Blackmage Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 I can honestly say that this is the most efficent and well structured forums that I've ever seen in my however many years on the internet. However, this is also a place where I don't see a lot of fun going on. The one thing that gets to me is locking. I understand the reason behind locking threads, and most of the mods give reason for locking threads, even if it is something like "Your question has been answered". But should the threads be locked? I'm part of another major forum, and at one point was fairly high up on the hierarchy. We've discussed to what extent we should lock the threads, and decided that the only times threads should be locked was when the answers were: A. In one of the 2 FAQs we had pinnedB. Were just plain retardedC. Spam Anything else, we would leave open for discussion. It didn't matter if there were 50 other topics about it, most of the older members who were tired of answering those questions just didnt answer it. Another thing is the response to questions "Use the search tool." Just for an experiment I looked up "Vampires" in search the other day... I remember not finding too many topics.... maybe my keyword was off, or maybe a ton of topics have been purged recently. I know that I wont change anything, and I'm only typing this because I have nothing better to do... I'm playing EQ for my friend ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dradum_Fairoak Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 I'll say this once again; these forums are NOT "the land of the free". They have rules and they have an owner and master. I'll ONCE AGAIN give the house analogy. These forums are my house, the members are guests welcomed into my house. Now, if I invite you to my house and you accept to enter, then I don't expect to be called nazi-like. I have the right to ask any person in my house to leave. I'll quote the ToS that directly refers to this. The MORROWIND SOURCE forums are run, owned and maintained by Dark0ne. Dark0ne is the law on these forums and what he says, goes, irrespective of whether there has been a breach of ToS or not. If you do not agree with this, leave now and DON'T POST. You agree, through your use of the MORROWIND SOURCE, that you will not post any material which is false, defamatory, inaccurate, abusive... As much as I'd like to agree with you, and I do see your point, I stand by my opinion that if you can't take people making false allegations against you which aren't even expected to be read into a lot, you shouldn't be on the internet, much less being the holder of several sets of message boards. And as long as you are a citizen in the western world you should promote free speech, whether you agree or disagree. That's what discussion is all about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILikeMorrowind Posted December 7, 2003 Author Share Posted December 7, 2003 The whole reason for discussion boards is to discuss what's on the user's mind. It doesn't need to be approved by moderators to keep it going. It's a discussion whether it's decent, in flames, etc. The democrats throw flames at Bush every day so people can see their points. Whoever controls the TV station would be dumb if they block him from saying anything. It's ignorance in my terms, and optomizing thier ability to lock people to feel important and useful. However I feel its necessary to lock when certain threads are meaningless and doesn't hold an arguement. The moderators here are doing a good job. ~ phil :blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmac Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 It doesn't need to be approved by moderators to keep it going. If THAT'S your mindset, you'll be out on your seat in no time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peregrine Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 C. SpamBecause once a simple "where is x place" question has been answered, there's nothing left to post but spam. As for "use the search tool", the majority of those questions have been answered. I mean, stuff like "how do I get to Tribunal?" has been answered so many times posting it again is just spam with no useful purpose. Dradum_Fairoak, you're wrong. If I were to come into your house and start shouting insults at you and your family, you'd be perfectly justified in kicking me out. This is a private forum, and a minimum amount of decency is expected when posting. You have every right to make those statements, but not here. ILikeMorrowind, productive discussions are fine. But flaming and stuff like that does nothing useful, and only annoys everyone who has to deal with it. And as I said, this is a private forum and expecting a minimum quality of posts is completely reasonable. In summary: FREEDOM OF SPEECH DOES NOT APPLY HERE. You don't like the rules, you don't have to post here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILikeMorrowind Posted December 7, 2003 Author Share Posted December 7, 2003 Overall, we did accept the terms as we made an account here. We did abide by those rules. So it doesn't matter if you want free speech or not. You accepted the rules. However, we can suggest how we can expand the capability of these forums to all it could be. I do feel this site has potential in doing so. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nevermore Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 <My 2 cents>As with life and all that it encompasses you have to take the good with the bad. So I'll post what I think in Pro/con fashion. Pros:-This site offers plugins -These fourms can be quite helpful -These fourms show post count in the user post info Cons:-Threads locked for bad reseons. As one said if the question is over asked people will just stop answering, so no point in locking and deleting threads with simple questions in them. -Whilst still a good guy, Dark0ne seems just a pinch too puffed up on power. See the Timithoy thread, and this one for giving strike for false posting. Even though we DID all agree to his rules, I think he can be a smidge overbearing. -"use the search" seems like a good idea at fist, but think of the futer. Eventually most possable questions will be answered and there will be almost no questions asked. So people will stop posting, then stop