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Closing threads...

  • 05-05-2008 7:05am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,431 ✭✭✭


    Can someone explain to me why threads are often closed if the mod "can't see this thread going anywhere"?

    I can't see any reason why people can't continue discussion on whatever subject they want, regardless of whether some mod decides it's ok or not...

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055287396
    Post edited by Shield on


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,339 ✭✭✭✭tman


    Seems like a sound bit of moderating really, the original question had been answered and if the thread had been left open it would have just descended into chaos.

    Or possibly pictures of cats...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,919 ✭✭✭✭Xavi6


    Beacuse sometimes threads move waaaaay off topic and you get two or three users who just bicker back and forth without adding anything to the actual discussion. Happens quite a lot when people have run out of things to say about a certain topic.

    In the case you quoted, the OP's question was deemed hostile i.e. referring to cyclists as 'bastards'. That's inevitably going to annoy people so why leave it open for a row to break out when the cycling brigade get involved? Maybe had the question been phrased more politely it would have been left. Good modding imo.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,553 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    I had a look at that and it had the main ingredients for a flame war. Nothing constructive was going to be achieved by any further debate and it was just going to turn into one of those farcical threads where one thing leads to another and it ends up going way off topic with probably a handful of people sniping the tits of each other. It was the right call to lock it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,099 ✭✭✭✭WhiteWashMan


    tman wrote: »
    Seems like a sound bit of moderating really, the original question had been answered and if the thread had been left open it would have just descended into chaos.

    Or possibly pictures of cats...

    would it?
    you should pick lotto numbers for me with that sort of ability to tell the future.
    mods are there to facilitate discussion, not fortune tell.
    Xavi6 wrote: »
    Beacuse sometimes threads move waaaaay off topic and you get two or three users who just bicker back and forth without adding anything to the actual discussion. Happens quite a lot when people have run out of things to say about a certain topic.

    In the case you quoted, the OP's question was deemed hostile i.e. referring to cyclists as 'bastards'. That's inevitably going to annoy people so why leave it open for a row to break out when the cycling brigade get involved? Maybe had the question been phrased more politely it would have been left. Good modding imo.

    and if every thread on thee forum didnt have some sort of bickering back and forth, theres be no threads at all.
    how do you know when people have run out of things to say?
    perhaps someone else might have something to add to the debate, but now cant because the thread is closed.

    muffler wrote: »
    I had a look at that and it had the main ingredients for a flame war. Nothing constructive was going to be achieved by any further debate and it was just going to turn into one of those farcical threads where one thing leads to another and it ends up going way off topic with probably a handful of people sniping the tits of each other. It was the right call to lock it.

    to be honest, and this goes for the above as well, im not actually seeing any sort of bickering, or flame war type material. i also cannot see how anyone can decide 3 posts into a thread that its not worth leaving open, how it will turn out, or anything else.


    its bad modding.
    anyway, i fail to see why it cant be left open. is there actually a need to close it? if people cant have a deabte about it like adults, then warn or ban them, but dont curb the conversation on what may or may not happen.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,099 ✭✭✭✭WhiteWashMan


    and while im at it, it makes me worried that all those comments came from mods.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,919 ✭✭✭✭Xavi6


    Sorry WWM but labelling cyclists 'bastards' is blatant flaming and is bound to provoke a reaction. Was it necessary to use that term? Course it wasn't. If the OP had merely said 'cyclists' without the adjective then there would have been no problem.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,225 ✭✭✭Ciaran500


    If you look around the motor board or the cyclist board you will see that every thread like that descends into the exact same bickering, with motorists claiming bikes shouldn't be on the road, they should pay road tax, should stop breaking red light,etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum.

    That thread was right to be closed.


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 24,056 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sully


    Tad bit early to close the topic.. in this example, I think it should have been cleaned and warned to keep to the topic / charter. If it continued to go of the walls, then fair enough - time for closing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,099 ✭✭✭✭WhiteWashMan


    Xavi6 wrote: »
    Sorry WWM but labelling cyclists 'bastards' is blatant flaming and is bound to provoke a reaction. Was it necessary to use that term? Course it wasn't. If the OP had merely said 'cyclists' without the adjective then there would have been no problem.

    i guess we all get hot under the collar about things.

    boo urns to things that annoy us.


    maybe im in the minority that can read something without being provoked by the language used.
    If you look around the motor board or the cyclist board you will see that every thread like that descends into the exact same bickering, with motorists claiming bikes shouldn't be on the road, they should pay road tax, should stop breaking red light,etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum.

