Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

[Tyloric]

Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

If you're going to respond to this thread with a "don't let it bother you", "just don't click", or an "ignore it", don't bother posting.

Now to the topic at hand. People seem to suddenly think that it is okay to flood the forums with senseless, stupid, unneeded threads and posts just because there is no more official spam section. I find this unacceptable; be it true or not.

Personally, I think it makes the forums as a whole look bad and immature, as it also shows a lack or organization and a bad community. I'm not going to name names, that would just make me a prick, but there are key members responsible for this as well.

If I was visiting the forums for the first time and I saw them in this state, I wouldn't even bother joining.

So I suggest:
a) The spam section be reintroduced to the community.
b) Stronger enforcement/a revision of the rules.
c) Perhaps even the promotion of new mods to help enforce these rules.

Discuss.

 

[Arseface]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

Well, since you don't want to hear "don't let it bother you", which is the real solution, I'm going to ask you a question. What would you classify as a "useful" thread?

 

[Tyloric]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

Well, since you don't want to hear "don't let it bother you", which is the real solution, I'm going to ask you a question. What would you classify as a "useful" thread?

Would you please tell me the usefulness of 15 "Who is..." threads?

Also, I said nothing of usefulness.

 

[Arseface]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

We don't need anything to change. The rules are fine, the mods are fine, the spam is fine. Tyloric is the only one who seems to have a problem with how it is, and that can be easily remedied by him just not looking at the threads that bother him.

 

[Tyloric]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

We don't need anything to change. The rules are fine, the mods are fine, the spam is fine. Tyloric is the only one who seems to have a problem with how it is, and that can be easily remedied by him just not looking at the threads that bother him.

Hello captain missing the point.

 

[droded]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

Seeing as I missed the whole "Who is..." thread outbreak, I can understand where you are coming from.

However, I disagree that reintroducing a forum specifically for spam is a wise decision - that would only encourage spam threads to be made. (And although this sounds harmless, a spam board isn't something we want to have around)

I am in support of both options B and C though, and I think a possible solution would easily be having a Mod or Admin give permission for the creation of a thread by seeking their permission first.

 

[Arseface]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

I'm not missing the point at all. The point is that you seem to think that we need stricter spam rules, or a spam only section. You have refused to inform to me what you would classify as spam, and what you wouldn't, and you seem to think that the entire forum should conform to your point of view. The truth is that we were having fun with the spam threads, and you came and ****ed on our parade. We were not forcing you to look at those threads, so I fail to see how we were in any way bothering you. I would accuse you of bothering us, but I'm not that kind of person.

EDIT @ droded: the whole reason why the spam section was originally removed was to reduce clutter for the staff. I think PMing them for permission every time we want to create a fun little meaningless thread would waste their time considerably more than a new forum would. Not to mention the multitude of people who would ignore that rule.

 

[Arseface]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

Ok, so then maybe we should make Tavern posts not count towards the posters post count (like I used to think they did). And it's not so much that they're fun, but when the forum is otherwise dead, it beats doing nothing.

This debate is actually more fun anyway.

 

[droded]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

EDIT @ droded: the whole reason why the spam section was originally removed was to reduce clutter for the staff. I think PMing them for permission every time we want to create a fun little meaningless thread would waste their time considerably more than a new forum would. Not to mention the multitude of people who would ignore that rule.

PMing them? I meant that each time a thread is created, a notification would tell the user "Thank you for posting a thread, it is now being evaluated by a member of staff" or something along those lines.

All the Mod/ Admin would have to do is look at their notifications, and confirm every thread except for those which seem either suspicious or meaningless.

As for workload, the activity of the forum isn't great enough for an overwhelming amount of threads to be created each day. If this were the case, a system where each member of staff is assigned certain forums can be aranged I'm sure.

Then again, it probably isn't worth the trouble and the current system is fine.

Forgive me - I'm terribly jetlagged. :yammer:

 

[Inn0cent v0ice™]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

I don't have anything against people who spam, or make does kinds of threads.
I have been on many forums and this one I like the most since they don't ban you
for slightest thing.
I never want to spam, I just want to leave a reply with funny content or something.

 

[Arseface]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

PMing them? I meant that each time a thread is created, a notification would tell the user "Thank you for posting a thread, it is now being evaluated by a member of staff" or something along those lines.

All the Mod/ Admin would have to do is look at their notifications, and confirm every thread except for those which seem either suspicious or meaningless.

As for workload, the activity of the forum isn't great enough for an overwhelming amount of threads to be created each day. If this were the case, a system where each member of staff is assigned certain forums can be aranged I'm sure.

Then again, it probably isn't worth the trouble and the current system is fine.

Forgive me - I'm terribly jetlagged. :yammer:

Either way, it means a lot more work for the mods than they have now. I think it would also push away new members. If I went to a forum where every off topic post needed approval from a moderator, then I wouldn't stay long. It would seem like either censorship or paranoia.

Not to mention that we'd have to have a couple new mods on to look at threads. The current mods already do a lot behind the scenes, and I can't see them being thrilled at the idea of more.

That being said, I completely agree with the second to last paragraph.

 

[Zjuggernaut]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

In all fairness, these Who Is threads are getting annoying. It's frankly, VERY retarded.

 

[Arseface]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

Yeah, but they're just a way to pass the time. No one is asking that you look at them.

 

[Tyloric]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

Yeah, but they're just a way to pass the time. No one is asking that you look at them.

The point it the very fact that they dominate the forum is distracting and bothersome. It's not a situation where a lot of people can just go "I just won't click that" because they're everywhere, and trying to find a thread with an actual purpose can become cumbersome in a sea of nonsense. THAT is my point. THAT is my problem.

 

[Arseface]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

If you look at the titles of the threads, you can easily avoid the "Who are"s...

And let me say this. I enjoy the threads. You don't. Why should your point of view be picked over mine? It shouldn't. Nor should mine be picked over yours.

 

[Tyloric]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

The current system is fine.

You think the current system is fine.
I think otherwise.

 

[Wonderfoole WINO]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

*logs in*

*Goes to Bowerstone Tavern*

Holy ****.

Now that's a lot of stupid crap. I don't think we necessarily need any new rules or other changes, we just need to cut out all this bull**** and go back to the way things were. Come on guys, what the hell happened?

 

[Arseface]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

We got bored due to inactivity, so we decided to pass the time in a completely harmless way. Tyloric made things more fun with a debate.

 

[Shirosaki]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

I'm with Tyloric, I think C would work okay if there are nominations and a general poll of the forums maybe to make sure the new Mod(s) would be accepted etc. Not every day you get a new moderator.

Also need to go to the trouble of choosing someone who is impartial to everything to a certain extent and will enforce the rules fairly like the current ones do. That's a hard person to find and then of course the Admins and Mods need to agree that a new member of the ranks is necessary, so I doubt this'll come into fruition.

I think the rules being revised is the best bet. Ban spam to a certain extent, a case in point being 15 "Who is.." threads all made by someone who wants someone else to make a thread about them, which in turn clutters the forum to no end. If it's left to accumulate then it'll be like a vicious circle, more people adding threads in the hope of having one made about them.

So C would be a considerable option and B is the most sensible for me as the Mods and Admins wont be disturbed as much but a revision of the rules will reign in those controversial threads.

 

[Arseface]

Re: Spam is out of control; solutions needed.

You're acting like this is a disease. It's a stupid fad that has already passed. A pointless spam thread is ok if there's nothing else going on, and the fact that the moderators and admins have partaken in them seems to speak more about them than anything we could say.