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Post by silverdragon on Jun 9, 2013 6:51:54 GMT
Question, can we get an area for political "discussion".....
Its just that we get so many threads that resort to political, we should have a special area to send em to?.....
I know there is not supposed to be political on this board, but we is getting some.
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Post by Cybermortis on Jun 9, 2013 12:29:48 GMT
Question, can we get an area for political "discussion"..... Its just that we get so many threads that resort to political, we should have a special area to send em to?..... I know there is not supposed to be political on this board, but we is getting some. There are better places to discuss political subjects than TC - which least you forget is after all a site for a TV show that goes to great length to be as none-political as possible. (Even the Presidents Challenge episode wasn't about politics but about getting kids involved in science - which is something I think the majority of people would say is a good thing.) As I have noted in threads I have been willing to grant some leeway as (existing) members have proved capable of being responsible in those that have turned up. However I have to consider what could happen with newer members, or just if someone has a bad day and posts something that annoys other members. So that would be a no. |
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Post by freegan on Jun 15, 2013 10:04:52 GMT
So ... you've moved a couple of threads to 'Picture Board'.
Would you like to make it directly accessible from the Home Page, please.
Currently the only way to get there is via the threads' old locations and the "Moved:..." notices.
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Post by Cybermortis on Jun 15, 2013 11:43:27 GMT
The Picture Board is a sub-board located in the Watercooler above the Announcements and should be directly accessible by clicking on it. I checked the settings and it should be open and viewable to all members, although only staff can start (or move) new threads to that section.
I don't want to add it to the main board because it is only intended to contain one or two threads at a time - specifically the 'Caption This' thread.
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Post by privatepaddy on Sept 15, 2013 6:41:45 GMT
it appears to me with falling member numbers perhaps a visitor posting portal where they can have a say
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Post by silverdragon on Sept 15, 2013 9:41:19 GMT
PP has a point.....
Can we get a moderated cleaned out once a day anti-troll type suggestion board that "peeps" can leave a simple text only "Can you try this" type request?...
I know it will contain millions of the PTD subjects we used to get on the old board....... that is why I suggest heavily moderated... for brevity sake.....
"Visitor" status for posting, not full membership, and only allowed THAT part of the board for posting...
If they are eager to post elsewhere, then let 'em sign up fully... its not as if its that hard to sign up is it?....
Of course, first question is, does freeforums dot net software allow for that type of drive-by posting as "Visitor"....
If the answer is no, is there other options.......
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Post by Cybermortis on Sept 15, 2013 13:22:18 GMT
The board software would support the creation of such a board.
I have a few concerns about such a board - especially since the last four accounts were created by spam-bots (you won't see them on the members list as those accounts were deleted).
Let me think about this, and talk the rest of the mods. We would, after all, be the ones who's have to keep an eye on such a board.
*Edit*
Member numbers are currently remaining fairly stable at around 17-20 per day, with some 200-300 visitors. Given the time of year, people going back to school/college or having kids who are doing so, and no Mythbusters having been on the air for a while (the Breaking Bad special excluded) which lowers interest I'm not surprised at this. I've seen the same pattern on other boards, and I've been on more than a few over the years.
Still a 'Visitor's Area' might be a good idea. As I said I will seriously consider this.
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Post by privatepaddy on Sept 15, 2013 13:34:36 GMT
The board software would support the creation of such a board. I have a few concerns about such a board - especially since the last four accounts were created by spam-bots (you won't see them on the members list as those accounts were deleted). Let me think about this, and talk the rest of the mods. We would, after all, be the ones who's have to keep an eye on such a board. *Edit* Member numbers are currently remaining fairly stable at around 17-20 per day, with some 200-300 visitors. Given the time of year, people going back to school/college or having kids who are doing so, and no Mythbusters having been on the air for a while (the Breaking Bad special excluded) which lowers interest I'm not surprised at this. I've seen the same pattern on other boards, and I've been on more than a few over the years. Still a 'Visitor's Area' might be a good idea. As I said I will seriously consider this. You should also consider polling people this is as much their forum as anyones |
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Post by Cybermortis on Sept 15, 2013 16:23:53 GMT
I do think the overall idea has merit, but also have some practical concerns about it. These concerns affect moderation, not members. Members will have the option to simply avoid an open board, staff will not. Hence wanting to discuss it with those of us who would have to police a visitors board.
