Using the [RD] prefix
- Thread starter Camikaze
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The difference between torture to death and mercy killing
I think the RD system currently works (much to my surprise).
@JollyRoger: The point of having RD moderated threads is not as much to keep out the people who are jokers, but to allow the thread starters the view that it is not entirely pointless to post a subject they deem as serious.
As I said, not in the software. See Camikaze's reply.
Staff has come to a partial decision on how to handle crummy RD thread openings
1. If the opening was unacceptable for any thread, RD or not, (eg: trolling, trollbait, ect) staff will take the usual action, close the thread and apply whatever warning or infraction is called for.
2. If the opening is (including thread title) is so VERY poor* that it will have little chance of leading to reasonable discussion, then staff may remove the RD designation.
3. A silly or lightweight subject may be acceptable if it can lead to a reasonable discussion within its own silly world.
4. A poor RD opening IN NO WAY gives license to spam or troll an RD designated thread. Until the designation comes off, RD rules apply, and of course anything actionable in other threads is also actionable in RD threads.
* The criteria for what constitutes a VERY poor RD thread opening is still under discussion in staff. We have narrowed it down but have not yet reach a full consensus on that and there may some variance for moderator to moderator for a while as we all move toward the same understanding on that part of the issue.
1. If the opening was unacceptable for any thread, RD or not, (eg: trolling, trollbait, ect) staff will take the usual action, close the thread and apply whatever warning or infraction is called for.
2. If the opening is (including thread title) is so VERY poor* that it will have little chance of leading to reasonable discussion, then staff may remove the RD designation.
3. A silly or lightweight subject may be acceptable if it can lead to a reasonable discussion within its own silly world.
4. A poor RD opening IN NO WAY gives license to spam or troll an RD designated thread. Until the designation comes off, RD rules apply, and of course anything actionable in other threads is also actionable in RD threads.
* The criteria for what constitutes a VERY poor RD thread opening is still under discussion in staff. We have narrowed it down but have not yet reach a full consensus on that and there may some variance for moderator to moderator for a while as we all move toward the same understanding on that part of the issue.
^You should define "unacceptable" OP. Trolling is usually taken to mean attacks (or urges to cause flames) against either specific posters or issues linked to them (eg some anti-X country threads, and so on). At any rate a description of what is not acceptable as an OP (apart from the obvious stuff) should be given 
^You should define "unacceptable" OP. Trolling is usually taken to mean attacks (or urges to cause flames) against either specific posters or issues linked to them (eg some anti-X country threads, and so on). At any rate a description of what is not acceptable as an OP (apart from the obvious stuff) should be given
From the Rules:
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Hm, those sound logical, then again there already exist in the OT (by the above definition) "non-discussion"/"spam" threads (eg the what are you listening to/reading/watching on youtube/babe thread". Some others (most of them also serial ones) get traffic too from time to time (raves/rants/map thread/members pics etc).
Yes. We do try to accommodate an ever growing mix of conflicting standards in order to keep our users happy and well nourished while here.
No nougat, but I did see an egg, potato, bacon and green chile burrito from last week.
BvBPL
Pour Decision Maker
The moderation of RD threads is insufficient. If the goal is to develop threads pegged for real discussion then the threads should be held to a higher standard then they are at present.
What higher standard are you looking for?
A higher standard of comment quality?
A higher standard of intellectual discourse?
A higher standard of moderator interaction within the thread?
Something else?
The first two are up to the members at large. We cannot force some higher standard of quality ot intellectual content. The best from a 15 year old will be very different from that of a 40 something and both of those different from an ESL.
What we can do is uphold a "higher floor" and keep the nasties away. Please report when you think a post is inappropriate and we will take a look. RD is all about civil dialogue. It should be friendly and can be emotional. And we hope they are fun.
BvBPL
Pour Decision Maker
The first two would be the end goal, but I think the best way for moderators to facilitate those goals are through the third one.
I was reading an RD thread wherein the poster posited a controversial view while backing up his view with evidence from a third party site. One party responded with the plain assertion that the original poster was ignorant of the topic at hand. That respondent made no effort to educate the original poster nor to present alternative evidence. Heck, he didn't even present his own viewpoint on the issue beyond his belief that the original poster was not knowledgeable of the subject.
The response in question wasn't uncouth, insulting, or otherwise outside of the general CFC rules. That is, it was not overtly insulting or flaming. However, the response did not further the discussion in any way. I think such responses should be discouraged.
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Another issue is RD thread atrophy. I've noticed that many RD threads start out with a good, generous discussion. However, many RD threads that start well devolve into threads with less rigorous postings. May be that's a natural result of how discussions develop and how after a period people simply run out of things to say, but I think it would be nice if there were some means to help maintain an RD atmosphere as the thread grows.
As I said we will review any reported post and pay closer attention to the context for RD threads. I wish we could could make everyone enthusiastic and curious.
I am mentoring an employee who has everything it takes to step up her game from a $60K job to a $100K except enthusiastic curiosity. Without it, she will probably plateau.
BvBPL
Pour Decision Maker
Fair enough. I was worried that I would trouble y'all w/ an unnecessary report, but maybe I will use it more. That addresses the first issue, but I think the second issue, thread atrophy, may be a bit more difficult to fix.
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