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Why don't U, er, MERGE threads instead of closing them?

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Comments

  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited January 2013 Posts: 13,350
    wj263 wrote:
    A sticky thread for new users explaining the unique characteristics of this forum might cut down on the unnecessary threads. It would be a friendlier welcome than the near-instant complaint responses that lots of new users get in their very first threads.

    Sadly we can't have sticky threads, maybe that function will be added to Vanilla one day.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited January 2013 Posts: 12,459
    DarthDimi wrote:
    wj263 wrote:
    It would be a friendlier welcome than the near-instant complaint responses that lots of new users get in their very first threads.

    To be fair, mods usually don't make less than friendly comments. Our tone is mostly sober and businesslike, the way it should be. We lock a thread and state the reason why. I admit that I sometimes display signs of irritation but that's mostly because the news section gets constantly abused for topics that aren't Bond news in the slightest - even new members ought to understand that there's an appropriate section for everything - or because, despite what the search function returns, some topics should not be expected to be original on a Bond forum that's been active as long as ours. To think that 'who is your favourite Bond?' hasn't ever been discussed here before is extremely naive.

    Furthermore, I'd like to point out that a social community like this one is a self-correcting structure. We invite our members to state constructive criticism for the benefit of us all. The admins shall then take this criticism under sincere consideration and if possible work from interesting suggestions in future forum revisions. Even criticism which is stated in a fairly aggressive manner eventually finds its way to the good people who run the business.

    Is it then, conversely, wrong for us to expect from our members, new as well as veteran ones, a certain level of self-correcting openness? Despite the tone they assume us, mods, have used whilst stating the reasons for locking their thread, might the reasons not be taken into account for the future? We're not asking for money or jail-time, you know. ;-)

    When I first joined the old forum - dinosaurs still roamed the Earth back then - my very first thread was, with certain impoliteness, pointed out as inappropriate considering the section I had chosen for it. A mod, however, stepped in and posted a simple "moved to ..." line, explaining also why it was felt that my thread would better fit that other section. This never discouraged me to proceed; rather I swiftly understood that paying extra attention to these matters would be important were I to stay aboard. Well, I have stayed aboard. Mild unpleasantness in my newbie days did not, in the least, discourage me to go on. I'm a scientist after all; if I wouldn't put justified criticism to good use, I wouldn't be very good at my job. ;-)

    I also want to express my gratitude, something that I feel happens not nearly enough in a thread where some form of critique sets the tone. Thank you, first and foremost, to those members who in this thread and in other ones have shared with the rest of the forum their confidence in, and appreciation for the work of our mod team. We really labour hard, in between other engagements in life, to keep this place a nice place for the lot of us. And we're only human after all. We'd never pretend to be wisdom incarnated. That's why we support constructive criticism from all our members. Secondly, thank you, all of you out there, who do pay close attention to the section in which a thread is posted, to the possible existence of a duplicate one, to the multi-page potential of an intended new thread. Brilliant threads are spawned from the minds of our members, offering all of us, mods included, countless hours of Bond discussing fun. This forum belongs to all of us; mods just keep an extra eye on certain things, process complaints and secretly worship those of you who, without blatantly seeking out forum glory, persistently help us in spotting duplicate threads and other flaws. Thank you all.

    Lastly, let me say that when I ascend to the forum between every day quarrels and works, I don't immediately bring out the moderator's bludgeon but instead I come as a Bond fan, seeking to converse with you all, learn from you all, and share my passion with you all. The warmth that radiates from this forum, even in darker days, when certain members demand for instance that we touch their buttons ;-) , puts a smile on my face!

    I just want to say thanks, DarthDimi, for this well thought out, clear, and informative post. You have stated things so well. And this is in general a friendly forum, so I agree with your comments - and thanks for making me laugh with your last sentence. I am so happy I missed this "touching" person's third (?) and hopefully final incarnation on this forum.
    You, and so many regular members, make this forum a truly enjoyable place to visit. I am on this forum nearly every day (okay, yes, every day - except when avoiding spoilers for Skyfall). It takes my mind off of my stressful work, helps me to connect with other Bond fans in a great way, and adds a lot to my enjoyment of Bond overall. Not a small thing coming from a lifelong fan like me (Bond and Holmes have been part of my life since childhood). Indeed we all need guidance and correcting at times, and yes some things can be improved upon from time to time, but this is a very good Bond forum. I'll do my best to continue on as a viable member for years to come, wherever I am in the world.
    Domo arigato gozaimasu.
  • GermanladyGermanlady
    edited January 2013 Posts: 6,601
    One thing remains. I have NEVER seen in any forum the need, people feel to open a new thread for every single or almost every single question, news or report, which has nothing to do with the unclear forum. IMO that is just a bad habit, that became common. In times of vivid traffic, you have pages in one section that go by in just one day and make it impossible to find something with just one view. The need to use this search button all the time is unpleasant and tiring and the question I have is: Is there ANYTHING that can be done about that? Like having main title threads, that ARE used for everything belonging in there and also - can the mods or Admins just delete treads instead of locking them? etc...I don't know, if this forum structure really doesn't allow a better organisation...

