Major potential changes to forum policy

baileysbattlebus

lostinrates wrote: »

Thank you, and yes, I do get thanked sometimes, I was being a wee bit glib, which is not attractive but I've been in jokey peacemaking mode for a while. I don'trally make that many serious posts any more, I'm fed up of the rows. Sometimes I type them out then delete them/don't post them, bcause I don't want to poke a hornets nest:o which is a shame because sometimes the few valid points I might have made don't get coveredby someone else.

I see both sides ofthe thank argument, in truth.

I've thanked you - and I agree with you.

The same thing happens on a regular basis with me - I can write out quite a long post and then either not post it or delete it because of the reaction I know it will cause.

People are so convinced that their point of view is the only point of view that they refuse to consider anything different let alone debate it and you just end up with loads of abuse and a slanging match. Reason doesn't enter into it.

Some of us hold very strong views and some of us don't, I don't. I usually read both sides and then try and take a reasoned view. And often try and post a reasoned argument or the facts, sometime just a different view - just because it is different.

The thanks don't bother me - I'm not a profuse thanker, I thank if I think a post is good or witty or clever and if someone gives a good alternative to the original poster, and I don't expect thanks when I post.

misskool

The thanks count is a strange creature. I think it was brought it to avoid the chatter of thanks for that post (especially in the grabbit/freebie forum) and now it seems there's a need to achieve a high number of thanks count for status. I'm not sure getting rid of it would achieve anything but in the current form, it's not very helpful to gauge a "helpfulness" of a person (which was one of the aims of its inception).

Davesnave

misskool wrote: »

The thanks count is a strange creature. I think it was brought it to avoid the chatter of thanks for that post (especially in the grabbit/freebie forum) and now it seems there's a need to achieve a high number of thanks count for status. I'm not sure getting rid of it would achieve anything but in the current form, it's not very helpful to gauge a "helpfulness" of a person (which was one of the aims of its inception).

Yes, it's very different on this channel, compared with, say, Greenfingered, where considered, carefully-researched posts can earn no thanks at all. Interestingly, over there, if something controversial does crop up, the thanks count rises, as people begin to behave more like they do here.;)

Most of the time, people just don't get too emotionally involved about posts like: 'My courgette has only male flowers; is there too much testosterone in my liquid feed?'

mewbie_2

Problem is posters who purely post for ego, funnies and thanks in return. ie. me. Difficult to get rid of us, and arguably the forum would be less fun, although perhaps also less irritating.

Removing the thanks will just lead to more reply posts - saying LOL or whatever.

A range of buttons might be better.
Helpful - click if this post was helpful, a response to a query or imparting some information.
Funny - click if the post was funny.
Disagree - click if you disagree, but don't need to type "I disagree" in response.
And hold each button click counts - ok maybe the Funny is not really required - but showing genuine Helpful AND genuine Disagree might be of some use.

BUT.

Then it just gets complicated and open to even more abuse.

So IMO stick with thanks - it adds to the forum experience, saves the extra Thankyou or LOL responses, and once you have been a regular you know where people are at anyway.

I'll put this on the 'proper' thread. Might get more thanks.

nearlynew

Mewbie, your last post was neither funny or helpful but I don't disagree with it.

Where's the button for that?

mewbie_2

nearlynew wrote: »

Mewbie, your last post was neither funny or helpful but I don't disagree with it.

Where's the button for that?

I think you just ignore it. Unless there was a Read-It button to signify that someone had actually read the post. But then we'd all get RSI.

Thrugelmir

mewbie wrote: »

Problem is posters who purely post for ego, funnies and thanks in return. ie. me. Difficult to get rid of us, and arguably the forum would be less fun, although perhaps also less irritating.

Removing the thanks will just lead to more reply posts - saying LOL or whatever.

A range of buttons might be better.
Helpful - click if this post was helpful, a response to a query or imparting some information.
Funny - click if the post was funny.
Disagree - click if you disagree, but don't need to type "I disagree" in response.
And hold each button click counts - ok maybe the Funny is not really required - but showing genuine Helpful AND genuine Disagree might be of some use.

BUT.

Then it just gets complicated and open to even more abuse.

So IMO stick with thanks - it adds to the forum experience, saves the extra Thankyou or LOL responses, and once you have been a regular you know where people are at anyway.

I'll put this on the 'proper' thread. Might get more thanks.

As you say the "thanks" would be better suited to a range of options. Though the kids on here who view number of clicks as being a priority would abuse it.

I find it interesting the number of posters on this board, who receive thanks from people who don't even post on it. But post elsewhere. Suggesting that use some elses log in just to get more thanks.

I wouldn't miss the thanks button.


In answer to other posters comments. Exchanging views is healthy. We are hold our own views for different reasons. With an exchange of ideas and information though at least people can understand a complex issue better. Make a more reasoned judgement than just reading an article in one newspaper. Which may well have a particular slant.

pipkin71

Thrugelmir wrote: »

I find it interesting the number of posters on this board, who receive thanks from people who don't even post on it. But post elsewhere. Suggesting that use some elses log in just to get more thanks.

I don't post on this board often. I do read and thank though

Thrugelmir

pipkin71 wrote: »

I don't post on this board often. I do read and thank though

As a regular on here - selective thanks suggest otherwise with some individuals.

lostinrates

mewbie wrote: »

Problem is posters who purely post for ego, funnies and thanks in return. ie. me. Difficult to get rid of us, and arguably the forum would be less fun, although perhaps also less irritating.........

Actually, I think your posts kept me coming back when I might have gone off in umbrage often. I think the humour IS helpful: if not in ebate, in attitude. Most of us don't frequent MSE by force, so keping it funny is beneficial to our health. Arguably you might be extending our lives. In which case you might have the most useful posts here.