[*Feedback*] Stricter stance on off-topic posting

Basq

This is something that has been bugging me for a while.. and a PM from one of the regulars on the forum and sueme's Peeping Tom Thread just brought it to a head.

It's become very apparent to me that threads on this forum are just getting more and more off-topic and "jokey" as they progress. *

Let's take sueme's Peeping Tom Thread (as mentioned above) as an example. It's a sensitive area (as mentioned in the thread) and yet half-way down the second page, we get discussions on smashey's belly! It then just gets more and more off-topic until I warned to get back on topic. And not one reply since!

I'm not saying i'm infallible in this respect. I'm guilty of it too and I do enjoy a funny or off-topic reply here and there but thread's have been going wildly off-topic and it's quite annoying for both myself and muffler (I have not consulted muffler about this but I reckon he feels the same way) to moderate as well as people outside of the Boards clique to read.

By all means, tell me i'm wrong and what you think of how the forum is currently standing or being moderated.

Thanks all.

* Don't even get me started on the Your One Outside BOI thread! :rolleyes:

AlmightyCushion

I have to agree with you, Basquille. The odd bit of off-topic nonsense is grand and helps to lighten the mood a bit but when it starts to de-rail threads it's gets tiresome quickly.

muffler

I will have to hold my hands up and admit to being partly at fault for one or two of the threads running off topic. I do try to mix a bit of humour in with the more serious stuff (which category smashey's beer gut falls into is open to debate ).

I was accused on a few occasions in the past of being too strict in moderating the forum. A couple of my decisions were a bit of the mark due to the fact that I did not know the ins and outs or the place names in Sligo and that is why myself and nanook had requested a moderator that was from Sligo. This would overcome any difficulties we had in relation to identifying the content of different topics. If Im being honest I felt that a couple of the regulars here werent over the moon about a Donegal man and a Leitrim man* (see note below) being in charge of the forum and that was something that we addressed by getting basquille on board here.

I have taken a wee bit of a more laid back approach to moderating here (at times anyhow) and perhaps I need to sharpen up a bit more. Yes basquille is right in saying that some of the threads are running all over the place at times. First and foremost it is the responsibility of the users here to post "on topic" and in accordance with the charter. Our duty is to maintain a bit of order if it is required. This is a damn good forum and its up to the regulars in particular to ensure it stays that way. I have roamed around a few of the other regional fora and I have to say that Sligo is head and shoulders above them all. But we all need to get our act together though to ensure that the forum is run in acceptable manner.

Like basquille I too would welcome all feedback whether it be here in this thread or by PM. Dont worry we wont bite



*Referred to above: I dont know if many of you were aware of this but nanook has stepped down from moderating duties. He will still be popping in now and again but I wish him well and would like to acknowledge his contribution to this forum together with the North West, Donegal and Leitrim fora.

TequilaMockingBird

A bit of off topic banter, or chit chat doesn't bother me at all. Even in the Peeping Tom thread, I personally didn't find it offensive that it went a little askew. I enjoy the forum and enjoy the sometimes lighthearted tone.

How about stickying a thread for Chit Chat of a more easy going nature, with no particular topic?

tuppence

Basquille, I dunno I quite like the way you post a little sign of something to nudge us back on topic. I can imagine it must feel like running a class of secondary school kids that should know better though, which must be frustrating. And the new mellowed Muffler (who sometimes is the ringleader!), its nice to see him letting his hair down.
Sligo is interesting too because more people from outside Sligo seem to come in and theres activity. Since the forum divide there seemed to be a bit of separation anxiety and sometimes insularness.
Sometimes the most serious of conversations need a bit of lightening up cos it can get a bit tense (in topic and between people perhaps) it relents and then we naturally can go back on topic too. The nice thing about the humour is that it diffuses any type of tension. The Peeping Tom one is a question in point. There may have been a thing that we're feeling powerless to help even though you want to. I did feel for Sueme and woudlnt want to belittle the situation that her Mum is going through. Maybe times like that a pm may be useful as well?
Nice idea about he feedback topic though.
i am afraid I used to get an urge to be giddy at funerals as well...:eek:o

Rozbeef

i don't see the problem with threads going off topic. that's what makes a good forum. but that's just my opinion.

smashey

Leave my belly out of this. :mad::D

Eh, back on topic...

tulipandthistle

Personally, I like the banter we have here. It's the way people talk in conversation, well for us anyway. I'd feel that it was unnatural to "type" in any other way, after all it's just like having a conversation with you all on this board.