    I think, there are enough people, who agree on these points, but feel, its critisizing the mods and restrain from having their say. I would like to make very clear, that on my part, it has nothing to do with the mods not doing good work, it has to do with this forum, that forces them to act in certain ways, which were discussed here.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited January 2013 Posts: 12,459
    Yes, people open new threads right and left without considering where to put them or if duplicate, and not having a better search engine capability or the ability to pin threads ..., it just gets messy. I think the mods are aware that is a big problem - but what options are there? I think these are the main problems the mods would like to solve, certainly the members are pretty vocal about this, but I have no idea how much they can change the set up/format of this actual website to make it better.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,490
    4EverBonded wrote:
    Yes, people open new threads right and left without considering where to put them or if duplicate, and not having a better search engine capability or the ability to pin threads ..., it just gets messy. I think the mods are aware that is a big problem - but what options are there? I think these are the main problems the mods would like to solve, certainly the members are pretty vocal about this, but I have no idea how much they can change the set up/format of this actual website to make it better.

    Google search. It's so simplistic, yet not many follow it, and I'm not sure why. This is pretty common knowledge for anyone who frequently uses the Internet, and if anything, this solution should be posted somewhere so everyone knows. Even at this point, we still have users who have been around for some time who constantly create duplicate threads of very basic stuff we would have already discussed.
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    Googling doesn't always work. Mainly since lots of threads aren't named what you'd think.

    And yes we can use google but it would really help if the search bar worked, and if the main threads were stuck at the top of the page.

    Instead of posting "use google" on the site so everybody can see, why can't we have a search bar that actually works and a layout where we can actually find things?
  • GermanladyGermanlady
    edited January 2013 Posts: 6,601
    Like I pointed out, its really, really annoying and often I can't remember the exact title and the search goes nowhere.

    One could argue, that using this forum style was NOT a good idea and there is no way back now - question is, what can be added to make it easier for everybody. I do think, that giving it all the thumb up, when its obvious, there is reason to argue, it won't lead to a solution. So maybe we have our saying with nobody feeling personally atacked and maybe find a better way. A forum with NO sticky threads is just a :O for example.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,490
    Because I have no control over it. So instead of everyone getting an attitude over something so simplistic on a unique forum that you don't have to use, just try to use Google search from now on. Besides, how often do you really need to create a brand new topic that you HAVE to search Google for that doesn't give you any like-minded results, so you create said topic and have it shut down, anyway? Sounds pretty rare to me, or at least rare enough to not have to start a riot over it.

    Would it be nice to have the search bar actually work? Absolutely, and it makes sense. But since it doesn't, post in the 'Recommendations for Mods' thread and wait to see if something happens/gets fixed.
  • GermanladyGermanlady
    edited January 2013 Posts: 6,601
    I think, your google search is not as beloved or productive as you make it out to be and why are you so afraid to have a discussion about this? Makes no sense..people made clear in their posts, what they feel are the problems and have a right to ask, if there is a better way. Sine you can't answer that, maybe you wait and see..plus I see no riot. You have been here the recent weeks and riot is certainly something else then people questioning something in a polite way.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,490
    ...people DO realize I'm not a moderator, correct? I'm not a moderator in secret, I'm not in cahoots with them, I have absolutely no control over this thread situation. Instead, I offer a solution, which oddly enough, works EVERY single time I use it. If it doesn't, it's usually because a thread hasn't been created in such a matter. Even if you search and you feel that said topic may have already been created in the past, send a message to a moderator. I'm trying to help those of you out who are having problems.

    Also, I don't secretly have a job for Google; I'm just showing you an alternate approach that works every time for me.

    We've been discussing this. The search bar doesn't work, and the only alternative is a Google search. Either:

    A.) Voice your concerns with moderators in another fashion.
    B.) Use Google search.
    C.) Stop creating new threads.

