Christmas threads - Have your say.

AlmightyCushion

So we run into this problem every year. People complain about christmas threads being posted too early. If we lock them people complain about us locking threads unnecessarily. So we're in a damned if you do, damned if you don't type of situation. Usually we just decide amongst us and go with what the majority of after hours mods decide. This time I'm opening it up to a vote. This way ye'll only have yourselves to blame for the outcome. I'll leave this running for a few days and we'll go with what the majority want.

If we get a no vote we'll lock threads up until some point in December. That hasn't been decided yet. Post in thread what date you would like them to be allowed and we'll use that to decide. Also, If anyone can thing of something witty for the no option let me know. I had nothing.

Rabies

We need an "i don't care option"

tallaght01

No.

I agree with the Zohan.

I'm not a fan of carol singers at this time of year or anything, but it's fair enough to talk about christmas memories, like the thread started today, or how the recession will affect xmas, as this is what people are talking about in real life.

ElaElaElano

If it wasn't christmas threads, it'd be fúck the taxi driving public service working polish dole claiming swan eating trade unionist moralising bastards threads.

Christmas ftw

SligoBrewer

I don't care option

Christmas belongs to December/January. End of.

AlmightyCushion

No.

As a heads up, if we get a yes vote, we will still be merging/locking threads if there are a lot of them on the front page. And unlike lisbon there will only be the one vote.

TheZohanS

No.

Rabies wrote: »

We need an "i don't care option"

Sorted.

donmeister

No.

Anything to get away from the depressing threads lately in AH. I'm all for it, +1.

jumpguy

No.

Rabies wrote: »

We need an "i don't care option"

With all due respect Mr. Mod sir, I think we don't. If you don't care, don't vote. Isn't that the best thing? Now there's an option that contributes nothing to the argument.

I welcome christmas threads for the arguments raised in this thread. I love Christmas, and normally if I dislike a topic, I avoid it. Why can't Christmas be the same? If you don't like it, avoid it. If you want to express how much you don't like Christmas, express it. Just don't stop me talking about it.

AlmightyCushion

No.

jumpguy wrote: »

With all due respect Mr. Mod sir, I think we don't. If you don't care, don't vote. Isn't that the best thing? Now there's an option that contributes nothing to the argument.

I welcome christmas threads for the arguments raised in this thread. I love Christmas, and normally if I dislike a topic, I avoid it. Why can't Christmas be the same? If you don't like it, avoid it. If you want to express how much you don't like Christmas, express it. Just don't stop me talking about it.

He was merely pointing out that we need an option for people who couldn't be arsed either way. It's a good point as they could skew the vote by voting yes/no when really they don't care what happens. Some people just feel compelled to vote. There is no need to see his post as an attack.

tallaght01

No.

Presumably the "yes" and the "i don't care" votes will be combined?

AlmightyCushion

No.

tallaght01 wrote: »

Presumably the "yes" and the "i don't care" votes will be combined?

No, why would they be? The I don't care votes don't matter in the grand scale of things. The vote is between yes or no. Whichever of those two get the most votes will decide what happens. If "I don't care" tops the votes then we'll go with the vote that comes second.

jumpguy

No.

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

He was merely pointing out that we need an option for people who couldn't be arsed either way. It's a good point as they could skew the vote by voting yes/no when really they don't care what happens. Some people just feel compelled to vote. There is no need to see his post as an attack.

Oh man I feel like an asshole for all the arguing I'm doing tonight but is it not just providing a lazy way out for people who cba deciding? Somebody must feel some way towards them. I understand your point though.

I need to go to bed...I bet I'll feel like a muppet in the morning for putting up such a fight over Christmas threads in AH (I only started out arguing over one locked thread...).

tallaght01

No.

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

No, why would they be? The I don't care votes don't matter in the grand scale of things. The vote is between yes or no. Whichever of those two get the most votes will decide what happens. If "I don't care" tops the votes then we'll go with the vote that comes second.

It's only a bit of fun. But if people don't care, then xmas posts won't bother them.

The point was to try not to annoy people by having xmas posts early.

Sharpshooter

I don't care option

TheZohan wrote: »

As a poster I welcome xmas threads. I love the spirit of Christmas and I like the goodwill that it generates amongst all posters (eventhough I'm an atheist).