Hail 2 Da Chimp

I don't mind a bit of off-topic banter. As long as it doesn't distract too much from the thread.

il gatto

Anyone hear if Dempsey is fit for the match on Saturday?........:p

starbelgrade

I agree that a bit of off topic banter is harmless (in my opinion) & can often be quite amusing... I mean, it's more like real life discussions, which can often start out quite serious then lead naturally to bit of banter on the subject (or off it as the case may be).

The problem I have is that on one hand, we seem to get warned by the moderators about doing so, even it's the case (as in the Peeping Tom thread), that the off topic banter was initiated by a moderator. I find it more than a bit inconsistent.. the banter should either be allowed or not & off topic posting / banter allowed by all or not allowed by anyone.

I have previously been warned about being "smart arsed" as opposed to "humourous", for going off topic and for posting multiple posts after each other in the one thread. So then to see multiple posts by a moderator talking off topic about Smashey's belly, joking about Bernard Manning & then posting an "ironic" self-warning about going off topic, is just confusing. As I said, I believe that the banter should either be allowed or not & off topic posting / banter allowed by all or not allowed by anyone.

As far as having Mods from Leitrim, Donegal or anyone else in the country - I've absolutely no problem with that. Most people I know in Sligo aren't even from Sligo & being a Dub, I'm well used to living in a town with people from all over the place (literally & geographically!).

My take on it is - just let it slide... most threads die off naturally anyway & sometimes the banter is what keeps them going & it doesn't stop people going back ON topic. I'm used to posting in music forums where the thread can start out (for example) as a Beatles appreciation thread & end up as a discussion on the "gayest rock shapes ever thrown onstage". I don't have any problem with it.

But as someone suggested - maybe a "chit chat" thread would be a good idea. At least if you decide to cut out the off topic banter in the threads, we'd have somewhere to talk a bit of ****e. We are Irish after all, and that's what we like to do a lot - a bit of banter, taking the piss & having the craic.

starbelgrade

Case in point....

il gatto wrote: »

Anyone hear if Dempsey is fit for the match on Saturday?........:p

I laughed out loud when I read that!

takola

I don't think a bit of banter in threads is going to cause a major problem. I do think that we (the regulars) have a tendency to forget what the thread is about and just get into general chatting which sometimes can be tedious. And I'd say it does make the Sligo forum tiresome to moderate at times.

I do agree with starbelgrade on what was said about the peeping tom thread. I've seen warnings handed out by Bas for off-topic posting but then the peeping tom thread was completely derailed by something another mod has said. I think that could end up causing trouble because people won't know what's what. I can see the feedback threads starting! :rolleyes:

Basq/Muffler, what do you's think of Sue's idea of having one thread for general chat stickied so we can just chat there? Obviously there are going to be times we want to ask questions or get opinions on little things but we're not going start a thread as it's not really a big issue or worthy of it's own thread. If we had one thread to just chat in it would keep the off topic posting to a minimum in other threads in the forum? I think it's a great idea and would be beneficial. Especially for anyone new to the forum.

magnumlady

starbelgrade wrote: »

I agree that a bit of off topic banter is harmless (in my opinion) & can often be quite amusing... I mean, it's more like real life discussions, which can often start out quite serious then lead naturally to bit of banter on the subject (or off it as the case may be).

The problem I have is that on one hand, we seem to get warned by the moderators about doing so, even it's the case (as in the Peeping Tom thread), that the off topic banter was initiated by a moderator. I find it more than a bit inconsistent.. the banter should either be allowed or not & off topic posting / banter allowed by all or not allowed by anyone.

I have previously been warned about being "smart arsed" as opposed to "humourous", for going off topic and for posting multiple posts after each other in the one thread. So then to see multiple posts by a moderator talking off topic about Smashey's belly, joking about Bernard Manning & then posting an "ironic" self-warning about going off topic, is just confusing. As I said, I believe that the banter should either be allowed or not & off topic posting / banter allowed by all or not allowed by anyone.

