POLL : Off Topic Posting and Chat Room Banter

[rhys]

What do people think, is there a way to make topics more readable?
It's not realy about censorship.

[welshboy]

I voted yes providing some way can be found to separate this from the bread and butter normal navitron forum so serious renewable type postings can be perused. There are some people on the forum who I regard as the sages and make a point of reading their postings as I would not like to miss them. Too much clutter spoils this although I  still enjoy reading the odd rant/musing on life generally but would like the choice. I had better stop now or I will hijack this thread !

[martin]

what seems utterly bonkers is that we already have a "general" thread - this is it! Noone will bat an eyelid if you want to  post on knitting patterns, the price of fish, or whether John Sargent should have lefty Strictly Come Dancing - "general" posts - what it says on the tin!
   I really do think some people are being a touch "obtuse" about this whole thing - I think it is inconsiderate to expect voluntary moderators to have to waste time moderating what should have been self-moderated.
Over recent weeks I've usually found time to post some "discussion starters" in the Media thread - despite the odd bit of flak suggesting bias, I think it's been generally well received, and there have been some good and valid debates as a result therof-  it certainly gets loads of hits, which suggests popularity - over the last few days, I've had neither the time nor inclination to do so, largely as a result of this smut/censorship nonsense

[MR GUS]

yes, too much more of the Oh, how I wish it was better that's gone on recently (glad I missed most of it) that fogs over proper posts on the subjects we really gather here for.

 finding the real info on here of late has been like trying to step barefoot on  clean spots of the carpet that isn't covered with Oh, how I wish it was better from the behind of a dog thats eaten bad meat! (a small room with no access to the outside).
it's been infantile to a large degree & will lead to a lot of bad blood which this place has avoided generally due to over-riding interests in technology (I wish I understood the half of it & found it thoroughly enlightening, now it's off balance & irrelevant.

 ..theres always flickr, my space et al for all that banal trash talk! (don't mind a laugh but it's lost the plot)
 sorry but it's poisoning the boards.

 (heads down for a full on smitefest)! ..on your marks....

[billi]

MR Gus have an applaud first   

Billi

[Treebeard]

A lot of the posts on this forum seem to be from people trying to boosts their number of posts, as if this somehow also boosts their status.
Is there any way the number of posts display can be turned off? Let everone be judged by the quality of their input, not quantity.

[rhys]

what seems utterly bonkers is that we already have a "general" thread - this is it! Noone will bat an eyelid if you want to  post on knitting patterns, the price of fish, or whether John Sargent should have lefty Strictly Come Dancing - "general" posts - what it says on the tin!
   I really do think some people are being a touch "obtuse" about this whole thing - I think it is inconsiderate to expect voluntary moderators to have to waste time moderating what should have been self-moderated.
Over recent weeks I've usually found time to post some "discussion starters" in the Media thread - despite the odd bit of flak suggesting bias, I think it's been generally well received, and there have been some good and valid debates as a result therof-  it certainly gets loads of hits, which suggests popularity - over the last few days, I've had neither the time nor inclination to do so, largely as a result of this smut/censorship nonsense

All that's being suggested, is to review the layout of the forum sections.
I agree it should be self moderated.
The General Discussion is a section under "General Renewable Topics"
If its here that
"knitting patterns, the price of fish, or whether John Sargent should have lefty Strictly Come Dancing"
should be discussed then I'm confused, like many others.

- "general" posts and "Chat Room"- is not what it says on the tin!

Just so as not to add another post
An option I suppose Treebeard

[David]

A lot of the posts on this forum seem to be from people trying to boosts their number of posts, as if this somehow also boosts their status.
Is there any way the number of posts display can be turned off? Let everone be judged by the quality of their input, not quantity.

I agree. I would also suggest turning off the star thing and the silly names. I'm certainly not a hero.

[kristen]

"what seems utterly bonkers is that we already have a "general" thread - this is it! "

Martin: For me the distinction would be that this forum is in the

Navitron's Forums > General Renewable Topics > General Discussion >

breadcrumb, and as such I would like to see it only contain (well, within reason, you know what I mean I'm sure) things that appertain to Renewables.

Recently there has been chatter about how Interest rates work, Spacemen dropping their handbags, ... which I think would be better sited in an additional forum which was not under any Renewalables main heading

My proposal would be:

Navitron's Forums > Other > Off topic (or whatever catchy name you want to give it) >

and personally I would also add a forum for:

Navitron's Forums > Other > Site Issues

for any problems folk have using the site, or whatever; conceivably there may be others.

In terms of Moderating:

Its a thankless task, so have an Applaud.  In the old days when I used to see SPAM (haven't seen any for ages, well done!) I would use the "Report to moderator" link.  I expect others do/would do too. I don't think anyone should have an expectation that you, or any other moderator, will have read every post;  however if you get half a dozen people using the "report to moderator" on a specific post that presumably warrants investigation?

