Alright, since nobody was responding, and none of the admins are ever really on anyway, I've decided to bring this topic here.

I've heard a lot of griping from people that perhaps we should change the theme of the board to make it more general in the hopes of attracting more people.

Typically, I have taken an opposing stance to this, but with the recent onset of curiosity over what would happen if that were actually the case, I have decided to bring this back into debate.

The fact that the forum is indeed dying is also a major point. However, it is not dead, as we still have at least four or five people (including myself) who post here on a fairly average basis.

Let's consider the following:

What if we changed the focus of Chao Paradise?
What would the new focus be?
What would the new name of Chao Paradise be?
Would there need to be new rules?
Do you think it would make much of an impact?
How would we advertise the new site?

Discuss.

I love the copy-paste xD

Haha, I don't even make that list anymore... I think. What's the list anyway?

Let's consider the following:

What if we changed the focus of Chao Paradise?

-We'd need a new theme, obviously. Something a little more mature would give us a more mature crowd to work with. Something we can agree on, and something recent that will remain popular. I think once we've made it, we can't keep switching it. Bottom line is, this big of a change doesn't seem like something that needs to be done more than once; it's too troublesome, and I don't think the members would like it.

What would the new focus be?

-Personally, I have no idea what you guys want. We need to have a vote, at least. If you want my opinion, I think something like anime, RPing, or music would be great. Originality is very much necessary. Maybe a bunch of things, maybe something basic like a general forum, anything at all.

What would the new name of Chao Paradise be?

-We'd leave that to Sweetie

Would there need to be new rules?

-Same old, why change what's not broken?

Do you think it would make much of an impact?

-If we pull it off well enough, and if people are motivated. I'm all for it.

How would we advertise the new site?

-Again, I don't know. Post links on other forums? Deviant Art? Fanfiction.net?

I personally don't think we should have a focus. It'd be pretty hard to find something that all of us here like and could chat about. I think Chao Paradise should become a general forum, even though that makes it difficult to find new members, considering future forum-goers are usually looking for specifics. I still think that general is the way to go, though. What we do need, though, is a catchy name that will attract all kinds of people without the name being major suckage. I would probably cry a little inside if someone suggested changing our name to "The Forum" (Wait, I take that back. That would be kind of funny, really. :D But I'm not suggesting it).

Thanks for making this topic, Kiao. I'm just not ready for this place to die off. Not yet. Unfortunately, we can't take any major steps yet without Sweetie knowing... gosh, what has she been up to?

I disagree respectfully Peaches, I think we need a new focus, not general. Think about it- Who's searching Yahoo/Google for a general forum?

I think being more specific will be huge

Technically, being general attracts a broader group of people.

On a side note, I suggest removing 'Chao' from 'Chao Paradise'.

Yeah, as I said, that's the only problem with being general. It would be difficult to attract an audience at first. Then there's the name issue... but in the end, I really do think being general would be the best choice. You certainly have an understandable point, though.

I suggest the new logo for the site to be " The Forum Where Lance Makes A Bunch of Unfunny Posts." Or at least for the Spame forum, DO IT.

On a more serious note:

What if we changed the focus of Chao Paradise?

Then we will attract a [hopefully] larger demographic. Unless it's something like a forum about lampshades, which actually wouldn't surprise me if it were to be more popular than our Chao Breeding one.

What would the new focus be?

Maybe a different video game? I don't like Sonic anymore, so I don't think I can have a very unbiased opinion on what it should be focused on. Though it probably wouldn't be wise to change it to a series of games with immense popularity like the Mario franchise or Counter Strike. Why? Most Mario players are like statistically eight, which is about the same mental age as a Counter Strike player.

What would the new name of Chao Paradise be?

We'd first have to figure out our new focus, of course. Then we can start coming up with names.

Would there need to be new rules?

No, but editting the current ones wouldn't hurt.

Do you think it would make much of an impact?

Chao Breeding made an impact, mainly because it was popular when this board was first constructed. Just choose something slightly more mature and slightly more up to date and boom, member mania.

How would we advertise the new site?

I know friends in high places.

Well, making the forum more general and focusing in on another topic both have their pros and cons. . . .

A general forums would attract a general group of people. But then, even general people hardly ever search for general boards, so what does that leave the rest of the people searching for?

Changing the focus of the board is a good idea, but it should be something that is very popular, otherwise it won't necessarily do much more good than generalizing the board.


As to what should be the new focus . . . ya got me there.

Well, good luck with it, at any rate.

How about John Mayor?

:P

How about you kill yourself?

And that goes in.

Suicide Paradise? I dunno, that would attract too many people who dress in black and like poetry. Then again, maybe my "SAD LITTLE EMO KIDS" Banner could come back.

One can dream.

Haha, I miss that.

@Kiao- Hopefully your mind reads ':P' as 'just kidding'

How about you shut the fuck up?

':P'

If we change to an emo-themed site, I'm the first one off the boat. The sad thing is, I immediately thought up an emotastic title:

Chao Paradise becomes Chaos Pain and Vice.

I think I need to hammer a nail into my foot now. And yes, Silent, I am aware of sarcasm, thanks.

Kiao, the sparks gone, I no longer feel for you. Though of course we're still friends.

Just kidding. It's over. I can't believe you would do this Kiao, I can't believe it. God. I thought you were above this. This makes my head want to go BOOM.

I know, I'm ashamed of myself too.

<sub>I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. :)

But srsly, I've thought it over. And I agree that there needs to be change. However, I'd feel a little more comfortable if we kept it Sonic or SEGA based. If we don't do that, than it should just be a general place for teens to chill and such.

I'd have to change the domain name, too...

