[*Feedback*] Stricter stance on off-topic posting

smashey

tuppence wrote: »

I blame the Donegal crew for leading us all astray anyway.

tuppence wrote: »

Yes i blame the Donegal heads for drawing us off topic. Its the cap that fits in this case.

tuppence,

I'm watching you.

TequilaMockingBird

starbelgrade wrote: »

You've been watching 'Queer Eye For A Straight Guy' again, I see.

Easy tiger.

tuppence

smashey wrote: »

tuppence,

I'm watching you.

I wear said cap too. Thats the way I view the world. Off topic. Oh oh. :eek::D

starbelgrade

sueme wrote: »

Easy tiger.

Meoow.

Xiney

Well, this thread hasn't become ironic in any way....

starbelgrade

Xiney wrote: »

Well, this thread hasn't become ironic in any way....

A thread entitled "Stricter stance on off-topic posting" going off topic... I fail to see the irony in that!

muffler

takola wrote: »

Do you mind me asking for both yourself and Basquille's opinions are now Muff?

I know you're not too keen on a chat thread, Basq doesn't seem to keen on it either.

So most of us have had our say now etc, What do the two of you think would benefit the forum?

Right so. I think this thread has been most useful and some very good points raised. Im going to have to answer this in 2 parts though. As most of you will have seen a large percentage of my posts here are done as an ordinary user with a few then made with the auld mods hat on.

As a user/poster here I think most of the threads are fine. I have been guilty of posting off topic but I try never to do so until the thread has served its usefulness and then its only to throw in a bit of humor or winding someone up maybe. As a user I would be reasonable happy overall with the way things have been going up to now but I do realise that a couple of threads need a bit more moderation. A chit chat thread would not be my first choice to post in and I could see it turning into a thunderdrome type situation where people here may get the idea that anything goes including insults etc. I wouldnt want to be involved in that.

As a mod I have similar views but there are points I wish to make and hopefully they will be taken on board by everyone here. I would just like to point out that I haven't even discussed this with basquille so these are my own thoughts as co mod of the forum.

The onus is on the users here to post appropriately and in accordance with the charter and boards.ie general rules and guidelines. We (the mods)are here to police the forum and carry out any moderation that is considered necessary. Just remember its your forum and its a damn good one so lets keep it that way.

If your post is moderated in any way - edited, deleted, infraction given etc please dont make a song and dance of the issue. We are like football refs - we like to think we do things in a fair and unbiased manner and for the good of the community here.

We will never ever eliminate off topic posting and God knows I have lost count of the number of times I have asked people to stay on topic. Personally I dont have a problem with one off posts but persistent off topic posting in a thread will demand moderation of some kind.

Most of you here will know that I have dealt with a lot of you by PM and offered advice and explanations. Those PMs are private and wont be disclosed to anyone else other than another mod if a second opinion is required. But I would suggest that you all make more use of the "report post" button. If you are unhappy with the content of a particular post then report it. By doing so myself and basquille are alerted to it and the only people that can view a reported post are other mods, Smods and admins. So make use of that facility.

Listen I could go on and on but I have to rush off here. In summary I feel that the forum is good overall, a wee bit of off topic posting wont stop the world from spinning round but we all need to tighten up that little bit.

Oh and as regards a chit chat type thread from a mods point of view Im not entirely convinced that it is the way forward although I am prepared to give it a run for a while to see how it develops. If it was solely my call I would say no however I will pass the buck on this one and run with what ever basquille decides.

starbelgrade

I think this thread is a good example of a good thread - a decent discussion about the main topic with a wee bit off off topic banter & ribbing (some of it very entertaining). Possibly a template for how the forum should be (and generally is)?

Mint Sauce

mmm, its been busy since i signed off in the early hours, as for the cliques smashy and takola, i agree with yas, you are going to get them, i'm, not sure how many regualar posters there would be on the sligo/NW boards, but i also post regulary on another site (what you thought i only visted here ), and there can be some cliques there as well.

where you get a group of people who post regulary enough, you can get some sort of bond, even though we might never meet, you get used to their on line persona, and ocasionaly, i'll be honest, it can sometimes be a little off putting for newbies, but then we're all newbies at some stage, and its just a caes of inviting or encourageing them to jump in and get invloved

muffler

irish-stew wrote: »

where you get a group of people who post regulary enough, you can get some sort of bond, even though we might never meet, you get used to their on line persona

A beers night would sort that

JIZZLORD

going off topic is often enevitable, it adds a bit of banter to the proceedings, and i would welcome it, but then again i hang out on the galway boards alot and going off topic is a necessity.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=303646

Mint Sauce

muffler wrote: »

A beers night would sort that

after the match tomoorow



sorry, off topic

Basq

Sorry in the delayed response all.

What i meant by "cliquey" is NOT that we exclude outsiders, but that we have our own little in-jokes and comments on the forum between the regulars. Probably was the wrong term to use.

What muffler has said a few posts back is spot on, I think i'm largely pleased with how the forum is progressing. As i've said numerous times, I think mainly making people aware of the increase in off-topic posting was something this thread has at least done.

