[quote EarringsandLipstick]@DeRigueurMortis that's a very interesting post. I never thought of the business model element. [/quote]
Thank you.
I think we all at times forget that MN is a business not a community.
I think the best way to think of it is that the OP is asking MN to create a new "product".
When "pitching" to a business to invest in a new product you can't just say "because I want it".
You have to explain why it would be beneficial to the business.
I happen to think having a black topic would be beneficial and has the potential to increase the user demographic and encourage black users to post in a topic where they may not have posted on the main boards. That's good for business- but it's an opinion it's not something I can prove.
However, there is an element of running before walking here in so far what's being proposed is not just a new "product" but a whole new sub division ie a raft of many products, with ring fenced moderation before even proving the concept will work commercially.
Having a single black topic with standard moderation is akin to a production company running a TV pilot before committing to a full series.
That's an easier ask for MN to provide. Encourage black MNetters to post there and prove its commercial value.
Demonstrate the popularity of the "pilot" and then your argument for a series starts to have commercial merit.
MNHQ has been badly impacted by Covid and diverting funds to "a series" rather than a pilot isn't good business sense and could potentially put the finances of the overall site at risk.
How many people would support what seems to be a full replication of the site under a black umbrella topic (replace that with any other heading btw) if they knew that doing so would put the financial viability of the whole site at risk?