Site is a graveyard - How can boards save itself? [Threadbanned users in 1st post]

09-04-2024 12:36AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121995283#Comment_121995283

Fair enough, I can see I'm wasting my time here.

I must say, that attitude doesn't exactly inspire my confidence that anything will ever really change.

Has to be said, there are lots of sycophants on this thread as well, not just negative or angry people who want to bash mods.

Big Bag of Chips · 09-04-2024 12:49AM

Ezeoul, I could say I'm wasting my time too. You have not posted one positive comment on this thread. I have given a lot of time to addressing points raised and bringing suggestions to moderators and admins. I have engaged with I think pretty much everyone who has posted on this thread over the past week.

At one stage every post I made you replied trying to twist it to something that I didn't say. Today when asked for 1 positive thing you like about the site you couldn't name it. I could quite easily say you have been posting in bad faith on this entire thread and trying to engage with you on any sort of meaningful level is a complete waste of time. Low-level trolling I think you call it. Your general attitude to the site and on-threads doesn't exactly inspire my confidence that anything said here or any changes made will ever change your opinion of the site. You have no interest in the site, you have no interest in being a positive presence on the site and and you have no interest in making a positive contribution to the site.

Yet you are here, all day every day making yourself miserable.

con747 · 09-04-2024 01:04AM

I have received invaluable information on numerous threads here and hope I have given some back to others and have about 30 odd threads I have bookmarked which are fairly active from food/renewable energy/bargains/motors/diy and so on and try to contribute as best I can. I think in my latest reincarnation here I received a couple of warnings and maybe a couple of thread bans which I got removed via PM with mods.

It's not the worst of sites but needs a hell of a lot of work to be done from everyone from members and the powers that be to keep it flowing without a lot of the bitching that goes on. I hope it survives for a long time to go. That's my positive of the site.

Quantum Erasure · 09-04-2024 01:06AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121995270#Comment_121995270

It's a pity the prison forum is gone though, I'm sure there's plenty of 'feedback' there

Much like the dispute resolution forum, I know there's useful feedback there that's been ignored (probably from angry posters being angry tbf, but if you haven't been on the wrong end of a moderator decision, you hardly have relevant feedback to give)

REDBULL68 · 09-04-2024 01:28AM

Indeed, this is a public forum ,in a Republic which free speech is written in the constitution ,yet some here won't even let you talk about a case ,that is not in the Republics Jurisdiction, why ,technically its a different country, England has no problem talking about it or Ireland to that matter, so what's the problem, its either a discussion site or not .

09-04-2024 01:29AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121995316#Comment_121995316

Firstly, don't mistake having a browser open, for "being here all day every day".

You're not above turning things personal yourself now, I see. I have not made any personal remarks directed at either you, or any named mod on this thread - yet because I'm not sugar-coating things for you, or telling you what you want to hear, you're turning nasty with me because you don't like what I have to say.

Also, sorry if you don't like my posts elsewhere. Considering how infrequently I visit the personal issues forum, or how rarely you step outside of it, I'm surprised you even see them, let alone are in a position to judge me, and my contributions as basically, worthless. I have also never made any mention of "low level trolling". I never got involved in that part of the discussion at all and I don't tro. Some very low blows on your part.

I asked some questions, and gave my views here, honestly. Sorry (again) if you're taking offence on behalf of Boards for that. My mistake, I thought this was supposed to be an honest exchange of views. Instead, now you're turning it around and accusing me of posting in bad faith, trolling, and attacking me as a poster in general.

Thanks for proving to me that I'm not wrong, and this thread will turn out to be just another waste of time.

You're also right that I don't believe it will lead to any meaningful changes. Why should I believe that, when at every turn you are looking to shift blame to everyone except the moderation team for the problems that do exist?

I'll leave it at that. I'll expect the warning / threadban in my mailbox imminently.

Goodnight.

REDBULL68 · 09-04-2024 01:31AM

Just to follow up ,if we can't discuss court cases in other countries ya may as well delete all the donald trump thread's.

Goldengirl · 09-04-2024 01:40AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121995183#Comment_121995183

Indeed you are dragging off topic with your comments about another poster . .an apology to that poster for the sxxxy behaviour would have been appropriate not from just you , two others involved in this here today whom I have had words with earlier about the same thing .

I was quite happy not to continue this and would have preferred not to be doing this here in front of the site but it really is not on , the way people have been behaving on those threads and ye just want to take a good long look at yourselves .

Never mind be asking others to look at THEIR behaviour , and the other two as well , sniping and bullying just because others have and are well able to express their own opinions but don't agree with you .

And coming on here to supposedly continue with impunity ?

Anyway said all I will say for now and will take whatever consequences I have to for this ..

Because that's what adults do .

Polar101 · 09-04-2024 05:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121993931#Comment_121993931

A good time to do that would probably have been when Boards moved to this new platform. It still tries to be a platform for everything on the internet, but there are way too many categories and sub-subforums.