I'd prefer an xmas thread to a recession stephen thread.

Just my 2c, feel free to agree or disagree.

And I do too, but as a Mod of AHs I closed a thread about Christmas fifteen minutes after Halloween had past.

Too soon.
Isn't that right Tommy?:pac:

So I am glad to see that finally something is being done and we are letting the AHs posters decide for themselves.

/ My Christmas tree is up already.. \0/

minidazzler

I don't care option

Sharpshooter wrote: »

And I do too, but as a Mod of AHs I closed a thread about Christmas fifteen minutes after Halloween had past.

Too soon.
Isn't that right Tommy?:pac:

So I am glad to see that finally something is being done and we are letting the AHs posters decide for themselves.

/ My Christmas tree is up already.. \0/

How about a Christmas Megathread???

ToniTuddle

No.

If people post up alot of threads then indeed merge/lock them as you see fit.
If people whine about seeing an Xmas thread...well get over it and don't bother reading it

I may not read the Xmas threads but I'll have no problem with them floating about.

Karl Hungus

No.

I think it's ridiculous that this should even be put to a vote. If you don't like Christmas threads, ignore them. Is there any other subject where a vocal few influence moderation policy as to that subject being completely clamped down on? If myself or others complained about threads about taxis, would the moderators be happy to close all threads on that subject to keep a few posters happy? I've no idea why you're trying to keep people who are trying to stamp out a certain subject happy.

Allow Christmas threads, if someone has a problem with someone else talking about Christmas before 23:59 on the 24th of Decemeber, then they should just ignore the thread.

Everyone has basic function to regulate what threads they read, they don't have to click on the Christmas threads. It's not like jolly music being pumped into the ears of shoppers for months beforehand, you're not being forced to open a thread and read it. It should be as simple as don't like it, don't open it. Your opinions shouldn't effect those who want to post about it.

ToniTuddle

No.

I thought I read somewhere awhile back that there already was a Christmas thread??

Sharpshooter

I don't care option

TheZohan wrote: »

Ah bless...like the xmas threads but don't want them to take over AH. Mega thread FTW.

Its not in the Poll.:pac:

tallaght01

No.

Sharpshooter wrote: »

Its not in the Poll.:pac:

Just give people the benefit of the doubt if they want it.

And if it's problematic, think about merging.

Sharpshooter

I don't care option

TheZohan wrote: »

Ah bless...like the xmas threads but don't want them to take over AH. Mega thread FTW.

Sharpshooter wrote: »

Its not in the Poll.:pac:

tallaght01 wrote: »

Just give people the benefit of the doubt if they want it.

And if it's problematic, think about merging.

See TheZohans post.:pac:

Rabies

The i don't care option is for oddly enough, people that don't care.

If a thread is posted, they'll read it or not.

Not worried if its locked. But would rather not hold back discussion.

If I want to read it, I'll click it.

Self restraint on christmas threads

Karl Hungus

No.

TheZohan wrote: »

Ah bless...like the xmas threads but don't want them to take over AH. Mega thread FTW.

Well, I definitely don't want to see ridiculous amounts of Christmas threads all over AH, but I certainly don't like the idea of disallowing them, and I don't really like the idea of a single thread either simply because there can be great difference between threads. I remember a year ago having a large debate about non-Christians celebrating Christmas, and I don't see that kind of in depth discussion happening if everything's crammed into the same thread. Much in the same way we can probably have threads on the subject that can be casual questions, or something silly. It's a large subject, and not something that should be completely crammed into one thread.

AlmightyCushion

No.

Karl Hungus wrote: »

I think it's ridiculous that this should even be put to a vote. If you don't like Christmas threads, ignore them. Is there any other subject where a vocal few influence moderation policy as to that subject being completely clamped down on? If myself or others complained about threads about taxis, would the moderators be happy to close all threads on that subject to keep a few posters happy? I've no idea why you're trying to keep people who are trying to stamp out a certain subject happy.

Allow Christmas threads, if someone has a problem with someone else talking about Christmas before 23:59 on the 24th of Decemeber, then they should just ignore the thread.

Everyone has basic function to regulate what threads they read, they don't have to click on the Christmas threads. It's not like jolly music being pumped into the ears of shoppers for months beforehand, you're not being forced to open a thread and read it. It should be as simple as don't like it, don't open it. Your opinions shouldn't effect those who want to post about it.

