Lack of moderation of off-topic threads?

[mav1178]

Lots of things to reply to, others can chime in if I'm wrong...

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

K, other than tint & ticket questions, I've moved em to the correct place.

Is the tint question/thread even relevant in the FRS-only section? Shouldn't it be in the Interior section?

Is it hard to PM me or other mods that info? You'll be doing same thing as you just posted, instead you'll be PM'ing mods.

This was done as a point to make, because (from my vantage point) this deserves some type of public discussion. Sending a notice to a mod only serves to have the members (that are willing to flag posts) as silent moderators, and doesn't move the public conversation and awareenss forward.

Tint & ticket thread, I don't see why they have to be moved. Both of em are FRS owners & they're posting in "FRS General" section.

I think my point is lost... there's this gray area on the forum where discussions are being posted all over the place, because members feel it's "relevant" to the subforum it's being posted in. A tint question (that is, frankly, not specific to any type of car, should at least be in the interior forum. So if I posted the exact same thread in the BRZ section, would the discussion somehow be different if I, a BRZ owner, started the thread? If they're merged, then which section should it belong in?

I hope you see my point on this, because it's at the core of what I am trying to get at...

There's a reason we separate Scion FR-S General Threads & Subaru BRZ General Threads. If you're being here lurking for almost a yr, you should know "SCION vs SUBARU fan boi war". Every threads, members fighting bout "Scion is cheap lower class POS!" or "Hippie morons owns Subaru!" blah blah blah. Or did you miss that? If you have better idea, please suggest.

Quality of post need to be better than other forum on the web?
How? We decided who can be member & who can't? Cuz quality of posts are decided by member's posts, not by forum admin or mods... or you means mods start ban hammering & infraction every new posts that were in wrong section? ...or maybe mods should get power to accept or declined all the posts & if it's crappy posts mods give members a infractions! YEAH! That sounds legit! I'm power hungry person, so more power I get, better for me!

When I mean "Quality of posts need to be better than other forums on the web", I mean the following:

• Members are consciously posting quality posts in the proper forums, whether this comes from:
  • Proper forum etiquette
  • Regular moderation from mods/admin staff (at least once a week, if not more often)
  • Self-policing by other members
• Members reduce the flame wars or bickering amongst themselves. Ways of achieving this are:
  • Moderator reminder of a thread out of control
  • Locking threads
  • Active deletion of posts (after warning) if going way off topic
• Smarter, more posts with facts and informative content. This can't be taught (much like a smart mechanic can't be trained overnight), but it's a skill acquired with a forum with better organized threads, and clear rules that aren't skirted around

Beyond this, it's also enforcing rules with vendors, classified section (there's no "Want To Buy" section, for example, so there's a lot of WTB clutter in Member Classified section or even a wrong post as I pointed out above), and just generally improving the site quality.


Ultimately, the quality of this site will be determined by the members, and if we have a bunch of threads that (as you suggested before) about people attacking others because one car is worse than another, in the long run no one benefits from these posts. At some point, forum members simply just need to "grow up" and stop talking like they're 14 and looking to fit in with a cool crowd, or at least learn to argue on the internet with logic and facts.


If somehow I am wrong in this assumption and suggestion, then so be it. I am providing information based on my previous experience with 240SX owners, between 1997 and 2009 or so. In those 13 years, I was active on a total of 3 mailing lists (moderated 2 of them), 4 site forums (moderated 1 of them), active on 3 other Nissan-related sites, and generally saw the rise and demise of a couple of great forums, all because good members left the site due to a persistent decline in quality of posts overall.



-alex

[njccmd2002]

personally i think the forum is overcrowded with a lot of members.

Can anything be changed? NO.

Not even with 400 mods. This is not a JOB. this is not google, facebook, or yahoo. The mods are here to help. and they do what they can.

If no one can deal with all this then....

http://www.fr-sforum.com/

http://www.scionfrsforums.com/

http://www.brz-forums.com/forum.php?

http://*************/

http://socalfrs.com/forums/

when life closes a door, there are always other windows.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by mav1178

Lots of things to reply to, others can chime in if I'm wrong...

I wrote hella long reply, but became pointless. I get what you're trying to say, so I'll leave it as that.

I'll go through all the threads/posts (THAT includes all of regional) & start move, merge, lock, delete, & warn & infraction.

Looks like I have long night head of me.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

I wrote hella long reply, but became pointless. I get what you're trying to say, so I'll leave it as that.