As far as having Mods from Leitrim, Donegal or anyone else in the country - I've absolutely no problem with that. Most people I know in Sligo aren't even from Sligo & being a Dub, I'm well used to living in a town with people from all over the place (literally & geographically!).

My take on it is - just let it slide... most threads die off naturally anyway & sometimes the banter is what keeps them going & it doesn't stop people going back ON topic. I'm used to posting in music forums where the thread can start out (for example) as a Beatles appreciation thread & end up as a discussion on the "gayest rock shapes ever thrown onstage". I don't have any problem with it.

But as someone suggested - maybe a "chit chat" thread would be a good idea. At least if you decide to cut out the off topic banter in the threads, we'd have somewhere to talk a bit of ****e. We are Irish after all, and that's what we like to do a lot - a bit of banter, taking the piss & having the craic.

I agree with everything you've said. Its been nice to have a 'lighter' side to this board in recent times and I also think a chit chat thread as Sueme suggested would be great. There are a few things I want to talk about that I don't think warrant a thread but a chit chat thread would cover bits of everything.

Gillie

It's an interesting issue.
On the one hand we have a Forum that has taken off in the last year!
We have a good base of regular posters and we all get along quite well - most of the time!

The idea of this forum is to discuss all things Sligo.
The subject matter is generally not the problem but it's when someone says something they believe to be true or add their own sometimes unpopular opinion. The Mods are left to decide whether the post is acceptable or not.
If they decide it isn't some ppl think the mods are being too strict.
If they deicde to let it go (and trust me this happens) the mod is pm'd by other memebers of the board who are offended by the post.

Bottom line is there is no way to please everyone.
Muffler was accused in the past of being to strict by some.
It would seem that he is more laid back in the Sligo forum and I think that is to be welcomed.

In relation to the Peeping Toms thread.
A thread like this will always annoy a lot of ppl and they feel oblidged to say what they think should be done to said Tom which of course you are not allowed say on Boards.ie.

So then they try a bit of humour to lighten things up and of course they end up going off topic.

Is it fair to say that that type of thread is more suited to Legal issues or Personal issues? Not suggesting for one second that sueme wasn't entitled to post it here or that the Sligo Board members are ill-equipped to deal with such heavy material but hey i'm just asking the question.

The "Your one outside the boi" thread was always one that was going to end up a car crash. It sparked off an interesting debate regarding Charities which proved to be quite a "passionate" issue for a lot of ppl but it was totally off topic.

In that case above someone (tuppence and illgatto were quite active if i recall correctly) should start a new thread called "Charities" or something to keep the debate going. It would stop the thread going off-topic!
No one's gonna eat your lunch for that! Just my two cents!

So to answer your question Basq i'm undecided.
I'm glad i'm not a mod anymore as this topic is a challenge and will be divisive!

Basq

Am at work so can't go into details in a reply until later but thanks for the feedback all. Didn't expect this much of a response so quickly!

I think the idea of a chit-chat thread is something to look at.. just general banter and it might cut down the off-topic discussion somewhat. Any thread which is going wildly off-topic will be replied to with 'Take it to Chit-Chat'

CountingCrows

Would somebody PLEASE think of the children!

smashey

CountingCrows wrote: »

Would somebody PLEASE think of the children!

Take it to chit-chat.

TequilaMockingBird

basquille wrote: »

Am at work

Whooo Hoooo!!! FREEE HOUSE!!

One final fling lads.:pac::D:p;)

I like puppies... they are sooooo cute..:)

starbelgrade

basquille wrote: »

Am at work so can't go into details in a reply until later but thanks for the feedback all. Didn't expect this much of a response so quickly!

I think the idea of a chit-chat thread is something to look at.. just general banter and it might cut down the off-topic discussion somewhat. Any thread which is going wildly off-topic will be replied to with 'Take it to Chit-Chat'

I think it's a great idea. Having a bit of craic is unavoidable sometimes as is straying a bit off topic. I don't think it needs to be dealt with too firmly unless it gets out of hand, but in most cases, the posts are harmless & I've yet to read anything I've found offensive in the slightest.

Now - get back to work Bas... I'm not paying you good money to be dossing on forums!

Signed

Your Boss.

