Starting Threads on the Forum.

[mawnansmiff]

Since I had to give up my pipe for health reasons I tend to only visit the ‘General Chat’ or ‘Food & Drink’ sections of the Forum which is fine by me. However, sometimes I log on to PM and am a tad disappointed to see that there has been no new content posted in many days.

Sometimes I will just shrug and get back to what I was doing, other times I think about something that I might post that might bring on a chuckle or a smile, or maybe something a little more serious. That said, before I post anything, I give much thought into how it might possibly get twisted around to the point where the thread is closed down.

Once I’m sure it’s a reasonably safe subject, I go ahead and type it up….sometimes including an article I’ve read on the news or maybe an image I’ve seen or maybe one of my more interesting antique books. If a topic that I’ve started gets people talking then I feel as though I’ve contributed to the Forum that taught me so much and introduced me to many interesting folk (and the joys of bourbon) in my early pipe smoking days.

This I did last week in the ‘Food & Drink’ Forum where I posted a story about eating crickets. How can anyone possibly politicise that I thought…..but bugger me someone did just that. Not only that, some subsequent posts seemed to actively encouraging him.

Then the thread got closed!

Don’t get me wrong, the mods really do a great job here in a sometimes challenging environment, but it just seems rather lazy to me to simply stop a thread dead in its tracks rather than having a quiet word with the one causing the mischief. I’ve seen threads that had lots of potential mileage left in them closed due to one or two boneheads who seem to relish in disruption.

This entire Forum is nothing without its contributors. I’ve had private chats over the years with some members and they too have expressed annoyance that a perfectly good thread got closed rather than proactive attention taken to nip problems in the bud. Yet on the other hand, some pretty contentious threads have been allowed to run and run and run....with no one seemingly taking charge!

If I’m booted off the Forum and/or this post is deleted for saying this then so be it. Yes I will be disappointed but I feel so strongly about this that it needed to be said.

Regards,

Jay.

 

[coming to_falling too]

I agree with you. You never know what will get shut down

 

[Merton]

Jay is completely correct and his observations are worthy of both reflection and action.

 

[ashdigger]

It’s a Forum. No one person has all the answers or opinions.

Threads are often organic and they do what they do.

The easiest way to understand threads is to understand yourself. I often ignore threads or certain contributors just because I don’t want to get worked up or too deep in the weeds.

This Forum operates as it should. It’s the people that short circuit.

 

[Merton]

It’s a Forum. No one person has all the answers or opinions.

Threads are often organic and they do what they do.

The easiest way to understand threads is to understand yourself. I often ignore threads or certain contributors just because I don’t want to get worked up or too deep in the weeds.

This Forum operates as it should. It’s the people that short circuit.

Except when they get hijacked by utter nonsense. Not a response to your post, just an observation about other crass and obnoxious responses to threads which too frequently occur.

 

[ashdigger]

Btw, it’s often asserted that you should only talk to people on a Forum the away you would in person, well, that’s not helpful.

I can guarantee that I’m an easy going person to hang out with, but if you go sideways I have zero problems telling you to fuck off.

So instead of telling the Forum to fuck off, I just skip a thread and move on.

So, there is both safety and more politeness in a thread.

 

[didimauw]

It's a touchy subject. Sometimes threads are easy to get back on track. Sometimes we don't see them untill it's gone multiple pages of people fighting or what have you. Some guys can turn any thread into a shit show. It's a talent some have.

Every mod is different too. Some will go through entire threads deleting all the offensive posts, some will just close it. And either way is usually just fine. It's at the mods discretion as you are well aware. Unfortunately this thread may get closed too, however not by me.

 

[ashdigger]

Except when they get hijacked by utter nonsense.

Who decides what’s “utter nonsense”?

See, so now I’ll skip the rest of this thread.

 

[Merton]

Who decides what’s “utter nonsense”?

See, so now I’ll skip the rest of this thread.

It is like the definition of 'pornography" noted in an old Supreme Court case: "difficult to define but you know it when you see it."

 

[sablebrush52]

Who decides what’s “utter nonsense”?

See, so now I’ll skip the rest of this thread.

In the case of forum threads, Admins, Mods, and Members do.

 

[GetOffMyLawn]

It’s like watching TV. If I don’t like something I turn the channel. If I find someone’s posts to be annoying or trollish I put them on my ignore list.

 

[timt]

Sometimes it can feel a bit like putting the patient into a coma to keep it alive. Moderating is tricky for sure.

 

[sablebrush52]

It is like the definition of 'pornography" noted in an old Supreme Court case: "difficult to define but you know it when you see it."

Not always difficult to define. With the Crickets thread it was about somehow using eating of crickets as an opportunity for messaging class hatred with the sudden appearance of "billionaires who want you dead" crap.

This forum has a diverse population, including people who delight in shitting the bed. Tricksters and merry pranksters are a part of it. Don't let them define the forum.

Mods do an excellent job. Compared to other forums I've been on, the gendarmes employ a deft touch. I don't always agree with them, but I respect that they're doing their best with the best of intentions. Some of them have less tolerance of bullshit. And some bullshitters are less tolerant of being called on their bullshit.

It's a shame that Jay's thread was ended by an attack of the bed shitters.

 

[didimauw]

I just called in the riot squad. Lol

 

[mso489]

Forums has a reputation for being one of the rare sites on the net that is relatively civil and agreeable. It's worth striving to keep it that way. This is conversation, not therapy.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Who decides what’s “utter nonsense”?

See, so now I’ll skip the rest of this thread.

People! Just like Soylent Green!

 

[jpmcwjr]

Jay, you are one of the treasures here, and I hope you aren't further put off by the actions of a person or two.

I have seen threads go on that shouldn't and threads closed that I wouldn't have. I've deleted some posts that others wouldn't and vice versa.

We have all seen a few meltdowns, and sometimes they happen to valuable members, mostly to the other kind.

Don't know what else to say, but I hope you keep on keeping' on!

Regards,

John

 

[mawnansmiff]

"Threads are often organic and they do what they do."

This is very true Tim....but people who post purely & simply to derail a thread, in my view, should be told to remedy their behaviour as it's not conducive to a happy, thriving forum.

As I said above, this Forum is nothing without contributors and if those contributors cease to contribute then we'll find ourselves in a very dull wilderness where new posts are few & far between. I just don't want to see that happen here.

Regards,

Jay.

 

[verporchting]

Jay, I really enjoy your thoughtful posts and hope you continue to participate in this forum. It’s a great community and I for one value having your perspective as a part of it.

Post on, sir!

 

[didimauw]

"Threads are often organic and they do what they do."

This is very true Tim....but people who post purely & simply to derail a thread, in my view, should be told to remedy their behaviour as it's not conducive to a happy, thriving forum.

As I said above, this Forum is nothing without contributors and if those contributors cease to contribute then we'll find ourselves in a very dull wilderness where new posts are few & far between. I just don't want to see that happen here.

Regards,

Jay.

There is a lot more to us than just closing threads. There are entirely secret meetings we have, plans put into place, and conversations had with members. There is so much more to it than meets the eye.