Contact with thread starter before a thread is closed

[VEGANGELICA]

Originally Posted by Ki

If I could take anything from my OP and have it be more specific, it'd be to contact the thread starter. I just find that if the person who started the thread is aware that their original topic is being taken away from the thread, i'd think they'd like some notification as to what's happening and why it's happening and hopefully they can resolve it. I'm not saying to do this on every thread that's closed, obviously. It'd sort of be like putting more responsibility on the person who started the thread, and perhaps it would allow for people to see how much people enjoy seeing their threads be a success.

Ki, I agree with you completely that non-duplicate threads made by legitimate posters should not be closed, even if the topic meanders or is considered "stupid" by mods, unless the original poster (when available) requests and/or okays the closure.

If people are getting horribly off-topic or vicious in a thread, rather than close the thread so that no one else can participate in the discussion, I recommend mods focus on the members who seem to be violating rules.

Closing a thread to end bickering will just result in that bickering moving elsewhere. Also, thread closure deprives other members of a chance to participate in a discussion they may find interesting.

* * *

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

That's because I remember when this place had some standards & people weren't afraid to say to someone 'This thread is stupid, make more of effort.'

Stupid is subjective. Even if a mod thinks a thread topic is stupid doesn't mean everyone else will.

I'd much rather that thread topics reflect what individual non-mod members feel are interesting and valuable, not just what mods think. I feel the beauty of MB is that one can find any topic anyone could ever imagine discussed here...and many I would have never thought of! I like those best...threads like, "What's your favorite Pringles' tube color?"

This month I saw a thread in which people bashed the thread topic as boring and then targeted the original poster rather than discussing her or his topic. Rather than being a high point in MB's history, I felt those rude responses were a low point, and very off-putting to the OP. Saying some topic is stupid or boring in the thread itself is also off topic!

If having "standards" means the right to act like jerks to people for expressing their ideas, then I think it is a good thing if MB lacks "standards."

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

your taking the assumption that the topic can be salvaged all the time.

If I close a thread permanently it's because a thread asking something dumb like 'What is your favourite colour Pringles tube' has gone massively off topic.

Ordinarily I would close a thread like that after the first post for being so idiotic but then I get called things like trigger happy, so I decide to leave it open. Because it's a dumb thread it soon gets filled up with crap and off topic arguments.
So I close it, because a topic so dumb really doesn't need salvaging and then I get called trigger happy again.

So in short, start proper threads and don't instigate topics a 4 year old would find stupid and this won't happen.

Thank you for holding back and keeping threads open when you yourself feel the topic is stupid.

About the question of who should decide what a "proper" thread topic is, assuming it relates to music in the music forums and non-music in the lounge threads, I say leave it up to the community.

If members give honest replies to a thread topic, then I'd say that means it is "proper." And even if no one replies now, perhaps someone will later. I feel a hands off approach is better than over-moderation.

* * *

Originally Posted by sopsych

Part of what's wrong is too much fighting, off-putting to new people and some of us who have been here a while.

I have seen the ban-from-thread feature used on another forum. (On me. For a weird reason, a rule specific to that site.) If it can be implemented here for proper usage, try it. But from what I've seen, it's not one-on-one fights that are a problem; it is usually multiple people against one. If people are chronically starting fights, more than banning from threads needs to be done. Sometimes the attacking is a response to suspected trolling.[/venting]

As usual, sopsych, I agree with you about fighting in threads being off-putting, especially when it is multiple people against one, such as in these off-topic comments by mods aimed at you...

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

Perhaps you should stop starting arguments then.

and...

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Let me guess, everyone was against you there too.

...however, sopsych, I'd rather let the fighting happen (but have mods warn members in private) and keep threads open unless the OP requests closure.

Also, when threads go off-topic, I'd rather let the threads meander or have mods address the meanderers instead of close the thread.

I remember when your thread about liking shorter songs got closed because we were discussing the possible relationship between drug use and people's preferences for song length. Since a mod closed your thread, I ended up continuing the discussion of drugs and the type of music people produce or prefer in another thread. During that process, I learned about "narcotica" music and the way drugs affect the mind's tolerance for longer songs. The discussion resulting from your thread topic was useful and interesting to me. I felt your thread was closed for no reason and discussion was squelched, simply because mods didn't like the topic and the direction it was taking.

As an MB user, I don't like it when discussions I enjoy are stopped. When that happens, I'd rather that mods just focus on deleting obvious spam (ads for toasters, etc.) and stay out of music threads in which they don't like the topic but other MB members do.

[Burning Down]

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

Ki, I agree with you completely that non-duplicate threads made by legitimate posters should not be closed, even if the topic meanders or is considered "stupid" by mods, unless the original poster (when available) requests and/or okays the closure.