I'll go through all the threads/posts (THAT includes all of regional) & start move, merge, lock, delete, & warn & infraction.

Looks like I have long night head of me.

That's my point though... it should not be up to mods to make these changes all the time.

The quality of the members (in terms of posts) will have a direct result on the quality and longevity of the forum. In the short run, perhaps the rules governing each section can be re-written to be tailored specifically for each forum, and made into a new sticky so that members can see it?

I know there's a hidden mod/admin section... I suggest you guys discuss this amongst yourselves and reach a consensus. Regular members can only do so much flagging and PM mods ...

-alex

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by mav1178

That's my point though... it should not be up to mods to make these changes all the time.

The quality of the members (in terms of posts) will have a direct result on the quality and longevity of the forum. In the short run, perhaps the rules governing each section can be re-written to be tailored specifically for each forum, and made into a new sticky so that members can see it?

I know there's a hidden mod/admin section... I suggest you guys discuss this amongst yourselves and reach a consensus. Regular members can only do so much flagging and PM mods ...

-alex

I'm sorry did I read it correction?

...made into a new sticky so that members can see it?

Have you seen it? IT'S ON TOP OF EVERY SECTIONS! Where else do you want it? On top of every threads/posts? & rules are to-the-point.

Maybe I'm tired & not reading it correctly, but... "Regular members can only do so much flagging and PM mods ..." REALLY?!?!?!?!?! I hope you meant to say: "Regular members CAN DO so much flagging and PM mods ..." we have total of 7 admins & mods vs over 36,000 members. Which one sound more?

If you can think of something to add in the specific rules on specific section on EVERY section please PM me or admin. Cuz currently rule is good enough IMO, BUT members are actually reading it & following it is different story.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Have you seen it? IT'S ON TOP OF EVERY SECTIONS! Where else do you want it? On top of every threads/posts? & rules are to-the-point.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/announcement.php?f=31
This is on top of every forum.

What I am suggesting/proposing is a stick thread posted to the top of each subforum/subsection, with rules specific for that forum.

Example:

FRS General forum:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2
Add sticky with some additional rules, such as:

• Please post only general FRS threads.
• Post specific threads in other subforums, such as:
  • BRZ content
  • Wheels/tire content
  • Forced Induction
  • etc
• Please report/flag posts not relevant to this forum

The main goal is to get members to do this automatically (and more often on their own)...

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Maybe I'm tired & not reading it correctly, but... "Regular members can only do so much flagging and PM mods ..." REALLY?!?!?!?!?! I hope you meant to say: "Regular members CAN DO so much flagging and PM mods ..." we have total of 7 admins & mods vs over 36,000 members. Which one sound more?

If you can think of something to add in the specific rules on specific section on EVERY section please PM me or admin. Cuz currently rule is good enough IMO, BUT members are actually reading it & following it is different story.

Yes, that's what I said, and I state this because of exactly what you pointed out... flagging should not be done excessive because if there's too many posts/threads to moderate, you (the admin/mod as a group) would be burned out sooner than later...

None of you are being paid to do this and (trust me, I know) this hobby of ours grows old the moment our interests/priorities shift in life. And the last thing you want is for people to flag posts for the sake of flagging, or to retaliate against another person for mundane issues that can be taken care of by two grown adults.

In any case, I realize that rules being followed are hard. But sometimes you just need to remind people about the rules, and if even 50% of the would-be offenders heed the notice, then we're making progress.

I don't even know why I care, I have no interest in the site and I can get all the info I want/need about the car without making a single post. But someone has to care, right? And I'd rather speak up than keep silent.

-alex

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by mav1178

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/announcement.php?f=31
This is on top of every forum.

What I am suggesting/proposing is a stick thread posted to the top of each subforum/subsection, with rules specific for that forum.

Example:

FRS General forum:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2
Add sticky with some additional rules, such as:

• Please post only general FRS threads.
• Post specific threads in other subforums, such as:
  • BRZ content
  • Wheels/tire content
  • Forced Induction
  • etc
• Please report/flag posts not relevant to this forum

The main goal is to get members to do this automatically (and more often on their own)...

^That's Rule #7... again, rule is straight to-the-point. We're adult, we "should" be able to get that. Cuz I sure in hell don't wanna write +100 page rules & polices like some work.

Also what's the point of having "General Thread" section? Cuz EVERY single thread can go to subforum.

Yes, that's what I said, and I state this because of exactly what you pointed out... flagging should not be done excessive because if there's too many posts/threads to moderate, you (the admin/mod as a group) would be burned out sooner than later...