    That thread was right to be closed.

    its an emotive topic.

    people have the right to disagree with each other. just becuase you call it bickering, to others its a point they feel they have to make.

    you and i disagree, should we close this thread right now?
    in fact, should we close every thread ont his forum now where someone disagrees with someone else?

    or should we close every thread on every forum on this site, just in case someone disagrees, and you class it as 'bickering'?

    or perhaps i should just go through every thread on the motors forum, give my opinion on it, and then close the thread, becusae what i say, goes?

    where do you draw the line?



    closing threads bec aseu fo what may be is not really something a mod should do.
    a thread should be closed becusae there is a reason to close it.

    in fact, a mod should only do something, when there is a need to do something. we are not a proactive force. we are reactive.

    gosh, i hope i dont get arrested tomorrow becusae the police think that someday i might go out and cycle without a helmet on...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,225 ✭✭✭Ciaran500


    people have the right to disagree with each other. just becuase you call it bickering, to others its a point they feel they have to make.

    you and i disagree, should we close this thread right now?
    in fact, should we close every thread ont his forum now where someone disagrees with someone else?

    or should we close every thread on every forum on this site, just in case someone disagrees, and you class it as 'bickering'?

    or perhaps i should just go through every thread on the motors forum, give my opinion on it, and then close the thread, becusae what i say, goes?

    where do you draw the line?
    I'm not saying it should be closed because people are bickering in it. I'm saying it should be closed because the same topic comes up constantly and ends in the same argument every time.

    Same way if you started a thread in the Playstation forum calling all Xbox owners bastards it wouldn't be left open.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,099 ✭✭✭✭WhiteWashMan


    Ciaran500 wrote: »
    I'm not saying it should be closed because people are bickering in it. I'm saying it should be closed because the same topic comes up constantly and ends in the same argument every time.

    Same way if you started a thread in the Playstation forum calling all Xbox owners bastards it wouldn't be left open.

    why, becuase they keep beating their playstation counterparts in orange box?

    im not sure i see your point there.


    im not sure i see your point about the same topic coming up again and again. are you saying that after a while we should close down forums becuase there might be a reoccurance of a theme?

    hell, PI wuld be the first to go with all those pesky 'should i text him' threads. followed closely by the soccer forum. every bloody week, its the same 'predict the scores this weekend' thread, and the man utd are crap threads, and the chelsea only bought their silverware threads.

    oh, and those pesky 'this is me' pictures on the know your nerds thread.

    or maybe 'im looking for work please help' threads on the work forum, or the 'what song ar eyou listenin.........


    oh, i think you get the idea. theres lots of threads and themes repeating ad infinitum on these forums.
    its not a mods job to pre-empt what its going to be. there is no need to interfer.

    if it ends up the way the rest of them do, then great, at least it keeps someone amused for a while. whats the harm?

    seriously, i fail to see the point in a forum where the mods dictate what can and cant be discussed.
    and dont get me started on this 'off topic' crap.

    a conversation that must stay on the topic. bollox. forums are about fun and discussion and information. not about rules and regulations and standing in rank and file lines speaking only when spoken to.
    you want that, join the army.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭tallaght01


    So many times I've been annoyed when I've seen threads closed when they're still active. It definitely makes me use the forum less when it happens. It started happening a lot on the ladies lounge a while back, so i stopped using it as much (which is fair enough, as I'm not a bird :D ).

    But a lot of mods just feel free to close threads for pretty rubbish reasons. I think if people are actively posting (which is what the site is for) and it's not getting way out of hand, then I think there should have to be a really good reason to close it.

    What really bugs me is how on some forums mods will close threads because "this topic has been discussed several times before" and they'll then also close a thread if you "drag up an old thread"! bizzarre.

