Newbies: The PH resurrection

[_Batty_]

Ok so lots of negative thoughts, very few positive or constructive comments.

so i thought i'd start a thread that could help Garlick/Will with a few constructive points on how to 'filter' the users and up the quality of PH.

Suggestion 1: Newbie Bin (as suggested) say the first 20 posts are limited to certain sections
Suggestion 2: Newbies limited to a strict no classifieds ban for the first xx posts. This stops the invasion on people using it purely for the ads
Suggestion 3: a 3 strikes and you're out system, perhaps using a card system that can be shown (perhaps as a logo on the login/under username) to also show everyone else their status.
Suggestion 4: someone *must* regularily trawl the ads both for scams and tat.
Suggestion 5: a summary of PH mods actions. it can be short
'Banned for offensive comments', 'Topic voilates name and shame rules' etc etc

[Don1]

Maybe a spelling, grammar and punctuation test as part of the joining ceremony?

[bobthemonkey]

_Batty_ said:

Suggestion 1: Newbie Bin (as suggested) say the first 20 posts are limited to certain sections

I think this level would prehaps just lead to idiot posts to use up the count. Instead how about no posts for 24 hours after first registration, and the first 5 posts must be in anything other than the P&P.

Edited by bobthemonkey on Tuesday 26th February 22:09

[minimoog]

bobthemonkey said:

_Batty_ said:

Suggestion 1: Newbie Bin (as suggested) say the first 20 posts are limited to certain sections

I think this level would prehaps just lead to idiot posts to use up the count. Instead how about no posts for 24 hours after first registration, and the first 5 posts must be in anything other than the P&P.

I like the policy at b3ta.com, where they have 'Newbie Tuesday'. Noobs can only make their first post on the next Tuesday after registration. That way the regulars can hone their knives on Monday night in preparation for the slaughter

[jagdpanther]

minimoog said:

bobthemonkey said:

_Batty_ said:

Suggestion 1: Newbie Bin (as suggested) say the first 20 posts are limited to certain sections

I think this level would prehaps just lead to idiot posts to use up the count. Instead how about no posts for 24 hours after first registration, and the first 5 posts must be in anything other than the P&P.

I like the policy at b3ta.com, where they have 'Newbie Tuesday'. Noobs can only make their first post on the next Tuesday after registration. That way the regulars can hone their knives on Monday night in preparation for the slaughter

Hmmmmm like a fox hunt with noobs

[NiceCupOfTea]

I like suggestion 2 (minimum no. of posts before being able to use the classifieds) but there is NO WAY HayMarket would go for it as I'm sure a huge amount of their revenue is from advertising based on use of classifieds.

It would certainly kill the scammers overnight though.

I would say that a clearly defined and adhered to Moderator's policy would be a good thing.

Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Tuesday 26th February 23:49

[FourWheelDrift]

NiceCupOfTea said:

I like suggestion 2 (minimum no. of posts before being able to use the classifieds) but there is NO WAY HayMarket would go for it as I'm sure a huge amount of their revenue is from advertising based on use of classifieds.

Classifieds are free for everyone except professional traders who do pay, they are unlikely to be scammers.

[anonymous-user]

bobthemonkey said:

_Batty_ said:

Suggestion 1: Newbie Bin (as suggested) say the first 20 posts are limited to certain sections

I think this level would prehaps just lead to idiot posts to use up the count. Instead how about no posts for 24 hours after first registration, and the first 5 posts must be in anything other than the P&P.

I agree but I'd say 7 days.

[NiceCupOfTea]

FourWheelDrift said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

I like suggestion 2 (minimum no. of posts before being able to use the classifieds) but there is NO WAY HayMarket would go for it as I'm sure a huge amount of their revenue is from advertising based on use of classifieds.

Classifieds are free for everyone except professional traders who do pay, they are unlikely to be scammers.

I know, but the number of classifieds would drop straight away making ad space less saleable.

If you look at the classifieds 90% of the ads have no profile listed - I assume that means you would greatly reduce the number of ads, thereby reducing the number who look at them, and thus the ad revenue would drop.

I assume that's how it works?

