Off Topic reorganization - Call for Comments

[illram]

I couldn't imagine starting a thread to troll an RD thread-starter, but I could see starting one to be free of the higher moderation standard and any restrictions placed by the RD thread starter. I could also see myself starting an RD thread (say on a Supreme Cout decision) where I wouldn't mind a default thread being made by someone else.

Which should be fine.

 

[CavLancer]

On consideration I think I've come up with a real weakness in this merger. If a person wants only serious comments in their thread they add the red diamond. Now that thread has to compete with more spammy threads and falls like a rock to page two in this busy forum. Now instead of trying to make serious threads get more attention you have caused them to get none at all, after the brief period on page one.

At least in the Chamber they are there for a long time.

In my opinion it would be better to moderate all threads the same, with the higher degree of moderation.

 

[Hygro]

can we get a nicer icon for the red diamond? that thing is mad ugly.

 

[azzaman333]

In my opinion it would be better to moderate all threads the same, with the higher degree of moderation.

If people as a whole wanted higher moderation, they'd post in the Chamber as it is now. The fact that they do not is a pretty strong indication that stricter moderation across the board is not the way to go.

 

[Borachio]

I agree. It's nice to be able to make some non-consequential, even possibly entertaining, remark without getting an infraction for spam.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

The rule re: RD/non RD threads and timing was discussed alot in Staff. The primary reason for disallowing posting non-RD threads would be to discourage people taking a discussion from RD to non-RD in order to more freely troll users in the RD thread. For example: someone can start an RD thread on why they love ice cream, and someone else can also start a non RD thread on why they love ice cream after that, so long as it is not started with the intention of just having more leeway to be trollish to someone or their point of view in the RD thread. But can we have an RD thread on a Presidential Debate plus a non-RD thread, regardless of who posts first? Yes. Although there is already a rule against referencing someone in a thread in which they are not participating, we felt this additional clarification was necessary.

We also want to avoid having someone post an RD & non-RD thread as a matter of course. Pick one please. If there is one up already, maybe try to participate in it. This is a try-out period to see if this works and a whole bunch of dual track threads is going to become unwieldy for posters and for mods.

How long is this trial period going to be?

 

[illram]

There isn't any set time limit. Of course ideally everything works and this becomes the new normal. If something doesn't work, we will work with everyone to fix it.

 

[Mise]

On consideration I think I've come up with a real weakness in this merger. If a person wants only serious comments in their thread they add the red diamond. Now that thread has to compete with more spammy threads and falls like a rock to page two in this busy forum. Now instead of trying to make serious threads get more attention you have caused them to get none at all, after the brief period on page one.

At least in the Chamber they are there for a long time.

In my opinion it would be better to moderate all threads the same, with the higher degree of moderation.

I agree - I think RD threads will fall off the page really quickly. I think that that's indicative that people don't want to post in RD threads. That's fine.



I'm a firm believer in being the change you wish to see in the world. If you want serious discussion, start one. Set the example. Take the lead and people will follow you. This is how it has always worked in the past. When, say, DT starts a thread on education, or Metatron starts a thread on German politics, or Integral starts a thread on economics, and they put a lot of effort into the OP, people recognise that and respond to it in kind. They put a lot of effort into their responses. Then people see a dozen people making an effort, and they too make an effort. The odd troll comes by and craps in the thread, but people ignore it, because they recognise crap when they see it and they don't go anywhere near it. When someone takes the lead and writes a really great OP, other people will respond to it with really great replies, and we'll have really great discussions for the rest of the thread. When people start a stupid, spammy, snipey OP that's just about scoring points against the other guy, then that's what you get in the rest of the thread.

Be the change you wish to see in OT. That's been my position on this stuff for years now. The past year and a half's experiment with the forum split, and the previous experiment with RD threads, have served to solidify my opinion. Those experiments were great, and I fully support the staff for going ahead with them -- and what they showed is that structural changes or changes in moderation standards are no short-cut to a well-written OP, and no substitute for one either.

 

[Birdjaguar]

can we get a nicer icon for the red diamond? that thing is mad ugly.

Hey!!

Show us something better please.

 

[Hygro]

man I can make you a jingle but I'm not the graphic designer you're looking for. honestly, something smaller and softer in color would do the trick. The idea is cool. Oh, and maybe even a different color to begin with would be more inviting. Red is aggressive.

 

[Bootstoots]

On consideration I think I've come up with a real weakness in this merger. If a person wants only serious comments in their thread they add the red diamond. Now that thread has to compete with more spammy threads and falls like a rock to page two in this busy forum. Now instead of trying to make serious threads get more attention you have caused them to get none at all, after the brief period on page one.

At least in the Chamber they are there for a long time.

In my opinion it would be better to moderate all threads the same, with the higher degree of moderation.

Perhaps a sticky thread listing all Red Diamond threads active in the last month or so could be added so that those long-running serious threads with lots of information, like the Money Thread and Ask a Red, are easier to go back to even if they end up several pages behind.

 

[Birdjaguar]

man I can make you a jingle but I'm not the graphic designer you're looking for. honestly, something smaller and softer in color would do the trick. The idea is cool. Oh, and maybe even a different color to begin with would be more inviting. Red is aggressive.

A jingle would be good! My reply was just my way of announcing that we would be open to new designs from those with that skill set.

Perhaps a sticky thread listing all Red Diamond threads active in the last month or so could be added so that those long-running serious threads with lots of information, like the Money Thread and Ask a Red, are easier to go back to even if they end up several pages behind.

That is a nice idea.

 

[Grisu]

Perhaps a sticky thread listing all Red Diamond threads active in the last month or so could be added so that those long-running serious threads with lots of information, like the Money Thread and Ask a Red, are easier to go back to even if they end up several pages behind.

I like the idea

Another option (maybe in addition to it) could be if we can get an official prefix, maybe users can then filter the forum for RD threads (like you can now for closed/stickied/threads with attachments/etc.) Though I don't know if it's technically possible to add a thread type to those filters.

 

[Hygro]

I volunteer myself to manage the stickies accounting, but I'll need powers to open and close the thread, of course

 

[Kyriakos]

I volunteer myself to manage the stickies accounting, but I'll need powers to open and close the thread, of course

I don't see how that could lead to any abuse

 

[ori]

Re filtering - the official prefix is the easiest way to go, in the subforums where we have them you can just sort by prefix using a dropdown in the upper left side...

 

[CavLancer]

On consideration I think I've come up with a real weakness in this merger. If a person wants only serious comments in their thread they add the red diamond. Now that thread has to compete with more spammy threads and falls like a rock to page two in this busy forum. Now instead of trying to make serious threads get more attention you have caused them to get none at all, after the brief period on page one.

At least in the Chamber they are there for a long time.

Don't know if the mods saw this and whether its staff room discussion worthy so I'll quote it. Trust me, I've seen this happen at Apolyton and WPC, where serious threads are swamped in spammy, not serious threads. So I'd like to know a decision maker has seen this. At that point at least I know that I passed on my experiences.

 

[Yoda Power]

Yay! We will get OT back.

 

[ori]

@CavLancer: yes we have seen this and this was part of the initial reasons to split the two - though the effect was not unequivocally positive for the "serious" threads in the chamber.

 

[classical_hero]

If you look at the number of replies in this thread and compare it to general trafic of OT Tavern, you will see most people don't seem to be bothered to enter this thread. most don't really care about the state of OT and it seems to be just a vocal minority that are wanting re-unification of the OTs.