Major Changes To Forum Policy

System

Might I suggest actually doing something about people using multiple accounts, rather than just threatening to, would certainly help the situation. My report is still unanswered.

jojo2004

I think some of the ideas are great - whilst I've often laughed myself senseless at some of the 'off-topic' discussions, I know I've been guilty of being mean to people on various boards (in my defence, I don't *think* I usually throw the first stone, but that's not really an excuse), as emotions run high - particularly for those who are scared/in serious financial trouble.

There's nothing worse than someone posting 'help I owe x amount and can't pay', to see the next six posts read 'well, aren't you dumb for getting in that mess'.

A suggestion - and forgive me if this has already been suggested elsewhere :rolleyes: - how about a Newbies board? A place with a round-up of really common questions on all subjects, and links to the most current threads/boards? I know there are such things for various subjects, such as the fab new 'Deals' button etc, but a more general one might stop some of the flaming? Kind of an uber-Sticky?

Great ideas Martin. As ever. :money:

King_Weasel

THANKS : I thought this was a valuable feature until I realised tonight I've been using it wrongly - I never realised it was really a "mark as read" indicator. Maybe we should have one of those too.

POST COUNT : I don't see this as a race, though some appear to. I can see the logic behind Martin's proposal, but equally I find the post count interesting info about people. My proposal: run a separate post count for the non-£ boards - that would be even more informative.

DELETED THREADS/POSTS: I recently had a thread deleted where I had been posting. At least I would have liked to be told the thread has gone. In this particular case, I was and remain completely mystified as to why, which has undermined my confidence in the system a bit, I must admit, though I recognise we are all fallible in the decisions we take.

moonsugar

ts_aly2000 wrote: »

Unfortunately I think the perceived nastiness is a reflection of people in general. As more and more people buy their first computers and find themselves here, where they can effectively post anonymously, then it's going to increase further.

There's quite alot of us 'older' members who simply lurk these days. The real 'moneysaving' posts are few and far between these days. Certainly in the past I had a Brother inkjet printer from Staples, with a money off voucher and another Father's Day voucher. Reduced from something like £150 to about £50 in the end.

Certainly the MSE forum has gained a reputation within other forums, as taking the moral high ground. Where advice given is not factual, yet is based on heresay and personal opinion.

Oh don't get me wrong. This is still one of the best and LARGEST forum communities on the net. That in itself is a great achievement. But, is it friendly? Yes, I guess it is. I've made a few 'friends' on here who I like to interact with. Yet there's a few people that have been darn right abusive and hateful. And I mean utterly HATEFUL. That's why I rarely post anymore. I have a life! (no pun intended).

x

I quite agree with you. Most of the antagonism is undoubtedly those who find some sort of pleasure in the fact they don't have to say the things they do say face to face. I bet of every 1,000 rude things said here only 1 of them would be said offline.

There are nasty people here - I've been driven off the boards once already and my post count is hardly astounding - but changes are the way forward. I think no matter what your post count, contribution or forum area of choice, it costs nothing to be considerate and kind. And everyone on MSE loves a freebie!

here's hoping people consider what has been said here and strive to be better posters (i will) :beer:

tattybats

I think as a newbie, that it all sounds promising. Arriving at a such a busy forum is daunting and I still think twice before I post, so I don't get told off for making a mistake.
For the record I DID read guides before posting at all on MSE (and still made a mistake, but sorted it), I have felt both welcomed and not welcomed.

I would like to see an (extra) alternative to the abuse button. You talk about the spats that have been blowing up (which are not nice to be around). It would be easier on the soul to be able to flag these when they flare badly, without the seriousness of labeling it as abuse. Or maybe that's just semantics and it would get over complicated.

Finally, I wouldn't be trying to become part of the MSE community if I didn't want to so a quick thanks for the forum in its entirety and to all those who post (kindly) that make it such an interesting place to be.

King_Weasel

tattybats wrote: »

Finally, I wouldn't be trying to become part of the MSE community if I didn't want to so a quick thanks for the forum in its entirety and to all those who post (kindly) that make it such an interesting place to be.

Well said, tattybats!

LandyAndy

We are also lookng at post counts and thanks counts. Currently a (very) few posters with high post counts seem to act as if they are invincible and above the rules.

Though sometimes those posts are in the non-MoneySaving boards, and don't actually show any real contribution to the wealth of MoneySAving knowledge.

So we are considering discounting posts and thanks in the discussion baords from the post and thanks count - to make them a more reflective indicator. (obviously if people start posting nonesense in other boards just to build post count then they'll be deleted - red carded etc)


This is the only bit I struggle with.

Stop me from having a laugh, making a few jokes and having those jokes acknowledged and I will feel disappointed.

If you want a forum that is exclusively about ekeing out the last farthing that's fine but it probably won't be for me.


ETA: I do make contributions to 'moneysaving' boards but find that those boards are far more prone to being abusive than the Arms. You might think that people who post (and are thanked) regularly in The Arms are actually the more rounded posters who can add a wider view in the other boards.

And, so there is no doubt, thanks count is something that keeps me coming back.

Mobeer

This article is well worth a read on how to ask (and answer) questions on-line:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
It is a written in relation to IT questions, but it has some sound general guidance. A simpler set of guidance emailed to each new member and perhaps displayed for the first few posts (5?) as a click through could be a good idea.

aliEnRIK

Abuse on the techie forums ~
Ive seen people posting on the techie forums who clearly dont know what theyre talking about. I recall one person who really was only trying to help but the 'advice' they gave was......dangerous! Anyone following it could have killed their computer. I must have said 3 or 4 times that 'this' wasnt right and 'that' wasnt right but they kept on posting thinking they were helping regardless.
Someone else ended up telling them directly (Which could be construed as 'abuse') which got their back up and they left never to be seen again.
Its a shame as they didnt mean any harm......only.....they WERE doing harm!

Of course this is only 'minor' abuse, but its abuse all the same (But was needed really)

Quasar

Well I think Martin doesn't mean to have us tiptoeing around scared that any disagreeing post is deemed to be abuse. We must remember that the Abuse team will look at whatever is reported and decide on its merits.

I always say that we can express adverse opinions in a constructive way, so that they are likely to be received and considered, although of course there will always be those who regard any slight disagreement as abuse.