What improvements would you like to see in this discussion forum?

[betsy]

Out of curiosity, I've surfed a few political boards out there to check out their guidelines/rules and here's one that really caught my attention.

This site is UNMODERATED. MLF's got only 2 moderators (I think) right now so this might help you.

This site listed the usual lists of don'ts under SITE RULES, however it has a sticky titled, "THE RULES" with an update dated 2009, and this sticky really deviated from the original site rules. I imagine they ran into the same problems MLF is facing now, and had decided to try to stem the bleeding, and correct it.

I think the more detailed the rules are - the more likely you'll run into problems.

The new sticky rules really downsized the original one, and had really put the onus on the poster to be mindful of

whatever he puts in the forum.

"THREADS MUST BE ABOUT POLITICS

Other then that if it ain't illegal, we don't want to hear about it. We're not moderating this board for content but will delete off-topic threads. I hope you'll treat each other with respect, but if you don't we're not going to intervene, so don't bother reporting it, put the other user on ignore.

Members repeatedly posting off-topic material in the Political forum will be subject to warnings.

Update:

Offensive Behavior & Racial Intolerance: Any attack directed at any individual or group based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion, or sexual orientation will result in automatic removal from this forum. The use of offensive slurs is presumptive evidence of racial intolerance.

Update2:

There are certain site rules that will be enforced on all HFBoards forums, including posts that contain offensive material, attacks on the site, moderators and/or disruptions of service, etc.

Just one addendum, as per the Site Rules, please do not use any politically-themed avatars or signatures.

"

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=222324

The ignore button is the key. Jacee is spot on.

Edited February 23, 2014 by betsy

[GostHacked]

The ignore button will work for existing members, but new members will get trolled and will most likely have a bad experience here. The trolls will prevent new people from participating in the forums.

[jacee]

The ignore button will work for existing members, but new members will get trolled and will most likely have a bad experience here. The trolls will prevent new people from participating in the forums.

True, but we can let new members know who we 'ignore'.

[bush_cheney2004]

Love the drama, but the "Ignore" feature has been there all along. I'm glad that some have finally "found" it.

[DogOnPorch]

Love the drama, but the "Ignore" feature has been there all along. I'm glad that some have finally "found" it.

Well, Dr Franken-BC...Seems all that is missing is the pitchforks and torches. But, I do note the red glow on the horizon.

[dre]

The problem here isnt anything you can fix easily. You already do a great job... the forums always up... software and features are decent.

The problem is the posters. Theres a lot of trolls that manage to keep their trolling just within the rules. People like BC... who openly admits hes here to troll, derails topic after topic, but hes still around because hes careful not to go to far.

There is a LOT of low quality posts here, and if you were a brand new visitor and read a few random threads you would get turned off pretty fast. Same old people rehashing the same old arguments, and regurgitating the same well rehearsed talking points.

Somehow need to get to the point where theres 3 good posts for every bad one, instead of 3 bad ones for every good one. Need more posters like Bonham, Moonlight, Bleeding Heart, Kimmy, and less like ... well... we all know who they are.

[betsy]

True, but we can let new members know who we 'ignore'.

I don't think that's a good idea. That means you're all still going to gang-up on any member you guys decide to label as a troll - and you're going to try to get the new members into joining forces with you. It'll just be a bigger clique, that's all.

Of course chances are you'll get same-minded new members to go along with you....but you'll scare off those who don't agree with your sense of judgement. They'll feel the pressure put upon them to go along with what the ruling clique dictates - that they should ignore too those you've chosen to ignore.

Not only will you corrupt the new members into that kind of mentality, but your board will still end up boring! Because it'll be just a board for same-minded members...and I'm gonna bet most new members you get won't stay very long.

Mature, intelligent posters - the kind that every board needs and desire for regular members - won't put up with that.

What this board needs right now are more dissenting opinion. Even if you don't have that many regular posters, at least it'll try to make up by becoming interesting if there are differing views.

The board is boring right now because it's stale.

All the new members need to know are the guidelines and the use of the ignore button.

Edited February 23, 2014 by betsy

[bush_cheney2004]

The answer can be found in The Bible....John 8:7:

....They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who has not trolled among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

[betsy]

The answer can be found in The Bible....John 8:7:

....They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who has not trolled among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

Ha-ha! Good one.

[cybercoma]

betsy, you sure have a lot to say for someone that doesn't post here any more and "doesn't care".

Edited February 24, 2014 by cybercoma

[betsy]

betsy, you sure have a lot to say for someone that doesn't post here any more and "doesn't care".

I thought this thread is about giving suggestions? I don't post here anymore? I thought that's what I've been doing on this thread these past few days. Is there a caveat who can give suggestions, and a limit to the numbers of suggestions - or numbers of words we can use.....if we're not regular posters?

If you want to improve your forum problem, and you solicit suggestions....you've got to be prepared to face up to what the ugly problem is before you can fix it!

For me, it's the stifling atmosphere on this board - the removal of my Religion topic (which was reported by some controlling members on this forum, and was unfairly acted upon by the moderator), and the thrashing of my last posted Religion topic (which included personal insults) - a blatant trolling - that was the last straw!

Why should I waste my time thinking and composing a topic for this board? You don't want my religious views to be posted in Religion - MY INTEREST IS IN RELIGION - you leave me no choice.

You atheists can go ahead and write the topics you want for your Religion Section.

--------------

Newbies shouldn't only be informed about the ignore button.....more importantly, they have to be encouraged to stand their ground when they're being trolled, or being made to feel unwelcome, or being bullied, or being censored by those who wish to control what's being posted. It's difficult being new to a board.

