Well, it's been about a month with no new posts, disregarding spambots. I don't even know who comes here anymore, and I'm not sure if this entire post is just a waste of time. At any rate...

I think it's time that we shut the old girl down. For good. One thing is certain: Chao Paradise is most certainly dead. And since I'd like to think you guys are relatively enjoyable people to talk to, I think perhaps a new forum is in order. If anyone feels like setting one up, that'd be excellent, post the link here.

And so in exactly 20 days time, I will be permanently shutting down Chao Paradise. I suppose any other admin could just reinstate it, but I don't really see that happening.

So...final thoughts?

Why not just leave it open and let it sit dead? I don't mind whether or not it does end up being shut down, I'm just wondering why bother to close it. Is it so that no one will bother registering or checking here for new posts?

Although making a new one for those who you still talk to or still visit from time to time, and not for having a lot of members (which would imply not advertising it to the public nor having affiliates), would keep the spambot activity there very low.

A new forum would be easy to create, that's not the issue with forums. The issue is always the memberbase. Without anything to attract new members, a forum is destined to fail. Chao Paradise was succesful for a very long time because it was a great general forum that could attract members very easy due to it's Chao heavy basis. We have to remember however that support for Chao by Sega is pretty much dead, so interest in the subject matter is likely to die and so would the general influx of members. Spmabots would then target a forum with so many members, and old members would begin to leave as real life sets in.

If a new forum were to be created, it could not be Chao Paradise. It could not be Chao Haven, Chao Sphere, Chao Block, or Chao anything. A Sonic Forum in and of itself wouldn't be a very good pick either, with so many large Sonic Boards out there it'd be hard to attract any real attention. If anyone's up for the idea of creating a new board, then it could be done. However, it needs a subject matter that's interesting, and needs something driving it forward. This forum succeeded because it was driven by the complexity and success of Chao for the time period it was created in, however would not do nearly as well now.

Now, onto DCD's post. Yes, while making a forum for people you talk to would be effective, it's really kind of pointless. Forums are for meeting new people who share your interests, if you simply want to talk to people you already know then you could just get their EMails or IM Screen Names. That would reduce Spambot interference to 0 and would still keep everyone in contact.

Actually I was saying that from experience, it wasn't a question as to if it would work (generally). We've (me and the few people who I talk to regularly on the net) have a forum that is mainly just for us, because it's easier to do that where we can all talk at the same time and engage in conversations that can include more than just two people, rather than starting a chat room on AIM or whatever program. Not only does it not require us all to use the same messenging program, we can also use the functions that forums have that AIM doesn't have (including quoting people's post to avoid that chaos/confusion that the AIM chat rooms create where we don't know who is responding to whom). It's a suggestion to if anyone here wants to keep in touch with other forum goers here and communicate with them in the same way that they have on the forum or whatever.

Well, Chao Paradise was a fun place to hang out these last few years. I remember when I first registered it'd be odd if we didn't get at least 1000 posts a week. Now, we'd be surprised if we got more than 100 posts a month. But yeah, we would need to make a forum not centered around Chao or Sonic. Preferably something that sparks interest, but wouldn't be too broad (i.e a Mario forum, we'd be lucky if we appeared on the first 100 pages of Google). Maybe just a general forum, or maybe just a general forum. And advertising would be a breeze, just send a message to a couple friends, submit your links to a few advertising sites, and I have recently came into a large sum of money, so I could get us hosted by various sites and set up affiliates, as well.

The problem is: What would the new forum be based around? Or maybe people could make forums, and decide which would be the best to go by.

Also, when a new forum is made, just make it so new members can't register here and make it like a reading only forum. I may want to look back at some of my posts in the near future.

An idea I had been toying with consisted of a sort of "review" forum, in which people posted essays, poetry and written work that was to be done and have people review it. But I'm not quite sure how many of you would find the premise of reading and criticizing essays as amusing as I do.

This also leads into a segway of "educational help forum," which would theoretically draw in lots of people (I can't be the only one who's looked up something like this before) but poses the risk of becoming a "sum1 help me wit my math homewrk!" level of obnoxious.

