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The slow death of forums *see OP for Admin warning and update 28/02/18*

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Comments

  • #1232
    Oldtree
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,109 ✭✭✭Oldtree


    On main forums that want or need a specific feedback method, a feedback thread could be stickied and on you go. Issues and suggestions could be delt with as and when for that specific forum by mods and cat mods (if necessary). It would allow contributions specific to that forum by the members of that forum, who better to suggest improvements for member retention than users themselves.

    Any more general suggestions/issues made about the site, could be dealt with by the cat mods.

    Could ask members in each forum to vote on if such a thread is necessary. Many sub forums too if very active.

    I like the information that is on here and it has proven very useful, many tines, as have members replies to my questions.

    I would not delete historical info but would perhaps close some under used forums, say no posts in 6 months, moving mods on to more active forums easing the burden. Again a voting system to reopen closed forums.


  • #1233
    Beasty
    Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 78,458 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty


    Vronsky wrote: »
    You still haven't explained why this thread has to close
    I have, and I am not going to further respond to you on this point. If you continue trying to make this particular point I will ban you from the thread


  • #1234
    Sephiroth_dude
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 81,136 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sephiroth_dude


    Deleted User wrote: »
    I have Barrys tea
    Buford T. Justice V wrote: »
    Barrys

    *thread closed*




    163.gif


  • #1235
    gifted
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,052 ✭✭✭gifted


    On couch watching TV....oh ****..wrong thread...lol lol


  • #1236
    Beasty
    Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 78,458 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty


    Deleted User wrote: »
    ^^^
    Hey stop bad quoting- I wasn't complaining about tae in a feedback thread??

    *slurps coffee*
    :pac:

    Fixed that one - was posting on mobile and didn't spot it

    Will work though the others now...


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  • #1237
    _Dara_
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,971 ✭✭✭_Dara_


    andekwarhola wrote: »
    I myself find some of the chat stuff a bit cringe, but a good point was made that maybe people would be better off trying to generate 'worthwhile' content rather than simply identifying content they don't like.

    It's definitely a valid, related point as well that in the past, the content of the forum has probably been too fussily curated, even if it was well intentioned, leading to a sometimes repetitive and narrow range of topics.

    I'm reluctant to now as I’m not sure it’s worth the effort when it’s likely to to be swiftly bumped by long-running threads. I realise I’m part of the problem then but it points to a perception that maybe others also share, that efforts to start new topics might not be worth the time. Nobody wants to create threads that are destined to be ignored. Let’s face it, we all want our threads to do well if we start them. You’re putting yourself out there and many will retreat if there’s no real response. That’s a problem on chat threads too. No matter what anyone insists, there absolutely are cliques. It’s inevitable that they will form. Very uninviting, I’d imagine, for anyone out of the loop who may go ignored.


  • #1238
    Beasty
    Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 78,458 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty


    whoopsadoodles wrote: »
    Could a mod/admin/ANYBODY fix the quote tags puhleeeease.
    Phew!! Thought all hell was about to break out there...

    ...should all be fixed now:)


  • #1239
    andekwarhola
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,640 ✭✭✭andekwarhola


    _Dara_ wrote: »
    I'm reluctant to now as I’m not sure it’s worth the effort when it’s likely to to be swiftly bumped by long-running threads. I realise I’m part of the problem then but it points to a perception that maybe others also share, that efforts to start new topics might not be worth the time. Nobody wants to create threads that are destined to be ignored. Let’s face it, we all want our threads to do well if we start them. You’re putting yourself out there and many will retreat if there’s no real response. That’s a problem on chat threads too. No matter what anyone insists, there absolutely are cliques. It’s inevitable that they will form. Very uninviting, I’d imagine, for anyone out of the loop who may go ignored.

    I agree there are cliques, whether mates in real life, the main forum or private forums. But anywhere that people gather, even virtually, you'll get that. And it's mostly harmless.

    Feeling 'out of the loop' is proportional to how much you care about being in the loop.

    You can't compel people to interact with everybody. As long as they're not bullying, leave them to it. If they are, come down on them with two feet obviously but a definition of bullying needs to be a bit more robust than people not responding to your posts.

    This all points to one of the big historical issues with the forum (IMO): the tendency towards curating the hell out of everything instead of trying to either engage or ignore stuff with which you don't agree.


  • #1240
    blackwhite
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,469 ✭✭✭blackwhite


    Insect Overlord wrote: »
    Argumentum ad nauseam. Posting the same thing over and over again. Beating everyone else into submission via mind-numbing repetition. See also: soap-boxing.

    There’s posters who refuse to ever engage with points which disprove their arguments, and simply repeat that same thing over and over again. That’s not a discussion or argument, it’s soapboxing.

