Is this forum too jokey?

biko

For quite some time there have been complaints to the mods that posters are ruining threads with AH style posting or trying to be funny but in the process dragging the thread down (I know I have been guilty of this too).
Certain posters does this on a regular basis and doesn't really add much anything else.

As the charter says: Above all, exercise common sense. Be helpful and people will reciprocate.

Do you guys think the mods should clamp down on unhelpful/"funneh" posting more?
It's of course on a case-by-case basis but in general, should we try to steer the forum towards helpfulness away from "Stage door" comments?

I'm submitting an anonymous poll but feel free to post below.
Pls note that this thread doesn't open up to discussions on other issues in this forum, just helpfulness vs jokes.

amiable

I think common sense has to be prevail. But people have different ideas on common sense. I personally think its fine and tweaking with it might not help.

snubbleste

No it is not too jokey.
Some queries need to be responded with : why did you not try google? or detailed maps are freely available online or there does exist a directory of stockists with red ribbon bows called the golden pages.., etc.

Bog

snubbleste wrote: »

No it is not too jokey.
Some queries need to be responded with : why did you not try google? or detailed maps are freely available online or there does exist a directory of stockists with red ribbon bows called the golden pages.., etc.

This attitude mystifies me. Boards is above all a discussion forum where people can discuss issues, ask questions and provide answers. If I asked some friends/acquaintance down the pub the address of a particular establishment, I'd be disgusted to receive a chorus of 'check the golden pages'. Boards shouldn't be different.

Fey!

A bit of levity isn't always a bad thing, and goes a long way toward dealing with the doom-and-gloom-ers.

jkforde

being jokey is grand but inane or insulting 'having the craic' posts are at best unhelpful, or they become tedious and at worst have been plain racist or inciteful. I've read one poster's bio messages and they boast about their ambition of getting banned... so I'd like to see a moderate increase in the moderation of this kind of unhelpful 'wit'.

I think it's one of the best forums on boards tbh.

It's also one of the best moderated.

If people have a problem with posts surely they can just report them?

My 2c

Diabhal Beag

Listen here. We could be like all the other boring Regional forums or we could embrace our love of all things wacky.

We had a mega-thread on Knackerdwarf. We are huge fans of Warty Norah and her shenanigans.

From my experience nobody really ever insults fellow posters through jokes. If anything its the topics that are discussed that are involving funny antics (like the bus that crashed into the barrier at the Bank near the Docks).

TBH I wouldn't post anywhere near as much here if there wasn't an element of fun, not in every thread or anything but just the instinct when you open a thread that you might see a fantastic pun or anecdote.

Love this forum. Its very well moderated and I hope it stays the way it is.

BTW I don't mean we joke in every thread or set out to troll.

mikom

biko wrote: »

Certain posters does this on a regular basis and doesn't really add much anything else.

Singular or plural?

biko wrote: »

Do you guys think the mods should clamp down on unhelpful/"funneh" posting more?

I reckon the forum will wane if this is the case.
Check out the other regional forums for evidence of this, as many read like Politics or Personal issues.

Taking on poster Bog's analogy of a drinking establishment, ask yourself, do you want the Galway city forum to resemble a pub or a wine bar.
Cos if the majority or the mods want a wine bar, then I'm pulling plant.
Some will like that, some won't, but sure life goes on.

Fuctifino

Jokey is not the issue.

The issue is the massive over-moderation, where mods "give warnings" like they are sweets. Im not trying to be deliberately insulting; but the off topic warnings or locking threads at will is the reason why boards' mods have a reputation.

Stifling conversation is counterproductive. Its the reason why i rarely post. Last week there were 6 locked threads on the first page. Leave them be - doing no one any harm.

I agree with Dr Mc Manus thread locking and his deletion or whatever, because he was incessant. Thats the only place where moderation is needed.

Watch me get banned, deleted and my dog killed for daring to make such a post

Sherifu

One of the (two so far) people in the poll who didn't notice any issue.

The mods do a good job here, the forum has a good group of regulars and helpful posters.

It's fine the way it is.

/$0.02

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Is it by any chance the same posters that submit most of the complaints??
Ban them...;)

redsteveireland

I may be guilty of the odd jokey post but I think it generally happens when there is someone annoying(you banned one recently) and the regular visitors kind of turn the tide on them to see if they will stop.
Most people have a good sense of humour so it isn't a problem.