Polar101 · 09-04-2024 05:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121994094#Comment_121994094

Letting threads evolve "naturally" would just lead to discussing the same things in every thread, and no-one would be able to follow any discussions.

Big Bag of Chips · 09-04-2024 07:07AM

@Ezeoul your first post on this thread said "I'll probably get a warning for this" yet here you still are, no warning.

You seem determined that your posts are not going to be liked by the moderators or admins. I have commented on some of your posts and your reply has been "sorry you don't like my post". I neither like not dislike them. I'm just discussing.

You yourself admitted that there is nothing positive about the forum. That you're here out of bad habit. From that I assume you also mean you don't even like posting here. So again I'm taking that to mean you don't even see your own contributions as positive. I said I didn't believe that you were getting nothing positive from the site. You reiterated that you couldn't think of anything. From that I assume you're pretty fed up (miserable?) posting here but can't stay away.

I've said it elsewhere on the thread that you'd make an excellent opposition politician because you argue against every point put forward. You have no idea what changes will be implemented. Yet are deciding nothing will change.

I have not hidden behind any "mod powers" on this thread. I have been open and honest. I have acknowledged a lot of excellent feedback and things that need to change. I have not blamed the posters for all the problems. Of course posters have their part to play too as they are the userbase. But if the site is to continue to move forward it will take changes, both in moderator and poster behaviour. That is not in doubt.

But much as you think you're wasting your time I am absolutely certain I am wasting my time trying to discuss anything with you, because you are immoveable in your stance. That's ok. I'm not here to change your mind. But just because you are unlikely to adjust yourself don't assume everyone else is too. The site will continue. You will no doubt continue to post. I just hope at some point you actually start to get some benefit from the site. Even if it's just the thrill of getting a moderator to argue with you, but not ban you!

(I am going to leave it there because there is nothing worse for posters than watching 2 posters locked in a circular argument. We are not going to agree, you are absolutely going to disagree with every point in this post, but that's ok. We don't need to agree but we can still move on)

Big Bag of Chips · 09-04-2024 07:22AM

Now... Is there anything to be said for getting back to a few positive suggestions. It went well, for a few posts!

knucklehead6 · 09-04-2024 07:44AM

Some of the posts in this thread remind me of a scene in Tom Clancy's Book, Red Store Rising.

First Lieutenant Michael Edwards: Let's have an attitude check!
Tower crew: I hate this **** place!
Edawrds: Let's have a positive attitude check!
Tower crew: I'm positive I hate this **** place!
Edwards: Let's have a negative attitude check!
Tower crew: I don't like this **** place!
Edwards: Let's have a short attitude check!
Tower crew: Fuckit!

Vote4Squirrels · 09-04-2024 07:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121995537#Comment_121995537

I had a rough day yesterday and the Trivially Annoying posts made me smile!

Tom Mann Centuria · 09-04-2024 07:54AM

If following has been said before apologies.

Would changing thread titles to make them more Google search friendly help traffic?

In the (inferior brand of 😃) Rugby forum, you have popular and busy threads dedicated to the Provinces. As an example Munster's thread is called:
Munster Team Talk Thread - Snymans are(n't) Forever

Would that get more eyes from the almighty Google if it included keywords like Rugby, News, Discussion in the thread title?

Munster Rugby Team Talk, News and Discussion thread - Witty bit at the end.

I've no idea, but I'd be interested to know if this kind of thing makes any difference at all, or is it as I suspect, pissing in the wind.

As a suggestion for what boards can do, bring Soccer and Ranting and Raving out of Groups, allow anyone to post and put it with the rest of the forums.

osarusan · 09-04-2024 08:06AM

You facilitate more positivity across forums/the site by removing relentless, grinding, contrarian negativity.

Jim_Hodge · 09-04-2024 08:15AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121994885#Comment_121994885

I wouldn't worry. It's the same handful complaining about Mods again. It's not representative.

09-04-2024 08:27AM

I like to share my knowledge especially in the area of DIY energy efficiency and Campervans (though that has gone a bit dead of late). I like the fact that you can get a quick response to technical questions in an Irish context. My first post, and the reason for joining in the first place, was when I was running my car on home filtered veg oil and there was a bit of a buzz around that whole area back then.
I enjoy the political discussion but find there is a lot of the sort of trolling from the right wingers here and it will kill a discussion dead. I have been moderated and thread banned and ultimately I think there is just about the right balance between open discussion and closing down the personal hate that tends to creep in.
I personally think that the forum is doing fine.

Arghus · 09-04-2024 01:12PM

Why do I still use boards?

Well, a lot of it is habit. Being here for years - but aside from just habit I still enjoy a lot of it.

I like how it's a big catch all forum with an Irish slant. You can find conversations about a wide variety of subjects. There's some great knowledge and great posters still on here. I use Reddit - or, more accurately,I look at it - but I just find the conversations more natural on here. I like how many good threads and forums have been going for years. A lot of good posters and knowledge are no longer here - but there's still many good posters and threads etc to be found.

