The Future of My Two Cents

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:59 am

Like most forums this one has suffered a bit over the years. A lot of it has to do with the current state of music and the quality (or lack of) that its producing. We're trying a few new things to hopefully bring this place back up to speed. We lost a great mod B. Ware but he tells me he'll be back soon. He recently got married and just last week his wife gave birth to a healthy boy.

Ardamus is working on a new competition called "Steppin It Up" that will allow emcees to battle it out for prizes. Magneto is currently running the 90's tournament. Blast and I have discussed some things but we both agree this forum is lacking that Southern balance.

What would you like to see change in My Two Cents?

Quotashun · Post by **Quotashun** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:02 am

Wow, congrats to B. Ware.

DLG · Post by **DLG** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:03 am

mods should approve threads before they are posted so we don't have 15 different slaughterhouse threads on the front page.

I'm assuming this wouldn't be too much of a hassle since there are like 15 mods here.

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:05 am

DLG wrote:mods should approve threads before they are posted so we don't have 15 different slaughterhouse threads on the front page.

I'm assuming this wouldn't be too much of a hassle since there are like 15 mods here.

All mods now have the ability to MERGE threads. This option should be used in a situation like that. We just rolled out the feature so I'm sure some mods don't even realize it.

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:18 am

So glad you asked. Here's are some changes that I think will be beneficial for all:

1) More persistent and exhaustive moderation: Now that there is a "merge" function, mods do not have to act as some kind of message board gestapo to improve the front page. Merge Before Mod. That's the new mantra. Organize this place thematically. Take the time to clean it up and eventually the masses will take the hint and do it themselves. You need to show a concerted effort first, though.

2) More interactive, creative, and helpful moderation: The merge function is a good first step but the mods need to lead, rather than just shape the discussions. Tournaments are good interactive endeavors. In the same vein, general polls will work too. People love that shit.

But more can be done. In T.R.O.Y., the "sticky" function has been used to great effect. I know that M2C is a slightly different beast, with a somewhat less web-savvy populace (no offense) but the mods here could do a lot to rein in the information and content that comes here from other parts of the 'net.

Por ejemplo: Instead of fifty different threads that are simply postings of videos that make the authors look like self-important fanboys, and serve no purpose ... why not a stickied thread just for music videos? And another one for Divshare/zshare streams of single songs (since there's no recent album uploads permitted)? One for mixtapes? One for interviews? You can even have a low brow one for gossip and pictures. It'll make the forum feel more organized and useful, as opposed ot haphazard and pointless (again, no offense).

Make this forum a resource for those who don't browse blogs all day. With time, more ideas will surface and the forum will sort of stabilize into its own posting routine, and we all benefit.

Maybe a Max B post is destined to go nowhere ... but what about a running Dipset thread? doesn't have to be a sticky unless the demand suggests it should be, but remember MERGE BEFORE MOD.

More proactive, web-savvy moderation: Mods should be leaders. They should be experts on something related to rap. They should be avid readers of blogs pertaining to their interests and serve as a conduit for web information and content. They should know the ins and outs of posting, embedding, linking, and all of that like it's riding a fucking tricycle. They should encourage the citizens of this forum, most of whom are completely fucking clueless about the rest of the internet and use PF as a kind of ghetto AOL (no offense, again) to step their game up and participate in a way that will make this forum the one-stop spot for all things contemporary in rap.

Any thoughts?

Drastik · Post by **Drastik** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:19 am

Southern balance meaning there's too much?

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:25 am

Great points Thunnie.

godmc · Post by **godmc** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:27 pm

this wouldn't really be a change, per se, but i would love to see production challenges in addition to the many emcee challenges there are. it could open up opportunities and really give people a chance to hear what they may be already missing from the current state of hip-hop. i know there was a remix contest, but something strictly geared toward production would be nice.

ardamus · Post by **ardamus** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:25 pm

i'm all for the video thread, THUN. good idea.

Magneto · Post by **Magneto** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:30 pm

ardamus wrote:i'm all for the video thread, THUN. good idea.

Me too. I meant to actually start one last month but forgot all about it.

Employee · Post by **Employee** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:33 pm

More HustleCrowe.

Reason · Post by **Reason** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:37 pm

Employee wrote:More HustleCrowe.

LORD WILLIN', WE CAN ALL MAKE M2C A BETTER PLACE

ardamus · Post by **ardamus** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:40 pm

Magneto wrote:
ardamus wrote:i'm all for the video thread, THUN. good idea.
Me too. I meant to actually start one last month but forgot all about it.

if you wanna kick it off, go head. i'll follow up with some myself.

