I don't really like Discord. Forums are much more useful in many cases. So many companies are closing their forums and using Discord instead. I hate it. That being said younger users only know and want Discord. It seems to be the way of the future. I'm happy AGameAWeek has a Discord. Might help to find some new community members.
And I wholeheartedly agree. I've not really "done" Discord in the past, but since starting to use ArtFlow.ai, I've become somewhat a regular over on their Discord.
But they don't have a forum, so it seemed "ok" to use the Discord.
But anything posted over on a Discord server is being done on a Discord server, not "here"..
And (god forbid) if Discord burns and dies, everything will be lost.
Heck, things pretty much get lost from Discord once they've scrolled off the screen.
I'm well aware that if this site burns and dies, that EVERYTHING will be gone.. But then everything will be gone similarly, at the same time, so you've lost everything, not half bits here and there!
That is to say..
PlayMyCode went away and took 33 games down with it. You can't play those, but they're still mentioned here and there on the site if you dig deep.
If JSE goes down, JSE is part of this server, so people won't "miss" any JSE games because they won't be linked anywhere.
Same with discussions.
What's discussed "on this server" stays with the server until it's gone.
With Discord, not so much.
I honestly think I would prefer doing my own forum. And I've often berated Discord for not being "My own forum"
Heck, I could even be really lazy. I have the SoCoder script, and I can easily use that to create a special AGameAWeek edition of it, in an instant.
I could also do with making a JSE focussed forum, and that would be easy to do, too.
Or I could just say "Hey, why not just expand SoCoder with a few extra sections..?"
But then I'm also at risk of making SoCoder the "Jay Site".
Hmmm...
Three forums...?
That'd be crazy, right?!
I dunno.
Thoughts and suggestions welcome, be it in the comments, or over on the Discord!!!
OR.. Maybe register over at SoCoder.net, and let me know if it's worth blending everything together into one glorious whole...
.. I'm not sure the regulars at SoCoder would appreciate the site being turned any more Jay-Centric than it already is, though.
[chorus]
Where would you like to put your thoughts.
Where should you feed your ideas?
Do I build up a forum to keep things together,
Or do you write all your comments in here?
[verse]
A discord exists, but I don't think I want it,
I put it out there, as I thought it was wanted.
But if not, then maybe I should build up that forum.
So people can post to the places they want them.
[break]
[alt-chorus]
Where would you like to put your thoughts,
In a site where ideas are constantly sought?
A blog with just comments, a forum's embrace,
Or Discord's channels in a virtual space?
[bridge]
The choice is yours, no option's wrong,
Each platform sings a different song.
Perhaps a hybrid is the key,
Utilizing two, or even all three.
[break]
[chorus]
Where would you like to put your thoughts.
Where should you feed your ideas?
Do I build up a forum to keep things together,
Or do you write all your comments in here?
"Cartoon @Derek is confused as to the difference between a Discussion, and a Discus. He throws a Discus in the middle of a birthday party" by ArtFlow.ai
[Dave is excitedly playing with his smartwatch. Green enters, looking concerned.]
Green: Dave, what are you doing now?
Dave: [grinning] I've solved the battery life problem with my smartwatch!
Green: You increased the battery's capacity?
Dave: [Holds up giant cable] Nope! Now I'll never run out of battery.
Green: [sighing] Dave.. ... You can't just plug it into the wall.
Dave: Sure can, look!
[Dave plugs the cable into a wall socket. Sparks fly.]
Green: [alarmed] Dave, I don't think that's supposed to happen!
Dave: [excitedly] It's working! Look, infinite power!
[Suddenly, all the lights in the apartment flicker]
Green: Oh no, not again.
AI Greenie: I presume that wasn't supposed to happen like that, Dave.
Green: I'd listen to him, if I were you.
[Scene Two]
Int. Dave's kitchen
[Dave is trying to make a cup of tea while still attached to the wall. Green watches in horror.]
Dave: [struggling] See? It's perfectly fine. I can still do everything perfectly normally.
Green: [sarcastically] Yes, because tripping over a power cable while making a pot of tea is completely normal.
[Dave stumbles, knocking over a stack of cola cans]
Dave: Oops! Don't worry, I'll clean that up.
[As Dave bends down, his watch gets yanked out of the socket, causing another spark]
Green: [exasperated] David, for the love of BASIC, take that bloody thing off.
Dave: But how will I know my sleeping patterns if I have to take it off to charge it at night. It doesn't make sense!
Green: I don't know about that either, Dave. But if you tried sleeping with that wire like that, you're likely to strangle yourself. Then do you know what your sleeping pattern would look like?
Dave: It'd be more regular!
Green: Sure, if you think of being dead as being a regular sleeper.
[Scene Three]
Int. Dave's living room - Later that afternoon
[Dave is tangled in his power cable, trying to reach his cola fridge. Green is attempting to help untangle him.]
Dave: [struggling] I think I might need to reconsider this design.
Green: [sarcastically] You don't say? I'm shocked.
[Suddenly, the power goes out in the entire building]
Dave: Uh-oh.
Green: [sighing] Is that five, today?
Dave: [optimistically] Look on the bright side! At least my watch still has power.