It's not a few, it's a sizeable and quite large minority. Also if the no vote wins we're not talking about locking out discussion until christmas day.

Also yes, the users do decide what gets discussed here and moderation policy. I remember once upon a time you asking us not to move list threads over to films as they were banned there. I'm not sure if that's still the case but why were list threads ever banned? People obviously want to talk about them. Just to let you know, I actually don't care why list threads were ever banned there I assume it's because the users were sick to the teeth of them. As much as I hate bringing stuff like this up, I hate people questioning our modding decisions when they've done similar things themselves and we're letting them decide if we should change or not.

Sharpshooter

I don't care option

Karl Hungus wrote: »

Well, I definitely don't want to see ridiculous amounts of Christmas threads all over AH.quote]

And neither do we.

The longer the time limit the longer AHs has of becoming a Christmas Forum.

What do I get my Boyfriend?

What do you want for Christmas?

Where can I get such and such?

Are you staying at home for Christmas?

Taxi's at Christmas?

Are you sick of Christmas threads?

And so on, Mods see all the threads that users don't.

What I mean by that is we see a duplicate thread and lock it.

If it is busy that thread will sink and someone else will come along and post the same thing.

sdanseo

No.

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

As a heads up, if we get a yes vote, we will still be merging/locking threads if there are a lot of them on the front page. And unlike lisbon there will only be the one vote.

Democracy on boards.ie but not in the real world? Has there been a misalignment of worlds while I was asleep? :eek:

No problem with Xmas threads but ideally not until last week of november/first week in December; only voted yes in case we end up being barred from the subject until Xmas eve or something.

AlmightyCushion

No.

sdonn wrote: »

Democracy on boards.ie but not in the real world? Has there been a misalignment of worlds while I was asleep? :eek:

No problem with Xmas threads but ideally not until last week of november/first week in December; only voted yes in case we end up being barred from the subject until Xmas eve or something.

If it's no then we'd be talking a week or two before christmas day at the latest. Maybe even earlier.

Karl Hungus

No.

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Also yes, the users do decide what gets discussed here and moderation policy. I remember once upon a time you asking us not to move list threads over to films as they were banned there. I'm not sure if that's still the case but why were list threads ever banned? People obviously want to talk about them. Just to let you know, I actually don't care why list threads were ever banned there I assume it's because the users were sick to the teeth of them. As much as I hate bringing stuff like this up, I hate people questioning our modding decisions when they've done similar things themselves and we're letting them decide if we should change or not.

No, that's a very fair point indeed. For a time, threads like "Name your top 5 films" and such were banned, because they offered no discussion at all, people would just namedrop without offering any opinion at all. It's kind of like someone posting a link or piece of news and offering no opinion on it themselves, something I've seen to really grate people on AH before. Since those kinds of threads are allowed now, regular posters are still very annoyed with them and have been vocal about it, but the decision to ban, and since unban threads of that nature was never put to the vote, it was something that was decided by moderators at the time. I guess I see a distinction in that no one subject was ever banned on Films, but rather the way people approached those subjects, as in; actually discussing the subject, or giving no opinion at all. It's not the same as say, a certain genre of film wasn't allowed to be talked about, or lets say, you couldn't post threads about Twilight because so many people hate Twilight.

But again, it is a very fair point, and distinctions aside, it's definitely similar to what's gone on in the films forum before. And really, I've no problems with users deciding moderation policy, fair play for that and for this thread, I just don't agree with an amount of users deciding it's not ok to post about a certain subject because they dislike it. I didn't mean to come off as overly critical of the AH moderation, you guys do a job I probably wouldn't be willing to do, and I do applaud you for it.

Sharpshooter wrote: »

And neither do we.

The longer the time limit the longer AHs has of becoming a Christmas Forum.

What do I get my Boyfriend?

What do you want for Christmas?

Where can I get such and such?

Are you staying at home for Christmas?

Taxi's at Christmas?

Are you sick of Christmas threads?

And so on, Mods see all the threads that users don't.

What I mean by that is we see a duplicate thread and lock it.

If it is busy that thread will sink and someone else will come along and post the same thing.

Well, in the case of "What/where to get ... " and suchlike threads, I don't think they even belong on AH in the first place, they belong in Gift & Festival & Party Ideas, with the more general threads staying here. Maybe a sticky pointing to the above forum would help relieve some of it?

