[serious] Off Topic Moderation Input - Part 2

[MikeH]

Part 1: http://www.apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?t=185361

This thread is for your input on all things related to moderation in the off topic.

For reference the topics of interest from the original thread were as follows:

1. What is the purpose of the OTF forum

2. How should we deal with personal attacks, flames, etc.

3. How should we deal with thread jacking

4. How should we deal with user-spam (not commercial spam)

5. Is there anything in these forums you miss? What kinda debates / topics aren't possible here but would be good for the OTF, what can we do to bring them here?

6. Are there reasons for you to post or not post in this forum

7. Do you like the idea of a 'closed threads' forum, or do you prefer to keep closed threads in the forum, or do you prefer them to be deleted completely?

8. What can in general be done to make the OTF a better place

9. What should remain to keep the OTF a good place?

10. Anything else?

Input on all those topics whether in principle or based on decisions made is welcome.

[Wezil]

You don't listen anyway.

[Guynemer]

Expect to see a lot of this...

10. Anything else?

...to the exclusion of the other nine topics.

[Wezil]

I asked about #4 in the last thread and was told that wasn't their department. Posters are apparently supposed to look after that on their own.

This thread reminds me of the "Suggestion Box" placed at the doorway of a business. Emptied each night without a second glance.

[MikeH]

Everyone has a different opinion. We definitely won't change what we do based on every comment anyone says in this thread, but we will read them and take them under consideration.

The issue here was: Someone posted in every thread on the first page to get their name all down the page. Some posters said it was annoying.

Here are my thoughts on it in more detail:

It's a pretty clear rule of thumb that whatever rules you make up, people will try and show that they are stupid and break them if only so they can have fun arguing about it.

People tend to do this at low posting times when moderators aren't around, so if we do anything about it it's normally too late, any annoyance will already have been caused and the threads will have moved on. By the time I get in in the morning I can only tell it's happened if people are complaining about it.

If someone posts in 40 threads in a row, because they find them interesting and no-one else happens to be online posting at the time that's totally legitimate. So the question is, was a poster trying a "Tuberski" or just posting. Now, we all know that it's very unlikely to be legitimate posting, but any poster out to cause moderation strife worth their salt will claim that they were just posting normally and it was just chance that they filled the whole page, that's certainly what I'd do.

So if we ban people for Tuberski attempts it's inevitable that we'll end up having massive arguments that go on for days about whether people filled up the page with their name by posting legitimately or not. That seems more disruptive than the Tuberski itself.

We could say "You can only reply to X threads in a row before anyone else replies". Which is similar to banning Tuberski attempts, but with a lower level then 40 of threads. That'd be an arbitrary and annoying limit, hard to police and even more open to abuse. And again, I think the arguments are more disruptive than the spam.

We could give people a Post Count Reduction, but no-one seriously cares about Post Count enough for that to be a punishment.

Summary:

I think policing it is a waste of moderator time, it happens rarely and is only of minor annoyance. However, we're aware people find it more annoying than I do and have complained. If it starts happening too frequently I'll probably post a "I'm really disappointed in you" message to the posters involved. That's if Lori and JM haven't banned them first.

[Felch]

On the subject of Tuberskis, I've just found that they are incredibly hard to pull off.

We should give prizes to people who achieve them. Especially at certain times of day.

[Lorizael]

I have to say that I don't particularly care about tuberskis, unless they are done repeatedly. All I'm really concerned with as moderator here is seeing that discussion stays fresh. I don't like it when we become bogged down in the same old back and forth petty insults.

[Japher]

I pull Tuberski's at CG, but I like starting the threads so that the titles create a sentence and then you can bump the words around to say funny things

[MikeH]

It's easier at CG, you can probably get a 12 hour window to accomplish it.

[notyoueither]

I have to say that I don't particularly care about tuberskis, unless they are done repeatedly. All I'm really concerned with as moderator here is seeing that discussion stays fresh. I don't like it when we become bogged down in the same old back and forth petty insults.

Why did your mother name you Lori?

[Lorizael]

Why did your mother name you Lori?

Does your mother know you're gay?

[notyoueither]

Probably not.

[Japher]

So we can say **** now?

edit: guess not, but if we combine the word with something else like dipshit

[ColdWizard]

That was change awhile ago when people complained about not being able to discuss matsushita hardware.

[MikeH]

Can we discuss s****horpe?

[notyoueither]

Why would you want to?

[Lorizael]

My conduct near the end of this thread was not exactly mod-like. I should behave better, and will in the future. However, I maintain that zakubandit should get his ass back here.

[Asher]

Don't apologize for having a spine.

[MikeH]

A spine has no place in an Apolyton moderator.

[rah]

I dissagree

[MikeH]

If a moderator has a spine, they might actually moderate something!

[rah]

That's why they need a spine.
My track record shows that I always endorsed less moderation, but never no moderation. (despite being accused of that on many occasions.)

[ColdWizard]

My conduct near the end of this thread was not exactly mod-like. I should behave better, and will in the future. However, I maintain that zakubandit should get his ass back here.

Best mod posts ever.

[MikeH]

The Predator had the right idea about how to deal with Moderators with spines.

[rah]

And who would you consider the PREDATOR?

[Guynemer]

Lori, why apologize for being right?

I applaud you.

[Lorizael]

I didn't say I was incorrect; I said my conduct was poor. My posts could have done with fewer asterisks.

[Asher]

I ****ing disagree very ****ing strongly.

[Guynemer]

I agree with Asher. Some arguments call for censored words. That was certainly one of them.

[Dinner]

Make it just like CG.