[Closed] Types of forum user

I take it that is meant to suggest that my posts are abusive. Clearly, as I am still here, that is not the case, unlike say, Fred et al.

Given that, I'm not sure if your comment is in any sense meaningful?

I take it that is meant to suggest that my posts are abusive. Clearly, as I am still here, that is not the case, unlike say, Fred et al.

I don't think I've ever read an abusive post from you Mr Woppit. However I've seen plenty of negative, trolling and argumentative ones - would you agree?

Clearly, as I am still here

Yes. Don't go ****ing up this thread too please.

😀

Given that, I'm not sure if your comment is in any sense meaningful?

It wasn't meant to be meaningful, it was meant to be silly.

Good heavens ([i]sic[/i]) I do seem to be getting a lot of comments from people who don't want me to respond.

However I've seen plenty of negative, trolling and argumentative ones - would you agree?

Negative, in the sense that I have a point of view that opposes other points of view, you mean? Like the "Bloody Atheists" one? I'm not completely clear that simply having an opposing point of view and pursuing it deserves the "negative" perjorative...

Trolling - yeah. Occasionally, just for a livener. Guilty as charged, m'lud.

Argumentative. What, we're not allowed to argue, now? That wipes out 90% of the forum doesn't it?

Cougar - Member

Given that, I'm not sure if your comment is in any sense meaningful?

It wasn't meant to be meaningful, it was meant to be silly.

My apologies.

Anyway, don't let me *** up the thread.

Argumentative. What, we're not allowed to argue, now? That wipes out 90% of the forum doesn't it?

That seems to be the case. Recent ban-hammers were primarily for arguing.

Seems the Mod Squad are working hard to produce a happier, friendlier, more relaxed forum where no one ever disagrees and everyone is afraid to fart. 😕

My apologies.

Anyway, don't let me *** up the thread.

No offence meant. I tend to assume that my posts have implied smileys at the end these days.

*Parp*

You know, everyone keeps talking about this Ban Hammer. I don't get it. He's hardly done anything of note since Crockett's Theme, has he?

My point woppit is simply that YOU are as guilty as anyone of breaking the forum guidelines.

Let he who is without sin hit the report post button and all that.

*Parp*

Reported.

yossarian - Member

My point woppit is simply that YOU are as guilty as anyone of breaking the forum guidelines.

Let he who is without sin hit the report post button and all that.

Oh, STOP it! You're ***ing up the thread!

Argument and debate is what this forum is about - it makes you re-evaluate your personal point of view. My own beliefs have been challenged and subsequently changed following another users contribution. However some on here are not able to restrains themselves from publishing lengthy screeds multiple times on a single thread. This is off-putting and unattractive to those that don't aspire to Big Hitter status.

On a personal note I couldn't care less what tag I'm given - I'm fairly certain I've been on the end of less flattering ones outside the forum 😀

Oh, STOP it! You're ***ing up the thread!

I should start my own 😆

I tried that, it didn't survive... 😉

Argument and debate is what this forum is about - it makes you re-evaluate your personal point of view.

I agree - gathering different points of view is one of the things I like best about this place: it constantly challenges my own viewpoints and enlightens me.

But it seems the management have other aspirations for it.
And it [i]is[/i] their ball.

some on here are not able to restrains themselves from publishing lengthy screeds multiple times on a single thread

Guilty as charged. 😳 I don't aspire to Hit Big, I just like to explain myself clearly and sometimes I get overly verbose in doing so.

But it seems the management have other aspirations for it.

Nonsense! Read the sticky at the top of the forum for the reality.

Nonsense!

Sorry, this is getting heated and abuse is beginning to creep in.

I'm stepping away.

Ah, so you actually understand the distinction we are making and you are clearly trolling then.

It makes me laugh how when some people get banned from here they go to bikemagic and start a thread about it.Do people need attention so badly that they see it as a badge of honour to be banned from a mtb forum.

I understand what you say in [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/our-forum ]your Sticky[/url] Mark, and I even agree with it.

But I don't [i]personally[/i] think that recent actions have necessarily matched those stated goals.

The aim of making the forum more friendly and positive is laudable.

But as I watch people being picked off and banned for life, people that I have not always agreed with but with whom I have had long, interesting, informed and sometimes even polite discussions with; I find myself increasingly twitchy, watching what I say, posting less and tiptoeing around trying not to upset anyone.