Duiske

I don't care option

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

If it's no then we'd be talking a week or two before christmas day at the latest. Maybe even earlier.

I voted no, but "don't care" probably would have been better. I guess anytime during december is fine for Christmas threads. Alot of people get a kick out of a long build-up to Christmas, just would'nt be one of them myself.
Anyway, at the end of the day its the mods who have to clean up the mess so it should really be up to yourselves.

AlmightyCushion

No.

Karl Hungus wrote: »

Well, in the case of "What/where to get ... " and suchlike threads, I don't think they even belong on AH in the first place, they belong in Gift & Festival & Party Ideas, with the more general threads staying here. Maybe a sticky pointing to the above forum would help relieve some of it?

But technically we should be moving all christmas threads there. That's what that forum is for. Same with most topics that can fit in elsewhere we allow a certain amount of leeway. The problem is with this one is that it tends to consume the whole forum until there's nothing left but christmas threads. Usually the lock on sight until a certain date was enough to keep a reasonable amount of discussion/threads without killing all other discussion.

Karl Hungus

No.

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

But technically we should be moving all christmas threads there. That's what that forum is for.

I don't think that's really the idea of the forum, not all Christmas threads relate to parties or gifts, and I don't believe the 'Festivals' of the forum title refers to seasonal events like Christmas, but as the forum description says: "What gift I can buy for X, fancy dress, holiday events, party planning, etc." So while a thread like 'What to buy the other half' would fit there, a thread about the recession and it's effect on your Christmas wouldn't.

The problem is with this one is that it tends to consume the whole forum until there's nothing left but christmas threads.

I don't disagree that can happen, but I'm suggesting that instead of being locked, a large portion of Christmas threads that can fall under the jurisdiction of Gifts/Festivity/Party Ideas can be moved there, and thus cutting down on the amount of such threads on AH. It's an alternative, and I'd say many people simply aren't aware of that forum, so giving it some healthy traffic would be a better option in my humble opinion.

AlmightyCushion

No.

Karl Hungus wrote: »

I don't think that's really the idea of the forum, not all Christmas threads relate to parties or gifts, and I don't believe the 'Festivals' of the forum title refers to seasonal events like Christmas, but as the forum description says: "What gift I can buy for X, fancy dress, holiday events, party planning, etc." So while a thread like 'What to buy the other half' would fit there, a thread about the recession and it's effect on your Christmas wouldn't.



I don't disagree that can happen, but I'm suggesting that instead of being locked, a large portion of Christmas threads that can fall under the jurisdiction of Gifts/Festivity/Party Ideas can be moved there, and thus cutting down on the amount of such threads on AH. It's an alternative, and I'd say many people simply aren't aware of that forum, so giving it some healthy traffic would be a better option in my humble opinion.

It does because I remember looking one year (don't think it was last year maybe the year before).

From the charter:

Ruu wrote: »

Welcome to the Gifts/Festivities/Party Ideas forum.

You a free to discuss all sorts of festivities and things related to festivities here all year round.

There was also a thread in the forums forum asking for a christmas forum. Ruu (who was modding GFPI at the time) said that it covered it, as did one of the admins (I think it was DeV).

Kiera

I don't care option

1st Dec the earliest. Please.

Karl Hungus

No.

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

It does because I remember looking one year (don't think it was last year maybe the year before).

From the charter:



There was also a thread in the forums forum asking for a christmas forum. Ruu (who was modding GFPI at the time) said that it covered it, as did one of the admins (I think it was DeV).

Fair enough, but my point still stands that it's a forum that could play host to the excess Christmas threads, thus alleviating the strain of AH, and boosting the traffic of another forum. Win win situation right there if you ask me.

Rabies

How about move the "what do i get my <insert whatever>" threads to G&F&PI forum.

Everything else is just the usual Scrooge ranting.

Then have a mega thread of "what do you want for xmas" followed by "what did you get for xmas" mega thread.

Let everything else happen naturally

AlmightyCushion

No.

Karl Hungus wrote: »

Fair enough, but my point still stands that it's a forum that could play host to the excess Christmas threads, thus alleviating the strain of AH, and boosting the traffic of another forum. Win win situation right there if you ask me.

