Changing thread titles

Peter Denham

Hello,

Can someone clarify why some thread titles get changed to random nonsense such as what's happening in After Hours now? Are the OPs doing it or the mods?

Either way, it's terrible for discussion as the thread descends into speculation about what's happened to the title rather than focusing on the thread topic.

Beasty

I've moved this to Help Desk as it's a forum-specific issue

Timberrrrrrrr

Ok so 1st things 1st let me say that it doesn't bother me in the slightest and actually got a giggle when it happened (feck off i was drunk, i get the giggles when drunk) but can i ask why?

If it's just for said giggles that's fine and dandy but the (only) issue i have with it is that the title change in this particular thread has taken over the debate and so the issue in the op is now no longer being discussed.


https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057938919/52/#post108994821


Some are saying it's the mystery mods way of shutting down a subject that they don't like and some of the more extreme are calling for mod (virtual) heads to roll.

Any chance someone can put their hand up and own up to the change and explain why?

Also if this is going to become a regular thing (this isnt the 1st thread title to get butchered for funnsies) could the mod maybe pop a mod note in the op explaining why the title was changed?

As i said this has taken away from the discussion and i don't want a mod coming in saying "thread has run it's course as the subject is no longer under discussion" and shutting what was an interesting thread.


Cheers and a happy new year.

GLaDOS

I'd be very pissed off if I stated a thread and the title was changed to nonsense like that.

Harry Palmr

Do we know a mod changed it rather than the OP?

If it was a moderator they ought to be demodded, mocking or editoriailising in such a fashion is unacceptable interference.

dudara

Thread moved to the Help desk and merged with other thread on same topic.

dudara

mirrorwall14

Honestly even as someone who doesn’t post a hell of a lot in after hours, those titles are unreadable and look ridiculous when they keep popping up on the front page

Timberrrrrrrr

dudara wrote: »

Thread moved to the Help desk and merged with other thread on same topic.

dudara

Why move it to helpdesk though? Surely feedback would be better so you know... people can give feedback on the issue.

Beasty

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

Why move it to helpdesk though? Surely feedback would be better so you know... people can give feedback on the issue.

It's not feedback, it's a complaint about a specific issue in a particular forum. Help Desk deals with such complaints

Beasty

Executive decision taken and implemented. I've just changed the thread title back to what it was originally

Timberrrrrrrr

Beasty wrote: »

It's not feedback, it's a complaint about a specific issue in a particular forum. Help Desk deals with such complaints

It's an ongoing issue that people would like to give feedback on given the chance. Moving to helpdesk means posts have to be approved and replies are censored.

Timberrrrrrrr

Beasty wrote: »

Executive decision taken and implemented. I've just changed the thread title back to what it was originally

Thats grand.

Why was it changed?

Who changed it?

Why where previous thread titles changed?

DopeTech

Beasty wrote: »

Executive decision taken and implemented. I've just changed the thread title back to what it was originally

So who changed the thread title in the first place?

Omackeral

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Do we know a mod changed it rather than the OP?

If it was a moderator they ought to be demodded, mocking or editoriailising in such a fashion is unacceptable interference.

OP can't change a thread title. It was 100% a moderator.

Peter Denham

Beasty wrote: »

Executive decision taken and implemented. I've just changed the thread title back to what it was originally

There's others too.

Beasty

AH was supposed to be a place for light hearted banter. We've been discussing how we might try and deal with more serious discussion for some time, and there are a few ideas floating around

The mods signed up to the former and not what it has become. Again I am hopeful we can find a solution that is better than the current situation. One thing I would say though is if posters want to have serious discussion, they can expect strict modding

In the meantime we're discussing the thread title issue with the local mods.

Dial Hard

Timberrrrrrrr wrote:

Why was it changed?

Who changed it?

Why where previous thread titles changed?

The mods do it because they think it's funny, god love them.

Mr. CooL ICE

Thread title changes were by me.

I've always maintained that AH is supposed to be a light-hearted forum. I posted recently in the AH mod forum because there has been an increasing amount of threads started that are based on silly identity politics and IMO, has absolutely no place in AH. The consensus among other mods was that these threads don't belong in AH but we weren't sure what to do with them. Close them or move them?

I have no idea how discussions that are about left vs right and liberals vs conservatives has become a thing. These kind of threads just turn into arguments that are little more than back and forth relentless generalisations ad nauseum. And often, posters bring in beefs against other posters from other threads/forums into these threads. I'd like to move them to Politics Cafe but even then, it seems like I'd be treating PC as a dumping ground for what AH doesn't want but that didn't seem fair on the PC mods.

