Introducing the Current Affairs/IMHO forum

Outlaw Pete wrote: »

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Sorry to snip quote, but it's a long post

While you are right, Outlaw Pete, that users can ignore threads that they don't want to read, it becomes much more difficult when there's an entire page that's focused on serious topics and you just want to talk about where you are, trivial things that annoy you, funny houses to rent, etc. Yes, you can click through to following pages (but users often don't and if you're using the My Forums tab, this is less feasible).

Similarly, some people could ignore certain posts (let's say DOGE memes), but there was enough of them to warrant a dedicated thread over in Cool Pics..., so people could outright ignore them rather than having to scroll past while still getting to enjoy the content they came for. If it's a case of someone wanting disagreeing positions off Boards altogether, that hasn't happened. If someone is following a thread, they are still going to be following it in a new forum.

Non-PC views are one thing (and that is quite a broad term, so yes in some cases they are going to be an issue), and how they are expressed is another. Reported posts and recent Feedback threads would however indicate that some users with such views are being given too much leeway. And others feel like the opposite is true / those that debate with such users are overstepping the mark. As Mike said, there are threads that will need closer moderation.

As you said, After Hours is a tough gig and it always has been. We will often come back to discussions about moderation; as I've said in the past, some people will feel there's too much, some will feel it's too little. I see these polarising stances regularly and did in my pre-staff Boards life too. As a result, "less hassle" is not a term I think will ever apply when it comes to moderation

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

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Again, just snipping for screen space considerations but thank you for your points.

Some people thought AH Day was fun, some thought it was a disaster. It was a polarising event, which in itself reflects how AH was being pulled in two different directions.

AH being lighthearted is in the charter; it is no different to how topics should be treated seriously over in Personal Issues, for example. And if the tone there was to start changing, there would be pushback from moderation / a discussion over whether there needed to be a forum split to cater for people who want fun suggestions to their problems (though some of those come to After Hours) vs those who need serious advice.

While some users haven't been using After Hours for light hearted discussion or debate, others have. And now we have forums for both, which should help us strike a balance.

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

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Most, if not all, new forums are announced. It doesn't take long to flick the switch to have a forum activated, true. However, this is a forum that is being set up in response to discussion topics, feedback, etc. You're looking at dealing with the largest forum on Boards and a broad range of viewpoints over what it and moderation should be. There has been plenty discussed because as Mike said above, we're hoping to strike a balance and satiate those looking for fun and those looking for serious. There was a lot to consider, so while it took a while, it wasn't just a matter of starting a new forum.

Where there is something to be announced, you will find the news in the Announcements forum (and I'm going to use this opportunity to highlight the monthly update) and often in Feedback depending on the matter at hand. I wouldn't depend on a thread in After Hours, especially if you feel like an announcement thread the previous year was a red herring.

Mods are volunteers, but also human. I have said in the past that perfect consistency is an impossibility, but we give Mods tools and guidelines to help them do the best job that they can. While we have cards and a dispute process for users, there are processes in place to highlight Mod issues, including reported posts, CMods and Admin oversight, Help Desk and Feedback. And any arising issues are discussed from there.