IGN Vestibule
IGN Vestibule is part of the IGN.com message boards. Created in March 2002 as a means of enabling non-paying members to access the board system, which was made subscription-only in February 2002. It was intended to be a trial board, but in actuality, it is frequented by both subscribers ("insiders") and non-subscribers ("outsiders").
As of 2004, the board, with over 10 million total posts and hundreds of users that frequent it on a daily basis, is the busiest board on IGN as well as one of the busiest boards on the Internet.
With no defined topic of discussion, the Vestibule has developed its own Internet subculture. Some say that this subculture serves to intimidate. On the other hand, the diversity of the subject matter serves to restore balance to the accessibility of the Vestibule. However, users of other IGN forums view the vestibule as "spammy" and immature. Many regular vestibule posters are flamed when posting on other IGN forums. Occasionally, some users try to enjoy themselves by partaking in an activity known as ("rioting"). Riots consist of users posting new topics all dealing with the same inane subject as rapidly as possible. Few of these topics receive replies and are left for the moderators to clean up.
Members
Most of the IGN Vestibule members are from the age range of 12-16 and represent a wide range of views. On the individual level, most members are elitist, concieted, stubborn, and immature. Debatable topics on religion, culture, and drugs often turn into multipage responses and spawn several follow up topics. These topics typically extend to several pages before interest is lost. However, it is typical for the same topic to reappear within a few days, only to repeat the cycle again.
As a whole, the Vestibule lacks any coherrent thought pattern or attention span. Common practice for the Vestibule is to invade (riot) other message boards, filling them up with non-sensical topics. Other favorite activities have been to prank internet radio stations and cause trouble.