I honestly had no idea that so many people would be up in arms over some thread title changes. I have no strong political beliefs either way and didn't intend that thread title changes would be perceived as shutting down discussion I didn't like. If I wanted to shut down discussion, I'd have closed the thread or banned people or something.

Timberrrrrrrr

Beasty wrote: »

AH was supposed to be a place for light hearted banter. We've been discussing how we might try and deal with more serious discussion for some time, and there are a few ideas floating around

The mods signed up to the former and not what it has become. Again I am hopeful we can find a solution that is better than the current situation. One thing I would say though is if posters want to have serious discussion, they can expect strict modding

In the meantime we're discussing the thread title issue with the local mods.

Ligt hearted banter is fine, i think we can all agree on that, changing thread titles to ineligible nonsense (while it may seem like a good idea at the time) takes the discussion away from the subject and will eventually ensure that a thread gets closed for all the wrong reasons.

Relikk

It was the same with the Louise O'Neill thread for months. It's very childish and very unprofessional. It shouldn't matter what the subject is, or what forum it's in, moderators are there for exactly what their titles describe. Instead they're abusing their tools and dictating instead of moderating.

Spear

Omackeral wrote: »

OP can't change a thread title. It was 100% a moderator.

That's incorrect.

A poster can edit their own post body for up to 48 hours after posting it.

The creator of a thread can edit the title, for up to 24 hours after creating it. It's only beyond that time limit that a mod/cmod/admin is needed to change the thread title, as was the case in the thread being discussed.

Peter Denham

@Mark, is there any particular reason that only threads started by apparently right leaning posters were edited or this that just a coincidence?

Mr. CooL ICE

Peter Denham wrote: »

@Mark, is there any particular reason that only threads started by apparently right leaning posters were edited or this that just a coincidence?

Coincidence.

Esel

I think it is very juvenile, and that only the title changer thinks it's funny.

Timberrrrrrrr

Mark Rippetoe wrote: »

Thread title changes were by me.

I've always maintained that AH is supposed to be a light-hearted forum. I posted recently in the AH mod forum because there has been an increasing amount of threads started that are based on silly identity politics and IMO, has absolutely no place in AH. The consensus among other mods was that these threads don't belong in AH but we weren't sure what to do with them. Close them or move them?

I have no idea how discussions that are about left vs right and liberals vs conservatives has become a thing. These kind of threads just turn into arguments that are little more than back and forth relentless generalisations ad nauseum. And often, posters bring in beefs against other posters from other threads/forums into these threads. I'd like to move them to Politics Cafe but even then, it seems like I'd be treating PC as a dumping ground for what AH doesn't want but that didn't seem fair on the PC mods.

I honestly had no idea that so many people would be up in arms over some thread title changes. I have no strong political beliefs either way and didn't intend that thread title changes would be perceived as shutting down discussion I didn't like. If I wanted to shut down discussion, I'd have closed the thread or banned people or something.

Fair play to you for putting your hand up and admitting it was you.

I never thought for one minute that it was about shutting down discussion debate but the way the last few pages had decended into conspiracy theory territory i felt it should be bought up to clarify wether it was intentional as a joke or was there another reason.

With falling numbers on threads i honestly think thread changes (for giggles) is a bad idea as it will either be jumped upon by people making accusations of shutting down debate or will put people off joining the discussion altogether.

Muscles Schultz

Mark Rippetoe wrote: »

Thread title changes were by me.

I've always maintained that AH is supposed to be a light-hearted forum. I posted recently in the AH mod forum because there has been an increasing amount of threads started that are based on silly identity politics and IMO, has absolutely no place in AH. The consensus among other mods was that these threads don't belong in AH but we weren't sure what to do with them. Close them or move them?

I have no idea how discussions that are about left vs right and liberals vs conservatives has become a thing. These kind of threads just turn into arguments that are little more than back and forth relentless generalisations ad nauseum. And often, posters bring in beefs against other posters from other threads/forums into these threads. I'd like to move them to Politics Cafe but even then, it seems like I'd be treating PC as a dumping ground for what AH doesn't want but that didn't seem fair on the PC mods.

I honestly had no idea that so many people would be up in arms over some thread title changes. I have no strong political beliefs either way and didn't intend that thread title changes would be perceived as shutting down discussion I didn't like. If I wanted to shut down discussion, I'd have closed the thread or banned people or something.

It’s idiotic. Don’t do it again. It’s neither clever or smart.

Beasty

Muscles Schultz wrote: »

Don’t do it again.