[Silent1]

_Batty_ said:

Suggestion 1: Newbie Bin (as suggested) say the first 20 posts are limited to certain sections

How about a vote system, everyone who's been here >1 year can vote on anothers post.
To post in the chat sections of the website they have to receive 20 good post votes.
You could define a good post as being >50% approval rating

Batty said:

Suggestion 2: Newbies limited to a strict no classifieds ban for the first xx posts. This stops the invasion on people using it purely for the ads

That's not something i can see working, it's one of the primary aims of the website and was (still is) used to pull people in, meaning advert space is worth more (another thread on what's right or wrong about that please)

Batty said:

Suggestion 3: a 3 strikes and you're out system, perhaps using a card system that can be shown (perhaps as a logo on the login/under username) to also show everyone else their status.

You could use the above ranking system but apply it to a user, if their percentage ranks drops below a certain level, they lose access to some forums, should it continue to drop they get binned.

Batty said:

Suggestion 4: someone *must* regularily trawl the ads both for scams and tat.

Haymarket could ask for volunteers to scan the adverts and pull scam ones for the moderators to look at, like a sort of enhanced report function. It's unlikely to be abused by people for "comedy" reasons

Batty said:

Suggestion 5: a summary of PH mods actions. it can be short
'Banned for offensive comments', 'Topic voilates name and shame rules' etc etc

It's always been PH policy to not discuss reasons for banning people, i agree with it. The banned person can always contact another PHer they know to post the reason.

Closing threads could be closed for a reason, maybe just a set of 5 along the lines of, pointless/chatroom/NSFPH (not suitable for PH)/trolling etc

[Mattt]

Silent1 in 'choose me to be a mod' shocker.

[Silent1]

Mattt said:

Silent1 in 'choose me to be a mod' shocker.

I know i've got no chance, unlike you with your page long essay

[SplatSpeed]

Don1 said:

Maybe a spelling, grammar and punctuation test as part of the joining ceremony?

so grammer is more important than IQ??

[LordGrover]

SplatSpeed said:

Don1 said:

Maybe a spelling, grammar and punctuation test as part of the joining ceremony?

so grammer is more important than IQ??

In a written medium, probably yes. It doesn't matter how good or valid one's point is if you're unable to express it clearly.

[/oldgitmode]

[SGirl]

Why not just lock newbies out of the P&P for a while before allowing them to post there? That might stop at least some of the trolling from people who aren't even interested in cars...

Oh, and while we're at it - why not make the P&P visible to registered, logged-on members only?

Edited by SGirl on Wednesday 27th February 10:05

[thewave]

SGirl said:

Why not just lock newbies out of the P&P for a while before allowing them to post there? That might stop at least some of the trolling from people who aren't even interested in cars...

Oh, and while we're at it - why not make the P&P visible to registered, logged-on members only?

That's actually a darn good suggestion.

This way those signing up will generally be signing up for car info (as I did) to ask a question on a particular marque or general motoring query. Once they've been registered for 1 month, and are logged in, allow other parts of the site to open up/become visable.

Why not trial it for 3 months? What's the worst that can happen?

[Mattt]

Silent1 said:

Mattt said:

Silent1 in 'choose me to be a mod' shocker.

I know i've got no chance, unlike you with your page long essay

I know, but I forgot to attach my CV.

[Timberwolf]

SGirl said:

Oh, and while we're at it - why not make the P&P visible to registered, logged-on members only?

Now that's an interesting idea.

Must admit I occasionally send links to really good threads from the P&P to non-petrolhead friends, but no big loss, fact is that's probably the way half the people with no interest in cars find us in the first place.

Edited by Timberwolf on Wednesday 27th February 12:00

[D_T_W]

Didn't SP&L used to be visible only to logged in members?

Reckon it could be worth a go, take some of the most trolled forums away from non members and newbies until they've been here a month

[Don1]

LordGrover said:

SplatSpeed said:

Don1 said:

Maybe a spelling, grammar and punctuation test as part of the joining ceremony?

so grammer is more important than IQ??

In a written medium, probably yes. It doesn't matter how good or valid one's point is if you're unable to express it clearly.

[/oldgitmode]

Innit.