It may all be a difference of approach.

Again, I don't think the "flat" forums are necessarily appropriate for the RinkForum. I do think the format here contributes at time to the slowness of it, though.

I personally get far more confused trying to read threaded discussions than I do reading something sequential, post-after-post. It's harder to keep track of what went where and where to reply to when an idea occurs to me.

For much larger forums, the "flat" style is near-impossible to keep up with. Threads grow far too quickly, and lesser-viewed threads are lost far more quickly when more popular threads are bumped on top of them.

I'm not entirely sure which type is preferable when, but I know there are merits to each, and disadvantages to each. Once more, I wouldn't prefer the "flat" forums here at RinkWorks. :)

Anyway, I sort of find it proof of my own point that I'm somewhat reluctant to post this now, and that I feel like I have to clarify myself many times over for fear of offending whomever I'm responding to. I know Stephen isn't going to take offense to anything here, but I still feel somewhat obligated to be this way. That might just be me, though.

All that said, I do agree with many of your points, especially regarding the fact that conversations as a whole aren't as easily derailed since the original posts are always there to respond to.

Ria