Basq

tuppence

If someone says Group Hugs I am out of here. :eek::pac:

guinnessdrinker

I have to say I don't mind the off topic posting at all on this forum, I think the bit of craic makes it more fun and would encourage new users to post more. I mean there are some funny people on here, Counting Crows made a comment recently that made me laugh out loud behind my computer screen!

On the other hand I can see Basquille's point. For example, if the topic is a serious one then off topic posting may not be helpful.

Anway I think the mods here are doing a good job as it is already, (like good football referees, you don't notice them and they let the game flow).

snowdaze

I am pretty new here and find that a thread gets locked very easily - sometimes before the original poster gets back to reply to responses:)

I agree with moderation when needed and agree it is sometimes not an enviable task - however, from the response to this topic already I think the overall view in this is pretty much clear:D

Is there a wee smilie saying "off topic" that could be used rather than a telling off from a mod???:)

Basq

snowdaze wrote: »

Is there a wee smilie saying "off topic" that could be used rather than a telling off from a mod???:)

But both myself and muffler don't really wanna spend our days posting smilies (muffler would rather post picture of smashey's gut!) though. I suppose making everyone aware of the situation will do for the time being.

sligobhoy67

Rozbeef wrote: »

i don't see the problem with threads going off topic. that's what makes a good forum. but that's just my opinion.

I agree - I cant stand boards that are over moderated - leave threads alone I say

Mint Sauce

i dont think the odd off topic post is too bad, epecially if it relates to the original subject or to something mentioned in the conversaton, as long as its only dwelled on for a post or two,

a recent example i can think of was the thread on the strand hill road works, a comparsion was made to road works going on in letterkenny, on which i asked how they were getting on, off topic conversation (letterkenny works) lasted for two or three posts before going back to the main conversation, i think as long as you achknowledge you are off topic and its in keeping with the main context of the conversation and its not dwelled on, no harm done

when it gets bad, is when two posters start a totally seperate conversation, that has no relevence at all to the original post, or the subject of conversation, and there is no attempt to make any kind of refernce to the current thread or the topic of conversation

hope that makes sense

Xiney

A previous poster mentionned how conversations go off on tangeants - I believe forum threads do and (should) have a right to do so as long as the original topic has been discussed to some degree and the topic is moving in a different direction by virtue of the first one being somewhat "over".

There is nothing that keeps people from quoting a previous post and replying to it.


Lastly, let's face it... there isn't really much room for "off topic" discussion on boards. After Hours is awash with the unwashed, and most other forums are so strict in their "you must post about sterling silver studded belt loops only - no nickel plated!"ness. It's a bit frustrating... anyway. Just because we're the Sligo board... can't that mean we're just people from Sligo talking [typing] about stuff? Obviously we should try to make it pertinent to Sligo at first, but a bit of off topic after a while never hurt anyone and will keep the forum active.


typety type type I never shut up eh?

Mint Sauce

but i dont think you can allow it to go off topic to much either, especially if some one comes to the conversation late, maybe we shoud just have a thread just for off topic, general conversation like, but remebering if you want to discuss some thing specfic you discuss it in its own thread

Xiney

the problem with sticky threads is they get so long that you can't get a grasp of it.

Mint Sauce

but if its general chat or an off topic thread, theres nothing to particular grasp, it should be allowed to go off on tagent if there is no particlar subject

it can work well if there is just a handfull of regular posters, and keep the subject specfic threads seperate

just my feelings,thoughts on it

tuppence

Xiney wrote: »

the problem with sticky threads is they get so long that you can't get a grasp of it.

+1
Yes you're right other times its like groundhog day, with the amount of repetitiveness that can go on! :D
We could end up referencing page numbers soon. Oh another query on haritigans...pls see page 10 that kind of thing!

muffler

A chit chat type thread whether stickied or not is a good idea in it's own right but I believe it wont work too well overall. Its not that thread I would be worried about but other threads that have off topic posts.

What is an off topic post? Some are quite obvious but some are down to interpretation. One user here would consider a particular post acceptable while another wouldn't. I may think its off topic and basquille wouldn't. As I said its down to interpretation at times.

So we get a chit chat type post in the middle of a serious thread and we move it to the chit chat thread. Some people will be happy with that but then on the other hand we could be getting abusive PMs about it or someone going and doing something silly like starting a thread in feedback claiming that the mods are unreasonable by moving their posts from one thread to another.