Ahh.... I've been thinking about this for a while... yeah, CP is dead, but I personally find no need to permanently shut it down, with the exception of the spambot issue. That way, we can still view old topics if we want.

Regardless, even if Chao Paradise is not shut down physically, we all know that CP is nearing it's end. A new forum...? I think that yes, a new forum could definitely be in everyone's best interests. Old members could move there, and by changing the subject matter of the forum, attract new members. After all, even though I'm not attached to CP itself anymore, I'd hate to lose contact with people like Kiao, Lance, UDC, Kero, and many others (geez, the list is so short now...).

Kiao, I'd say that a major decision such as shutting down the ENTIRE board shouldn't be made definite yet. I do agree, however, that CP's future (if it even has one anymore) is not at our current location or standpoint. We need to get a new name or subject as to attract more people, as I said earlier.

I also keep saying this, as well: what about Sweetie? I'm not interested in getting an AIM account, so I haven't talked to her for about a year. I'd assume that if someone was in contact with her, and if she's seen the board's current state, she wouldn't disagree with this... =vv;=

I'd find that very amusing. It'd be even more amusing since (I'm assuming) we'd be staff on the forum. For some reason people find it extra critical when a staff member criticizes them.

A kind of forum I always wanted to head was a reviewing one, that reviews Books, Movies, Music, and Video Games from the perspective of a teenager, not a critic whose paid to give certain products good reviews. *cough*Gamespot*cough* Fairly easy, I think it would be. I play a new video game like every 2 weeks, Kiao reviewed some movies in the past, and Peaches is always reading new books (RIGHT?). I think it could work quite well if it wasn't strictly advertised as a reviewing forum.

A forum focused on criticism and full of critics would be a blessing and a curse.

On one hand, you'd have the ability to improve your work through constant, constructive peer mediation. And since a good deal of us (well Lance and I anyway but we're extra important) seem into this sort of thing, it could pan out well. We'd probably draw in more people, and most likely they'd fall into two groups:
-clever, intellectual people who enjoy picking apart and improving the works of others
-creative, clever types who seek to improve their own work through peer review
We might find an actual use for the art forums, too.

On the other hand, you'd probably draw in a lot of elitist assholes. Again, you run the risk of drawing in two more types of people:
-narcissist pricks who think their work is the shit and won't stand for any sort of criticism
-bitter critics think that everything anyone else does is utter shit and constantly complain

More or less, the douchebaggery factor in a criticism and review forum would probably be fairly high.

Let's make a new forum that will cause an influx of people, good and bad. One with a "bad-ass" title. Be sure to use the color "crimson" if you use a color. That's what all the kids like these days, right? Blood fetishes and vampire fetishes? lololololololtwilight.

A reviewing forum would be interesting... the only kind of forum that I don't think we should move on to is a forum themed towards a very specific subject in popular media and whatnot (for example: a Naruto forum, a Green Day forum, Harry Potter forum, etc.). Vaguer ideas open the forum to more people, though it's harder to attract audiences at first. Which is another reason why I actually don't mind the critic-forum idea.

CRIMSON CRITICISM.

We have a winner.

Lots of elitist assholes? I'm doubting that. You'd be suprised about all the personalities of these people you don't know.

Also, I'd welcome a review forum.

It sounds so bad-ass, it blinds the eyes.

I dunno, I think the place would be more fun if it WAS filled with elitist assholes. Hell, we can even skip the elitist part.

Since I don't think there are enough active members left to possibly disagree with the idea in any kind of majority, we just need someone to make it. It'd have to be a staff member for obvious reasons, so we just need to pick an Administrator to set everything up.

*has usable board with usable thingies that can be used for useful stuff*

Ta-dah! [link]

Heh heh. A critic's forum? Oh boy, now that would . . . hm, I don't know. But my best guess is "hell".

Ideas keep forming in my head about . . . hey, that's actually pretty good. And so is that. And that, and that, and that. . . .

Anyways, after having a minute to digest all this information, I think a critic forum is a good idea, although we will have to be careful how we operate it. Very careful.