    It's that simple. Do as you please.
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    Creasy47 wrote:
    Would it be nice to have the search bar actually work? Absolutely, and it makes sense. But since it doesn't, post in the 'Recommendations for Mods' thread and wait to see if something happens/gets fixed.

    I have done. Ages ago. So have others. It hasn't gotten fixed and to be honest I don't think it will anytime soon.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,490
    @thelivingroyale, then that is left to the moderators, not me or anyone else. I offered a solution to a problem that (apparently, as some have said) isn't going to get fixed.
  • GermanladyGermanlady
    Posts: 6,601
    Creasy, your solution - and it has been said now often enough - doesn't work very well and you are not serious in suggesting to ask every time a mod. I hope...if you have no interest in this discussion, then please let us to ourselves..
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,561
    May I point out that the moderators do not - repeat do not - have anything to do with the technical household of the forum! We have stressed this often enough yet some here persist that the mod team refuses to fix the search function. This is nonsense. We communicate complaints to the admins but we understand that our admins too have a life beyond this forum and that some software has its limitations.

    Rest assured that this fact is being dealt with as we speak but we can't work miracles.

    For the last time, the mods have zero practical input in the programming behind this forum.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,490
    Fair enough, @Germanlady. Have at it to yourselves. I'll exit this discussion, as my words are going nowhere, and I'm merely wasting my time.
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    edited January 2013 Posts: 12,837
    @Dimi I wasn't blaming the mods, I think you lot do a good job and I know you can't fix it yourselves. I was just saying it would be helpful if somebody (who helps to run the site) fixed the search bar.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    Creasy47 wrote:
    Fair enough, @Germanlady. Have at it to yourselves. I'll exit this discussion, as my words are going nowhere, and I'm merely wasting my time.

    Exactly how I feel in the Skyfall billion dollar box office thread.
  • GermanladyGermanlady
    Posts: 6,601
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    @Dimi I wasn't blaming the mods, I think you lot do a good job and I know you can't fix it yourselves. I was just saying it would be helpful if somebody (who helps to run the site) fixed the search bar.

    Like I said often now - neither did I or anybody here. I think, the mods are as much victims of this structure as we are and have to work around it. Maybe this discussion leads to something, we can try at least. ;)
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    I find all of this a little bizarre.
    Given that the literary franchise is now 60 years in existence there can be little that has not already been discussed but often subjects are approached from a very different angle and as such have merit to somebody.
    The reason I joined this forum was to participate in the excellent debates provoked by Bentley who, I found to be an outstanding contributor and whom new his Bond inside out. Unfortunately he or she has now departed because of this very issue.
    Given that the technology doesn't work perhaps the best plan would be to remove the porn and the spam and just let everything else run with periodic clean-ups?
    And Bentley, if you read this. Please come back. We need your input.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,561
    Still awaiting @Stamper's thoughts here. Stamper, you opened this thread with a complaint. A lot of additional information material was put up for discussion. Are you pleased with things now?
  • GermanladyGermanlady
    Posts: 6,601
    Is there a way to better things? IMO that is all that matters. And better is just about getting a better organized forum, that is more clear and more structured. Nothing to do with the mnods - AT ALL. All down to this being a bit hard to handle by the nature of its style. So forgive me for being honest as usual with what I think. Either there is a way or not. But allowing less individual threads for every bit would be a good start to make it more clear for everybody. Isn't there a way to mark top title threads so to say, under which a lot of questions and info and discussion can take place?
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    THANK YOU for fixing the search bar.
  • LicenceRevokedLicenceRevoked
    Posts: 204
    I just had a thread of mine closed, and the reason was that the topic had been discussed before in two different threads, and all that had to be done was 'type henchman into the search bar' however the two threads that were posted as if mine were a duplicate were actually *different* questions and thus not about the same topic per se. Therefore, while I get that it can be annoying to have duplicate threads, how does the forum deal with topics that are about a similar topic but actually asking a different question that would lead to a different conversation?

    I tried the search bar, it's an improvement but it doesn't seem to throw the results up in any kind of chronological order, so I could pick up a thread from like 2 years ago, how does that work in terms of keeping conversations flowing smoothly?
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,691
    LicenceRevoked wrote:
    I could pick up a thread from like 2 years ago, how does that work in terms of keeping conversations flowing smoothly?

    In one forum I visited I re-activated an older thread with a comment, and was told re-activating old threads would not be tolerated, and this would result in a permanent ban if I did it again.
    Each forum has its own rules, and each forum seems to think new members should learn them quickly, which to me seems rather forum-centric. 8-|
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