    There’s posters who respond to disagreement with nothing but “No, you’re wrong” or similar, but never actually debate any of the points made. Threadspoiling and borderline trolling, tbh

    There’s posters who do nothing but a combination of the two above.

    None of those are doing anything to contribute to discussion or debate - just wasting time and winding others up


  • #1241
    _Dara_
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,971 ✭✭✭_Dara_


    One thing that I think rankles with many posters of all different hues has been ably demonstrated on this thread: moderators are very reluctant to ever admit they were wrong, even when it's clearly the case. Conspectus's "bitching" comment was hugely ill-judged and roundly criticised from many quarters but no admission of mea culpa has been forthcoming. It's like it's seen as a weakness when it would be a move that would earn respect. There does seem to be a thing with moderators that they never admit to being wrong or making mistakes. They're human, mistakes happen, but it creates too much of an "us and them" divide to never be seen to admit being wrong.


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  • #1242
    GreeBo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,500 ✭✭✭✭GreeBo


    blackwhite wrote: »
    There’s posters who refuse to ever engage with points which disprove their arguments, and simply repeat that same thing over and over again. That’s not a discussion or argument, it’s soapboxing.

    There’s posters who respond to disagreement with nothing but “No, you’re wrong” or similar, but never actually debate any of the points made. Threadspoiling and borderline trolling, tbh

    There’s posters who do nothing but a combination of the two above.

    None of those are doing anything to contribute to discussion or debate - just wasting time and winding others up

    I don't think anyone would disagree, but what about the other type?
    The type where a couple of posters are engaging back and forth...is the consensus that they are not wanted either as some find them boring?
    To me thats exactly what a discussion/debate is, not every thread has to be 5 posts of of debate followed by 2 posts of hugging and promises to never fight again.


  • #1243
    gandalf
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,458 ✭✭✭✭gandalf


    What I find really interesting is the total lack of engagement from the salaried staff who are supposed to be the community managers of this site. Great engagement from users, some really good interactions from the voluntary mods and admins but silence as usual from HQ. It speaks volumes for what the real problem is here.


  • #1244
    GreeBo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,500 ✭✭✭✭GreeBo


    _Dara_ wrote: »
    One thing that I think rankles with many posters of all different hues has been ably demonstrated on this thread: moderators are very reluctant to ever admit they were wrong, even when it's clearly the case. Conspectus's "bitching" comment was hugely ill-judged and roundly criticised from many quarters but no admission of mea culpa has been forthcoming. It's like it's seen as a weakness when it would be a move that would earn respect. There does seem to be a thing with moderators that they never admit to being wrong or making mistakes. They're human, mistakes happen, but it creates too much of an "us and them" divide to never be seen to admit being wrong.

    With some mods I get the impression that they can't understand why they would have to. Do you apologise when you step on a bug?


  • #1245
    Ken.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,898 ✭✭✭✭Ken.


    I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for my comment yesterday. Shouldn't have said it. It was a bad choice of word.



    Editing to add that I swear on my daughters life I was typing this post before I seen the posts above mine from the last few minutes.


  • #1246
    Odhinn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,479 ✭✭✭Odhinn


    gandalf wrote: »
    What I find really interesting is the total lack of engagement from the salaried staff who are supposed to be the community managers of this site. Great engagement from users, some really good interactions from the voluntary mods and admins but silence as usual from HQ. It speaks volumes for what the real problem is here.

    They used to. Presumably finding themselves in the "no win" zone they gave up.


  • #1247
    GreeBo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,500 ✭✭✭✭GreeBo


    andekwarhola wrote: »
    I myself find some of the chat stuff a bit cringe, but a good point was made that maybe people would be better off trying to generate 'worthwhile' content rather than simply identifying content they don't like.

    It's definitely a valid, related point as well that in the past, the content of the forum has probably been too fussily curated, even if it was well intentioned, leading to a sometimes repetitive and narrow range of topics.

    Perhaps busy forums such as AH need a chat sub-forum where ALL the chatty threads belong?
    Then it's easy to find or ignore as appropriate.


  • #1248
    Ken.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,898 ✭✭✭✭Ken.


    GreeBo wrote: »
    Perhaps busy forums such as AH need a chat sub-forum where ALL the chatty threads belong?
    Then it's easy to find or ignore as appropriate.

    That's a great idea. Maybe start a thread in the forum request forum. I'll +1 it.


  • #1249
    cbreeze
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 901 ✭✭✭cbreeze


    gandalf wrote: »
    What I find really interesting is the total lack of engagement from the salaried staff who are supposed to be the community managers of this site. Great engagement from users, some really good interactions from the voluntary mods and admins but silence as usual from HQ. It speaks volumes for what the real problem is here.