Well, anyone could set up a new forum, really. But I think it would be better if we decided who should make a new forum (or at least be the head administrator of it) instead of going around making ones all willy-nilly. Oh, and has anyone got into contact with Sweetie lately? It seems rather odd that we're making a change this huge without her consent.

At least I came back in it's last days of existance, right?

...Right?

I think she still visits her deviantART account. I suppose I could tell her about this, since I don't know of anyone else here who has an account there.

EDIT: Okay done. Well, hopefully she does visit there as often as I think.

If I had to, I'd be willing to set it up. But I wouldn't protest to someone making skins and icons and the like.

I think a new forum is a good idea. CP has, as thousands of times it's been said, died. So, I vote for making a new forums for us to chat on.

Excuse me if I'm not "on-the-ball." I've got a horrible ability to balance.

I'm not a skinner, but icons and banners are easy. I could set some up if someone actually makes it.

I'm all up for Kiao setting up the board as he's our gang leader only admin who I've seen actually do shit on this board, and I think he'd make a good root admin choice. If not, we can just go down the admin line one buy one I suppose, however if we're going to make a new board the ones with power should be the ones who know how to use it.

D: When I do something, everyone goes "Ew, look at that queer furry." And then the rocks come...

Oh, the pain of it all... /Dr. Smith

My best friend is, funnily, also a queer furry :P

Well seeing as my activity is like... as shitty as the rest of us with visiting like, once a year and not giving a shit the rest of the time, you could, for all I know, have been much more hardworking those other 364 days. Unfortunately for you, there are no pics so none of it happened.

Pictures of what? D:

My point exactly.

<sub>CP has had a pretty good run. I've had my ups and downs with the place (and the people) but I've been really glad for the experience. And I'm happy that you all are so tight knit that you want to start another (hopefully) awesome forum. :)

I really like the idea of a criticism forum. It reaches out to all sorts of age groups... There's the chance of a lot of people coming in and complaining and whatnot. But... social Darwinism, I say.

I agree that Kiao should be root admin. I'm definitely not qualified to run another forum. That era of my life has passed; and I had such a blast running this one. Hehe.

I think the site should be shut down temporarily after the new site is up due to all the spambots. Maybe they'll stop coming if our site in inaccessible for a little while.

Long story short, I approve. Get that jankst runnin'! :D</sub>

Okay, drama queen. >:o Trying to sound like some sort of mother figure.

_{You are all my illegitimate bebehs! D:}

Ewwww... girls. ;p

Working on the new forum.

Will probably take a couple of days.

Links for forum skins, particularly those patterned in some sort of Greco-Roman style (columns and pillars and fancy shit) would be much appreciated.

I like the idea. Once the new forum is up and running, I'll definetly be more active. CP bores me... I'm glad this is happening. Can't wait.

Haha, 'making my monthly check on CP. The new forum idea sounds great, but I'm past forums in my life. I've gotten friends and I'm hanging out and thinking about college now (hot damn, I registered 3.5 years ago this month!). I'm done with forums, sorry though. Last horrah though, thanks for all the great times everyone

-Patrick

Guess that makes me a silly person. I'm already at college and still surfing forums. Hurr-hurr. See ya thar.

Same here. Although that's mainly because that's where my friends are.

I did just finish my third semester of college yesterday night with an online final exam (and in-class the day before, if that counts as the real final day), though.


And nice to see that Sweetie saw my message on DevART, yay!

I've decided to push back the date of closure to New Year's Eve.

The new forum will be done by then...with any luck.

New Years Eve... how appropriate. As the year ends, so does CP. Good choice.

I finished up last Friday. Doesn't it feel so good to have a solid break? x.x

Yes, definitely. It's awesome that they're about over four weeks long.

aw this is so sad chao paradise is going to chao heaven which makes me sad ...it doesnt help that today I ended my school year with a depressed face because of graduation and leaving my friends as they go to different high schools but thats off topic i'm definitly going to take a look at this new forum and i'll be making alot less sense there i'm going tobe annoying X2 and awesomeX2 any way you probably get the point so yeah kiao if you root admin the site i'm going to be in trouble because your probably going to be strict but good luck with it your probably the most qualified for the job any way so





PEACE EVERYONE