None of you are being paid to do this and (trust me, I know) this hobby of ours grows old the moment our interests/priorities shift in life. And the last thing you want is for people to flag posts for the sake of flagging, or to retaliate against another person for mundane issues that can be taken care of by two grown adults.

In any case, I realize that rules being followed are hard. But sometimes you just need to remind people about the rules, and if even 50% of the would-be offenders heed the notice, then we're making progress.

I don't even know why I care, I have no interest in the site and I can get all the info I want/need about the car without making a single post. But someone has to care, right? And I'd rather speak up than keep silent.

-alex

I'll be blunt, I'm not here to nanny ANYONE. Members can discuss & debating all they want, I don't care. Cuz I'll trust them that they can have actual debates & if some moron come along to argue, members can actual click "report" when it gets out of line. If there's a duplicate thread, member can report it or comment stating it's a duplicate thread & show where's original thread for reference & let duplicate thread die... til then, I'll be just reg member read & posts in the thread I wanna read & not go power hungry infraction everyone hawkeyeing every thread.

Thanks for speaking up, maybe we're not seeing same picture. I'll keep your suggestion in mind for sure though

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

^That's Rule #7... again, rule is straight to-the-point. We're adult, we "should" be able to get that. Cuz I sure in hell don't wanna write +100 page rules & polices like some work.

Not asking to write a lot of rules, but rather to draft a sticky in the top section of the rules reminding people to use some basic judgment when posting threads...

It's not about babysitting anyone. I am merely making light of a small problem that, if left unchecked, will just become a bigger problem later on. The more the car sells, the more people will join the forums, and you'll have more and more underage/immature folks that will slowly degrade the forum experience over time.

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Also what's the point of having "General Thread" section? Cuz EVERY single thread can go to subforum.

The point of subforums is so that threads and info can be searched and archived better. If it's truly a great thread worthy of a lock and archive, you can even create a "Best of FRS/BRZ" forum that is full of locked and moved/archived threads, to encourage users to post worthwhile content for everyone to see.

While I agree with your point, on the same token the argument can be made that if every thread in a general forum can be in a subforum, then what's the point of having subforums?

Our end goals here are the same: to filter out noise.

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Thanks for speaking up, maybe we're not seeing same picture. I'll keep your suggestion in mind for sure though

If there's an open discussion/thread for rules in this subsection to solicit subforum rules, then I'm all for it. You can take top 2-3 suggestions for each section and post a locked sticky. That's what I used to do.

-alex

[Giccin]

Originally Posted by mav1178

"Note: This is ONLY to be used to report spam, advertising messages, and problematic (harassment, fighting, or rude) posts."

I can see why some people don't use this feature more, as the wording is specific...

-alex

Just report use it as a mean to let a moderator know something without having to message them or call them out in a thread.

I use it quite often for reposted threads or repetitive threads.

Or clear obvious assholes.

Think of it as an anonymous tip without really being anonymous to the mods.

[Giccin]

Originally Posted by mav1178

That's my point though... it should not be up to mods to make these changes all the time.

The quality of the members (in terms of posts) will have a direct result on the quality and longevity of the forum. In the short run, perhaps the rules governing each section can be re-written to be tailored specifically for each forum, and made into a new sticky so that members can see it?

I know there's a hidden mod/admin section... I suggest you guys discuss this amongst yourselves and reach a consensus. Regular members can only do so much flagging and PM mods ...

-alex

I'm not sure if you noticed... but the people quality from 3 years ago to now drastically decrease. We have more super-entitled-asshole-trolls now than we did before. People were a lot helpful back then and when the car came out we got more people reposting the same threads, asking the same question in a slightly different manner and people who believe they are ALWAYS right.

Stickies are a great idea though. Its just most people don't bother to read it. Also at this point there's lots of borderline trolls and it's entirely up to you to ignore some of these guys and by no means am I telling you what to do. It's just easier to report with a 1-2 sentence reason and move on.

Man... I miss the older days when discussions were civil and NO ONE except for 1 guy who had what I call... "Small-penis syndrome." Angry at everyone. Hate's everyone's beliefs. He's always right. Everyone who says anything is wrong. Degrades people so he feels better. Biased opinion. Believes he's alpha male. Wants do dominate the person in a discussion and goes out of their way to try to humiliate them. Can't hold a decent discussion because they're "better" than you. A solid handful of those people are around.

Sorry for the long post. haha