I try to merge duplicate threads, but since there's been a problem with post and thread merging across VBulletin forums (like MB) lately, the best I can do is post a link to the existing thread before I close the new one.

Edit: I'm stupid. I misread your post

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

As usual, sopsych, I agree with you about fighting in threads being off-putting, especially when it is multiple people against one, such as in these off-topic comments by mods aimed at you...

and...

Wow, Vegan. Just wow. Fully siding with the trolls now, eh? No sense of context whatsoever. Apparently it's totally okay with you if Sopsych makes hostile, off-topic posts, but heaven forbid anyone respond to them.

I've refrained from weighing in against your comments in this part of the site for a very long time because I've always respected you and your opinion even when I didn't agree with it. Thanks for letting me know the respect wasn't mutual. I'll be sure to take the gloves off from now on.

[sopsych]

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Wow, Vegan. Just wow. Fully siding with the trolls now, eh? No sense of context whatsoever. Apparently it's totally okay with you if Sopsych makes hostile, off-topic posts, but heaven forbid anyone respond to them.

I've refrained from weighing in against your comments in this part of the site for a very long time because I've always respected you and your opinion even when I didn't agree with it. Thanks for letting me know the respect wasn't mutual. I'll be sure to take the gloves off from now on.

Charming.

My post wasn't way off-topic and addressed the root of the issue. If you don't want hostility, change your approach. For example, be open-minded to the suggestions of people like Ki. There aren't enough good discussions. Shutting down threads (officially or with derision) discourages attempts at conversation by those involved and onlookers.

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Originally Posted by sopsych

Charming.

My post wasn't way off-topic and addressed the root of the issue. If you don't want hostility, change your approach. For example, be open-minded to the suggestions of people like Ki. There aren't enough good discussions. Shutting down threads (officially or with derision) discourages attempts at conversation by those involved and onlookers.

You are being a total hypocrite. You don't want people to be hostile towards you but you are being hostile towards others expected special treatment.

[midnight rain]

Originally Posted by sopsych

Charming.

My post wasn't way off-topic and addressed the root of the issue. If you don't want hostility, change your approach. For example, be open-minded to the suggestions of people like Ki. There aren't enough good discussions. Shutting down threads (officially or with derision) discourages attempts at conversation by those involved and onlookers.

I was being nice before, you are an awful member. I probably am too since I rarely contribute to music discussion, but I don't try to drag MB down with my tyrannical views of how things should be run either.

Do everyone including yourself a favor and find a place more conducive to your personality.

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by sopsych

Charming.

My post wasn't way off-topic and addressed the root of the issue. If you don't want hostility, change your approach.

Insulting as always I see. Not the best way to get people to listen to you.

Originally Posted by sopsych

For example, be open-minded to the suggestions of people like Ki. There aren't enough good discussions. Shutting down threads (officially or with derision) discourages attempts at conversation by those involved and onlookers.

I'm very open to Ki's suggestions and have expressed no objection to them whatsoever. Generally speaking I'm not in favor of locking threads and in fact it's extremely rare for me to do so. Of course you'd know this if you actually bothered to read the thread you're posting in.

[Burning Down]

Originally Posted by sopsych

Charming.

My post wasn't way off-topic and addressed the root of the issue. If you don't want hostility, change your approach. For example, be open-minded to the suggestions of people like Ki. There aren't enough good discussions. Shutting down threads (officially or with derision) discourages attempts at conversation by those involved and onlookers.

I am very open to Ki's suggestion, I think it's a good idea. Whether or not it would work here remains to be seen.

You're the one who is being hostile here, and you always come across that way when responding to people who you think are shooting down the things you're saying, to be very honest with you. I read your posts and take your ideas into account because I have an open mind. However, I continually wonder why you remain an active member here if you find more negative faults with the forum than things to praise. The rest of us love this place, and of course there are things that we gripe about and things that should or could be changed/improved upon, but the majority of us feel that the pros outweigh the cons at MB.

[Key]

Originally Posted by sopsych

Charming.

My post wasn't way off-topic and addressed the root of the issue. If you don't want hostility, change your approach. For example, be open-minded to the suggestions of people like Ki. There aren't enough good discussions. Shutting down threads (officially or with derision) discourages attempts at conversation by those involved and onlookers.

I'm holding my tongue respectfully, but I would like ask you kindly to please stop coming into my thread and making it sound like there's something wrong here. You're the only person being hostile, and I would appreciate it if you just stop. Please, I wanted to express this idea and a lot of people like it, so it means a lot to me that i'm not the only person who thinks it's a good idea.