A 'chit-chat' thread is not something I want to put out there just yet as there's too many of those type threads elsewhere. And notice they're in the depths of Boards.ie too - The Cuckoo's Nest (no offence to my fellow nesters! ) and The Thunderdome. It's something we'll on the cards for the future but for the time being, we'll leave the forum the way it is.

TequilaMockingBird

This forum is open to the public, and as long as they abide by the rules of Boards.ie and the particular charter, then surely any thread topic can be started? I understand it would have to be moderated, but thats really not my problem, it's the Mods who took on the job.

If I started a "Sligo Chit Chat" thread, would it be locked? If so, I think its wrong.

I want to ask if the curtain shop on Castle Street is still open. Its not worth a new thread, but I could put it out to the locals and I'd get an answer. Some of the regulars are going to the Rovers match tonight, I'd like to ask how they got on, not the match, but the meet up. Loads of little things like this, that aren't worthy of a thread on their own, but imo, would keep the forum moving in a positive way.

My 2c worth.

magnumlady

sueme wrote: »

This forum is open to the public, and as long as they abide by the rules of Boards.ie and the particular charter, then surely any thread topic can be started? I understand it would have to be moderated, but thats really not my problem, it's the Mods who took on the job.

If I started a "Sligo Chit Chat" thread, would it be locked? If so, I think its wrong.

I want to ask if the curtain shop on Castle Street is still open. Its not worth a new thread, but I could put it out to the locals and I'd get an answer. Some of the regulars are going to the Rovers match tonight, I'd like to ask how they got on, not the match, but the meet up. Loads of little things like this, that aren't worthy of a thread on their own, but imo, would keep the forum moving in a positive way.

My 2c worth.

I totally agree with you Sueme.
I wanted to talk about the car crash on Monday and also the local radio stations.
Both not worthy of new threads and both concerning Sligo so not suitable for me to talk about it in another forum.

Madge

I like the idea of a chit chat thread but it could descend into nonsense as Basquille said.

sueme wrote: »

I want to ask if the curtain shop on Castle Street is still open. Its not worth a new thread,

Why wouldn't it be? Threads can be started on anything as long as it concerns Sligo.

Gillie

I agree with Madge. What's the harm in starting new threads?
If it only gets a couple of replies I feel it's worth it.

Look at some of the threads in AH or Soccer. They are huge and hard to read through.

Madge

Gillie wrote: »

Look at some of the threads in AH or Soccer. They are huge and hard to read through.

Yeah I think it is better to have threads on specific topics regardless of how meaningless a topic might be deemed; sure look at the sausages thread!
It is better than 1 big long 1 packed with this, that and the other. It could get messy.

TequilaMockingBird

My point is, a "Nonsense" thread is wanted by some of the users of the forum. We can't post off topic, as its obviously annoying some users, so have a "Nonsense/Chit-Chat" thread where we can just chat. If you don't want to read it fair enough, if you find it too long use the "View last read post thingy".

Then we have smiley faces all round!

Basq

sueme wrote: »

If I started a "Sligo Chit Chat" thread, would it be locked? If so, I think its wrong.

Yes, it would be locked and I would do so without any qualms. You'd be going against the wishes of two moderators who both currently express no need for this thread.

sueme wrote: »

I want to ask if the curtain shop on Castle Street is still open. Its not worth a new thread, but I could put it out to the locals and I'd get an answer. Some of the regulars are going to the Rovers match tonight, I'd like to ask how they got on, not the match, but the meet up. Loads of little things like this, that aren't worthy of a thread on their own, but imo, would keep the forum moving in a positive way.

Go ahead and start a new thread no matter how simple a query is.

Think about it this way - which is better? You post a new thread about whether the curtain shop on Castle Street is still open and await a reply, or post it in a 'Chit-Chat / Nonsense' thread where it'll be lost in among the chit-chat / nonsense. I've seen this happen numerous times on these type threads.

Madge is spot on with her point that any thread (no matter how brief or meaningless it is) can be posted as long as it pertains to Sligo.

TequilaMockingBird

basquille wrote: »

Yes, it would be locked and I would do so without any qualms. You'd be going against the wishes of two moderators who both currently express no need for this thread.


Go ahead and start a new thread no matter how simple a query is.

Think about it this way - which is better? You post a new thread about whether the curtain shop on Castle Street is still open and await a reply, or post it in a 'Chit-Chat / Nonsense' thread where it'll be lost in among the chit-chat / nonsense. I've seen this happen numerous times on these type threads.

Madge is spot on with her point that any thread (no matter how brief or meaningless it is) can be posted as long as it pertains to Sligo.

Well thats me told!

I suppose a poll is out of the question?

smashey

sueme wrote: »

I suppose a poll is out of the question?

Not if you do a poll dance.

Oops, off topic. My bad.

I'll get me coat.

muffler

smashey wrote: »

Not if you do a poll dance.

I live in hope

Sligored

have to side with the mods on this one - there is nothing more frustrating than reading a thread and then losing your train of thought by off topic posting.
there are a number of threads i would not bother reading like curtain shops etc but have no problem with anyone posting looking for info on them.
i think if people think carefully about the title before the op , it will be easier for all to read the topics that interest them