Runaway threads or topics and the Lock-it! Stick

[mararmeisto]

There has been a noticeable rise in the number of what I'm calling runaway threads, as well as an increase in the number of reports. While I've not taken to handing out warnings to this individual or that (on the basis of a report that says "he called me this" or "she said that, and it's totally not true"), I have begun cleaning up some of the threads, removing the extraneous bits that don't REALLY contribute to the topic of the thread, and then locking the thread.

What's the reasoning? Why am I doing it? As a moderator I'm supposed to keep this train on the tracks (as it were) and I'm seeing in this forum some of what I don't like when I read other forums. Mind you, the squabbling and the name-calling and the carrying-on is not nearly as bad as some other forums, but we have potential.

A couple of common issues that are setting-off my Lock-it! Stick:

• 1-quoting with no name - this one is relatively new (from what I've observed) and it puzzles me a bit: if you've gone to the effort to quote somebody else's words, and then strip out their names from the markup text, why bother? This is similar to the previous practice of editing-out of posts by original posters - there's changing what you wrote and then there's removing it altogether.
  2-circular arguments - going round and round, over and over again with the same points, instead of coming to some kind of termination, even if that means agreeing to disagree. I've seen a couple of "I disagree with you" and "I disagree with you also", but then the points and counterpoints start up all over again. Learn to let it lie.
  3-what I'm calling a lack of PM'ing. If you want to continue to 'converse' with an individual, you really should use the PM button. It's there, beside everyone's alias, and it's a efficient way to further discuss a topic without cluttering a thread.
  4-bringing of PMs into the light - this is another one that a number of people have complained about, either through PMs to the moderators or by flagging a post with a report. PMs are meant to be private (as in between you and the other party) and it's not intended to have their content reproduced into a thread (unless both parties agree).

So, in the end, this is not meant to be a finger-wag at any one particular person (or couple of persons), and it's not meant to be a shape-up-or-I'm-shutting-down-this-forum (because I can't actually do that - only Mark can). We have a very good thing here, there is LOTS of really good information, and there is lots of good discussion. What does sometimes happen is a thread gets a bit drawn out and nothing gets done about it. There are very few active moderators on this forum (less than 7) and it is a very active forum - so we've got a lot of monitoring to do. It's a pretty easy job when all the posters are acting like the mature adults we all hope they would.

This thread will remain sticky for a week and open for comments. Depending on how it looks at the end of a week it may be locked altogether.

[jessef]

I concur

[RichD]

/applause

[delicat]

Go for it!

This might lock all the little grimlins into a sealed box...

[snelson]

[TardisDeli]

Thank You Mararmeisto. Too many folk are using this site as if it were their Facebooks. Cheers, Christine.

[Adrock]

My one concern is that locking threads prevents contribution, which is why I prefer to warn users. you have put a lot of effort into keeping things organized, believe me I can tell, and I appreciate it. Certain things do need to be locked, I am just adding something to consider, don't let a bad apple ruin it for the rest of us. It is no fun to have something to contribute and not be able to because someone couldn't shut up, ya know?

[crushers]

locking threads works when most of the valuable information has already been contributed. if someone feels the need to contribute after a locked thread can they not contact the moderator with the info and let him decide to open or leave shut?

seems there must have been a reason for locking in the first place.

[Green1]

funny how the thread was locked in an unbiased way, and then opened just enough to put a bias on it and re-lock it.

If you are going to lock a thread then it is your obligation not to do so in a way as to present a biassed view.

[crushers]

reading posts is like watching a soap opera ... except much more

[Erebus]

Will you two stop it? Both of you, just shut up! Ignore each other, and you will be doing both yourselves, and everyone else, a favour.

And I speak as someone who bought a wonderful delica from one, and considers myself a good friend of the other.

Read my current signature file text, "The decline of the west can be traced to the invention of quill pens. When people had to pound their writings into stone blocks they gave more thought to their words."

[crushers]

as i said to the moderators last night, out of respect for the members here, it is time to say "bye bye".
<i posted this one last time here in this thread since it seemed applicable>
<<and thanks for posting up you like you Delica, i appreciate it>>
cheers and enjoy your unique and great vehicles.

Will you two stop it? Both of you, just shut up! Ignore each other, and you will be doing both yourselves, and everyone else, a favour.