A chit chat thread is fine on its own but it still wont stop people from posting off topic in other posts.

takola

muffler wrote: »

A chit chat type thread whether stickied or not is a good idea in it's own right but I believe it wont work too well overall. Its not that thread I would be worried about but other threads that have off topic posts.

What is an off topic post? Some are quite obvious but some are down to interpretation. One user here would consider a particular post acceptable while another wouldn't. I may think its off topic and basquille wouldn't. As I said its down to interpretation at times.

So we get a chit chat type post in the middle of a serious thread and we move it to the chit chat thread. Some people will be happy with that but then on the other hand we could be getting abusive PMs about it or someone going and doing something silly like starting a thread in feedback claiming that the mods are unreasonable by moving their posts from one thread to another.

A chit chat thread is fine on its own but it still wont stop people from posting off topic in other posts.

I have to disagree with this Muffler. It's not like yourself or Basq are handing out warnings in every thread because of one post. The only time warnings are handed out is when one post has resulted in the thread being derailed to a completely different subject. So if you see one chit chat post in the middle of a serious thread you'd wait to see if there's a second or third post bringing it off topic and then advise us to take it to the chit chat thread.

I actually think if there was a general chat thread there alot of us would be less likely to take things off topic. At the moment we can only discuss subjects threads are open for. But as someone pointed out in normal conversation you always jump to and fro. You can be in the middle of discussing something and remember something which will take the conversation onto something new. At least if we have the general chat thread we can just chat without having to worry about getting warnings. It would make things alot more relaxed imo.

I think it's certainly worth a try before we decide it's not going to work!

tuppence wrote:

+1
Yes you're right other times its like groundhog day, with the amount of repetitiveness that can go on!
We could end up referencing page numbers soon. Oh another query on haritigans...pls see page 10 that kind of thing!

At the moment we have these questions coming up in other threads. Even if we are saying go back to page 10 it's better than having other threads going off topic.

If people are finding it repetitive they don't need to visit or post there.

With general chat you don't need to get a grasp on it! It's general chat! You can enter it as you like with whatever subject you like! People will just answer you and if they have more to say on the first subject they'll carry that on too. I don't see the big deal!

Mint Sauce

i dont think youll ever avoid off topic posts muffler, even if you have a general conversation thread

but if you start moving the off topic posts from the subject specfic thread to the general conversation thread, i think that can disturb the natural flow in both threads involved, as long as the off topic post is in keeping with the subject or along the same lines, and is only for a few posts, and gets back on track quickly it shouldn't in my opinion be a problem,

now obviously if its a serious subject and said post is not in keeping with subject or belittles the content, then its a differnt mater, i understand the mods have a hard job to do sometimes, and what one poster or mod finds apropiate, may not be viewd the same way as another poster or mod, and i think most posters have the kop on to understand this, and think before they post, is this within keeping,

we are all guilty at times of off topic posting, and have done it my self on ocasions, weather it be mentioning some thing, not exactly on the subject but something similar, or joking about something another poster has said, if they too had joked, but as long as you make an attempt to steer it back, or juct acknowledge your off topic and not make a habit or a blatent attempt to disturb the topic, it should be put down to maybe the natural flow of the conversation

Basq

I will agree that off-topic posting is largely unavoidable but I think the main reason for this thread was to make people more aware that it's becoming a problem as of late.

It's became evident in a large percentage of threads, but I'm somewhat apprehensive to make a 'Chit-Chat Thread'. Mainly because it's too FaceBook / MySpace / Bebo.. ish. It's a good idea in general but think of the nuggets of goodness we'll have discussed in there:

• Was walking down the street and saw white dog-poo. Amazing.. why do we never see that anymore?
• Following on from my 'best sausage' question, anyone know where to get a good rib roast?
• muffler has stolen my Superman onesie again.. he could at least ask for fecks sake!

And well.. you get the idea. It'll also be tricky enough to moderate if it becomes popular, then offensive / questionable material may go un-noticed. And then come back to bite us in the ass.