    Open threads FTW! :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    Free Tibet!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,553 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    and while im at it, it makes me worried that all those comments came from mods.
    Why? It doesn't bother me.

    Maybe 2002 was a bad year ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,099 ✭✭✭✭WhiteWashMan


    muffler wrote: »
    Why? It doesn't bother me.

    Maybe 2002 was a bad year ;)

    it bothers me becuase you all agree that closing a thread for no reason is a justifiable thing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,431 ✭✭✭zzzzzzzz


    Maybe we should close this thread? After all, we're just bickering - right??

    I think that threads are closed way too easily on this site - what's the problem if people want to argue about something that has already been argued about? Who cares? Let them bicker away, I say!


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 24,056 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sully


    Right I think this topic has ran its course. There can be nothing gained from discussing the matter further.

    Topic Closed.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,986 ✭✭✭Red Hand


    Just out of interest, why do some mods get so hot under the collar if you drag up an old thread, and post a comment on it? It may be one or two years old since the last comment, and yet such threads are also locked, often straight after the most recent comment.

    tallaght01 mentioned it above, but it's happened to me once or twice. Somebody revives an old thread, and I've never seen it before and it interests me, and by the time I've read through it all, and want to post a comment...it ends up being locked.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,264 ✭✭✭✭Hobbes


    WWMan is the pinnacle of freedom of expression (and I mean that in a good way :) ). While I agree with him to some extent the answer is a bit more complicated.

    The truth is it really depends on the forum. To give an example lets say the Islam forum. Posting about Aisha is not liable to get a thread locked but it is liable to annoy the regulars of the forum. Mainly because the subject has been done to death numerous times. If you ask a question that has already been answered your going to illicit a negative response. Moderators who are in a forum for a long time are aware this is going to happen and may pre-empt by a lock. Every forum has a similar subject matter.

    The other thing is where you get into the infinity spiral . Both sides think they are right, neither backing down and the subject goes around and around and around. Not even agree to disagree. This happend a lot on politics. All it does is create noise on a valid subject. In such instances threads have run their course.
    Just out of interest, why do some mods get so hot under the collar if you drag up an old thread, and post a comment on it?

    Depends a lot of how it was done. If you had a valid reason to bump it then it shouldn't be an issue. Often though threads are bumped with stupid responses in a way to goad people responding to a hot thread when the arguments are over.

    One other thing to realise, certainly with the really old threads is that a lot of the first boards.ie people know each other well. Have gone drinking together, dated, broken up, married and all other sorts of carry on. Some threads have back stories outside of boards (like hearing an old tune and it reminds you of that time you woke up naked in some field in Kerry after a binge session :) ). So bumping those sort of threads can cause rational actions to go out the window.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,986 ✭✭✭Red Hand


    OK, fair enough, thanks Hobbes.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,395 ✭✭✭Marksie


    In PI bumping an old thread serves no purpose as the issue is in history as it were. If it is the OP updating that different of course


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    it bothers me becuase you all agree that closing a thread for no reason is a justifiable thing.


    Opening a thread on cyclist vs motorists (a hot topic at the best of times) with a gem like "bastard cyclists" doesn't equate with "no reason"

    That is the most perfect reason to close it ...on the motors forum anyway.

    The alternative would be edits, warnings and bannings left, right and centre ..handed out by two (now three) mods on a rota, keeping a constant eye on the thread.

    We're mods with a life ...not air traffic controllers.

    During normal business hours, the motors forum has constantly more than 100 people reading it ...motors goes trough three,four pages of posts a day. It's hard enough keeping an eye on all of them without having to stay with one thread through every post.

    Closing it early is the least painful option for all involved.


  • Posts: 16,720 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    peasant wrote: »
    Opening a thread on cyclist vs motorists (a hot topic at the best of times) with a gem like "bastard cyclists" doesn't equate with "no reason"

    That is the most perfect reason to close it ...on the motors forum anyway.