I tend to avoid CA in the main I think posting in there is largely a waste of time. I think if you spend the majority of your time there you'll probably have a very different impression of the site than people who never go near it.

Vote4Squirrels · 09-04-2024 01:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121994448#Comment_121994448

@Big Bag of Chips I know we are keeping it positive but one way would be that when a poster slanders two others and it gets ignored, that makes for a negative experience. Thanks in advance.

09-04-2024 01:27PM

You yourself admitted that there is nothing positive about the forum. That you're here out of bad habit.

For the record, while I did say I was here out of habit - I never said there was "nothing positive" about the forum.

However, after being told (by an Admin) on thread that I contribute nothing to the site, I am done here.

I'm out.

suvigirl · 09-04-2024 01:39PM

I loved the old competitions that used to run here before the change over. I'm not sure what it was that stopped them running the way they did, but they're a massive loss, entertaining, light hearted and a bit of fun.

I have had a few different posters on here go out of their way to give me assistance, even in real life about issues I had posted on. You wouldn't get that elsewhere online.

The post of the day was great too.

JP Liz V1 · 09-04-2024 01:47PM

@Gormal and others are good contributers with competitions to enter

It's nice to get a win or hear of others winning

archfi · 09-04-2024 01:47PM

….

ozmo · 09-04-2024 01:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121995470#Comment_121995470

A thread I was following for a couple years - got a reply to day - I went to view it and saw the whole thread deleted -

Why would a mod delete this thread - people take the time to post - I think this site, being(or was) the top Irish forum, has a responsibility in archiving what people take time to post - in this case a very useful reminder/tip on not getting your driving test cancelled - an expensive mistake.

When would a thread lock be justified ? - When would a whole thread delete be justified? - how much more of boards data has been deleted?

Right now - you can see the post still in google search: https://www.google.com/search?q=Driving+test+cancelled+due+to+the+disc+strip+is+faded+from+green+to+blue&safe=active&ssui=on

Vote4Squirrels · 09-04-2024 01:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121996767#Comment_121996767

I was going to suggest like a poster of the week, mod of the month, something along those lines ?

Discussion of the week maybe ?

Eibhir · 09-04-2024 02:12PM

I enjoy the site. Meteorology is my main interest and favourite thread.

Soaps fora are light hearted and easygoing. Very difficult to get into trouble!

Threads like the Late Late, DWTS, Operation Transformation and such reality tv are usually light too.

Current Affairs isn't worth it, when people hold opposing passionate views, with the best of intentions, things can get heated. You could be having a bad day and get over reactive to posts. I post occasionally in Gazza but dip in and out as it's a heavy thread and again one where you can easily get too emotional.

I think, maybe it's in place already, a course for mods before becoming one, and refresher courses would be good.

Items like the reporting process, the types of trolling and how to identify them. Spotting a goading poster who should receive the same sanction as a poster they cause to make an outburst. Group think in threads and not letting that influence a mod. How to avoid bringing bias to moderation, particularly on social and political issues.

I started to read the thread last night where a mod said they started in their teens. That's way too young in my opinion. You simply don't have enough worldly experience or maturity.

Overall I'm happy with moderation in the fora I'm in. The weather forum is exceptionally good. Lovely atmosphere. You learn so much. I'd recommend it to posters.

Eibhir · 09-04-2024 02:37PM

Just to add, I think the best mods are good communicators, and often in their day job are people managers with skills for getting the best out of people.

I feel a lot of posters are shot down too abruptly. Simply put in the timesink/bad apple poster pigeon hole.

Sometimes something as simple as 'Hey Gruffalo 2024. Your style is very confrontational and insulting. Please have a think as to whether you would speak to a person like this offline? I want to work with you and give you a chance but you need to change the language and tone in the post outlined below. You have to respect every poster you reply to'.

Eibhir · 09-04-2024 02:52PM

Also we need to respect our mods. If there's a constant denigration of their work, everything falls apart. It's like a referee in sport, bad calls are made but refs, like mods are human. All of us posters make mistakes too.

A fortnight ago I got a deserved warning on the GAA forum. All I could see was what I replied to was as bad! Shamobuc gave me the warning and of course my reply was did you see what the other poster said?! He replied I've 100s of posts to go through but will look at it in due course. This was the practical reality from his side. Often us posters just see the 'wrongs' done to us.

And he did deal with it well in due course.

I don't know the situation but maybe mods in CA are overworked? When I first heard mods weren't paid I was shocked. It's a big commitment.

Leg End Reject · 09-04-2024 02:55PM

On the subject of deleting threads, why are non-contentious threads started by a banned rereg automatically deleted? Why not let them run?

I can understand if it's a deliberately inflammatory thread, but surely others could be left.

Site is a graveyard - How can boards save itself? [Threadbanned users in 1st post]

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