That isn't, for me, the [i]"like a pub full of (middle-aged) mountain bikers"[/i] forum that I have grown to love.

Sorry.

There's a difference between arguments and abuse. Personally, I don't see why protracted debates are a bad thing in and of themselves; it's fairly obvious what's going on when, say, a religion thread reaches a page count in double figures, and reading them isn't mandatory. It's easy to avoid if you don't like that sort of thing.

The problem comes in when it descends into ad hominem attacks. That's the sort of thing which breeds ill feeling and needs swift moderation. I don't really understand why excessive arguing = lifetime ban, in isolation.

I reckon the no. 1 cause of genuine nastiness/unpleasantness/divisiveness on the forum stems from users being encouraged to report each other. The answer is more mods, recruited from every user group (including the rogues) and a greater emphasis on proactively assisting the debates rather than punitively stopping them, banning people and appealing to users to report each other which is so wide open for abuse it isn't true.

I feel for the owners in some ways. I'm guessing they never expected to be running a forum of this size with all of the bollocks that it entails.

I reckon the no. 1 cause of genuine nastiness/unpleasantness/divisiveness on the forum stems from users being encouraged to report each other

That's a very different view and not sure how you came up with that. We ask for people to report posts as it's just impossible for us to monitor the forum and all the posts, we don't always agree with reports. Even if we do a lot of the time the post may just be deleted and no other action taken. No one other than the person reporting and the mods know if there has been a report unless we mention it in the warning.

Drac: would it be worth trying an official "yellow card" system for posts?

Some official sign that a post is close to crossing the line, is being watched, and that everyone should back down [i]before[/i] action is taken?

[img] [/img]

The current situation sometimes seems to go very quickly from a some ill-considered words being exchanged to the thread being locked and people being disappeared.

It would hopefully prevent things getting that far and help people understand exactly where the line is in future.

.

Edit: actually a yellow card is a bit wendyball. How about:

[img] [/img]

It's not impossible for you to have a far better handle on what's getting posted, it has a cost in terms of time and money attached to it that's all. My opinion has been formed by observing posts by people who report others and the reactions to them.

Encouraging people to report each other because it's not possible for the site owners or their staff to monitor some of the content says something fairly fundemental does it not? Having a process for reporting illegal/inappropriate content by users is fine however that isn't the message you are giving out.

An idea worth considering Graham.

It's not impossible Drac, it has a cost attached to it that's all

And who is going to pay for this?

Who do you think Drac? Don't tell me cost can't be absorbed from the various income streams that the business has.

And who is going to pay for this?

I hear the sites traffic is continually increasing. So maybe there is a bit of extra cash available from increased ad revenue rates?

Who do you think Drac? Don't tell me cost can't be absorbed from the various income streams that the business has.

Mark can comment on this better but my understanding is that it really couldn't.

What's the hourly rate for a moderator then?

£1 if you're at the coalface, like Drac.

50p, if you're one of the shadowy ones who lurk at the periphery.

What's the hourly rate for a moderator then?

0 we do it voluntarily.

How can it not be possible to recruit more then? How many unique users do you have? I'm sure you could get a dozen decent people on board without too much fuss. And you should have one mod chosen by the users. Perhaps then you might start to turn this forum back towards what you want.

Perhaps then you might start to turn this forum back towards what you want.

I reckon the no. 1 cause of genuine nastiness/unpleasantness/divisiveness on the forum stems from users being encouraged to report each other.

This. And the anonymous tags too. Both just offer an opportunity for those in desperate need of a dose of MTFU, those that crave to be offended on someone elses behalf and those with a very broad streak of nastiness simmering inside to cause trouble, safe in the knowledge that no one knows who has doled out the virtual kick to the ribs. A cowards charter.

Having said that, I don't really give two flooks about what goes on on here. It's virtually all forgotten once I've logged off anyway. Some posters seem to spend an embarrassing amount of time here though, whereas I'd rather be doing something interesting, constructive or lucrative all day instead. This place is taken far too seriously by way too many people - 'owners' included.