    I have to admit, I love those threads. I'm a cyclist and I'm always looking in the Motors Forum for those cyclenazi threads, and on the Cycling Forum for the cyclenazis of a different colour.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22 emma peel


    Admittedly I am new here, but in the very short time I have been on the board, I have seen a thread closed just now for absolutely no reason that I can ascertain. I have been a mod on a large board before, and I'm no stranger to why threads get closed. But I am beginning to suspect that spirited discussion/debate -- or in this case, fairly perfunctory discussion -- isn't encouraged here. I hope I am wrong.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,440 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr Magnolia


    emma peel wrote: »
    Admittedly I am new here, but in the very short time I have been on the board, I have seen a thread closed just now for absolutely no reason that I can ascertain. I have been a mod on a large board before, and I'm no stranger to why threads get closed. But I am beginning to suspect that spirited discussion/debate -- or in this case, fairly perfunctory discussion -- isn't encouraged here. I hope I am wrong.

    Link?


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 24,056 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sully


    emma peel wrote: »
    Admittedly I am new here, but in the very short time I have been on the board, I have seen a thread closed just now for absolutely no reason that I can ascertain. I have been a mod on a large board before, and I'm no stranger to why threads get closed. But I am beginning to suspect that spirited discussion/debate -- or in this case, fairly perfunctory discussion -- isn't encouraged here. I hope I am wrong.

    To be fair that revenge topic in PI needed closure.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 25,872 Mod ✭✭✭✭Doctor DooM


    Just to stick my oar in, I know its annoying when something has been discussed before, but it tends to be new people who post those threads and it's very discouraging for them to be lambasted/ have their thread closed for, to them, no apparent reason. I think it would put them off starting threads again (also, bear in mind efficient use of search engines is a skill that not everyone holds, so the whole "do a search first" thing isn't always a good answer.)

    Yesterday there were 2 threads in the Atheism forum about Westboro and Jesus Camp. They might have been closed, but as it happened there's was a new update at the end of the Jesus Camp programme, which would have been missed by me if the thread was closed.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,912 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    Maybe we should close this thread? After all, we're just bickering - right??

    Nope. Go look up the meaning of 'bickering'.

    A lot of mods will close threads once they can smell a flamewar building up. Believe it or not but this can sometimes be to protect members from getting themselves banned. There is a rule (unwritten?) that once a thread heads away from the original subject in the OP a mod can close it or try and direct it back to its original purpose. The decision usually comes down to what has already been posted in the thread.

    Peasant said it all really.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 42,362 Mod ✭✭✭✭Beruthiel


    emma peel wrote: »
    Admittedly I am new here, but in the very short time I have been on the board, I have seen a thread closed just now for absolutely no reason that I can ascertain. I have been a mod on a large board before, and I'm no stranger to why threads get closed. But I am beginning to suspect that spirited discussion/debate -- or in this case, fairly perfunctory discussion -- isn't encouraged here. I hope I am wrong.

    Because I don't suffer fools gladly and that thread was hardly a PI.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,099 ✭✭✭✭WhiteWashMan


    peasant wrote: »
    Opening a thread on cyclist vs motorists (a hot topic at the best of times) with a gem like "bastard cyclists" doesn't equate with "no reason"

    *mental note to self.
    close all threads which may be a 'hot' topic, or may require me to keep an eye on it, just so that I can have a nice easy mod life.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    *mental note to self.
    close all threads which may be a 'hot' topic, or may require me to keep an eye on it, just so that I can have a nice easy mod life.

    *mental note to self
    next time a flame war starts on motors, do not close thread, divert all reported posts to C-mod :D


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,440 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr Magnolia


    I don't think that's a fair argument peasant. Motor's is busy, if the lads feel they need a helping hand then they know to ask.

    I don't see our function as censoring discussion. The OP could have been warned about his tone if anything.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    I don't think that's a fair argument peasant. Motor's is busy, if the lads feel they need a helping hand then they know to ask.

    I don't see our function as censoring discussion. The OP could have been warned about his tone if anything.

    The problem with warning is, that it doesn't remove the offending post, which in return will attract and infuriate the opposed side and you've got warnings flying all over the place within a few posts into the tread.
    Not the way to lead a debate/discussion.

    The alternative is to either edit the OP (which is an even worse form of censoring)or delete it.