Just to make one thing clear - this thread is for discussion of the issue. It's not for a "regular" user to issue instructions to anyone

Thanks

Peter Denham

Beasty wrote: »

Just to make one thing clear - this thread is for discussion of the issue. It's not for a "regular" user to issue instructions to anyone

Thanks

I'm assuming that you changing the title back to its original state is indication that you don't agree with it?

keith_sixteen

Mark Rippetoe wrote: »

Thread title changes were by me.

I've always maintained that AH is supposed to be a light-hearted forum.

I honestly had no idea that so many people would be up in arms over some thread title changes. I have no strong political beliefs either way and didn't intend that thread title changes would be perceived as shutting down discussion I didn't like. If I wanted to shut down discussion, I'd have closed the thread or banned people or something.

Firstly, fair play for standing up and saying you did it.

Secondly, please realise this was a serious error of judgement. Why not just close the thread? It's not simply changing a thread title. It's blatant piss taking.

It's breaking some cardinal rules in AH like don't be a dick and, play the ball, not the man.

I'd do the decent thing here and step down from moderation.

1800_Ladladlad

As stated in the OG thread, for the title to be changed in the way that it was, was the height of petulance irregardless of the thread subject.

threads started that are based on silly identity politics and IMO, has absolutely no place in AH

This is purely a subjective opinion. If a moderator is unable to mod from an objective point of view and proceeds to take the p*ss with threads they don't agree with, they should be moderating on a different part of the forum where they will be impartial and not show a level of disdain to posters. The cynic in me thinks this wasn't a coincidence, to coinciding with the others examples.

Yes AH is suppose to be light hearted and Im 100% sure that there have been mods that would've loved nothing more than to close a thread or knuckle down: but don't. But to see a mod be so impartial in such a visible way on AH was distasteful.

pleas advice

I'm with the mod on this one, bitta craic, what harm?

Timberrrrrrrr

keith_sixteen wrote: »

Firstly, fair play for standing up and saying you did it.

Secondly, please realise this was a serious error of judgement. Why not just close the thread? It's not simply changing a thread title. It's blatant piss taking.

It's breaking some cardinal rules in AH like don't be a dick and, play the ball, not the man.

I'd do the decent thing here and step down from moderation.

A step too far if I'm to be honest, everyone is allowed to make a mistake/error of judgement and that's what this seems to have been.

McMurphy

pleas advice wrote: »

I'm with the mod on this one, bitta craic, what harm?

This.

Calling for a mod to step down over having a bit of craic in the forum that is designed for light hearted banter is s nonsense.

Now if it was happening in the likes of politics main forum for example, I'd maybe see where they'd be coming from.

Perpetually easily offended.

Mr. CooL ICE

1800_Ladladlad wrote: »

This is purely a subjective opinion. If a moderator is unable to mod from an objective point of view and proceeds to take the p*ss with threads they don't agree with, they should be moderating on a different part of the forum where they will be impartial and not show a level of disdain to posters. The cynic in me thinks this wasn't a coincidence, to coinciding with the others examples.

How am I not being impartial and showing disdain for posters? Or are you talking about being impartial and showing disdain towards subject matter of threads?

Also, what coincidence?

keith_sixteen wrote: »

Firstly, fair play for standing up and saying you did it.

To be fair, somebody asked, so I answered. Even if I didn't, AH mods, Rec Cmods and admins can see a moderation log to see things like who changed a thread title. In another thread (can't remember exactly), I alluded to messing with thread titles, so it wasn't a big secret. But from a non-mod point of view, it needed to be cleared up.

keith_sixteen wrote: »

Secondly, please realise this was a serious error of judgement. Why not just close the thread? It's not simply changing a thread title. It's blatant piss taking.

It's breaking some cardinal rules in AH like don't be a dick and, play the ball, not the man.

I'd do the decent thing here and step down from moderation.

Well, people have complained in the past that too many threads are closed so for a thread like this (i.e. it hadn't become troublesome), I left it open.

I had never intended playing the man though. I was of the opinion, and still of the opinion, that the thread title was ridiculous to start with and the general premise of the thread was nonsense. And from what I can tell, I am not alone. I didn't intend the thread title change to be a mockery of the OP. Perhaps I should have just posted a Dr Zoidberg "your thread is bad and you should feel bad" meme and have left it at that. But the thread hadn't been posted in in over two days and had fallen well off the front page by the time I changed the title so would have been a needless bump.

Peter Denham

Why change the title at all then if the thread has already died? Are you responsible for all the other thread title changes? You're being fairly arrogant about all this.

Buford T. Justice XIX

keith_sixteen wrote: »

Firstly, fair play for standing up and saying you did it.

Secondly, please realise this was a serious error of judgement. Why not just close the thread? It's not simply changing a thread title. It's blatant piss taking.

