Should We Merge the Exploration and Astronomy Forums?

[Cdr Voorheez]

I had no idea we even had an astronomy forum (as previously cited by a few members previously).
As an exploring CMDR I agree more astronomy discussions would be a useful/interesting thing and for that very reason I vote "yes" to any proposed merger.

 

[iain666]

The Elite Dangerous forums are provided for discussions of the game.

The Astronomy Forum is in Off topic because it is not about the game.

In that case can we have the line where a post is deemed too astronomy-y and moved shifted a bit? I've seen a few threads get moved from here to there because they're lacking explicit game content but actual astronomy can be as pertinent and relevant to many (if not most) explorers for their enjoyment and experience of the game as cold, hard game mechanics.

 

[Flimley]

Yes why not indeed. I have posted to the astronomy section a few times. So combining the two and making some possible correlations between game world and astronomy facts may make for a richer forum section all round

 

[AJW]

Personally, I can't see much wrong with discussing real-world astronomy in this subforum, though ultimately it is up to Frontier how they structure their website. My only request is that when doing so, people should make it clear that they are referring to the real world, rather than the game - I've seen some incredibly confusing threads in other game/simulation websites where one person is discussing 'reality' while the other is discussing 'game', and neither realises what is going on.

 

[Cmdr Frawd Digger]

I am not sure how you feel, but for me knowledge about Astronomy only enhances my appreciation for the Elite Milky Way simulation. In fact, I feel that exploring the ED Galaxy has actually taught me quite a lot about astronomy, despite already having a degree in astrophysics. Yet whenever I have started a thread that casts ordinary objects in Elite Dangerous in a new astronomical light, these posts get shuffled off to the Astronomy Forum graveyard by the mods. Where few explorers will ever see them.
So far the only way I can get around this restriction is to post in other peoples question threads, but unless they ask a direct question, it often feels like I am hijacking their thread. Which seems rather rude. It also severely limits the ED related topics that I can try to talk about.
So, what is your opinion? Should we be allowed to post astronomy topics that relate to ED astronomical bodies in the Exploration forum? Or should this remain a "speak only when spoken to" science-free zone?

Hay Ziljan,

Until FD joins the Explorers and Astronomy forums, feel free to hijack any of my threads...it would be a honour for me to host your knowledge-enhancing discussions.

Frawd

 

[Roqinn]

There is an Astronomy forum?!?

Yes for me!

 

[Kuroshio]

The Elite Dangerous forums are provided for discussions of the game.

The Astronomy Forum is in Off topic because it is not about the game.

While I understand the reasoning and know that forum structure decisions aren't easy to make, I believe that a little more leeway for scientific threads in here should be allowed.

1.) As others have said, the grey area between what is relevant to the game and what isn't is quite large. Threads like the one where Jackie Silver, Ziljan and others try to understand and explain the scientific principles behind the procedural generated galaxy are treasure chests of knowledge that require real world scientific knowledge to appreciate.

2.) The choice of off-topic topics is quite odd. Astronomy is a single topic that mostly concerns Elite players (Zoo Tycoon players don't get a dedicated 'animals' section ) yet it is as far awy from the Elite fora as possible. Which leads me to:

3.) I mostly use my phone to visit the fora (it shows in the grammar) and mobile browsers are not the most elegant way to navigate them. Information gets lost and overlooked more easily, my bookmark leads me directly to the Elite section so that I won't have to filter stuff I don't care about. My choice, I know, but something that is relevant these days.

I don't need a merge; but I'd really like a less strict policy on letting real-world astronomy/-physics threads remain here. As a whole, explorers are a mature bunch of reasonable people; and we wouldn't start flooding the forum with APOD threads. And a lot of science stuff isn't as off-topic to us as it would seem on the first glance.

 

[BaldEagle]

We have an Astronomy Forum???

.

 

[certhas]

didn't even know there was a dedicated astronomy forum.

The Elite Dangerous forums are provided for discussions of the game.
The Astronomy Forum is in Off topic because it is not about the game.

tbh. 1/3rd of the game is about astronomy and i bet im not the only one feeling that way. i'ed merge it, simply for the reason the astronomy section is so tiny. on the other side, im not sure if those topics wont sink/disappear in the sheer amount of exploration topics - especially right now with all the DW topics floating around

 

[Ralph Vargr]

The Elite Dangerous forums are provided for discussions of the game.

The Astronomy Forum is in Off topic because it is not about the game.

It's the Two Cultures thing, isn't it?

 

[Ralph Vargr]

I don't need a merge; but I'd really like a less strict policy on letting real-world astronomy/-physics threads remain here. As a whole, explorers are a mature bunch of reasonable people; and we wouldn't start flooding the forum with APOD threads. And a lot of science stuff isn't as off-topic to us as it would seem on the first glance.

You are Not Allowed to post in the Astronomy Threads unless you can recite the *entirety* of Einstein's Relativity paper, *and* pass the 60 WPM Morse Code Test.