Forum Feedback thread

Slattsy

Gavin shels wrote: »

Think a template should be used and we keep the Tips Thread:

Race Meeting/Time/Horse Name
Source

e.g.

4.50 Curragh - Frankel The 2nd
Lad from work told me blah blah blah....

Some chat should be allowed. Im not sure that format will work. Can the poster not comment after the race at all? Or can a few lads not say well done etc etc without getting an infraction? (Just my opinion)

It was a bit messy there for a while but its calmed down again.

helimachoptor

you could just thank the post if the tip turns out to be good?

hucklebuck

Slattsy wrote: »

Some chat should be allowed. Im not sure that format will work. Can the poster not comment after the race at all? Or can a few lads not say well done etc etc without getting an infraction? (Just my opinion)

It was a bit messy there for a while but its calmed down again.

The problem with any chat it encourages I am going to put him in a megatron with X, Y, Z and Liverpool which happens way too much.

Gavin "shels"

Slattsy wrote: »

Some chat should be allowed. Im not sure that format will work. Can the poster not comment after the race at all? Or can a few lads not say well done etc etc without getting an infraction? (Just my opinion)

It was a bit messy there for a while but its calmed down again.

Minimal chat should be allowed and anyone slating a tip gets an infraction.

Gavin "shels"

Looks at the tips thread, some lad posting asking if there's any for tonight. 7 posts. Any chance of having say a 25 post limit before people can post in here? Would stop re-regs and questions like your man.

Slattsy

A minimum post limit would cut out practically all of the waffle.

convert

Gavin shels wrote: »

Looks at the tips thread, some lad posting asking if there's any for tonight. 7 posts. Any chance of having say a 25 post limit before people can post in here? Would stop re-regs and questions like your man.

As far as I know, that's not possible, unfortunately.

NewApproach

I've been absent from the forum for the last wee while so a few points.

Firstly I didn't even realise there was a tips thread - I tend to gloss over many of those multi post threads. I'm not sure I agree with a lot of the thoughts on here surrounding it however, such as the concept of tips being allowed but not fancies, etc. What's the difference? Define a 'tip'.
Secondly I think anyone posting anything in that thread should be expected to be critically challenged on their merits of their selection. Not allowing such discussion creates would lower the quality of the thoughts and opinions offered.

In relation to the Off Topic thread, the topics discussed will of course bear relation to what is topical in news/sports etc at any given time. While the world cup is on, it would be expected that an off topic thread in a betting orientated forum would contain quite an amount of WC discussion, bearing relation to the dominance it has in media outlets with similar orientations (i.e. sports, betting etc).
Beasty made reference to the fact that he was concerned that the WC talk was overbearing and taking over the thread. If such dominance of one topic in an off topic thread is a particular concern for the mods, we will need to know what the mods consider 'dominant' to be, for example % of posts on a given day relating to one individual topic. Without clear, unambiguous guidelines such as these, mods deeming the off-topic thread to be too focused on one particular topic will become a subjective issue and this will create animosity between mods and posters.

I regret being late to the discussion but most of my other thoughts have been dealt with. It is a shame to see UrbanSea and ColonelSanders leave but that is their own decision.

trout

convert wrote: »

As far as I know, that's not possible, unfortunately.

It might be worth asking the techno-weenies if that's possible.

I know we had a situation a while back where people with low post counts were restricted in terms of posting images.

If this is a good idea (and I don't have an opinion either way) I'm happy to add it to Tom Dunne's list as a "nice to have".

It just might be possible, and it's no harm to ask

bellybuster12

I have just re read this thread, and noticed that some of peoples posts were deleted(including mine) and some of sparks stuff. He was having his say and when responded to he deleted them, obv he had to back track on stuff he said and deleted.
This thread has been a success apart from that.

The tips thread doesn't interest me at all, as most would not be genuine information, and decent info gets lost. A minimum amount of posts might help.

The off topic thread should be just left for whatever want to talk about, as in world cup/olympics/natural disasters etc as they come and go.

nuckeythompson

heres my advice, Just get rid of it. Overload of info and selections and most genuine punters do their own homework and dont rely on "faceless opinions".

