TalkBoard Topics - Comments Welcome: Voting Underway - Create a Texas Forum

Moved by bhatnasx and seconded by Cholula:

"TalkBoard recommends the creation of a Texas forum"

This vote will close on January 3, 2012 at 11:45pm or after all TalkBoard members have registered their vote, whichever comes first.

Per the TalkBoard Guidelines:

A motion shall pass if at least two-thirds of the yes or no votes cast by TalkBoard members are ‘yes’ and a majority of the total TalkBoard membership votes 'yes.'

The purpose of posting voting topics in the public TalkBoard Topics forum is to solicit member feedback on any motions that are up for a vote and to allow for comments after a vote is made. It is at the sole discretion of the individual TalkBoard members whether they choose to post in the public discussion thread, there being no requirement to do so.

So while there is already a thread and discussion on this general topic and it is safe to assume that TalkBoard members have reviewed that thread, this thread is about this specific motion.

Please feel free to post questions, comments or any other sort of feedback in either this thread or the other discussion thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkboard-topics/1291375-request-texas-forum.html

Would people from Texas be allowed to post in other forums a well?



So seriously, yes, the more detail we can offer on destinations, the better.

Just how many Texas specific posts are there? Seems like that would be a pertinent metric.

Texas isn't really the "South"--it's actually a region unto itself so a separate forum makes sense.

Just how many Texas specific posts are there? Seems like that would be a pertinent metric.

From the other discussion thread, Texas is approx 42% of all threads in the South forum.

Cheers.

"TalkBoard recommends the creation of a Texas forum"



Great idea. @:-)

dh

Considering how big Texas is and seeing as this is a US-centric board I'm surprised there isn't already a Texas forum. I think it's a good idea to spin a Texas forum off the South forum. The more organised and informative FT is, the better.

Yes, I would like a Texas sub forum!

I don't think there's any need for it. The South forum has more tumbleweeds blowing across it than the whole state of Texas. If you pull it up right now scrolling to the bottom of the page you can see all the posts made in December, November and into October. I suggested a Southeast Forum a few months back and I was shown just how quiet the South Forum is.

Fun facts here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkboard-topics/1158542-request-have-southeast-separate-south-forum.html

The poster sometimes referred to as the "TAP" (or "Texas-American Princess") wholeheartedly supports this idea because:
Texas is not in the South.
Texas has been it's own country and (if some have their way) could be again.
Texas is geographically larger than many countries that have their own forums.
Texas is large enough to warrant it's own guidebooks and section on most bookstore travel shelves.
Most important - Texas is NOT in the South.

Thanks, techgirll. I was hoping you would voice your well-informed opinion .
Merry Xmas.

Would the Texas forum also have subforums? It is pretty geographically diverse and it's not like you can really visit the whole state when you visit.

I'm for it, and suspect that a "Texas" forum would attract more posts and posters than the current "Southren" version, especially information requests and responses from business travelers for whom distances and spatial relationship remain mysteries.

I venture that comment based on a conversation last week, a call from a Georgia friend on business in the Sugarland area of Southwest Houston, with an emergency appointment in downtown Dallas the next morning, not realizing that the convenience of WN at Hobby/HOU and Love/DAL for his departure and arrival.

It's not a country or state- it's a state of mind. Yes

The board really ought to look at the numbers.

The California Forum has 3,850 threads.

The Hawaii Forum has 2,366 threads.

The Florida Forum has 1,218 threads.

The whole of the South Forum, INCLUDING Texas, has only 1,128 threads.

And, well.... the list of states is beyond "the South" of Civil War or Civil Rights Era geography.....perhaps a different title, such as "Southern" or "South and Southern Tier" or "South and Gulf Area" or "South and Texas/Oklahoma" would soothe feelings.

Of course, for us here in Oklahoma, we like the precedent on the west coast.... just call that state to our south "Baja Oklahoma"..... although we realize that any plans for "Texas" to resume being its own country include annexing our little state in order to "square-up" their Panhandle envy problem.

The board really ought to look at the numbers.

The California Forum has 3,850 threads.

The Hawaii Forum has 2,366 threads.

The Florida Forum has 1,218 threads.

The whole of the South Forum, INCLUDING Texas, has only 1,128 threads.

I don't really care, but FWIW I'd say these stats would suggest no need to break up the forum.

I suppose there might hundreds of options as to how to group states into regions, and what to call them. But I notice that when you click on the U.S. travel category, the regional forum titles do list the states included. So it wouldn't seem that too many readers would be unclear as to which forum has TX info.

Would people from Texas be allowed to post in other forums a well?

Hopefully not. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could all be contained in this one place -- making it so easy for the rest of the world to ignore them? ;)

Seriously, I encourage TalkBoard members to approve this.