    I still think that in this particular case, closing the thread with the remark that it won't lead anywhere was the best thing to do.
    Cuts and bruises avoided all round ..plus it sits there as an example of how not to start a good debate.


  • Subscribers Posts: 32,859 ✭✭✭✭5starpool


    I think this thread goes to show that all mods should be put through a rigourous 3 month training programme. I hear they run a nice one in the bahamas in November, and have rewards for successful completion of daily tasks. Hmm, what could be a good reward. Cack and hikers? Cork and honkers? None of them sound quite right. I'm sure it'll come to me.....

    All the expenses for the above should be taken from mods salaries. I know I would agree to have my boards paycheque docked for this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,264 ✭✭✭witnessmenow


    If you came close to knocking down a cyclist because they werent in anyway way iluminated i think you'd be pretty mad too.

    Im sure if there was a car driving around with no lights that it wouldn't be suprising to find cyclists calling them a "bastard"!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22 emma peel


    Beruthiel wrote: »
    Because I don't suffer fools gladly and that thread was hardly a PI.

    I hope you are not saying that everyone who posted in it is also a fool? *confused* In my experience, the OP may not be the greatest or most thought-provoking, but it might lead to a discussion that is. Shutting down threads because someone might do something seems like overkill to me, unless the poster has a history of flaming or trolling.

    If wanting revenge on someone isn't a PI, what would qualify?

    I am definitely getting the feeling that my posting style, which is fairly outspoken, is not going to be a good fit, at least not in the PI forum. Maybe it's a Canadian vs UK thing, I don't know. Time will tell.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,006 ✭✭✭✭The Muppet


    peasant wrote: »
    Not the way to lead a debate/discussion.

    Should Mods be leading a discussion or should they be facilitating a civil debate? For me its the latter. I don't think any thread should be closed because it has been discussed before, This site is growing at such a rate that such closures are unfair on newer members particularily and basically amount to censorship.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,099 ✭✭✭✭WhiteWashMan


    The Muppet wrote: »
    Should Mods be leading a discussion or should they be facilitating a civil debate? For me its the latter. I don't think any thread should be closed because it has been discussed before, This site is growing at such a rate that such closures are unfair on newer members particularily and basically amount to censorship.

    bang on the money.

    i keep saying it. mods are not police. we dont do people for 'loitering'
    we are here to facilitate discussion. that doesnt mean we close a thread because we think its low brow discussion.
    if it turns into a flamewar, then feel free to close all you want, but pre-emptive closures and bannings (as there used to be) is just not what this site is about.
    peasant wrote: »
    *mental note to self
    next time a flame war starts on motors, do not close thread, divert all reported posts to C-mod :D

    feel free to do so, although, it would make me wonder why youre amod of a forum if youre going to do that.
    i know you are being facetious, but the fact remains, youre a mod of a forum, and as such, you have asked for, and been given the responsibility of maintaining that forum.
    if you feel that you cant be arsed to facilitate the discussions that go on in the forum, then i suggest you consider why you are a mod, and if you decide that its not to allow others to share their point of view, regardless of how they put it, then you might want to consider handing in your badge and gun at the desk.

    and that goes for any mod here.

    we are not here to direct or dictate the conversation. we are here simply to react to misdemenours and allow users to use this site.

    locking threads is tantamount to powertripping.
    Hobbes wrote: »
    WWMan is the pinnacle of freedom of expression (and I mean that in a good way :) ). While I agree with him to some extent the answer is a bit more complicated.

    thats not quite true simon. i am an advocate of being able to put across your view, even if it isnt in line with sociably acceptble thinking, but that does mean i think you can say anything you want.

    i am however the pinnacle of giving users the choice to converse rationally, or act the mickey and get banned.

    Hobbes wrote: »

    The other thing is where you get into the infinity spiral . Both sides think they are right, neither backing down and the subject goes around and around and around. Not even agree to disagree. This happend a lot on politics. All it does is create noise on a valid subject. In such instances threads have run their course.

    then there is no harm in letting it run its course instead of closing it, is there?
    i mean, nothing will ever be gained by closing a thread.
    you may however, gain something from leaving it open

    and as someone else said, if you close a thread without reason, then you block any chance that someone else has of saying something that may change things.

