster]

Yeah you all were the ones that told me to make it in the first place

[Simon Brown]

In the words of OMA: "More art, less chatter."

Is having "more art, less chatter" actually beneficial to the forum. It also seems naive to me that if users couldn't use the Alfredo, they'd magically jump to another section and create valuable art/plugins/tutorials rather than find another forum.

[oma]

I can't recall where I ever suggested the alfredo be shut down. the reference to "more art less chatter" is about how one would go about making better pictures.

the way this is written can be read as insinuating that I did not think the alfredo has a place here at all. but really what is its place. "chat room" ? edit thanks you for clairfying that for everyone as I know for sure I never asked or stated it should be shut down.

My opinion is similar to Davids it has its place as a catch all but I'd love to see more artwork especially when some of the members are calling for more class in the galleria.

ciao OMA

my vote well lets just say 1 for shut down wasn't me.

[Rubrica]

As well as thinking about what would happen in the future if it was deleted, think about what might have happened in the past. I know that, for me, I wouldn't be here at all, and would still be stuck in one of the worst situations of my life thus far.

[Blooper]

I'd probably only lurk in the plugin forum if it wasn't for the Alfredo, and occasionally post some art.

[Pixey]

I enjoy it - a keeper!

[007 Nab]

I think it depends on which your are trying to improve: Paint.NET activity, or forum Community.

I think in the foreseeable future we could get rid of parts of the overflow. I think for Paint.NET's sake we need to ween off the Alfredo, and more on to the other parts of the forum.

I think this all kind of ties in with Ash's argument before, along with what oma is pushing for now - more art will lead to better quality.

[david.atwell]

Perhaps. But we must keep in mind, the forum exists as a support forum for Paint.NET, not as an art forum like DeviantArt or an offtopic forum like 4chan. We have elements of those to show off the program and to keep people focused, respectively, but it's not our raison d'être. Would I like to see more artwork? YES, yes, a million times yes. OMA and Ash are two of our most important members because the work they create keeps people striving. Would I like to see less in the Alfredo? Yes, I would. Some of the games are so dumb they have to be locked (3WG, I'm talking to you. (Why am I talking to an inanimate line of code? (Nested parentheses!))). Some of the discussion here, though, is thought-provoking (our celebrity death discussions), some is stress-relieving (RANTS), some is cathartic in how it allows us to be excited for fun things in our lives (The Sanctuary), and some of it is just a chance for us to geek out with people who have similar interests to us (Heart of the TARDIS, Your Favorite Font). It makes us better as people, overall, and that certainly improves our art.

Bottom line, these things are good. And they have to exist somewhere. Why not on this forum, in this section? But keep in mind- the purpose of the Paint.NET forum (and, indeed the Overflow Alfredo) is, was, has since time immemorial, been for support and development of the Paint.NET program. It's one of the biggest selling points of this small program.

[Rubrica]

By the way, why was it changed to the alfredo? I hate cheese! Why can't we just have overflow again?

[usedHONDA]

A few years ago, I used to be a member of a forum. One day, they decided to remove the general discussion section, and only keep what was relevant to the purpose of the forum. From that week, two thirds of the forum (me included) left. I may have logged in once after that...

[pyrochild]

I wouldn't stick around without a place to talk about whatever's on my mind...

[david.atwell]

By the way, why was it changed to the alfredo? I hate cheese! Why can't we just have overflow again?

Poor fellow.

It was changed on April Fools Day. Who knows -- it might meet with a different name again?

[BoltBait]

...next April fools day.

[Blooper]

I'd change it to another cheese-related name, just to tick Rubrica off.

[david.atwell]

Oh no no no. Cheese is only funny once. Gouda thing you're not the moderator.

[flip]

Yes I would. Nobody does anything in the pictorium anymore. :evil:

[Blooper]

1) The Alfredo was here before the Pictorium.

2) Removing the Alfredo means getting rid of a lot of people; amongst others, plug-in makers and regular artists. Maybe the Alfredo is killing the Pictorium, but killing the Alfredo would probably be much worse.

[RHoward]

I try to post in the pictorium, i'm just slow at making something I think is ready though...

But I would not get rid of the Alfrdo. I run my own forum, and I have 3 off topic sections...one for general nonsense, one for stuff related to the main idea of the forum, but not quite, and one for rants.

Should there be more activity in the pictorioum? I think so (Isn#t the point of this forum PDN, tutorial, plugins, and showing off your stuff?) But I wouldn't get rid of the alfredo. As with most forums I've been on, moderated, or owned, an off topic section keeps everybody together.

I recall on another forum, a small section appropriatly named "Die Kneipe" (The bar) was changed from public access, to only those who had a paid account could access. Those who had a free account (Like me) stopped visiting as often. I also recall another board I was on was shut down after the off topic area closed....because everything about nothing began to flood the rest of the board.

I think for most, an area like this is a stress relief place, sit back kick up your feet, hang with your friends. Once that's gone, the whole forum crumbles in around the whole that#s left.