Clearly this is all inordinate hassle for you, sorry for adding to that burden.

[MR GUS]

A lot of the posts on this forum seem to be from people trying to boosts their number of posts, as if this somehow also boosts their status.
Is there any way the number of posts display can be turned off? Let everone be judged by the quality of their input, not quantity.

 The people I respect are those who bother to share all their information so freely (all of you basically) till now I have  found out so much to aspire to, absorb & read, though alot seems so far out of my reach it gave me no nonsense info with a nice bit of general banter, having been away a month or so (off the forum) there is a screaming difference to what i left & now come back to.
 Now when I try & concentrate on a thread it's like suckin sunday lunch through a straw (un-liquidised) so much of the good stuff is left behind.
Brains trust going  "B-A-D"
I don't give a fig for posting levels or stars, I do appreciate the mods work (trying to appease all is hard) & wish for normal behaviour after xmas (hopefully before) first & foremost lets use this site for it's main & original purpose which you won't find easily elsewhere, namely quality renewables information from slightly off-centre minds!   

[lightfoot]

I think most of us - Mods included - are guilty of going off topic from time to time, or indulging in a bit of friendly banter or making the odd passing comment, especially as we get to know each other etc - but that's life and it's not the end of the World.

Personally I can't see what all the fuss is about - if a thread happens to evolve a little sideways, then so be it and if someone has something more to add to the original topic - then speak up and bring it back on topic, or start a new thread.  No one has to read or comment on every post - and if you wish, it's not hard to skim though to find the ones of interest and ignore the rest. 

I think most people make an effort to start new threads in the appropriate sections and/or if there's no other option, then the 'General' section seems the obvious place - even if it's not a 100% renewable topic or just a bit of small talk etc (which is generally obvious by the thread heading) - variety is the spice of life after all !

Give when you can and take as you need - And don't do to others what you wouldn't want done to yourself.....unless your into all that M&S lark 


Love and Peace,



lightfoot.

[Antman]

Well said Mr Gus

The forum is degenerating to the detriment of Navitron. It has become increasingly troublesome for moderators and admin over the past couple of weeks especially. The time has come where a stand has to be taken - particularly as we are receiving negative comments and complaints.

It must be remembered that this Forum was established to promote Renewable Energy and support Navitron and its products. In my view the inane childish banter going on over recent days has deviated from that objective by an unacceptable margin. Some members have been deliberately pushing boundaries to see how far (and how long) they can go.

Discussions are under way to decide what action will be taken as the long-standing members and supporters of this Forum do not wish to see it degenerate into a gutter for toilet smut and banal off-topic deviations.
There is a world of difference between the odd comment that has been made previously (accompanied by appropriate smiley to indicate that the poster is not serious) and what has been happening recently - as Mr Gus has found to apparent disgust.

There will not be a chat-room or Adult-only section because none of us are prepared to moderate it because, by its nature, it would be impossible to moderate!  If people wish to have banal chat there are plenty of other places they can go.

Since gmail registration appears to have been cracked, I for one am spending longer rejecting multiple bot registration attempts. There are now so many boards on the Forum that moderating them is becoming extremely difficult and time consuming. We are lucky that Martin still has plenty of time on his hands    Ultimately something will happen just as soon as Ivan decides the direction he wishes to go....

Of course, if members were to moderate their own posts rather than push the boundaries, as has been requested elsewhere, peace and harmony could return without further action.

Antman 

[kristen]

Amen to that

[lightfoot]

I agree that we should all make every effort to be polite and decent to one another, but obviously we don't all share the same tastes and/or personalities - no one can please all the people, all of the time and I dare say there will be times when someone may need a little nudge. 

But why just complain to and/or expect the official mods to do all work of editing and policing the forum.  If you see something that bothers you, or feel is inappropriate/offensive etc, then speak up and interact - by either posting your comments directly on the forum / relevant thread or sending a PM to the person in question, asking them to edit their post / modify their behavior etc - It's good to talk !

I'm sure it can be done in a polite and civilized manner, without being antagonistic or getting all Victor Meldrew over every little thing etc.  I feel it would help to educate people as to what is unacceptable/unappreciated (and vice-versa) by other members of the forum.


Just a thought 



lightfoot.

[David]

There is a world of difference between the odd comment that has been made previously (accompanied by appropriate smiley to indicate that the poster is not serious) and what has been happening recently - as Mr Gus has found to apparent disgust.

I did try and insert one once, but there didn't seem to be an obvious way of doing it. Dragging an icon to the message box produced some javascript stuff, even in the preview screen.

I'll drag one here  javascript:void(0); and see if it appears when I post the message.

Edit - I see that it didn't work. Can anyone enlighten my pretty little head on how to do it?