I'm in favor of this. Considering the size of the state, the number of major cities and airports within it, and the percentage of current "south" threads that are about Texas, this makes sense. Not to mention, Texas is not really the South and it has always perplexed me a bit that Texas was discussed in that forum to begin with, although to be fair there is not a better place. Though Texas is not really the South, it's more South than West - maybe not geographically, but culturally.

The board really ought to look at the numbers.

The California Forum has 3,850 threads.

The Hawaii Forum has 2,366 threads.

The Florida Forum has 1,218 threads.

The whole of the South Forum, INCLUDING Texas, has only 1,128 threads.

Judging by these numbers perhaps all that is needed is a forum title change:

"The South and Texas"

I support a Texas forum, although I may be biased.

A Texas Forum...YEA!!!! :D

Judging by these numbers perhaps all that is needed is a forum title change:

"The South and Texas"

+1. A change to the name would make more sense than balkanizing the forum. Most people would look for Texas information in the 'South' forum anyway, probably because --like the other treason states-- it is located in the geographic south of the United States of the America.

And, well.... the list of states is beyond "the South" of Civil War or Civil Rights Era geography.....perhaps a different title, such as "Southern" or "South and Southern Tier" or "South and Gulf Area" or "South and Texas/Oklahoma" would soothe feelings.

Of course, for us here in Oklahoma, we like the precedent on the west coast.... just call that state to our south "Baja Oklahoma"..... although we realize that any plans for "Texas" to resume being its own country include annexing our little state in order to "square-up" their Panhandle envy problem.

If Texas is moved out of the 'South', Norte Texas (aka Indian Territory, aka Oklahoma) will stick out like a sore thumb in the 'South'. Surely Oklahoma has much more in common with the Midwest or the West. :confused:

I support the separate forum for Texas (because it is truly bizarre to call it the South) but if would be nice if Oklahoma was also allowed to secede from the South.

I support a Texas forum, although I may be biased.

+1

Most important - Texas is NOT in the South.


That is a question determined by viewpoint.

Texas was a Confederate state, so that would certainly put it in the South.

On a purely geographical basis, it is definitely in the South.

Going by the movies I grew up with, it is in the West.

Major League Baseball places "Texas" in the West but "Houston" in the center of the country.

The National Football League, on the other hand, places "Houston" in the South and "Dallas" in the East. (Oddly enough, St Louis, which is much further East than Dallas, is considered to be in the West by the NFL.)

For all of that, as my grandmother was born in Galveston, I favor giving Texas its own forum.

Agreeing that at least some parts of Texas have too much in common with the West and the Midwest to logically place it wholly within the South, I'll support this measure and cast my vote in the positive.

Judging by these numbers perhaps all that is needed is a forum title change:

"The South and Texas"

Based on all statistics I feel this is the best proposal.

Also what to do with the small South forum afterwards if divided?

Living in Texas, no, I don't think of it as part of the South, despite the fact that it was a slave state and member of the Confederacy. Our BBQ is certainly a style unto itself. :D

But I don't think that matters.

Texas and Georgia may not have much in common, but neither do New Mexico and Oregon.

What is the purpose of the geographical groupings of states? Yes, there is an occasional "road trip" thread, or post wondering where in New England may have the best chowder or leaf-peeping. But the vast majority of posts in all the Destination >> United States forums are state or even city-specific.
Where to store bags in Philly?
Do Boston cabs take credit cards?
How do I get Packers tickets?

Those forums with Pittsburgh, Bar Harbor, Lincoln, but those topics have no more affinity with those cities than they do with Peoria, Bastrop, Las Vegas.

I'd argue that the main reason to group states into regions is that having 50 sub-forums would be unwieldy, and the geographic grouping makes them easy to find. Splitting a sub-forum should be done if one state or city overwhelms the rest, content-wise. Given the dearth of posts in the existing South forum, and that the Texas threads are less than half of the total, that's not the case here.

Do not split the forums.

If the problem is that it's not easy to know which forum Texas is part of, simply rename the existing forum to "Texas and the South".

I agree that most of the threads in the US travel forums are "metro-centric", focused on questions and information re: major metropolitan areas and the their surroundings.

Therefore, Texas with 3 of the 10 largest US metros, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, plus Austin, a constant source of questions and requests for info and what has become a major air destination, deserves its own forum. Sensibly, low post volume states such as OK and NM certainly "fit" better with a Texas Forum (and to keep from patronizing those poor waifs, call it a "Southwest Forum).

On 26 December 2011, the TalkBoard unanimously passed this motion.

Great news. Thanks Talkboard Members ^

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/texas-695/

On 26 December 2011, the TalkBoard unanimously passed this motion.

Thanks to TB as I believe the addition will be a positive thing. ^

Also can't help but note only 5 days passed between motion and it being voted on and passed so is why I don't favor changing the 2 week voting period to something shorter.

On 26 December 2011, the TalkBoard unanimously passed this motion.

Thank you, TalkBoard!!! :D

Good Move..

We visited Texas last year for 5 days.. and did a summer connection through Houston..