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Post by silverdragon on Sept 16, 2013 6:33:16 GMT
Except the series currently running in the UK you mean?...
You didnt know?....
(I dun thunk he was a Brit as well?.... {grin}
Would the board software allow "Waiting for moderation" posts... as in, they can post, but no post will appear until moderators have at least had a chance to read through it once?...
200 to 300 "Visitors", if 10% of them post, thats a reasonable amount of posts....
How about try it for a month, see how many posts, if necessary, ask for more board mods....
If its JUST reading through "New" postings and allowing through the not obvious spam ones, I could volunteer for that.... I guess most of the members would volunteer for some of that duty as well?...
We could take turns?...
"God for a day".... heh heh heh... I must polish my ban-hammer?...
**Back to reality....**
If it turns out to be a huge mistake, it can be disassembled again quickly cant it?...
Some of the best laughs we had came from the drive-bys on the last board....
such as the legendary "Wud dropin a jely dow-nut off empire staet kill yous?"
(Ok, I may have made some of that up, but I am sure someone suggested throwing do-nuts off a high place at some point..?..)
If you created a board kind of titled something like "Drop-Box", or "Suggestions", with an explanation "Keep it Clean... this is the place Non Members can drop subjects you may like the MB's to take a look at, we will pass on as many as we can", and some other disclaimers that as its an open board the members can not vouch for the reliability of any of it, but, most of all, DO NOT try any of the suggestions at home?....
(And do not post personal information.....)
Heck, just thinking out loud, if anyone else has any better ideas?....
Plus an advert to make them think about joining up full time....
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Post by privatepaddy on Sept 16, 2013 6:54:20 GMT
The format could be a section like the oracle with a few sub boards to sort ideas/comments As to placing any post into instant moderation I would not favour that but instead a reporting system where members can report good ideas and the other stuff. Where members can actually interact if they chose, since many of our members used to interact with new posters effectively. I would not be in favour of the set up that post dated the old forums, but I don't have to control it.
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Post by silverdragon on Sept 17, 2013 5:47:21 GMT
I was hoping for a system where drive-by posters could drop a post or idea to be considered without sign in, but signed in members would not be mod-queued.?.
As in, all of us can instantly interact as members, just n00bs got god-queued unless they actually sign up to the board.
That may encourage new members to actually sign up if they have to wait a day to see their post appear?...
And the wait-a-say thing may actually encourage them to come BACK again to see......
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Post by Cybermortis on Sept 17, 2013 12:30:39 GMT
As far as I can tell the board does not support such a set up.
As I said, I have to consider the amount of work that would be needed by the staff to police an open board. Having to read every post that may be made there would quickly become unworkable simply due to the time needed.
I have not dismissed the idea, and am leaning towards creating such a section. I'm just waiting to hear back from more of the mods.
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Post by the light works on Sept 17, 2013 14:00:27 GMT
As far as I can tell the board does not support such a set up. As I said, I have to consider the amount of work that would be needed by the staff to police an open board. Having to read every post that may be made there would quickly become unworkable simply due to the time needed. I have not dismissed the idea, and am leaning towards creating such a section. I'm just waiting to hear back from more of the mods. essentially, it would require a full time moderation staff. I direct people's attention to what the old site was like on friday nights after the mod du jour was off duty for the weekend. |
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Post by privatepaddy on Sept 17, 2013 14:11:37 GMT
It got down to 11 members last weekend, you either get new members or it becomes a matter of who is left to turn out the lights. Plan A is not working time to try something new.
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Post by Cybermortis on Sept 17, 2013 14:53:46 GMT
People have other things to do at this time of year than log onto message boards and post.