I should stop sleeping so there are more hours in my day. ._.;</sub>

The thing about making it a general board, though... There are so many general boards out there, or specific boards with enough general subsections, that it might not make such a difference in trying to gain more members. You would still need something that stands out and make it different from other boards, or at least enough to give those who see it a reason to visit here more than any other general board.

...Anyone realize that the word "Paradise" in the title is probably what attracts all of the porn spambots? :X

I kind of noticed that also when I told my friend a while back about the pornbots and he jokingly called it "Porn Paradise" <.>

You're right, Kero. And I've got just the name to throw off those pesky spambots.

Petition for temporary name change: Chao Sexden.

All in favor?

That's already how the spambots see it. Ku ku kuuu...!

Then y the use of a non-sarcastic response? :wow

:P

lulz @ porn paradise.

Uh, how about general rock music? How'd that be?

Music, in general, I think is too vague.

That and if we narrowed it down to "classic rock," there are already way better places to go for that.

Well, what is it that you think of when you think CP? What aspect stands out beyond the rest? That's your theme.

When I think of Chao Paradise, I really don't think about anything Chao related anymore....and I'm willing to assume that no one else does either.

For me, it's mostly just a place to talk to friends and discuss generic topics...

We shall call ourselves... "The Circle." >:o Of friends, that is!

How about, "not shitty rock".

See, that's exactly what I think too. Most would agree.

If we make it seem like a 'circle of friends' thing, it just looks shallow and snotty, you know?

A little bit, but I think it would only seem that way if that were the title. :P *keeps thinking of a good title*

Argh, where's Sweetie when you need her...?

Weren't we aiming for that? Ku ku ku...

So we've got two angles on this:

Silent wants more of a music theme.
Cob seems to be spinning a sort of 'friends and general' chat.

Thing is, if we want to draw any sort of audience, we need either:
-a more specified target audience
-killer advertising

And since the latter seems unlikely (I have contacts too Lance, but even so I doubt that the majority of people would give a fuck anyhow) we need to specify more.

I had an idea: an art-related board for Sonic and other related stuff. Then reality came and dropkicked me in the face:
-our art board is the most ignored board on the site
-none of us have any real artistic talent anyway

Even if we were to make an art board, why would people want to come here when there's Deviant Art and many other art forums out there? So, yes, I too believe an art based board is out of the question.

We can't make it too specific.

We can't make it too vague.

The first thing we need to do is create a new "main theme" for this site. If many good ideas arise, then we should cast a vote.

Be serious now, everyone.

<sub>Out doing drugs and drinking alcohol while neglecting her schoolwork and the love of her family and friends! :D </humor>

How about... another RP site? People seem to enjoy RPing around here.</sub>

I think that is a good idea, but I also see many flaws.

Most people who RP like to have their oen rules. We'd have to use the same type of rules for RP fights and stories.

Another thing is, this site doesn't seem like it's active enough to even finish a simple one-on-one RP fight.

Other than that, I still think it's alright. As long as chatting stays.

A lot of those ideas you guys have thought up with are really good, and I've got one to bet as well!

Try viewing other boards that are really popular, try to understand what makes it attractive, what is it about the board that makes you want to come back almost every day?

I figure if we can master that trick, CP will be as attractive as Demi Lovato!

Diehards can finish their RPs! I do like the concept of a RP theme, though.

The problem with no theme is that it's very hard to advertise a general board to start, and it's hard to attract people ot them, and even then this board is more general in it's approach anyway- so why lose advertising power?

A theme helps get people from one kind of theme interested in the board. The problem here is that the theme is chao- who were released like, ten freakin' years ago anyway, the appeal is faded completely if not mostly. The people here do not come due to a chao attraction, it's because they like the community. Chao lovers already have everything they need, and there's not much to talk about.

Changing the theme, however, gets us into entirely different territory. a music theme means a more critical approach will have to be taken, because most fans willing to join are going to be more critical and subcommunities will most likely develop. Changing a theme also offsets our previous members as it introduces them to a different style of community. For example, $5 says I wouldn't get along with 11 out of 12 of you if religion was ever brought up, because I'd rip apart everything you once believed in cruel, bitter, and well knowledgable fashion. If you were to make this board a religious Christian board on me, my ass'd be out of here faster than you could get to changing the skin. You have to, if you really do want to change the board, is make sure you get the kind of community you want. I would never want a religious board, CP might never want a pedophile board, etc.,

There's also the way we display the site anyway, lack of activity and the darker theme for a chao board doesn't suit the theme to start- it doesn't have chao's cutesy fairytale feel, rather it's a much more darker, conservative feel to the site. You have to build your feel around the theme, not just plaster on what looks cool (WUT?).

I say no theme change because it's unnecessary- it wont do any better as a general board and being recognized as a site knowledgable about chao is something. The entire board would have to have a common interest for a theme change to occur and it'd have to be redesigned and such for something that might not even work. If you want an RP board, then we'd all sure as hell have to work on the current RP's out there, as it doesn't seem like a simple RP battle can get finished here.

...I think the skin looks pretty bitching. And what the hell is Demi Lovato?

I don't want an RP-centric board. I don't want to draw in crazy diehard RPers that will write novels per post and make everything extremely in depth and are typically arrogant artsy "my word is law" people. And all the "cool kids (hahaha, yeah right)" at Gaia would laugh at us.

That and because then I'd actually have to do some work other than delete the occasional spambot. Anyhow...

It's very obvious that we aren't going to find a common factor that we can all shape the board around that will keep everyone 100% happy. The best we can hope for is to try and keep the majority happy, and hope that the minority likes the community enough to stay and can deal with the changes.

So I guess we should just come up with a bunch of potential ideas and have people vote.

The skin looks fine, it just doesn't suit the theme when it comes to first impressions :P

Potential Ideas?

Here's one: Change nothing

Do I win yet? :P