The Official How Can PH Improve? (WITH SPOILERS)
Discussion
I/we were asked this very question by a moderator a day or so ago. Instead of just moaning, what would we suggest might improve the site? Garlick has also said that things are under review so here's my 2p worth.
The 'quality' of some members is an issue, the 'Zoo' and 'Nuts' brigade. That and a distasteful tendency for members to turn on others at the drop of a hat. Banter is fun but often it goes too far, too fast. Maybe issue a few infractions. Time in the sin bin, three strikes and all that?
I know spelling and grammar are the subject of multiple threads that never solve anything but generally (very generally) poorly constructed posts reflect a poorly thought out argument and in my view there's a lot to be said for forum decorum. Basically don't throw a crappy post together then turn nasty when people dismantle it.
Topics and appropriate forums. I know there are a fair few City types on PH but at the time of writing this 30% of the threads on page one of P&P relate to finance, investment or the economy. All very interesting for the red brace brigade and if/when I want to read them I'll go looking for them in the business forum. Or not as things are.
Reposts. Firstly let's get the search engine fixed up. It's pretty frustrating to search for a topic, be told it's not there, start a thread and get torn a new @rsehole (see two paras above). I assume the site software allows mods to merge threads and leave a permanent re-direct? I know it's extra workload (been there) but a bit of housekeeping in this direction might help.
All written with the best of intentions so please take this in the manner intended.
The 'quality' of some members is an issue, the 'Zoo' and 'Nuts' brigade. That and a distasteful tendency for members to turn on others at the drop of a hat. Banter is fun but often it goes too far, too fast. Maybe issue a few infractions. Time in the sin bin, three strikes and all that?
I know spelling and grammar are the subject of multiple threads that never solve anything but generally (very generally) poorly constructed posts reflect a poorly thought out argument and in my view there's a lot to be said for forum decorum. Basically don't throw a crappy post together then turn nasty when people dismantle it.
Topics and appropriate forums. I know there are a fair few City types on PH but at the time of writing this 30% of the threads on page one of P&P relate to finance, investment or the economy. All very interesting for the red brace brigade and if/when I want to read them I'll go looking for them in the business forum. Or not as things are.
Reposts. Firstly let's get the search engine fixed up. It's pretty frustrating to search for a topic, be told it's not there, start a thread and get torn a new @rsehole (see two paras above). I assume the site software allows mods to merge threads and leave a permanent re-direct? I know it's extra workload (been there) but a bit of housekeeping in this direction might help.
All written with the best of intentions so please take this in the manner intended.
Christ, I hope not. I'm not interested in officialdom. Merely an offering in response to an exchange of PM's with another moderator.
The 'ignore' option is always there of course but sadly you have to start reading to realise whether or not it's worth.......ummm.....reading. See?
If it helps, great. If not I can always do the other thing.
The 'ignore' option is always there of course but sadly you have to start reading to realise whether or not it's worth.......ummm.....reading. See?
If it helps, great. If not I can always do the other thing.
Frankly, there is only one poster on here I would use an ignore button on und I don't appologise for that. 
. The problem is that it quotes get around it, and it would mess up the flow of a thread.
what would be great is a bit of housecleaning of repetitive/crap posters in SP&L. Bring in some of the overarching mods to get it back on track, rather than it being a purely 'lets bash the police' session, which drives useful people away. I'm in no way questioning the work of Tuscan Rat and co but it needs an 'external audit'.
. The problem is that it quotes get around it, and it would mess up the flow of a thread. what would be great is a bit of housecleaning of repetitive/crap posters in SP&L. Bring in some of the overarching mods to get it back on track, rather than it being a purely 'lets bash the police' session, which drives useful people away. I'm in no way questioning the work of Tuscan Rat and co but it needs an 'external audit'.
A huge dose of "chill, bredren". As noted above, some people get too wound up too quickly.
It's the internet.
It doesn't really matter all that much. The Watches forum is an example of how things should be; on-topic and cordial pretty much all the time.
The P&P is great, but needs a firmer hand. Perhaps a feature where contentious threads can go into moderated mode?
And yeah, the Zoo/Nuts/Loaded contingent isn't helping matters.
It's the internet.
It doesn't really matter all that much. The Watches forum is an example of how things should be; on-topic and cordial pretty much all the time.
