[schalliol]

I really disagree with the official threads concept. I know that this has been around for a while, but it really cuts the discussion down to a lowest common denominator that's hard to follow. What's the problem with more than one thread on even a whole series of applications, like Microsoft Office 2008? If someone doesn't feel that their content is appropriately served by an existing thread, why shouldn't they be able to start their own? I understand having a single thread for speculation on new products that haven't been released or feedback on a new product that's not yet in people's hands, but having multiple threads allows people to get into discussions that may not be of interest to everyone, rather involving people only on topics of interest that they may have.

Could someone please clarify why this is done and what harm is caused by having a few discrete threads on a topic? Thanks!

[Big Mac]

It causes way too much noise if everyone wants to post his or her own thread on a given subject. I do think that at a certain point official threads outlive their usefulness, however.

[OreoCookie]

We need official threads especially when new Apple products are released.
When Leopard was put out in the wild, tons of thread on Time Machine were cropping up, many of them redundant. We try to regularly unstick old threads, some of them keep on floating to the top on their own, though.

[MacosNerd]

But by the same token if you go into the lounge you get to see the following threads - I did a quick search and this list is only from January and December.

Dare I say we don't need this many official threads.

Why farting is dangerous... (The EPIC OFFICIAL thread)
The official Public Wifi Security countdown thread
The official "Things the World Doesn't Need" thread
The official Ronald McDonald thread
Do your farts stink? (Official thread)
The Official 2008 Presidential Campaign Thread <- yet there's still a ton of campaign threads
The official MacNN history thread
The Official "Why I Hate My Neighbors" Thread.
The official farting wife thread
The official beard thread
The official accordion thread
The OFFICIAL (Really) "Merry Christmas" Thread
The official oatmeal thread
The Official Popcorn Thread
The official lower-quality MacNN nominations thread

[Dakar the Fourth]

He's talking about something completely different, 'nerd.

[MacosNerd]

I don't see that what I posted is really that different then what's he's asking.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Your talking about frivolous Lounge threads, he's asking with regards to multi-faceted topics such as Mac OS X or Time Machine.

[subego]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

But by the same token if you go into the lounge you get to see the following threads

Mmmmm. Irony.

It's officially what's for breakfast.

[OreoCookie]

There are threads that claim they're official. Then there are threads that are recognized by the staff as the thread on a certain topic.

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

Your talking about frivolous Lounge threads, he's asking with regards to multi-faceted topics such as Mac OS X or Time Machine.

You're right, but he's complaining about official threads and there's a bunch in the lounge. Frivolous or not

[subego]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

You're right, but he's complaining about official threads and there's a bunch in the lounge. Frivolous or not

S/he's complaining about how a thread being "official" affects the discussion of the topic.

I imagine your complaint is different, unless you are saying "Why farting is dangerous... (The EPIC OFFICIAL thread)" is a problem because it's the kind of complex subject that warrants multiple threads.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

You're right, but he's complaining about official threads and there's a bunch in the lounge. Frivolous or not

You say I'm right, but then the rest of your sentence seems to go on and ignore that fact.

[mduell]

Official Threads are useful for consolidating posts, with the hope that people may read them instead of posting the same question over and over. We could probably use a few more of them.

[turtle777]

This thread officially blows.

Epically

-t