Oh, and I'm sorry to those who disagree.. but off-topic posting is really NOT "what makes a thread (or forum) good". Much of the off-topic discussion can be "cliquey" (isolate anyone not a regular on Boards) and can make tracking the progression of the original topic difficult over a mound of off-topic replies.

smashey

basquille wrote: »

muffler has stolen my Superman onesie again.. he could at least ask for fecks sake!

Pics or it didn't happen.

Anyway, I think we all know when something is straying off-topic and maybe a little nudge early on to nip it in the bud would be an idea. If needed, start a new thread based on the off-topic comment.

tulipandthistle

I totally agree with you irish-stew. I also think moving some posts from a thread to a chit chat thread would just confuse a lot of people because you'd have half conversations going on all over the place.

Basquille, I would like to disagree with you about the "cliquey" aspect. I don't think it's possible to be cliquey on a discussion board. I have never seen it anyway and never felt that I couldn't join in or was left out in anyway.

smashey

tulipandthistle wrote: »

Basquille, I would like to disagree with you about the "cliquey" aspect. I don't think it's possible to be cliquey on a discussion board. I have never seen it anyway and never felt that I couldn't join in or was left out in anyway.

There are numerous cliques on boards believe me. I've had a battle with one of them in the mod forum.

takola

smashey wrote: »

There are numerous cliques on boards believe me. I've had a battle with one of them in the mod forum.

In fairness though, I don't think you can get away from that. Some of us are regulars in here and would be familiar with each other through posting. I don't think it's so bad in this forum that someone would be put off posting because of it though!

Not like over in the Donegal forum. It's brutal over there!

smashey

takola wrote: »

In fairness though, I don't think you can get away from that. Some of us are regulars in here and would be familiar with each other through posting. I don't think it's so bad in this forum that someone would be put off posting because of it though!

Not like over in the Donegal forum. It's brutal over there!

Some cliques have private fora and if the your face doesn't fit, you're gone.

Donegal is welcoming of all Sligonians. I even had one at my wedding acouple of years ago.;)

takola

smashey wrote: »

Some cliques have private fora and if the your face doesn't fit, you're gone.

Fair enough, point taken but I doubt that will happen on the Sligo forum. We don't have a clique in here. You post on the threads you can contribute to.

smashey wrote: »

Donegal is welcoming of all Sligonians. I even had one at my wedding acouple of years ago.;)

Yes, welcoming of us so you's can use us as sacrificial lambs. We know what happens up in that dark place!

tuppence

Gosh I dont see the clique think either I have to say. Mind you there could be anything goin on by pm but thats up to people and their own business! :eek:(not that I am paranoid or anything.:D)
If theres any jokiness its normally a bonding thing, and if anything I think it would make new comers feel at ease. Certainly not a sense that a leitrim resident cant join in or anything....(pms start!)
I blame the Donegal crew for leading us all astray anyway.

Xiney

I have to agree that I would hate for the Sligo board to get cliquey - like someone pointed out, the rest of boards is full of little cliques.

TequilaMockingBird

What clique? Why wasn't I invited?? Well??

I think this forum is grand, leave it as it is, add a "Nonsense" sticky, and carry on as usual. Less work for the Mods, and more relaxed for the plebs (me). I think there are enough regulars here who know the charter, know the forum, that if anyone is taking the p*ss it would soon be nipped in the bud and reported.

takola

sueme wrote: »

What clique? Why wasn't I invited?? Well??

I didn't get an invite either. I guess our faces aren't right!

muffler

takola wrote: »

I guess our faces aren't right!

The answer to your problems

takola

muffler wrote: »

The answer to your problems

Woohoo! We can buy some of that anti-aging toothpaste (:rolleyes: ) and we'll be sorted!

Do you mind me asking for both yourself and Basquille's opinions are now Muff?

I know you're not too keen on a chat thread, Basq doesn't seem to keen on it either.

So most of us have had our say now etc, What do the two of you think would benefit the forum?

starbelgrade

muffler wrote: »

The answer to your problems

You've been watching 'Queer Eye For A Straight Guy' again, I see.

TequilaMockingBird

muffler wrote: »

The answer to your problems

Attack the poster, not the post. Some day..... *evil smiley*

tuppence

muffler wrote: »

The answer to your problems

Yes i blame the Donegal heads for drawing us off topic. Its the cap that fits in this case.