At time the odd good one comes in and to be honest the only one I follow is Del Boy as his record is very impressive and nobody on here has ever got near the results he has

Harry Angstrom

Why not get rid of the tips thread and incorporate it as part of the daily thread? Somebody turns up, gives a tip such as "my cousin's next door neighbour's uncle knows a fella who works in a stable and he gave him a tip blah blah blah". It can then be discussed by the regulars without any fear of censure, poster can be thanked if it wins, and criticised if it loses, within reason of course. The chancers will soon be weeded out and the genuine ones with good inside info will let their record speak for itself.

Tom Dunne

Imhof Tank wrote: »

OK point taken.

Do you not think though that if you want to recruit a mod from the regular posters, you will have to make it clear that he isn't going to have posts deleted unilaterally in the future by a higher up who wouldn't be as familiar with the ethos of the forum?

Getting that assurance would surely be a huge issue for any new local mod?

I don't necessarily agree that posts were deleted unilaterally - heat of the moment, under duress, late at night, possibly. A conscious unilateral decision, it was not.

However I will give an assurance that any new moderator(s) will be given all the support and guidance that we can, from not only myself, but other mods and cmods. So hopefully we will bridge that perceived gap between moderation and the forum ethos.

Just on a side note, I'll be quite busy with Real Life over the next day or two, so please bear with me. As you may have noticed, my fellow Admin trout has stepped in to give a hand.

hucklebuck

Tom Dunne wrote: »

I'll be quite busy with Real Life

This is real life

tomaussie

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Standard etiquette - the guy isn't one the site anymore and therefore cannot give his side of the story. As such, it is unfair to him to have the issue discussed without his input. This is why, as a general (unwritten) rule, we do not discuss users who are no longer on the site. No conspiracy, no hidden agenda, just a courtesy afforded to former members.

As I have said, he is most welcome to sign back up onto the site and join the forum.



I'll add it now.

You never did 'add it now'.

sdoc13

tomaussie wrote: »

You never did 'add it now'.

He did recheck his original post its edited.

tomaussie

sdoc13 wrote: »

He did recheck his original post its edited.

I still can't see it. So which is it this time ? Am I blind or stupid ?

Slattsy

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Right, so here's my summary of what I see as the issues. Please feel free to correct as deemed appropriate:

1: The World Cup/Off Topic thread

2: Moderation - The lack of a moderator who posts frequently and who is knowledgeable about racing/betting

3: The tips thread - need to agree on what is/is not acceptable and how it functions

<EDIT> suggestion on tips thread - restrict low post count posters from posting (it makes sense ... say it again) </EDIT>

4: the general tone of abuse directed at those in Horse Racing

5: misogyny

Here's my thoughts on the above:

1: For the most part, rectified with the sticky, however we need to clarify what the Off Topic thread is for and what is/is not acceptable

2: Working on it. I have gone through the top 10 posters on this forum and looked at your posts, history, etc. We are actively discussing this in the mods forum, watch this space

3: The tips thread - can't really comment on this as I am still trying to get my head around it. Just throwing it out there - a sub-forum off this forum is an option, if that helps.

4: the general tone of abuse directed at those in Horse Racing - an easy fix. Report the post, walk away from it. With new mods on board, and your help, we should be able to stamp this out.

A little from column A and a lil from column B

tomaussie

OK. I'm blind because I can't see where he address's the supposed problem of misogyny.

EDIT: And I'm stupid as I think I've just got it. He doesn't actually address the supposed problem other than point out it may be a problem ?

sdoc13

tomaussie wrote: »

OK. I'm blind because I can't see where he address's the supposed problem of misogyny.

EDIT: And I'm stupid as I think I've just got it. He doesn't actually address the supposed problem other than point out it may be a problem ?

You have it now

trout

tomaussie wrote: »

OK. I'm blind because I can't see where he address's the supposed problem of misogyny.

EDIT: And I'm stupid as I think I've just got it. He doesn't actually address the supposed problem other than point out it may be a problem ?

Well ... yes.

Identifying the problems as seen by the posters is an important part of fixing them.

This is the "shopping list" of things to address, reduce, ameliorate or fix as best we can.

nuckeythompson

this thread is getting petty

tomaussie

trout wrote: »

Well ... yes.

Identifying the problems as seen by the posters is an important part of fixing them.

This is the "shopping list" of things to address, reduce, ameliorate or fix as best we can.