Irish Gardener

I don't post that much here but I lurk quite a bit. I see nothing wrong with the funny posts except that the really funny ones make me spit tea at the screen on occasion. God knows things are depressing enough out there at present without a few posters becoming the joy police and dictating what they deem funny or not.
Let it flow folks.

jkforde

case in point...http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=68882007&postcount=112 and http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=68882792&postcount=113

these lads seriously think this is witty or funny! maybe when growing our first chin hairs but jesus, grow up.

mikom

jkforde wrote: »

case in point...http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=68882792&postcount=112 and http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=68882792&postcount=113

these lads seriously think this is witty or funny! maybe when growing our first chin hairs but jesus, grow up.

So good it was posted twice.

nice edit.

Chin hairs are required to allow us link correctly it seems.

epgc3fyqirnbsx

I don't see whats wrong with the odd jokey posts, I dont post here much but do lurk a lot.
Dont see the problem with having a giggle and I rarely see threads get derailed as a result
It takes all sorts to make a good thread
Informative + funny = quality

Head The Wall

I agree with most of the voters, there's enough depressing stuff on boards and in the world. The type of people that complain about these things will probably never be happy so if they don't like it they can ignore the criminals with their funneh funnies.

Long live Mikom

Sherifu

Head The Wall wrote: »

The type of people that complain about these things will probably never be happy so if they don't like it they can ignore the criminals with their funneh funnies.

The type of people that ring liveline, moaning Michaels

Damie

jkforde wrote: »

case in point...http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=68882007&postcount=112 and http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=68882792&postcount=113

these lads seriously think this is witty or funny! maybe when growing our first chin hairs but jesus, grow up.

It is witty and funny, just not to you it seems....chill pills all round please:D

bildo

Nothing worse than an over moderated message board.
All the best boards in my experience are those with the least mod maintenance.

martyboy48

I'm all for a little wit and a jokeee here and there. Fair anough, you can go to far, but I haven't seen it here myself. Lately though, I have noticed one or two with the "your jokes are not welcome here, this is a serious issue" kinda people... I think these people need to lighten up a little, if you feel the issue is serious enough, then post in a dedicate forum ie personal issues, balding ect ect.. If a joke does go to far there are proceedures to follow ie reporting, and I am all for that if deemed necessary....
This forum represents a good cross seection of people regarding age/sex/religion/nationality, so maybe take a second before post bashing. I hope ya can figure out what I'm getting at here... Live and let live... If It's a joke you don't find funny, just leave it at that, if it's in such bad taste it troubles you for a time, report it, If you feel funnies are not necessary in particular thread let OP insist on it in post#1...
This is just my honest opinion.......after a few bevvies, but it all makes sense to me!!

dapto1

Whinging like that is the reason boards.ie has the reputation it does. People need to chill out.

alwaysadub

Again, i'm mainly a lurker than a poster, but i wouldn't like here to be a place where you can't crack a joke without fear of getting a warning/ban.
Once it's not taking a thread very off topic or in really bad taste, they should be allowed.

galwayrush

Great forum, it ain't broken in any way, so need to fix it.:cool:

Mrs OBumble

Personally I tend to think that a slight decrease in the funnies could be good. Not a lot, and certainly not banning all of it.

Just a bit less, and maybe lay off sending the GAA lads to the gay bars: I'm kinda guessing that the locals in the bars might get sick of 'em.

And the only thing worse than an over-moderated forum is an under-moderated one: I'm old enough to remember BBS's before the internet and usenet before web-browsers - and to have abandoned 'em when Netscape brought the unwashed masses on online. And why did I leave? Because moderators hadn't figured out what sort of control these communities need with their new members.

jkforde

dapto1 wrote: »

Whinging like that is the reason boards.ie has the reputation it does. People need to chill out.

who's whinging where? this thread is an attempt to get the opinion of users' attitudes to where having the crack is welcomed and where it mightn't. by the way, what does 'chill out' mean in this context?

dapto1

jkforde wrote: »

who's whinging where? this thread is an attempt to get the opinion of users' attitudes to where having the crack is welcomed and where it mightn't. by the way, what does 'chill out' mean in this context?

The people whinging are the people messaging mods to complain. They're the ones who need to chill out. Also the people who think there needs to be an increase in moderation.

It's only the internet lads, don't take it so seriously.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with someone coming on here and asking a question about Galway. Yes, they could google it - but not many people know how to use it properly. I think "you should just google it" type responses should be banned, because they offer absolutely nothing to the discussion at hand.

Bog

Bog wrote: »

This attitude mystifies me. Boards is above all a discussion forum where people can discuss issues, ask questions and provide answers.

Discussion being the key word, a lot of people though use it as google.

Deleted User wrote: »

I see absolutely nothing wrong with someone coming on here and asking a question about Galway. Yes, they could google it - but not many people know how to use it properly. I think "you should just google it" type responses should be banned, because they offer absolutely nothing to the discussion at hand.

