The downside of 'chat threads' is...

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

I'm not saying that things are okay with CP because other sites are way worse. But to say what happens at other sites is irrelevant is wrong. You can learn from the mistakes at other sites.

But maybe the issues you're having on here are just the result of a different perspective between yourself and the mods. A community is usually a reflection of those who control it and here the mods have a pretty good sense of humour. How many forums would instantly ban a user who called the owner a troll? But here it's treated like a joke and everyone just laughs about it. Maybe things here are a little too lighthearted for your liking and you'd prefer things to be more serious. But that's just a preference and not a right/wrong issue.

Our site is great because it isn't like this other site. That isn't relevant. Even in sites with similar interests the differences are huge. The history, owners, mods, participants and so many other variables that there would be precious little to learn and very, very doubtful anyone would make the effort to find out.

What I like is some choice. I like some serious topics to get into and some lighthearted ones to have fun with. As for Bingo have called him far far worse than a troll. He can dish it back as well. The issue isn't with them -- as Photon said they just police. Do we need to label topics to get some solid discussion?

[GirlySports]

Stop fighting

When I created RTT I thought it would last a day. I didn't want to create a new thread asking what to do with free movie tickets.

I'm very happy that it took off and everyone enjoyed themselves. But if it's not good for the forum than it's not good. Perhaps there could have been another way around itlike making a new one before it got too big (I made an error of letting the 2nd one get way too big). Letting me know a little bit in advance would have been nice cause I feel responsible for creating it.

But the reasoning given is that our posts suck and we bring the forum down. So they're saying I suck. I can live with that.

[KevanGuy]

The biggest reason to close chat threads (or specifically the Random Thoughts Thread) is that they include plenty of topics that could be discussed in stand alone threads, instead of being buried in one monstrous thread. When they are stand alone threads then everyone who looks at the OT board has a chance to contribute. This leads to more on topic discussion and improved OT quality. Pretty straightforward, some people are taking this all way too personally.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

The biggest reason to close chat threads (or specifically the Random Thoughts Thread) is that they include plenty of topics that could be discussed in stand alone threads, instead of being buried in one monstrous thread. When they are stand alone threads then everyone who looks at the OT board has a chance to contribute. This leads to more on topic discussion and improved OT quality. Pretty straightforward, some people are taking this all way too personally.

You should have said that the first time.

[KevanGuy]

I wasn't expecting all the drama.

[Sliver]

It would be kind of nice to see more threads...we tend to get stuck on one or two topics and discuss the ever-loving crap out of them. Same points over and over and over.

I'll start a new thread as soon as I come up with something good - right now I'm curious about which is healthier, margarine or butter but I don't feel it's quite thread worthy.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

The biggest reason to close chat threads (or specifically the Random Thoughts Thread) is that they include plenty of topics that could be discussed in stand alone threads, instead of being buried in one monstrous thread. When they are stand alone threads then everyone who looks at the OT board has a chance to contribute. This leads to more on topic discussion and improved OT quality. Pretty straightforward, some people are taking this all way too personally.

D'ya hear that Res and Peanut? We should have started a thread for rap videos!

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

But the reasoning given is that our posts suck and we bring the forum down. So they're saying I suck.

If the shoe fits.....

I honestly think part of the problem is the Thanks button. I didn't like it when it was introduced and I still think there are drawbacks. Intelligent well thought out posts are omitted or skimmed over as everyone (including me) looks for the next dynamite one-liner.

I often read a long and excellent post that has nobody has thanked, probably because it wasn't worth reading unless someone else had already thanked it, and the well-articulated and topical post is lost among bickering about nuances between posters championing opposing sides of an argument.


I would also be in favour of tighter moderation, I don't like pressing that issue because it is a critique of a thankless and tedious job that is done very well on CP - but it can be obvious when a thread is going downhill as a select few posters are (knowingly or otherwise) continue old unresolved arguments and attribute those thoughts to the current debate.

