Are there any active forum ambassadors on here or the Banking parts of the forum?

Patrington

Seems to me that lots of threads are being ruined by certain members not following the forum rules and taking them off piste - often unintentionally but sometimes maliciously.

Not just a Christmas Eve thing but a 2022 thing

Do we have any ambassadors in these sections who proactively remove / merge posts and remind members of etiquette?

MSE moderators sometimes seem more interested in telling off / banning those who try and keep the posts on subject than proper moderation - especially when it should be remembered all threads on here are under the ownership of MSE (not the individual thread creators).

silvercar

There is a report button if you are unhappy with a post. The forum team can then take a look and make a decision. Once you hit the report button you are asked to classify the sort of problem you are reporting and there is a comment box you can use to expand on why you reported. 

That’s said, I’m happy to take a look at something if you want to send me a  DM.

Patrington

Thanks for responding @silvercar.

This is a good example:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6392978/top-easy-access-acs-ranked-top-of-the-pots-no-chat#latest

But you could choose any of the long running threads on here.

I note that even this OP has been maliciously marked as Spam by someone.  Weaponising the Spam button is also pretty bitter IMO.

Have a lovely Christmas Day.

jaypers

I agree. Sometimes I’ve asked a question in a forum and then it gets lost because of absolute drivel with people adding nothing posts. Surely the threads should be about providing information and /or asking questions and advice. Quite regularly having to filter my way through the dross in order to find useful info. This is getting worse. 

silvercar

jaypers said:

I agree. Sometimes I’ve asked a question in a forum and then it gets lost because of absolute drivel with people adding nothing posts. Surely the threads should be about providing information and /or asking questions and advice. Quite regularly having to filter my way through the dross in order to find useful info. This is getting worse. 

Arguably the questions shouldn’t be on the “no chat” threads but in discussion threads or on threads of their own. By posting a thread of its own, you can bookmark the thread and will get notifications when anyone answers, that way you don’t need to read through what you may consider “dross”. Though tbf someone else may not consider to dross. 

Ambassadors don’t moderate, we just try to help things run smoothly. I will highlight that no chat threads are being disrupted, it’s a fair point. In the meantime, if you don’t want to read through recent posts, page 1 of such threads is kept up to date with the best deals, so you could focus on that when time is short.

Nova1307

jaypers said:

I agree. Sometimes I’ve asked a question in a forum and then it gets lost because of absolute drivel with people adding nothing posts. Surely the threads should be about providing information and /or asking questions and advice. Quite regularly having to filter my way through the dross in order to find useful info. This is getting worse. 

+1 

I've also asked a question or two and sometimes receive patronising responses from so called forum regulars who should perhaps remember that not everyone on here has the same level of knowledge and financial savvy as them. Please be kind and respectful to each other. Thanks to the moderators for keeping things as orderly as possible. 

Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2023. 

Linton

jaypers said:

I agree. Sometimes I’ve asked a question in a forum and then it gets lost because of absolute drivel with people adding nothing posts. Surely the threads should be about providing information and /or asking questions and advice. Quite regularly having to filter my way through the dross in order to find useful info. This is getting worse. 

This forum can be useful for getting answers to questions, but it is not suitable for serious advice because giving appropriate advice requires good knowledge of the poster's circumstances.  Unlike paid-for advice there are no warranties that it is correct.or protection if it is not.

The other role of a forum is to provide a discussion platform. Simple questions can give rise to much deeper issues than the questioners realise. Simple answers, even if correct in as far as they go, can skirt around these to the questioner's possible disadvantge.  Much of investing is opinion, not fact.  All this requires discussion if people are to come to sensible decisions themsleves, which in the end they must do.

Albermarle

jaypers said:

I agree. Sometimes I’ve asked a question in a forum and then it gets lost because of absolute drivel with people adding nothing posts. Surely the threads should be about providing information and /or asking questions and advice. Quite regularly having to filter my way through the dross in order to find useful info. This is getting worse. 

That is the idea, but as the forum is free of charge,and relying on people spending their own time bothering to answer, you can not really complain. You are free not to read it, if it annoys you.

Reaper

In theory Crabman is the Board Guide, but while active on the other forums he manages he doesn't seem to do anything here. I think these 2 forums could benefit from a more involved guide if anyone wants to volunteer (not me!)

silvercar

@enthusiasticsaver is the official ambassador for this board.

enthusiasticsaver

If anyone is unhappy about a direction a thread is going in then please feel free to message me.  I do read some threads but not all and report any I feel are going off piste.  Ambassadors do not have the power to move or merge threads though and all we can do is report them to the forum team.