I'd rather ban the users who post the pointless threads tbh. They're never regular contributors, it's always the ones with the low post count.

Personally don't have any problem with posters asking about pubs for example, the door is left open for discussion even though it's been covered. But you get a lot of posters coming on looking for bus times etc.... which are clearly found if they take a second to think.

I doubt they can't use google. If you couldn't use google, unlikely you'd be able to set yourself up on boards.

Forums fine as it is...... not a patch on AH which starts with a thread title then comes the 150 different variations of the same/obvious joke. Everyone fighting to get the most ''thanks'' :rolleyes:

gilberto_eire

gilberto_eire wrote: »

Discussion being the key word, a lot of people though use it as google.



I'd rather ban the users who post the pointless threads tbh. They're never regular contributors, it's always the ones with the low post count.

Personally don't have any problem with posters asking about pubs for example, the door is left open for discussion even though it's been covered. But you get a lot of posters coming on looking for bus times etc.... which are clearly found if they take a second to think.

I doubt they can't use google. If you couldn't use google, unlikely you'd be able to set yourself up on boards.

Forums fine as it is...... not a patch on AH which starts with a thread title then comes the 150 different variations of the same/obvious joke. Everyone fighting to get the most ''thanks'' :rolleyes:

Bus timetables aren't clearly found though. Most bus stops have the schedule ripped out of them. It's a bit ridiculous to ban somebody for asking a question when they're new. How many of us here are regular contributors now, but asked stupid questions when we first came here?

How abouts this - if you think a question is stupid or your only response is "google it", then just don't post? Somebody who will have a helpful answer will then come along.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Bus timetables aren't clearly found though. Most bus stops have the schedule ripped out of them. It's a bit ridiculous to ban somebody for asking a question when they're new. How many of us here are regular contributors now, but asked stupid questions when we first came here?

How abouts this - if you think a question is stupid or your only response is "google it", then just don't post? Somebody who will have a helpful answer will then come along.

I didn't really mean they should be banned.... it was just you said ban the person who posts ''google it'' and i said i'd rather ban the person who makes the thread(in a straight choice)

gilberto_eire

gilberto_eire wrote: »

I didn't really mean they should be banned.... it was just you said ban the person who posts ''google it'' and i said i'd rather ban the person who makes the thread(in a straight choice)

Oh we misunderstood each other in that case. I meant more the posts than the person themselves.

mikom

jkforde wrote: »

who's whinging where?

I'm sure Biko knows, as they are the ones making his batphone flash regularly

jkforde wrote: »

this thread is an attempt to get the opinion of users' attitudes to where having the crack is welcomed and where it mightn't.

Thankfully the wet blankets are not having much effect so far.

On a side note, the posters on this thread who seem to have no problem with the jokes seem to be up in the high 1000's of postcounts.
They've been around the forum for a long time, contributed much, and "get" the humour obviously.
Would they have stayed around or posted as much if the Galway city forum had all the craic of a funeral home............... not saying that funeral homes are all no craic, after all they have fun in the name.

RolandIRL

gilberto_eire wrote: »

I didn't really mean they should be banned.... it was just you said ban the person who posts ''google it'' and i said i'd rather ban the person who makes the thread(in a straight choice)

didn't biko start a thread recently about welcoming the guests into the forum? a newbie shouldn't be banned just because they ask a question that may seem stupid.
not everyone is adept with the internet and if someone comes into the GC forum looking for info that they could google, is it so hard to give a response that's helpful instead of giving them "google it"?
i've often found that googling for info leads me to boards, so why wouldn't i ask here?

back to original topic. i think the forum's grand the way it is, it's just a place to discuss galway related topics and having the funneh gotten rid of wouldn't do the forum any good. the forum should be light-hearted and welcoming. i think the moderating's grand, and they're doing a good job imo

dapto1

mikom wrote: »

not saying that funeral homes are all no craic, after all they have fun in the name.

And funeral is also an anagram of "real fun".

tomdeere

lotta drysh1tes around if they think the city forum is too jokey. id say they are great fun on a night out. biko is doing a good job so leave it as it is.

mikom

dapto1 wrote: »

And funeral is also an anagram of "real fun".

And funeral sounds like "fun oral".
I could go on.................

Fionn MacCool

If anything, the mods ruin the place by feeling the need to give it the big one at every opportunity. Even when nobody has stepped out of line you still get one of them popping in to remind everyone of their online authority.