    Hobbes wrote: »

    Depends a lot of how it was done. If you had a valid reason to bump it then it shouldn't be an issue. Often though threads are bumped with stupid responses in a way to goad people responding to a hot thread when the arguments are over.

    One other thing to realise, certainly with the really old threads is that a lot of the first boards.ie people know each other well. Have gone drinking together, dated, broken up, married and all other sorts of carry on. Some threads have back stories outside of boards (like hearing an old tune and it reminds you of that time you woke up naked in some field in Kerry after a binge session :) ). So bumping those sort of threads can cause rational actions to go out the window.

    bumping a seven year old thread to adda smilie is a bit strange, but is there actually any real harm in it.



    lets be honest here.
    mods close threads for the simple reason that they cant be arsed to deal with them, or they are annoyed by them.

    no other reason.

    so what if its been discussed a thousand times before. are we going to march down to the pub and demand that people not talk about football over a pint becuase i already had that conversation last friday?

    no.

    then why do it here?

    again, the simple reason is that mods are annoyed for some strange reason, or they cant be bothered to to deal with it.
    so they lock them.
    i think its bad modding becuase it smacks of arrogance and powertripping.

    i just really fail to see the problem. and any mod that says they dont want to trawl through all the rubbish that such threads bring, well, hang up your mod boots. there are plenty of other people who are hapy to step into them.

    or perhaps they need to head over to the 'why do mods stay mods' thread on this forum and figureout just what exactly they get from being a mod. becuase apparently it isnt anything to do with helping the community.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,099 ✭✭✭✭WhiteWashMan


    peasant wrote: »
    I still think that in this particular case, closing the thread with the remark that it won't lead anywhere was the best thing to do.
    Cuts and bruises avoided all round ..plus it sits there as an example of how not to start a good debate.

    and it brings back the age old question of what is a good debate, and what exactly are the rules around what makes a good debate, and what doesnt.

    and whos opinion are we eventually going to use as the yardstick for this measurement of good debating?

    does the fact that someone swears mean they are no longer eligable to debate, or does it mean they are too emotionally invested in the theme and therefore all logical debate is never going to happen anyway?

    surely those types of people cant give us a good debate?

    why dont you write out everything we need for a good debate, and we will form a sub committee to see if it gets accepted? :)


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 24,056 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sully


    I tell ya, WWM should have been elected Taoiseach!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,395 ✭✭✭Marksie


    emma peel wrote: »
    I am definitely getting the feeling that my posting style, which is fairly outspoken, is not going to be a good fit, at least not in the PI forum. Maybe it's a Canadian vs UK thing, I don't know. Time will tell.

    Well, PI tends to deal with OP issues, and these are not abstracts. You may be well into dealing with the finer points of somene elses post, picking it apart full stop by full stop in a series of posts, oblivious to the fact that there is an OP wondering when someone is going to deal with what he/she raised.While there is leeway, discussions and debates are more perhaps for humanities.

    Your best best is to read the charter, have a look at how responses are formulated in threads. It will give you a better idea, if you think you think you will be able to post or not without having your blood pressure rise ;). As long as you follow the charter then you would be fine outspoken or not.

    Its probably also a good idea to forget that you moderated a forum in a large site, and accept how particular forums on this site are moderated (good, bad or indifferent).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    if you feel that you cant be arsed to facilitate the discussions that go on in the forum, then i suggest you consider why you are a mod, and if you decide that its not to allow others to share their point of view, regardless of how they put it, then you might want to consider handing in your badge and gun at the desk.

    and that goes for any mod here.

    we are not here to direct or dictate the conversation. we are here simply to react to misdemenours and allow users to use this site.

    locking threads is tantamount to powertripping.

    This is getting ridiculous now.

    First off, I wasn't the one who closed the thread ..but I probably would have done so as well, for reasons explained above ...reasons that apply to ONE particular thread on ONE particular forum. Not ALL threads on ALL forums. So please stop generalising and insinuating that I am a "powertripper".


