What do you guys think about merging the Anime forum with the Original Artwork forum?

[TMF Jeff]

Yesterday we added a non-tickling forum to the OA forum, similar to the way we handle pictures in the Images forum. As part of taking a look at that whole setup, I've noticed that there's usually only one new post to Anime every couple of days, so I'm questioning whether or not we really need a whole forum just for anime content.

My reasoning is that anime drawings are still drawings, and there aren't all that many of them. So why not streamline things, and use the same system for artwork that we use for images.

But before we remove an entire forum (moving all of its pictures into the OA forum first of course) I wanted to hear what other people think about it. Does anyone want to weigh in on this one way or another?

 

[rajee]

I have no problem with the merge. I just put the artwork in its correct forum. Were you thinking about putting Anime as a sub-forum under Original Artwork?, that could be another alternative.
Jeff, if I wanted to display feet or tickling cursors or icons where would I put them in TMF? 😛

 

[TMF Jeff]

I
Jeff, if I wanted to display feet or tickling cursors or icons where would I put them in TMF?

What do you mean?

 

[rajee]

I have been learning to create cursors in .ico form as well as other forms (.bmp, .png) for other cursor applications. I'm also experimenting with creating icon images for many types of files for the computer. If I were to create another set of cursors that are tickling related in which forum would I attach the cursors to a thread about them? 😛

 

[TMF Jeff]

I guess this one, tickling discussion.

 

[rajee]

Cool.
Back to the topic, The anime artists might have a problem with the move or they may not.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

As one of the leading anime artists on this site, heres my two cents:

I often wonder why anime was given its own section. I mean I know why, anime is clearly something different and special, not like toons. Its a different standard, a different bar and brings a different crowd...but not on this website.

However, as you say, there are not many new posts there often. In fact, there are more bumped threads than there are new ones.

I'm probably one of the few thats actually sustaining that forum with new content and original art. While it would be sad to have anime, which means alot to many people whether they openly say so or post, merged to become nameless and be bunched with the rest of the art and therefore lose whatever appeal it might have had as it's own forum, I agree that it should be merged in with the original artwork forum.

Preferably however as a sub-forum if thats feasible or desired. If its more trouble than its worth than no, they can just go with the other pictures.

EDIT:

Said change would also tidy up the forum and reorganize it. Furthermore, there will be no more double-posting of topics like there has been by several people (myself included) based on the problem that we see our art as original because it is, but its also anime. Thats why I myself initially starting posting in both. Then I realized it was more hits for me that way, and others realized that to, thats why they do it, not to spam or break any rule.

With this reorganization however, everything is in one place and that ensures that double-posting is not a problem and people will know where something should be posted. Taking this into account, my previous mention of a sub-forum won't work then, so it should not be created.

EDIT:

Also, I'm thinking maybe this should have been posted in the anime section. More people might post there. I myself wouldn't have known this thread existed because I don't come to this forum. I only knew it was here by looking at a profile and seeing someone else was looking at it.

Maybe you should move it.


EDIT:

I just thought of something else. If this forum is merged with the other one, people that did post for the anime content may not anymore, especially if they feel anime isn't being given a chance, or it's own place for whatever reason that might be. Perhaps some people only posted because they felt the anime forum was safe and seperated from anything else and that comforted them, knowing they wouldn't have to wade through other topics and art to find possible anime style art.

Basically, if they don't feel accomidated they may not bother. I'm sure some of them only came to this site and joined because it said it had anime tickling art specifically. For them to have to now do searches for that (oh wait, we don't have that and even that wouldn't work because no one labels their work as "anime" and shouldn't have to), rather, to have to again wade through other topics may discourage some. Though they could be passed off as lazy. I suppose if they really want to see the pictures that bad then they should be willing to invest a few minutes (depending on their net connection) to searching manually.

Its not an easy decision when you take all things into account like this, especially if you're considering the level of user-friendliness on this site in regards to navigation and the ease of that.

 

[His Divine Shadow]

Hmm...I agree that it really doesn't attract enough activity to merit taking up a space on the forums proper, but I don't believe it should simply be merged with original art. The reasoning is this: Original art is for works by those posting the art. Anime Media frequently sees posts that are simply webfinds (In fact, this has been a substantial if not outright majority of the media posted) and not original works. If merged completely with Original Art, such media couldn't be posted there and would have to Clips or Images. Some members are more comfortable posting anime-related media in a section where fans are common and can easily find it, as opposed to searching through Clips and Images.

If you absolutely feel the need to free up space on the main page, I suggest turning it into a subsection of Original Art. That way, posters can share anything from clips to webfinds to original images. it would also alleviate the issue of artists posting in two places since Original Art's threads would be seen before even entering Anime Media. On the flip side, because it would then be a subsection of Original Art, posting clips and non-original works would be sort of in violation of the spirit of Original Art. Then again, we've gotten along fine at the TT with mixed forums, although we have had much less posting of Anime Media. A clip thread or two pops up every month to three months and an art thread pops up every month to few weeks (Excluding the immortal Anime Chicks thread) whereas the Anime subsection here has many threads that, despite having posters who are also members of the Theater, never appeared there. Is that due to them prefering the TMF or to the lack of an Anime section there? I cannot say.

What I can say is that it is more active than many other sections of the TMF. It may be the most inactive media section, but it is still more active than a great many other sections. But, it is as always your call, Sir Jeff.

 

[TMF Jeff]

Thanks for the feedback guys. What we decided to do was rename Original Artwork to just Artwork, to allow for non-original creations, and anime has now been deleted. So all artwork, drawings, photo manipulations, 3D renders, can be posted into the one forum which covers all of them.

 

[Myriads]

Forums merged. Empty shell of Anime removed. Merged forum Renamed Artwork.

Myriads

 

[StephanieLocke]

Dear Myriads,

I must confess, having been raised in Japan, that I was always impressed with the very fact that you had an ANIME section...not that I visited it very often. I'm only peeking into this thread because I saw your name.

Now that I've read every last response, I am especially impressed with your choice of last words "Forums merged. Empty shell of Anime removed. Merged forum Renamed Artwork. "

Impressive Brevity.

Stephanie Locke

 

[Myriads]

Hello Stephanie,

I could have been cute and simply said 'thanks' : - )

But I'll add that I'm often pretty wordy. I was just beiin Mr efficient tonight.

Myriads

 

[StephanieLocke]

Very Nicely Done, Mr. Efficient.

Dear Myriads,

I continue to applaud your work.

Stephanie