Until we get people complaining about the fact we're moving all the christmas threads over there and not allowing them here. It's the type of topic that comes up only at a certain time of year. Lots hate it, lots don't. This is the fairest way to decide what action we take.

And before anyone asks we won't be doing this for other thread topics like taxi drivers and romas or whatever. Why? Because those thread topics don't become as prevalent as the christmas threads do and for as long. The other topical thread topics generally hand around for a couple of weeks at most and rarely make up the majority of the threads on the forum.

I honestly can't see what all the fuss is about by using a poll. It's not something that's going to have massive repercussions on people's lives, it a thread topic. People always whine about mods making up stupid rules and that the mods are power tripping nazis who just do what they like without even thinking about the users. We're trying to do the opposite of that and we're getting the same crap. For a long time we were the only forums that asked how out modding is and listened to the users feedback. More forums are doing it now. We were the only forum to ask users to toss their name into a hat when we were looking for a mod. More forums are starting to do that. We're implementing a rule and we decide to ask the users to help us decide what direction we should take. If we should adopt this rule or not and this happens.

I seriously don't know why I bother at times. I nearly wish I'd said no to christmas threads in that feedback thread and just left it at that instead of actually trying to engage with the userbase.

Overheal

I mean ffs if I knew complaining loudly enough would get a topic banned, we'd never discuss gun violence again.

As it is, and as I said on the feedback clone of this thread, you guys sparked this thing off early this year with the Santa Strike Force and promises of Bollocko's uncircumcised PhD.

We're talking about a ****ing holiday here and I think the Mods are perpetuating their own conundrum by making such an issue out of this. Just throw a Christmas Megathread out there - merge when necessary - and let the Users do what they will. Just one thread. And the SSF. Thats it. Done.

kowloon

We could make a rule that all Christmas thread have to be labelled as such, then everyones happy as they can easily be avoided, right?

ScumLord

I don't care option

HUMBUG! Big fat hairy humbugs!


All the threads will be about how much they love the Christmas spirit but hate the actual stress and dementia that Christmas instills in everybody. It's a bastardization of a religious holiday where people waste money on pointless tat that will make them poorer and fat cats who make sub standard products richer and ensure January's landfill numbers are higher than last year.

At the very least the damage this sham of a holiday can cause should be restricted to December.

smellslikeshoes

I don't care option

I'm all for Xmas threads but I think its better to leave them until December, makes it that bit more special as having them start in November just cheapens the season.

WindSock

Normally I am very much opposed to premature Christmasses. My argument is Nollaig = December.
This year I don't care as much. As long as it's not early November, which it isn't any more.

Rabies

this is getting blown way out of proportion

phasers

I don't care option

I have no problem with one or two Christmas threads, but no matter what the mods do to try and stop it, we tend to end up with millions of them. That's what pisses me off really.


It gets tiresome and ignoring them is hard when there are a lot of them.

Kiera

I don't care option

Rabies wrote: »

this is getting blown way out of proportion

Not really. Why cant we wait for the first Christmas song to be played in the aul wireless on the 1st?

Mushy

I don't care option

I said No...can't it wait till December 1st?

rushnaldo

Capitalism is ripping the meaning out of Christmas for its own personal gains but it does this to every "industry" it gets its hands on but its still a special time of year....

Saibh

Going for the I don't care option. Don't mind them, some people love this time of year and some don't. I can choose to ignore them or read them.

1st December as others have mentioned.

My name is URL

I don't care option

I voted no.

I say ban anyone that makes a Christmas thread before the 25th December or after 5th January.. ie. The 12 Days of Christmas

or can it not just be made a taboo subject altogether?

AH should celebrate Festivus instead, maybe it'll catch on and one day Christmas will be no more =D

SV

No.

This is so pointless..and it's been annoying when there's been decent christmas threads going and a mod locks them because they don't like Christmas being talked about so early :mad:

If people want to talk about something then they will..otherwise it just falls off..
how about a simple rule of: "If you don't like it, DON'T post in it" unless of course the topic is "Christmas: Love it or Hate it?"

problem solved no?

but seriously though..the people who don't want them around..are you incapable of ignoring threads?

Notorious

Meh, I took the 'I don't care' vote. Free speech and all that. I don't see what the problem is? If you don't want to read them, don't.