Major Changes To Forum Policy

butterfly72

With regard to newbies or anyone for that matter causing annoyance (spelling?!) by asking things that have previously been discussed, how about improving the search function. Maybe you have already and I just can't find it. Options to narrow it down would be good and which board.

Blackpool_Saver

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Whats your thoughts on the 'techie' thread Martin? The way I read that REALLY sounded 'exactly' like the techie thread in parts to me. Id just like it to be known that whilst I help on the techie thread doesnt directly save someone money as in saving 1% off their mortgage or whatever but ive certainly helped a lot of people save money by not having to pay for security or taking their computer to a shop for repair etc (As have a lot of us on the techie board)

Id ask you dont just 'discount' us

Yeah, you have helped me a lot, ta for that.

Martin?

Lokolo

odowdchr wrote: »

This is one thing i don't understand. Surely people post voluntarily as individuals to help others and not to build up credit...so why not allow individual post "thanks" but it counts for, and scores nothing on a profile?
That way you allow credit for a post, but don't end up creating "thankoholics" who become obsessed with building up virtual credit ratings?
The people "working" on MSE post under the site name and so carry more reputational responsiblity to give official threads an expert edit, which sometimes takes time to research and get official statements. Sometimes individuals (no matter how well intentioned) simply don't have the clout, legal protection or access.

Do you come on Savings and Investments forum?

Over there we don't do the whole "thanks" for the masses. But if someone spots something, goes through the T&Cs, starts a thread explaining things, gets a discussion going, newbies ask questions, they get answered, I think that works better than an MSE news guide (in general, not specifics) coming days later with a new thread. Why not just edit the original post with the MSE symbol and have any information needed on there? It has been done many times before and should be kept that way.

Having numerous threads and then putting them together disrupts the way the discussion is going I feel.

We don't have a regular Mod over there to do these sort of things (check T&Cs, report back to Martin or whoever) so the new item comes out 2 weeks later when a user has already posted lol.

Edinburghlass_2

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

Yes, but they're not moderators and do not have such powers. I know Martin will say that's why he has his abuse team but how about making it easier for us to report spam POSTS (not just threads) and abuse? Many of us have webmail, eg Hotmail, Yahoo, rather than Outlook, so have to specifically email abuse which can be tedious (or not possible if accessing from a Blackberry or in a rush). I know BGs are volunteers whereas Abuse are paid but I'm sure some wouldn't mind being given some sort of compromise, eg semi mod powers, so they can jump in at times where abuse may not be around etc etc. I think this line is becoming a necessary evil.

Spam and abuse posts are two totally different things and should be, and indeed are dealt with in a totally different way. Spam is easy and can be dealt with via the Spam button, abuse is "in the eye of the beholder" and it needs to be reported in the normal way which goes to all of the abuse team to deal with and not the BGs.

globalds

Two areas I spend time in most are GIOL and the Techie section ..
They both seem to be fairly similar in that they are quite strictly self regulated .Newbies do often get given little credence ...But I can't see how things could be any different ..
People could easily take bad advice and mess things up.
I think restricting the posting of links by new members is very good and one piece of goodwill that more regular posters could do a bit more off is have a quick look and if it is what is being discussed then just stick a link in the post below to help the new guy out.

Maybe it is just that MSE forums are just are experiencing a change in the UK publics opinion ...
It seems most other places I go in the real world I experince a little less patience ,a little less understanding and a lot more judgement ...Why should these forums be an diferent .

geordie_lass_2

I would like to see BG's given more powers to tackle trouble when it's brewing or at least being given more back up by MSE. I've noticed some persistent people arguing with BG's who are just trying to keep things under control yet MSE doesn't appear to back them up.

michaels

We got a heads-up too in Debate the economy etc...

Zara33 wrote: »

I notice this thread is linked in the arms but what about all the other posters who may not post in the arms or site feedback Maybe a huge banner at the top of the forum homepage...you know like what they do when the forum is going to be down for maintenance so everyone is aware of these impending changes.

Completely off topic there seems to be some suggestion that people are given r'spect based on how many posts they have done - I look at people with more than 60 posts a month and wonder what sort of life they have...

k2tog

I like the new ideas but I think the protection of noobs needs some refinement.
It seems from comments previously in this thread that people get irritated with noobs who don't bother searching for previous threads and noobs who DO bother searching and resurrect an old thread! Obviously an old thread is still relevant on some boards but not others - a recipe will always be useful but a limited time savings rate isn't for example.
I think it would be a good idea to direct noobs to the stickies when they sign up as many have already suggested as it can be irritating when someone plainly hasn't bothered reading them.

PLEASE can we have the view first unread button back!

michaels

Got to agree with this one too - several board guides I know have very valuable opinions but are almost afraid to get involved in debates because of the personal attacks they face on the lines of 'you are using your BG powers to unfair advantage'

geordie_lass wrote: »

I would like to see BG's given more powers to tackle trouble when it's brewing or at least being given more back up by MSE. I've noticed some persistent people arguing with BG's who are just trying to keep things under control yet MSE doesn't appear to back them up.

Rachel021967

Shame it has come to this. I have not personally seen or been bullied on this site. Generally people are very welcoming and eager to help. I think it's a good idea that longer threads and stickies have a question and answer page at the beginning of a thread for newbies to the subject.
I have been bullied off another site and been bullied online is just as bad as been bullied in real life.
Furndire I also use the Thanks button as a bookmark.