The P&P is great, but needs a firmer hand. Perhaps a feature where contentious threads can go into moderated mode?
And yeah, the Zoo/Nuts/Loaded contingent isn't helping matters.
I expect the moderators and those in charge are already doing loads of binning and removing of crap threads and some of these idiots joining up.
Certainly a 3 week ban on posting for new members.
And a flirting and acting coyly 'relationships' section for the needy and desperate and those simply joining for male attention.
Certainly a 3 week ban on posting for new members.
And a flirting and acting coyly 'relationships' section for the needy and desperate and those simply joining for male attention.
ali_kat said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
I thought the quarantine idea that somebody posted up lately has some legs...i.e. new members have limited posting facilities for a few weeks?
i like this idea too, and an ignore button (promise not to use it on Garlick 
I don't think an ignore function is suitable really, it will make the flow of threads go all screwy and assumes that poster will always be abusive/stupid/whatever.
One post a day for a week for a new posters seems a good idea, I don't think anyone would be daft enough to set up several email accounts just to post a few more times and maybe this would make new posters think a bit more about what they're posting. Maybe this could be a punsihment too? Post something abusive and you can only post once per day for 3 days?
As for the Zoo crew, maybe the mods should just spend a week binning everything in this vein, locking threads, deleting posts, etc. with a quick sticky saying you're trying to clean the place up.
One post a day for a week for a new posters seems a good idea, I don't think anyone would be daft enough to set up several email accounts just to post a few more times and maybe this would make new posters think a bit more about what they're posting. Maybe this could be a punsihment too? Post something abusive and you can only post once per day for 3 days?
As for the Zoo crew, maybe the mods should just spend a week binning everything in this vein, locking threads, deleting posts, etc. with a quick sticky saying you're trying to clean the place up.
Two ideas from another site where they are known as 'miserabling' and 'rainboeing' (correct spelling, long story).
Miserabling involves upsetting the log in process for certain users with the result that it can take hours to get on to the site. Most get the hint and go away.
Rainboeing allows the selected poster to see the whole site including their own posts. The fun part is that they are invisible to everyone else
They can rant and rave asking why people aren't responding to them as much as they like, all in vain.
Miserabling involves upsetting the log in process for certain users with the result that it can take hours to get on to the site. Most get the hint and go away.
Rainboeing allows the selected poster to see the whole site including their own posts. The fun part is that they are invisible to everyone else
They can rant and rave asking why people aren't responding to them as much as they like, all in vain.Flintstone said:
Two ideas from another site where they are known as 'miserabling' and 'rainboeing' (correct spelling, long story).
Miserabling involves upsetting the log in process for certain users with the result that it can take hours to get on to the site. Most get the hint and go away.
Rainboeing allows the selected poster to see the whole site including their own posts. The fun part is that they are invisible to everyone else They can rant and rave asking why people aren't responding to them as much as they like, all in vain.
That sounds like a really silly idea which will just alienate users, or turn the more computer savvy users on PH if they decide to 'fix' it for themselves.Miserabling involves upsetting the log in process for certain users with the result that it can take hours to get on to the site. Most get the hint and go away.
Rainboeing allows the selected poster to see the whole site including their own posts. The fun part is that they are invisible to everyone else
They can rant and rave asking why people aren't responding to them as much as they like, all in vain.Flintstone said:
Two ideas from another site where they are known as 'miserabling' and 'rainboeing' (correct spelling, long story).
Miserabling involves upsetting the log in process for certain users with the result that it can take hours to get on to the site. Most get the hint and go away.
Rainboeing allows the selected poster to see the whole site including their own posts. The fun part is that they are invisible to everyone else They can rant and rave asking why people aren't responding to them as much as they like, all in vain.
Hmmm... Tempting, if just for the amusement of the mods!Miserabling involves upsetting the log in process for certain users with the result that it can take hours to get on to the site. Most get the hint and go away.
Rainboeing allows the selected poster to see the whole site including their own posts. The fun part is that they are invisible to everyone else
They can rant and rave asking why people aren't responding to them as much as they like, all in vain.Both would be pretty easy to code, but I'm not sure they would actually achieve much more than the sin-bin and ban tools can do, and could cause a lot of problems
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