I think in this case the posters don't think it's a problem but one of the Mods thinks it is. So it's a case of understanding what kind of comments are sexist. Having posts deleted or receiving warnings for normal conversation is just not on. A clearer understanding is needed.

Slattsy

I never thought it was a problem to start with.
But, anyway...

trout

tomaussie wrote: »

I think in this case the posters don't think it's a problem but one of the Mods thinks it is. So it's a case of understanding what kind of comments are sexist. Having posts deleted or receiving warnings for normal conversation is just not on. A clearer understanding is needed.

Fair point - no argument.

Slattsy wrote: »

I never thought it was a problem to start with.
But, anyway...

OK ... as an "outsider" ... I don't know either way, but if some posters / mods think it's a problem, it needs to be acknowledged, measured, or otherwise dealt with.

So ... a question from me to you ... does the shopping list cover the Big Issues, or are we missing anything?

I'm going to throw one out there, that has been mentioned a few times ... overzealous modding ?

Slattsy

@trout
It's a tricky one. I've seen posters infracted harshly and I've seen posters get off scott free for posts that deserved an infraction.

The over zealous modding only really kicked off recently. Particularly when Beasty (not having a pop) came in with what looked like an agenda to come down hard on anything that wasn't straight as an arrow. And Convert seemed to wade in with that attitude also.

Some of the bans handed out from convert in the tips thread were scandalous. Laughable petty stuff.

Beasty was the same in the Off Topic thread but at least he has somewhat acknowledged this.

Some bans were probably fair and any I've received were probably (probably) all deserved so I've no mega complaint over the modding until recently when it all kicked off. It was way OTT. There did need to be a tidy up and you can see a lot of posters have actually consented to this in this thread. We're all adults.

Sometimes a wee PM from a mod is enough, just to say be careful, instead of immediately handing out the bans. A bit of cop on from both sides is needed.

tomaussie

Slattsy wrote: »

@trout
It's a tricky one. I've seen posters infracted harshly and I've seen posters get off scott free for posts that deserved an infraction.

The over zealous modding only really kicked off recently. Particularly when Beasty (not having a pop) came in with what looked like an agenda to come down hard on anything that wasn't straight as an arrow. And Convert seemed to wade in with that attitude also.

Some of the bans handed out from convert in the tips thread were scandalous. Laughable petty stuff.

Beasty was the same in the Off Topic thread but at least he has somewhat acknowledged this.

Some bans were probably fair and any I've received were probably (probably) all deserved so I've no mega complaint over the modding until recently when it all kicked off. It was way OTT. There did need to be a tidy up and you can see a lot of posters have actually consented to this in this thread. We're all adults.

Sometimes a wee PM from a mod is enough, just to say be careful, instead of immediately handing out the bans. A bit of cop on from both sides is needed.

I think there has been a lot of overzealous modding and not just recently but I have to stand up for Convert here. She stated clearly and consistently what was acceptable, at that time, within the thread and all her warnings were ignored. She had no choice but to issue infractions and bans.

I agree that what the mods ask for within a thread can be seem bizarre at any given time but ignoring instructions is not acceptable behaviour and it spreads to other posters.

There needs to be a better way of airing a grievance than pm'ing the mod in question. Maybe copying in somebody else so the mod will not feel like they have carte blanche when responding to a pm and therefore it's all a tad more accountable.

trout

I've updated the shopping list in Tom Dunne's post.

This is good feedback ... MOAR!

Imhof Tank

Slattsy wrote: »

The over zealous modding only really kicked off recently. Particularly when Beasty (not having a pop) came in with what looked like an agenda to come down hard on anything that wasn't straight as an arrow.

Agree with this.

Although maybe the C Mod felt the local mods were being under zealous, which is possibly correct also - they did let a lot go for a long time, despite giving multiple warnings.

mdwexford

tomaussie wrote: »

I agree that what the mods ask for within a thread can be seem bizarre at any given time but ignoring instructions is not acceptable behaviour and it spreads to other posters.

This is the crux of the issue imo.

People dont respond well to these as you put it bizarre instructions.

If people are treated with respect and not talked down to and if everyone uses common sense and judges each issue on its merits instead of a blanket one for all approach I think the place would be better for everyone.