Using the message I quoted above, here's how I do it if I don't want to be bothered:

I go to MY CONTROL PANEL - SETTINGS - IGNORE PREFERENCE. Scroll down a bit and go to "Add a new user to my list."

Write the name of the member you wish to ignore on the box. Make sure you write it down accurately. Choose what you want to ignore about him/her. Then, click on SAVE CHANGES.

Using the ignore button also helps to "unclutter" a thread.

Edited February 24, 2014 by betsy

[cybercoma]

Is there a caveat who can give suggestions

I never said there was, nor did I suggest you can't give suggestions.

You don't want my religious views to be posted in Religion - MY INTEREST IS IN RELIGION - you leave me no choice.

You atheists can go ahead and write the topics you want for your Religion Section.

I have no idea what you're even talking about. You've posted all kinds of things in the religion forum, where your posts generally belong. Edited February 24, 2014 by cybercoma

[betsy]

I never said there was, nor did I suggest you can't give suggestions.

But you did berate me for being a non-poster who has the audacity to "say a lot." So you're saying members who don't post shouldn't be saying too much. You're saying we should limit ourselves.

I have no idea what you're even talking about. You've posted all kinds of things in the religion forum, where your posts generally belong.

Search my last posted topic and scroll through the pages. As for the other one....it's gone!

-------------------------

This Support Section had seen several past threads that had members - some of them don't post here now - voice their grievances and complaints. Too bad those threads are gone. Complaints by members in past threads would've given you clear ideas what the problems are.

Some of those problems drove some members away.....therefore, they're serious problems.

Edited February 24, 2014 by betsy

[cybercoma]

But you did berate me for being a non-poster who has the audacity to "say a lot." So you're saying members who don't post shouldn't be saying too much. You're saying we should limit ourselves.

Berate you? Show me where I berated you and said you shouldn't say anything. What I said is you have an awful lot to say about this forum when you said yourself that you no longer participate here. That's just an observation. Why you would feel berated is beyond me.

[betsy]

Berate you? Show me where I berated you and said you shouldn't say anything. What I said is you have an awful lot to say about this forum when you said yourself that you no longer participate here. That's just an observation. Why you would feel berated is beyond me.

Never mind. I'll show you something even better. Re-visit my last topic.

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums/topic/23105-nasas-tetrad-and-the-coming-four-blood-moons/

The first 2 direct personal insults came from you! Posts #10 and #12.

It was troll-party after that!

Edited February 24, 2014 by betsy

[guyser]

It was troll-party after that!

Blood Moons and John Hagee?

Um....what would one expect from something like that.

[jacee]

Never mind. I'll show you something even better. Re-visit my last topic.

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums/topic/23105-nasas-tetrad-and-the-coming-four-blood-moons/

The first 2 direct personal insults came from you! Posts #10 and #12.

It was troll-party after that!

betsy if you came here to harass particular posters, take it to messages (that they can choose to delete).

You are out of line.

[bush_cheney2004]

...The first 2 direct personal insults came from you! Posts #10 and #12.

It was troll-party after that!

Yes.....you can't make this stuff up. Incredible....

[WestCoastRunner]

This is a pathetic forum. It seems like Bush_cheney is driving all the topics here. Don't you guys see that? He is forever in everyone single thread and everyone is responding to him. And most of it catering to his BS. I feel like responding in some intelligent way to some of the topics here but I know that it will be degraded to his level so I don't bother. But, I do think that if given the chance, I could offer plenty of intelligent feedback to some of these topics but I would rather not if I have to deal with the likes of folks like bush and others. I have found members here absolutely delightful, like Jaycee, Waldo, Kimmy, On Guard, Bubber, (whoops, I hope I got that right, you have great oneliners!), but I have to say that I find the quality here is lacking.

[bush_cheney2004]

Then improve the quality here, instead of calling other members "idiot" or "old white men" immediately after joining the forum. There is only one chance to make a great first impression.

[jacee]

This is a pathetic forum.

Yes it has become so.

It seems like Bush_cheney is driving all the topics here. Don't you guys see that? He is forever in everyone single thread and everyone is responding to him. And most of it catering to his BS. I feel like responding in some intelligent way to some of the topics here but I know that it will be degraded to his level so I don't bother. But, I do think that if given the chance, I could offer plenty of intelligent feedback to some of these topics but I would rather not if I have to deal with the likes of folks like bush and others. I have found members here absolutely delightful, like Jaycee, Waldo, Kimmy, On Guard, Bubber, (whoops, I hope I got that right, you have great oneliners!), but I have to say that I find the quality here is lacking.

You hit it right on. bc lowers the quality of discussion tremendously. Thanks for trying, but I understand your frustration.

[DogOnPorch]

Yes it has become so. You hit it right on. bc lowers the quality of discussion tremendously. Thanks for trying, but I understand your frustration.

What's amazing is that this witch-hunt is allowed to continue. You all should be doing 60 days in the Cooler for this behaviour.

[jacee]

What's amazing is that this witch-hunt is allowed to continue. You all should be doing 60 days in the Cooler for this behaviour.

What's amazing is the destruction of the potential for good discussion here.

.

[DogOnPorch]

What's amazing is the destruction of the potential for good discussion here.

.

Indeed. So why haven't the mods thrown your rear into the Cooler yet?

[jacee]

Indeed. So why haven't the mods thrown your rear into the Cooler yet?

oops! I forgot to ignore you!