Money Gripp · Post by **Money Gripp** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:46 pm

Thun's right about the mods. The mods used to contribute a lot to this forum by posting their own threads instead of just random posters dropping wack threads. There used to be several good threads going on at once, but now you're lucky to get one every blue moon. There's always gonna be douchebags starting shitty threads, but there used to be enough good threads that nobody really cared. Maybe you need some new mods that have good ideas for improving this place. Somebody that wants to make a name for themselves by sparking some interesting discussions.

P.S. I know that "My Two Cents" has been the name of this forum forever, but I've always thought it was horrible especially because a name should tell you something about the place. "My Two Cents" is on some Andy Rooney-shit. Maybe you should have people come up with a new name. A new name would give it a new-and-improved feel.

Those are my two cents.

Reason · Post by **Reason** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:51 pm

Money Gripp wrote:Thun's right about the mods. The mods used to contribute a lot to this forum by posting their own threads instead of just random posters dropping wack threads. There used to be several good threads going on at once, but now you're lucky to get one every blue moon. There's always gonna be douchebags starting shitty threads, but there used to be enough good threads that nobody really cared. Maybe you need some new mods that have good ideas for improving this place. Somebody that wants to make a name for themselves by sparking some interesting discussions.

P.S. I know that "My Two Cents" has been the name of this forum forever, but I've always thought it was horrible especially because a name should tell you something about the place. "My Two Cents" is on some Andy Rooney-shit. Maybe you should have people come up with a new name. A new name would give it a new-and-improved feel.

Those are my two cents.

completely agree on the name

Brougham33 · Post by **Brougham33** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:08 pm

I agree with almost everything Thun said, a bit of organization could help tihs forum....and I agree on the name...we should start the new name poll right now.

Huldrich Bullsh!t · Post by **Huldrich Bullsh!t** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:16 pm

me personally, im not a fan of ten stickies on the front page. i dont check for them. i cant say why but i dont like them, was one reason i stopped checking troy regulary. but i know im not a real contributor anyway, so if the majority is for it...

Req · Post by **Req** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:32 pm

new name should clearly be It Was Written

Mindbender Futurama · Post by **Mindbender Futurama** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:35 pm

new forum name should OBVIOUSLY be called "Rap Is Outta Control"

and you know this, maaan

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:42 pm

The reason for M2C was that ATCQ didn't have any worthy titles to use. Plus this, at one point was our most opinionated forum. I didn't want some cliche name like Hip-hop Discussions because I have always felt Philaflava was better than that. We aren't just a hip-hop forum, but yes M2C is mainly hip-hop discussions.

I'm not against any name change. I changed Sports & Betting to The Sports Bar and I think it worked.

Suggestions?

Employee · Post by **Employee** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:56 pm

Philaflava wrote: Suggestions?

Hip Hop Isn't Dead It Just Lives On The Internet For Nine Months Out Of The Year And Spends The Other Three Vacationing In Providence

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:59 pm

Employee wrote:
Philaflava wrote: Suggestions?
Hip Hop Isn't Dead It Just Lives On The Internet For Nine Months Out Of The Year And Spends The Other Three Vacationing In Providence

Nice but it won't fit. And please no "Rap Talk" suggestions.

I didn't say I will change it, I said I would be open to it.

Hip-Hop vs. Rap

Magneto · Post by **Magneto** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:02 pm

The title is fine now.

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:03 pm

Huldrich Bullsh!t wrote:me personally, im not a fan of ten stickies on the front page. i dont check for them. i cant say why but i dont like them, was one reason i stopped checking troy regulary. but i know im not a real contributor anyway, so if the majority is for it...

Great input.

Spartan · Post by **Spartan** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:04 pm

The name is fine and suits the theme well.

co-sign Thun's post but also what makes TROY so dope is how it drew folks in such as the TROY challenges, it actually brought outsiders into the place and now they're valuable contributors. Perhaps something along that line could be brought into M2C.

blastmaster · Post by **blastmaster** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:44 pm

We simply need to ban 75% of the people who post here.

DJ Crimson · Post by **DJ Crimson** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:03 pm

It will continue to be the same unless the community grows. Although that might bring a few other problems which occur at some of the more popular hip hop communities. It's honestly fine the way it is but that's just me.

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:06 pm

blastmaster wrote:We simply need to ban 75% of the people who post here.

No. Change the culture. Lead by example. Merge before mod.

The 75% that irks you so much will fall in line or die from a lack of attention on their antics.

Post by **thekeentwo** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:09 pm

blastmaster wrote:We simply need to ban 75% of the people who post here.

i like thun's ideas.

change forum name to "OMg, rappers post here."

blastmaster · Post by **blastmaster** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:18 pm

1/4 of the front page needs to "merged" into a dumpster.