[Jordan!]

As long as the Funny pictures thread doesn't get locked. I've got no qualms.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I wasn't expecting all the drama.

It was just your wording. When you shutdown something some people have been an active part of daily for nearly an entire year and call it garbage, you're going to get a reaction.

---

I was going to thank Gozer's post :P

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

The biggest reason to close chat threads (or specifically the Random Thoughts Thread) is that they include plenty of topics that could be discussed in stand alone threads, instead of being buried in one monstrous thread. When they are stand alone threads then everyone who looks at the OT board has a chance to contribute. This leads to more on topic discussion and improved OT quality. Pretty straightforward, some people are taking this all way too personally.

Sure.

But then I can recall a few instances where people's random thought triggered a thread. I think Jammies had a few of those recently. In some case the Random Thoughts Thread was a place to think out loud before creating the thread.

Additionally the Random Thoughts Thread can be a place where things disappear never to be seen again. That can be a good thing. I'm not convinced the OT quality will be improved by a threads that people wouldn't have considered to be good enough to be threads in the first place. There probably were some good potential threads lost in there, but if the person with the original idea didn't think enough of it to start a thread in the first place then it never would have seen the light of day. So maybe there were some quality threads lost in there, but there was probably a bunch of junk buried in there as well. I can't believe that overall there would be a net loss of quality. The biggest loss comes from things that are never said.

And if some people are taking this too personally then perhaps the value others saw in the thread just hasn't been recognized until now.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I was going to thank Gozer's post :P

Why? Give me a one line synopsis since it was too long for me to read.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Why? Give me a one line synopsis since it was too long for me to read.

hahaha cause he doesn't like the thanks button so I was going to thank him.
Plus he did bring up some good points you'll have to read.

[Gozer]

Random observation: My last post as many periods after the first four words then the rest of the post combined.

[KevanGuy]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

It was just your wording. When you shutdown something some people have been an active part of daily for nearly an entire year and call it garbage, you're going to get a reaction.

Don't put words in my mouth, I didn't call anything garbage.

[Boblobla]

I have a question. Is the "does not contain peanuts" label really required on the small pack of NIBS I just ate?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Gozer

If the shoe fits.....

I honestly think part of the problem is the Thanks button. I didn't like it when it was introduced and I still think there are drawbacks. Intelligent well thought out posts are omitted or skimmed over as everyone (including me) looks for the next dynamite one-liner.

I often read a long and excellent post that has nobody has thanked, probably because it wasn't worth reading unless someone else had already thanked it, and the well-articulated and topical post is lost among bickering about nuances between posters championing opposing sides of an argument.

To a certain extent, I think the same thing. I guess this wasn't a factor to the RTT being closed, but I noticed a few regulars on the RTT that treated other threads like the RTT - the one liners and attempts to make jokes that were over-used, overuse of pics/youtubes/animated gifs, which is really just the fluff Johnny was talking about. Perhaps it is the thanks button that does it. Which is too bad, because I like the idea of it and its easier to use that then get a string of "good post" replies... easier to organize a good post with who likes it, versus scrambling 30 replies to say "good post"

But I think the problem coming from it is, people are using it more for just choosing witty and funny posts (not always that funny, actually... although I do abuse that too) and most of the best posts that are backed up well are not thanked. I guess there's really no fix for that.

[HPLovecraft]

2+ years ago this thread never would have happened.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

Don't put words in my mouth, I didn't call anything garbage.

"taking away from the quality of CP" = garbage
That's why people are upset.

Your explanation today was much better and makes sense to me. If you had posted that as the last post in RTT, you wouldn't have heard a peep from anyone. People just like to know what's going on.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Your explanation today was much better and makes sense to me. If you had posted that as the last post in RTT, you wouldn't have heard a peep from anyone. People just like to know what's going on.

I think that might be an overstatement.

This is becoming a borderline CP-wide meltdown.