“Start a Storm” was the main functional component needed to move off the Forum. It’s always been really important to me for everyone to be able to start topics and write articles, but once thing I have to balance is trying to make a clean-looking site with photos that grab everyone’s attention, but also make sure we own the licensing on any photos that become outward-facing, thus becoming a “commercial use.”
The new Start a Storm button lets any member create their own article, with the “featured image” disabled to prevent legal issues. Whether it’s a bold prediction, a spicy take, or just a question you want answers to, this is your platform to spark the lightning.
Once you hit “Start a Storm,” you’ll be directed to a simple editor where you can type your thoughts, add some formatting, and submit. Your post goes live as its own article, and the comments beneath it become your personal discussion thread — fully featured with:
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✅ Reverse-chronological replies (newest first)
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✅ Auto-refresh so you’re not constantly refreshing
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✅ Highlighted new comments since your last visit
In other words, it’s everything we wanted from a forum — but smoother, sleeker, and built into the heart of the site.
One note – if you accidently refresh the page, you will lose your progress. I recommend writing your article in Google Sheets or Word, and copy/pasting/formmating when your ready to submit it.
Go ahead. Cast the first bolt.