Average member visits per day is remaining stable at around 18 per day. Average visitor numbers are averaging some 350 per day - up almost 100 from a month ago. There will be variations from day to day and at different times during the week.
Nothing unusual in this, you see this on most private message boards regardless of content or how easy/hard it is to post or sign up. The old MBFC survived for at least two years with far lower active members than we have, and that site was a lot harder to find.
We'll probably see an increase in these figures when MB returns for the fall season, as this will not only remind people this board exists but put them back in the mindset where they start to think up ideas.
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Post by silverdragon on Sept 18, 2013 6:55:03 GMT
Football season has started in the UK.... some important matches were being played... that may account for some UK residents....
What was on in the USA?....
New School year as well.
Off Work, but still doing the kids school run here...
[Should I be doing that with a leg injury?...
It hasn't stopped me walking, and, I asked the Doc, she said as long as it was short journeys I am good to go.....]
Seasonal differences.
On all boards I have ever posted on, whilst the sun shines, visitor numbers drop.
As soon as their is some major sporting event, the place is a ghost town.
Yes we need to promote the board but it isnt all doom and gloom just yet?...
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Post by privatepaddy on Sept 18, 2013 21:17:25 GMT
Football season has started in the UK.... some important matches were being played... that may account for some UK residents.... What was on in the USA?.... New School year as well. Off Work, but still doing the kids school run here... [ Should I be doing that with a leg injury?...
It hasn't stopped me walking, and, I asked the Doc, she said as long as it was short journeys I am good to go.....] Seasonal differences. On all boards I have ever posted on, whilst the sun shines, visitor numbers drop. As soon as their is some major sporting event, the place is a ghost town. Yes we need to promote the board but it isnt all doom and gloom just yet?... Roughly 3 months ago figures under the old format were at their best 30+ otherwise in the high 20's. Just prior to the change in format high 20's to mid 20's after the change in format the teens. Seasonal differences? |
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Post by anonym on Sept 19, 2013 2:05:04 GMT
As far as I can tell the board does not support such a set up. As I said, I have to consider the amount of work that would be needed by the staff to police an open board. Having to read every post that may be made there would quickly become unworkable simply due to the time needed. I have not dismissed the idea, and am leaning towards creating such a section. I'm just waiting to hear back from more of the mods. essentially, it would require a full time moderation staff. I direct people's attention to what the old site was like on friday nights after the mod du jour was off duty for the weekend. Would it be possible to make it so guest posters can only post when someone is around, or set up specific times when guest posting is enabled? Not saying whether it's a good idea or not, just suggesting a possible compromise. |
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Post by silverdragon on Sept 19, 2013 7:42:06 GMT
Yes.
Boards go quiet in Summer. (Northern Hemisphere...)
(Ask Lex how it happens the other side of the world?..)
This is known industry wide.
School holidays are usually when you get a flood of drive-by postings, except summer holidays, when the sun shines, kids get outside....
So do the parents.
Board software changes?... best done whilst the boards are quiet... so do them in the summer...
Its no coincidence that the boards are quiet whilst the changes take place, its probably been planned that way, because they know they will get less complaints that way.
(and more time to fix the plethora of beta-glitches they missed...)
Winter months, you cant enjoy a summer evening sat in the garden, so many people go watch TV, or get on the computer.
Thats when we will get more postings... and probably when we can recruit more posters?...
And industry wide, why do they announce the launch of new Games machines for Autumn?...
Because they know that Gamers are most active during winter... its not JUST the build up to Christmas, but its a way to spend a few hours whilst the weather is inclement outside...
This is one reason I suggest a text-ONLY maximum say 140 character "tittering" type post
[Edit, can we insist that it be plain text and NOT txt messaage type "OMG wd be gd to c pny dropd of empire stat" type troll speak?....]
in a drop box that can be quickly viewed and passed by a Moderator say once a day....
The viable ones get allowed through, the junk rejected and deleted, anything that is passed can then be discussed by Members, and if a "bloody good idea", taken through for discussion on the main board?....
I do not know how much the board software is capable of, so the mighty Mods and CM can let us know what may be viable?...
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