coming cept for the plugins. -The atmesphere is WAY to proffestional. This is a fourm for a game, a game meant to be fun, so this fourm should be fun. Not "Post like this with going a bit OT or leading to OT discusstion." I belonged to the Dead to Rights fourm a while back and seen threads go from "Favrite moves" to a disscustion about the flaws in the matrix. The whole fourm was awsome as you could say almost anything, and going OT was acceptaple and even funner then staying on topic. </my 2 cents> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peregrine Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 -Whilst still a good guy, Dark0ne seems just a pinch too puffed up on power. See the Timithoy thread, and this one for giving strike for false posting. Even though we DID all agree to his rules, I think he can be a smidge overbearing.And you don't think Thomas deserved it? Anyway, since most of the messages were by PM, he almost had to post them, just to make it clear that the ban was justified. And I hardly see him as "overbearing". I've seen moderators on other forums that full ban on sight, or keep the trolls around for the entire forum to flame/abuse without limit on content. A strike or two for clear bad behavior is not unreasonable. -"use the search" seems like a good idea at fist, but think of the futer. Eventually most possable questions will be answered and there will be almost no questions asked. So people will stop posting, then stop coming cept for the plugins.And discussion of the plugins, and off topic stuff, and the roleplaying. Honestly, if all the people who show up for 5 posts, ask a couple of simple "where is person x", and then disappear forever stopped coming, I wouldn't miss them. A 3 post question/answer thread isn't a very interesting discussion! -The atmesphere is WAY to proffestional. This is a fourm for a game, a game meant to be fun, so this fourm should be fun. Not "Post like this with going a bit OT or leading to OT discusstion." I belonged to the Dead to Rights fourm a while back and seen threads go from "Favrite moves" to a disscustion about the flaws in the matrix. The whole fourm was awsome as you could say almost anything, and going OT was acceptaple and even funner then staying on topic.Then start those off topic threads! We have a section for that for a reason, you know. The problem is when off topic discussions are started in other threads. Sure, it might be interesting, but it just gets in the way of the real discussion. Is it really too much to ask for you to start a new thread for your interesting new topic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emry Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Gentlemen (specifically Nevermore and ILikeMorrowind), I have to disagree with what your saying because your arguments are specious. As for the moderators, they are doing what they have been asked to do by the Admins in helping to maintain the integrity of this forum. I've been on these forums a few months now, and as a member, have seen a definite increase in the spamming, flaming and trolling while on the boards. The moderators are following the protocols as outlined in the ToS and warning or locking threads as needed. If they seem overly zealous in their jobs, it is because they are trying to nip problems in the bud before they become fullfledged flame/spam wars. If you have a problem with how a moderator is doing their job, then contact the Admin of the forums, don't just complain about it. These forums have a very high level of integrity and I'd like to see it remain that way and not degenerate into forums full of meaningless bickering and name-calling because people do not agree with each other's opinions. And Nevermore, with regard to your "cons" I have the following responses: 1) With regard to the mods locking threads for "bad reasons" - this sounds like an opinion. Can you be more specific? I doubt that the moderators are whimsically locking posts because they feel like it. From what I have seen/experienced, they lock them when they are offensive or redundant, usually after warning the offender. 2) As to Dark0ne being puffed up on power, I disagree. Dark0ne (and to a lesser extent the moderators) have invested an enormous amount of time and energy into this forum and has the right to be protective of it. It is similar to having a child - you get very protective of your baby. In a sense, this is Dark0ne's "baby" and he wants to protect it. Furthermore, if you agree to the rules outlined in the ToS, then you are honor bound to abide by them or suffer the consequences. We all agreed to follow the rules, not just some of them when it suited our fancy. If you are asking the moderators of this foum to "lighten up" on enforcing the rules, then you are beginning down a slippery slope. If you don't like how they do things here, then you can go elsewhere. 3) Searching - If you're not willing to take the extra 3-5 minutes it takes to run a search, then that is just being lazy. Run the search, and then if you can't find what you are looking for, then post. 4) As to this site being way too "professional" - get real! This site is well organized and managed. It's easy to use and it's fun. Yes, it centered around a game, but it is also an valuable resource tool for plug-ins and game information. If you want to go off topic, then post it in that forum. Same with the Poetry (Druid's Garden) and the Debates Forums. That is what they are there for. All the forum requests is that you post courteously and respect what other people have to say too. This is Dark0ne's sandbox, so you play by his rules. Bottom line - I believe that these forums are a wonderful tool and an exciting place to exchange information, ideas and RPG. However when communicating in such a diverse and widespread enviroment as this, basic courtesy must be observed. The moderators are necessary to keep the peace and to maintain the integrity of the site. I think they are doing very well considering they have to deal with 30,000+ members. ...and that is my two cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILikeMorrowind Posted December 8, 2003 Author Share Posted December 8, 2003 Your right. Group hug! :stupid: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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