    Secondly, if you can't be arsed to show me particular examples where I personally have stifled discussion or censored threads or whatever that went beyond a "reaction to misdemeanors", I'd appreciate it if you would desist from including me personally in your grand sweeping statements about bad modding / powertripping mods.

    If, on the other hand, you want my "badge and gun" as you put it ...all you have to do is ask for it and you can have it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,099 ✭✭✭✭WhiteWashMan


    peasant wrote: »
    This is getting ridiculous now.

    First off, I wasn't the one who closed the thread ..but I probably would have done so as well, for reasons explained above ...reasons that apply to ONE p

    articular thread on ONE particular forum. Not ALL threads on ALL forums. So please stop generalising and insinuating that I am a "powertripper".


    Secondly, if you can't be arsed to show me particular examples where I personally have stifled discussion or censored threads or whatever that went beyond a "reaction to misdemeanors", I'd appreciate it if you would desist from including me personally in your grand sweeping statements about bad modding / powertripping mods.

    If, on the other hand, you want my "badge and gun" as you put it ...all you have to do is ask for it and you can have it.

    sorry, when i say you, im talking about the gerneal you, not you in particular :)

    perhaps substitue the word 'one' into 'you', with the exception of the part which i did direct at you. im not having a go at you personally, im simply making a point. like i said, i know you were being facetious, and it wasnt directed really at you. apologies for not making that more clear.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 42,362 Mod ✭✭✭✭Beruthiel


    emma peel wrote: »
    I hope you are not saying that everyone who posted in it is also a fool? *confused*

    I don't recall saying that.
    In my experience, the OP may not be the greatest or most thought-provoking, but it might lead to a discussion that is.

    Reading the forum charter will clear up the fact that PI is there for actual personal problems only, not for discussions. We have a Humanities forum for that.
    Shutting down threads because someone might do something seems like overkill to me, unless the poster has a history of flaming or trolling.

    It wasn't shut down because it 'might' go somewhere, it was shut down because it was stupid.
    If wanting revenge on someone isn't a PI, what would qualify?

    Read the forum and work it out.
    I am definitely getting the feeling that my posting style, which is fairly outspoken, is not going to be a good fit, at least not in the PI forum. Maybe it's a Canadian vs UK thing, I don't know. Time will tell.

    Canadian vs Ireland don't ya mean? ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,691 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    Below is a perfectly good example of an old thread that was re-started again and locked needlessly

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054905217


    Why couldnt it have been left open in the first place? What harm would it have done?

    Instead there's a new thread on the exact same topic..

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055287705


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,247 ✭✭✭✭6th


    KevIRL wrote: »
    Below is a perfectly good example of an old thread that was re-started again and locked needlessly

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054905217


    Why couldnt it have been left open in the first place? What harm would it have done?

    Instead there's a new thread on the exact same topic..

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055287705

    Thats a bit silly alright.


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 24,056 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sully


    KevIRL wrote: »
    Below is a perfectly good example of an old thread that was re-started again and locked needlessly

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054905217


    Why couldnt it have been left open in the first place? What harm would it have done?

    Instead there's a new thread on the exact same topic..

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055287705

    Could have guessed you might post and refer to me. Again I call to you: If you dont like how I moderate, feel free to send me a PM outlining your concerns and ill take them into consideration.

    I closed the thread because it was 2 years old and was brought up again to repeat the overall purpose of the thread. I think new threads are better then digging up old topics. On previous sites, we acted in the same way and I just carried over the same procedure here. Iv seen it done countless times over my years on Boards.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,691 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    Sully wrote: »
    Could have guessed you might post and refer to me. Again I call to you: If you dont like how I moderate, feel free to send me a PM outlining your concerns and ill take them into consideration.

    .


    LOL, cool the jets there Sully. It was the most recent example of an old thread being needlessly closed that I can remember from a forum that I browse.

    I posted it here as an example of what I feel is an unneccasry closure of an old thread (IMO not all old thread are auto close threads, altho many are).

    As for PMing you moderating that I disagree with, I have done this in the past and you acted on my feedback. And I would PM you again if I had issues.

    My post here is not a critisim, merely an example. No need for the persecution complex.

    Anyway, I'm not looking to drag this thread OT, so will leave it at that. Hope you see my point


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