It's breaking some cardinal rules in AH like don't be a dick and, play the ball, not the man.

I'd do the decent thing here and step down from moderation.

Peter Denham wrote: »

Why change the title at all then if the thread has already died? Are you responsible for all the other thread title changes? You're being fairly arrogant about all this.

In all honesty, lads, don't you think you may be taking this a tad too seriously?


AH is supposed to be where light-hearted conversations take place, where the urine is pulled from those who may be overly precious about an ideal and slagging others is supposed to encouraged.


Perhaps AH may not be the most suitable place for the conversations you are seeking and other forums here or elsewhere may be more amenable to your requirements?

DaverageJoe

Mark Rippetoe wrote: »

I had never intended playing the man though. I was of the opinion, and still of the opinion, that the thread title was ridiculous to start with and the general premise of the thread was nonsense. And from what I can tell, I am not alone. I didn't intend the thread title change to be a mockery of the OP. Perhaps I should have just posted a Dr Zoidberg "your thread is bad and you should feel bad" meme and have left it at that. But the thread hadn't been posted in in over two days and had fallen well off the front page by the time I changed the title so would have been a needless bump.

Perhaps you should stick to moderating instead of trolling?

Ken.

We all change thread titles. It's a bit of fun.

Esel

keith_sixteen wrote: »

I'd do the decent thing here and step down from moderation.

Not enough!

The entire site should be shut down for an issue of this magnitude.

Captain Obvious

Shouldn't the mod in question commit seppuku?

dudara

Ah hang on now, ritual suicide is very messy, hard to clean the carpets afterwards.

Fair few moany holes getting annoyed at mods here over SFA. After Hours is after hours. I’m 100% in favour of changing thread tItles if it gives them a few more haemorrhoids.

Go push agendas elsewhere lads.

Peter Denham

dudara wrote: »

Ah hang on now, ritual suicide is very messy, hard to clean the carpets afterwards.

So to be clear going forward, mods changing thread titles at their leisure in After Hours is welcomed?

dudara

Peter Denham wrote: »

So to be clear going forward, mods changing thread titles at their leisure in After Hours is welcomed?

Go away with your loaded question. Enjoy New Year’s Eve instead

Peter Denham

dudara wrote: »

Go away with your loaded question. Enjoy New Year’s Eve instead

Well can you outline the official stance on it? It's helpful to know going forward, it you have the time.

DaverageJoe

Peter Denham wrote: »

So to be clear going forward, mods changing thread titles at their leisure in After Hours is welcomed?

What's the point in being a mod if you can't treat boards like your own little playground?

Beasty

Peter Denham wrote: »

Well can you outline the official stance on it? It's helpful to know going forward, it you have the time.

What "official stance"? There is none I know of. If you don't want to take stuff in the jest it is intended, I'm clearly not going to change your mindset.

Equally plenty of AH regulars never bother with any of these threads, possibly because it really does not bother them that much, and possibly because they treat AH like it was always intended - a place for light-hearted banter

I appreciate there are plenty of posters who don't want to treat AH like that. Equally There are some posters who will complain whatever the "official stance" may be. Hence perhaps it's better not having one

Timberrrrrrrr

Peter Denham wrote: »

So to be clear going forward, mods changing thread titles at their leisure in After Hours is welcomed?

Yes....Thats what we are saying :rolleyes:

Mr. CooL ICE

DaverageJoe wrote: »

Perhaps you should stick to moderating instead of trolling?

That wouldn't be trolling. It would be taking the piss. Taking the piss is not the same as trolling.

Moderators are regular posters first, moderators second. If moderators weren't allowed post as normal in the forums they moderate, there wouldn't be any moderators.

The Hill Billy

Peter Denham wrote: »

Well can you outline the official stance on it? It's helpful to know going forward, it you have the time.

The official stance is that there is no official stance.

I can see why changing thread titles may be a bit annoying, but it is After Hours. There's a ton of sh1t in there that's annoying. C'est la vie! - as the Brits used to say when the really were governed by Europe.

*heads to AH to discuss gender imbalance in armed forces at Battle of Hastings & its effect on 19thC SJWs in Rotherham*

keith_sixteen

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

In all honesty, lads, don't you think you may be taking this a tad too seriously?


AH is supposed to be where light-hearted conversations take place, where the urine is pulled from those who may be overly precious about an ideal and slagging others is supposed to encouraged.


Perhaps AH may not be the most suitable place for the conversations you are seeking and other forums here or elsewhere may be more amenable to your requirements?

Fair enough. Question in that case. Why was the thread title corrected then?