And the anonymous tags too. Both just offer an opportunity for those in desperate need of a dose of MTFU

I do miss the tags, and used them often. I do not consider the use of them cowardly, or leave me needing a hot steaming cup of MTFU. Most the time they were quite amusing...but I guess they could be used to be nasty. I say bring them back, but hovering over the tag will display the user who posted them, perhaps?

p.s Al = Cupcake, Volvo For Sale, Cirque Le Jerk, Buy Eggs etc etc

The tags were an interesting example. I don't think I ever saw one that was particularly unpleasant but there were plenty of ego battles waged through them. Some were bloody hilarious. But I suppose it's just another thing to moderate, another thing for people to report and another way for people take offence.

I hear the sites traffic is continually increasing. So maybe there is a bit of extra cash available from increased ad revenue rates?

That's not how it works.

That's not how it works.

Cheers for that.

I say bring them back, but hovering over the tag will display the user who posted them, perhaps?

+1

I used to laugh at 'Volvo For Sale' but never really knew why! What does it mean?

I think that got posted wherever cynic-al posted something.

DD - I understand that ... but why? What's the relevance - does he have a love of Scandinavian cars?

Wasn't he selling a Volvo once? On the classifieds?*

*I may have made this up.

Als car threads were the stuff of legends.
or was that not on here?

KISS - i would like a simple pie chart showing the level of activity on bike/chat/classifieds, stick it in the users profile alongside the date joined at the top of the detail

ps. its page 11, i read the first three posts and the last three.

ARMAGEDDON!!!

😀

Please don't do anything that detracts from the lovely muted colours and simple layout that no one notices when I'm skiving in the office. I'd use other forums more but their lairy avatars and signatures make me nervously keep looking over my shoulder.

http://sniffpetrol.com/2012/08/23/asktotalprickfromforum/

i volunteer to be a moderator 🙂

i volunteer to be a moderator

Well, he can do the work of several men...

[img] [/img]

that's printed out and hung over your fireplace isn't it 🙂

that's printed out and hung over your fireplace isn't it

I have files on everyone.

do i need to apply in writing to get all my details removed under the Data protection act?

It's nice in here, a bit lest feisty since the wielding of the BH, seemed a bit harsh but not been around long enough to see peeps previous indiscretions.

Never tried the report button before (Sorry Woppit you just happened to be in front of me when I gave it a playful poke - no Assange references please, there's no room left in the Ecuadorian embassy).

No other forum I use has one or seems to need one, they are pretty much self policing, but they are way more 'relaxed' than here, prob because the participants know each other and do abuse one another on FB/Email/text and meet face to face.

I have had some helpful comments on the proper bit and enjoyed the general mischievous banter on this bit. Don't change it too much. TTFN

But as I watch people being picked off and banned for life, people that I have not always agreed with but with whom I have had long, interesting, informed and sometimes even polite discussions with; I find myself increasingly twitchy, watching what I say, posting less and tiptoeing around trying not to upset anyone.

That isn't, for me, the "like a pub full of (middle-aged) mountain bikers" forum that I have grown to love.

Sorry

I possibly need to watch what I say much more than Graham though

take the kasae thread - grahamS and I were polite and gentle when trying to explain rather than saying what we really thought we still got accused of bullying.
If someone reported us for bullying would our cards be marked for future reports??

what we really thought we still got accused of bullying.

That was by Molgrips though, I think even the mods realise he is a delicate little flower.

Yes but it may just be more anonymous types doing the same

I was as restrained as i could possibly be on that thread...I only just resisted saying what I thought on this one 😉

Actually kaesae just accused me again JY after I stuck my head back in. 😕
I'm trying to "respectfully debate" as Mark puts it, but that doesn't seem possible as just disagreeing with kaesae seems to upset him, so again I'm biting my tongue and feeling like I'm being watched.

Actually kaesae just accused me again JY after I stuck my head back in.

Report him. If not for that, then for calling everyone retards before ninja-editing it....but here is the thing, you won't, as we all know what to expect when entering a Kaesae thread.

Yet reacting to being on the end of the insults, gets you saddled with accusations of bullying.

Jamie - Member
.....I think even the mods realise he is a delicate little flower.

That's natural sprinters for ya.......

Just dropped back in to see WTF was going on to get this to 11 pages 😯

however,

Edit feature = worst ever addition to the forum IMO

I was one of the ones that reported the kaesae thread. 🙂

No, really, I was. Just fessin' up.