    They actually get paid!!!???


  • #1250
    Buford T. Justice XIX
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,633 ✭✭✭✭Buford T. Justice XIX


    cbreeze wrote: »
    They actually get paid!!!???
    Better quality coke and hookers, apparently.


  • #1251
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 21,679 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    GreeBo wrote: »
    Perhaps busy forums such as AH need a chat sub-forum where ALL the chatty threads belong?
    Then it's easy to find or ignore as appropriate.

    Ok that's not a bad idea. Chatty threads still remain but in their own corner.

    *I shall run it by my people.

    :pac:





    *joke by the way


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  • #1252
    DrGreenthumb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 720 ✭✭✭DrGreenthumb


    funniest is the mods that make jokes/comments but when you make a joke/comment they don't agree you're toast

    and also the fact that boards are so afraid of being sued that you cannot really discuss any spicy topic


  • #1253
    GreeBo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,500 ✭✭✭✭GreeBo


    Conspectus wrote: »
    That's a great idea. Maybe start a thread in the forum request forum. I'll +1 it.

    done!


  • #1254
    GreeBo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,500 ✭✭✭✭GreeBo


    DrGreenthumb wrote: »
    and also the fact that boards are so afraid of being sued that you cannot really discuss any spicy topic

    That's just the reality of running a business like this in Ireland.


  • #1255
    DrGreenthumb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 720 ✭✭✭DrGreenthumb


    GreeBo wrote: »
    That's just the reality of running a business like this in Ireland.

    maybe they should move their servers overseas


  • #1256
    Skylinehead
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,690 ✭✭✭✭Skylinehead


    DrGreenthumb wrote: »
    funniest is the mods that make jokes/comments but when you make a joke/comment they don't agree you're toast
    Does this actually happen? And if so are they equivalent? Like, I hope you're not talking about the likes of rape jokes on rape threads here.


  • #1257
    MadDog76
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,162 ✭✭✭MadDog76


    GreeBo wrote: »
    Are they wrecking the thread if no one else is posting in it though?

    Anyone is free to ignore any other poster if they decide they don't want to hear what they have to say anymore.

    In my experience most of those threads get locked with a "we are done here" even though that handful of posters are still engaging with each other.

    What exactly is the problem with letting them continue at it until they wear themselves out? Isn't boards for them just as much as everyone else?

    If they do breech the charter then moderate them as you would anyone else, if there are other posters trying to talk about something else, split the threads as you normally would.

    True.
    There's one Poster in particular (he writes insanely lengthy posts in a pathetic attempt to across as intelligent but it's really all just nonsensical waffle) that I simply will not engage.
    Other than that, I like a good back and forth debate.


  • #1258
    Beasty
    Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 78,458 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty


    gandalf wrote: »
    What I find really interesting is the total lack of engagement from the salaried staff who are supposed to be the community managers of this site. Great engagement from users, some really good interactions from the voluntary mods and admins but silence as usual from HQ. It speaks volumes for what the real problem is here.
    Please bear in mind they only returned to the office on Tuesday, and there is a lot in this thread, along with other things, to catch up on

    I do know at least one of them has spent a lot of time trying to go through the thread.


  • #1259
    blackwhite
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,469 ✭✭✭blackwhite


    GreeBo wrote: »
    I don't think anyone would disagree, but what about the other type?
    The type where a couple of posters are engaging back and forth...is the consensus that they are not wanted either as some find them boring?
    To me thats exactly what a discussion/debate is, not every thread has to be 5 posts of of debate followed by 2 posts of hugging and promises to never fight again.

    So long as they are actually engaging with each other, addressing the points made, etc.
    If it’s simply a back and forth where they are repeating the same points over and over again without any actual attempts to either refute the others points or to bring anything further to the discussion then all it does is spoil the thread for anyone else who might want to participate


  • #1260
    the_pen_turner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,693 ✭✭✭the_pen_turner


    how about getting rid of all the clutter on the pages.
    look at AH
    sponcered
    politics forum link
    irish forum link

    threads on
    santa
    charter stuff
    rules
    more charter
    legends thread that hasn't been updated in 5 years.
    ]

    this takes up most of the screen. surely a lot it could be dumped or put somewhere else . the charter stuff should be 1 link and out of the way somewhere (like a link beside the follow button)


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  • #1261
    Beasty
    Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 78,458 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty


    MadDog76 wrote: »
    he writes insanely lengthy posts in a pathetic attempt to across as intelligent but it's really all just nonsensical waffle

    Sorry about that

    I'll try and revise my posting style
    :D


This discussion has been closed.
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