If you could do one thing to change MSE DT/MSA...

magyar

... what would it be?

We had a short thread last night on 'the death of MSE DT' which I'm sure we all hope isn't true. But many of us do feel there is a surfeit of threads on the same topics, mainly to push people's agendas - whatever they may be - and a lot of unnecessarily argumentative and annoying posts.

So we can either all leave and go somewhere else, or we can do something about it. Some ideas I had were

- restrict new registrations to the board to non-free email addresses. We all know it's easy to set up an AE simply by registering it to a hotmail/gmail address etc. and it's easy to get dozens of them.

- cannot start a thread until you've had at least xxxx posts? Or cannot post in the Arms/DT until at least xxxx posts 'upstairs'?

- or simply continue ignoring those tiresome repetitive threads?

Any ideas for improvement? And do we have any mandate to do anything about it - after all the Arms/DT is a bit of an 'add-on' as far as the main site is concerned and being critical might cause it to be removed. Thoughts?

Or is everyone happy as it is? In which case - I'll get me coat

hamletcigars

It's fine as it is,a few niggles now and then but overall very good ................people who don't like it don't post generally

Mado

magyar wrote: »

But many of us do feel there is a surfeit of threads on the same topics, mainly to push people's agendas - whatever they may be - and a lot of unnecessarily argumentative and annoying posts.

I sometimes get wound up by idiotic posts; some posters irritate me no ends as well.
But I must be a masochist; 'cos I keep coming back for more.

I like DT because it gives me a chance to discuss on anything with complete freedom (I don't really care what peopes think of me here) and it sometimes make me think differently.

As for the trolls....:D Well, they are mostly a wit challenge.:rotfl:

IvanOpinion

Mado wrote: »

As for the trolls....:D Well, they are mostly a wit challenge.:rotfl:

Often not even challenging

ivan

Janepig

I think it would sometimes be better if people ignored posts/threads and just let them die - such as the multitude of Madeleine McCann threads (I know I posted on one recently, but it was a jokey one). I get a bit puzzled when people respond with "oh no not this again" or such like, when if they didn't reply at all then it would just disappear. Similar thing with trolls.

But that's a small thing, I'm perfectly happy here myself!!

Jxx

IvanOpinion

Mags the problem with some of your ideas is that they could be seen as providing elitism and cliques. It is good to get new blood in and each persons opinions and points should be considered as valid as everybody elses .. it is just a shame that sometimes people do not have enough confidence in themselves and so rely on AEs

ivan

Quasar

Let the grown ups ignore the disruptive, adolescent posts.

Restricting posting privileges would cause a lot of hassle for admin, I'm sure of that.

We just have to accept that on a forum of 230,000+ members there will be some nasty pieces of work, and the larger the forum becomes, the more of these people will come in. They will seek confrontation and start threads aimed at causing controversy or merely venting their own tiresome, ill-informed political agendas. We meet these people in every pub.

We don't need to exclude anyone - that would be wrong - but we can just ignore nasty, stupid posts and respond to the civilised ones.

Above all, those of us who are happy to debate without resorting to insults and ad hominem attacks, must not stop visiting MSA/DT as this would be tantamount to handing over these interesting boards to unsavoury characters.

Mado

IvanOpinion wrote: »

Often not even challenging

ivan

Yeah right.
But I take pleasure in a witty response myself.:rotfl:

magyar

IvanOpinion wrote: »

Mags the problem with some of your ideas is that they could be seen as providing elitism and cliques. It is good to get new blood in and each persons opinions and points should be considered as valid as everybody elses .. it is just a shame that sometimes people do not have enough confidence in themselves and so rely on AEs

ivan

Agree - certainly didn't want that. New people are very important, I was just trying to think of ways which wouldn't harm those who simply want to contribute.

Anyway looks like concensus is it's fine, so I've GOT me coat.

Mado

magyar wrote: »

Anyway looks like concensus is it's fine, so I've GOT me coat.

Nahh. You can stay.
It looks like the sensible ones have replied.
Where are the trolls when you actually want their opinions?:cool:

nelly_2

Erm....how about a ten pound note goes to any reply starting - erm!