EDIT: at around page 2/3

S'ok DubbaD, I reported it as "one to watch" when people started talking about "bullying".

Edit feature = worst ever addition to the forum IMO

No way. Have you any [i]idea [/i]how often I make typos I don't spot till after I post?

No way. Have you any idea how often I make typos I don't spot till after I post?

Lodes?

No way. Have you any idea how often I make typos I don't spot till after I post?

removing the facility might just make some people think a bit before sending and maybe make others a bit more typo-tolerant (or else a bit more frothy about the mouth)

- interesting how opinions can differ so greatly though, isn't it 😉

... and I guess, ultimately, that's what makes the place so much fun

No way. Have you any idea how often I make typos I don't spot till after I post?

I have a wireless keyboard that misses about 1 in 20 charcters, and my typing is 2 fingers only and veryu unrelaible (sic)

can't say it bothers me though currently do change things after they pop up, mostly for fear of being thought unable to spell 😳

- interesting how opinions can differ so greatly though, isn't it?

... and I guess, ultimately, that's what makes the place so much fun

Edit function is great. Certain users seem to ninja edit more than others though....I think Don Simon used to be a dab hand at it. Bit annoying when you quote someone, and then they change their post sometimes.

Bit annoying when you quote someone, and then they change their post sometimes.

That isn't, for me, the "like a pub full of (middle-aged) mountain bikers" forum that I have grown to love.

Nope, it's now a lot more like those pretentious country pubs that demand all muddy clothes be taken off prior to entry. They either need to lighten up, or not have a pub in the country!

Don't run a discussion forum if you don't like robust discussion. Simples

Interesting that people think it's more strict here though. I'd dispute that! BikeRadar has far more moderation IMO, posts only get locked/deleted here if they do something fairly unpleasant. They delete any thread asking about valuations, or asking things covered in the stickies etc.

WeightWeenies delete any eBay links, and for a while were deleting shop links too, so you couldn't do a "what do you think of these" type post. That's ridiculous!

As such, we choose to use your posts as a record of what you have contributed to the forum over the years. Removing your name and posts from the forum record would devalue the worth of the forum as our published work.

I think it is interesting that what I have not really realised, (or deluded myself about) is that the forum is essentially here to provide "content" for the site, the purpose of which is to increase advertising revenue. Which means that we are providing Messers Chipps and Alker with their chips and lager just by typing here.

Which kind of makes Mark's complaints about people subverting the ads on here (and hence denting his income) seem a bit hollow, seeing as those very people are the content and that which attracts the ads. Oooh the power we have..

Anyway now that that has sunk in, I am going to think long and hard before I provide the "owners" of this site with a free lunch again.

OP; Not sure labels will help the forum.

STW Forums breed TROLL's
It seems as though people start off sharing their wealth of knowledge from years of riding and general life experience
Slowly over time they become a little too comfortable in their new surroundings the ego grows and he/she starts to believe in their own hype.
Before they know what has happened they are posting (over and over again) on everyone's thread trying to bully and ridicule anyone who disagrees or has something to say that doesn't sit well for the new TROLL
Suddenly they believe they have superpowers and know everything and are in some way helping the masses by shutting up and humiliating the quirky posters.
Then you get the Lord of the Flies effect where the little TROLL's come out to play and the cycle continues.
Gentle reminders that Threads are not there to be proof read by some sort of elite breed of TROLL; If you don't like the thread then move right on by and keep your gob shut!! and if that fails get medievel with the BANHAMMER
IMO.

Surely everyone has a right to say within reason their opinion otherwise stw mods would be acting as a communist state dictator would.

You say trolls but it's important that it's just in reply to a thread with information that can be taken with a pinch of salt or ignored so works both ways see.

Clearly so many can't see the light on here and act like complete cats (you know who you are) and that if it was not for a projection soap box known as the computer then most of us on here would shut the hell up 80% of the time.

It is a good forum and very informative but many are in denial and refuse to either understand or believe other peoples experience or views on different matters raised.

Peace out.

cynic-al - Member
May I just state, for the record, the Brotherhood of Hitting Big in no way sanctioned the recent "out-of-control rogue-arguing" of several former members.

Certain other rogue-arguers continue to cause chaos on forums - these individuals are in no way linked to the Brotherhood.

Remember: enjoy your arguing responsibly

Feeling sleepy all of a sudden.