It's quite a joke how seriously this place takes itself tbh, a bit of joking never hurt anyone as long as it isn't taking the threads totally off course. You see it on every forum on the internet though, moderators looking for any excuse to exercise their 'power'. I wonder has anyone conducted a study on it or anything.

geekychick

mikom wrote: »

And funeral sounds like "fun oral".
I could go on.................

This and some other posts in the thread are good examples of "funneh" that is mostly inocuous and mostly inoffensive to anyone (as well as being fairly regular), and therefore I don't think this should start being over-moderated, or moderated more than it is. What's wrong with raising a smile while checking what's new on Galway boards?

I really think that the Galway City moderators run a tight enough ship overall, as I would be more concerned about offensive or siht-stirring remarks or posters, who are usually fairly quickly (and fairly in general ) clamped down on or banned, with at least one very recent ban I can think of which was very welcome. This kind of moderation and responsibility is good to see, so no complaints from me.

inisboffin

It can be the low quality of the 'funneh' too (I know that's subjective but still..)
For example there's a a regular poster here who sometimes 'goes too far' and who I suspect would have different world views to me, but often his/her wit is often brief and of a higher calibre than other longer homophobic/sexist/whatever RANTS. Somehow good funneh is less offensive.:p

A bit less of the *same* rants all the time, in terms of funneh would be my preference, and sometimes it does feel like trolling on the part of certain posters, but overall the mods do a pretty good job.

ronnie3585

This is a great forum as you can have the craic and it's isn't overly moderated like a lot of other forums. I love how a thread asking questions about flood defence can, in a short space of time, produce videos of Homer Simpson as town crier. There are a lot of witty, sarcastic posters on this form - long may it last.

A bit less of the *same* rants all the time, in terms of funneh would be my preference, and sometimes it does feel like trolling on the part of certain posters, but overall the mods do a pretty good job.

The above poster has a point with this comment though. Recently, there has been a marked increase in the aount of Joe Duffy, 'won't someone please think of the children', bleeding heart, populist, posts/rants from the same couple of posters. Less of this pleeeze.


Keep up the hard work Mods, and each day you'll receive a shiny penny;

inisboffin

Ah yes, one person's bleeding heart comments are another persons glorious invitation to wonderfully witty funneh sarcasm:p

Amhran Nua

Sorry, you can't post here, no jokes allowed...

Your post exceeds the quota for attempted witticism on this thread, please desist...

Your sense of humour is not the same as mine, therefore you should not post here...

Yeah, will the vocal minority please go away and let us enjoy our Galway forum complete with funneh. Oh, and welcome to the internet.

inisboffin

Ha ha! See, perfect opp for someone to make joke about telling minorities to go away. Yup, takes all sorts

General General

I think posters who don't make me laugh once (minimum) in any week should be banned for a month.

Mrs OBumble

gilberto_eire wrote: »

But you get a lot of posters coming on looking for bus times etc.... which are clearly found if they take a second to think.

Often they're wanting local info, eg is there a private bus, and there any other options, etc. And it's only foreigners who really expect that they'll be able to find good public transport information on the web: most Irish people just don't expect it, apart from the BÉ timetables that most OPs have already checked.

(Yup, I've spent a LOT of time researching this subject, and thinking about how to promote a website that people don't search for! )

darrenh

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-behave-on-an-internet-forum

biko

Well so far 4 out of 5 posters don't think it's a issue so that good.
Hopefully just by bringing attention to it will make people stop and think before posting.

Sherifu

Since this thread was put up we have had a couple of serious threads posted. So far I don't see any 'jokey'(whatever that means, i'm not sure what it covers) posts in any of them.

Everyone has different ways of approaching things. There are a few posters in this forum I find very dry, serious and boring but I don't go running off to the mods about them. Live and let live. Internet: Srs Bsns and all that.

I think it was mentioned already; There are certain types of threads that seem to attract posters derailing them with jokes. i.e. the clueless new poster that could have used google. There are some posters like biko that are always helpful to those posters. Fair play for that. I usually ignore them cause I don't always have time or feel like hand-holding. That's one area where we could collectively give the constant jokey posts a miss.

Finally there was the guy that posted the thread about breaking the bed having sex with his girlfriend...

DaCor wrote: »

christ, I knew I was opening myself up for a lot of abuse, ye didn't disappoint

just glad I didn't go to AH with this lol

Got a PM off a lad already who might be able to help, thanks boards!

That made me proud of this forum.

hyperbaby

Being funny is fine in my opinion but being a smartarse is another matter.
There seems to be a good bit of "i know more than you" larkey lately and also a good bit of bitchiness but sometimes it's better to just go with the flow because a forum that is too heavily moderated is worse than the opposite.