These days I have been thinking (big gasp) about how people seem to ignore each other and the common etiquette. Many users who should know better are making big mistakes, usually by actually spamming by providing the same answer over and over, or better, saying the topic, post, or whatever is spam. I still remember the "Jonathanland" threads, where people were complaining about them, saying they were spam, and should be locked, and actually openly bullied the kid who made them, instead of just ignoring the threads, possibly observing them to see if they would lead to spamming, and therefore could be reported. Other times, usually in the S&S section, the same answer is given over and over again, possibly with a "-user- is right". Repeating helps understanding, but after seven answers what is basically the same, I think the person asking got it. The reason for this thread is also the "Seriously"-thread. I am unable to formulate a proper OP for that, but as it was said, if the thread had been about that, it would have stayed. Instead it was a thread about why a topic was locked, which we again should be smart enough to avoid.
I guess, what I am trying to start a discussion about is... Etiquette. How to make a good thread of good quality, and make sure it stay like that. Because I am pretty sure we do not need to make long OPs like this one to get there. But we still need to make sure the OP will lead to a proper discussion, and not just people answering short and careless.
This is also the reason for the thread title. I have seen many users simply answer the title, without reading the OP. Not only here, but in the World section as well.
So basically: How should we act, what can we do to improve the quality of the threads, is there any tricks or should we make long OPs and titles to make sure people actually answer with longer posts, is it okay to necro a thread that is long dead just because a new thread is a duplicate of the old one... And so on.
I believe that this is a great topic to talk about but I am not one to be speaking since I am still new here on AG and on in the community so I have no reference(spelling?) point to speak from. However, IF I was to answer then I would say that the moderators(again, spellling?) and admins need to start cracking down more on those users who do use just 1-2 word answers. Also to answer the queston in the topic, my favorite pet is my bass guitar.
Each place has its own etiquette which is established over time. ArmorGames' happens to be more rigorous than most places. Relevant to the OP would be:
* When creating a topic, make sure the topic is actually something you can discuss.
* Do not post "this is spam" or comments of similar nature, they are spam.
* Necro-ing a thread for no apparent reason other than to bump the thread is also spam. However if the person who revives the thread has explained why with a reason other than "I was bored", this is generally acceptable.
* Complaints should be delivered straight to the moderators, not in the thread.
Now as for tricks on making discussions longer, there's just one I will suggest: use open questions. Not closed ones. Questions like "what if", "what" and "how", as opposed to "is it?" or "do you?"
Whenever I check out a topic, I read the OP and the last one or two pages of comments and if I find it's not a subject I can add anything to, I leave it alone.
I suppose many people come to forums to chat and discuss but what they may forget is that there's a certain level of maturity and restraint that comes with interacting with other people, thus we establish etiquette.
I imagine many of the same users who also come to the forums on a regular basis and know other users like to play around a little resulting in lesser quality posts. Even so a moderate level of restraint should be enough to reign in the spam beast.
I'm not innocent I spam sometimes but I try to keep it in good humor and limited as do some other people I've seen around. <.<
In short my advice to really consider the OP and actually try to add something to the discussion at hand. Aim for 20 words or more if that helps too. Oh and if you don't know something about a subject feel free to google it and educate yourself a little before posting.
Anyway, usually newcomers do not read threads and their content before plunging in and spamming. It's ok, when you first start out. But spamming when you have been here for quite some time is rather annoying, showing your immatureness.
Plus, some people always make new topics, especially in the S&S Section, without looking at stickies that can answer your question.
There's no one size fits all solution. The only way to stop all these unwanted comments leading to good threads being shut down is by being mature. Pretty hard in some people I guess, but just give it a try.
Cats,Snakes,Monkeys,Dogs,Goldfish and Elepants all classic pets!!!
Evilpumpkinman is the winner of failing the OP.
@Nokus: You might still have ideas. Besides, even though you are a new user, you still have a feeling of how it should be, right?
@Strop: Right, but in "Something vs something" threads, where it is basically just small talk, people should just use the new thread, because there is little reason to necro something that is just random in the first place. Aka: Necroing Homosexuality thread = good Necroing AG vs NG thread = not as good?
@Wiggi: It is probably the best way. That way you know what it is about as well as you can join in on the discussion.
We don't really care, as long as there is relevancy, continuity and no duplicate!
Well, it usually do not have that. But nevermind.
Anyway, usually newcomers do not read threads and their content before plunging in and spamming. It's ok, when you first start out. But spamming when you have been here for quite some time is rather annoying, showing your immatureness.
Very so. Especially the ways of spamming. If it is regular spam, well, I can take that, but spamming when you should know better and simply sit back and ignore a thread, either because the question is answered, or because the thread will die fine on its own without having haters post in it.
Plus, some people always make new topics, especially in the S&S Section, without looking at stickies that can answer your question.
There is questions that should be placed in the newcomers. But besides that, it is just as easy to just answer, possibly quote the common suggestion thread, and then leave it. If other people then could leave it, there would be no problem.
There's no one size fits all solution.
But there should be a certain responsibility from the people posting. The reason why most threads are locked is because people do not care about it. If you do not care, you should not reply to the thread.
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I imagine many of the same users who also come to the forums on a regular basis and know other users like to play around a little resulting in lesser quality posts. Even so a moderate level of restraint should be enough to reign in the spam beast.
I make spammy posts as well, it purely depend on the thread. A place like the Daily can have some amount of chatting within the boundaries of the thread. There is a good amount of chatting in the Art section, because we are a community in the community, and it is all fine, to an extent. Usually the chatting is merely offtopic, and can easily be redirected back to the convo, but the spamming this concern is the one in threads like "Favorite...", where there is no conversation, just a quick word, where it is quite clear it is for the AP, and not for the sake of discussion or the thread.
Oh and if you don't know something about a subject feel free to google it and educate yourself a little before posting.
Which reminds me of another problem: The "What is this about?" posts. Another example of people not reading the OP, or actually caring enough about the topic to make an effort.
However, IF I was to answer then I would say that the moderators(again, spellling?) and admins need to start cracking down more on those users who do use just 1-2 word answers.
At some point I would say it is our own responsibility to do something about this problem. Some of the mods, I talk to, say it is less fun to become a mod, simply because they use all their time on correcting people, instead of doing what they did when they were regular users: Have fun.
The thread stats is currently saying 7 posts, 66 views. Seemingly there is a lot of people who has noticed this thread, maybe because they thought it was another poll/favorite.. thread, as the title suggests, but the moment they saw the OP, they concluded it was not like that and ran as fast as they could to the other thread. Maybe there was some who was about to say that this was a duplicate as well, we will never know. But they all just looked and went away. Is people really that afraid of discussing? Of discussing something that matters? Or is a fear of having to realize that they make these mistakes as well, and more often that you might think? Well, I am not the one to answer. But at least I will try and bring it up again.
I get the feeling the majority of users looking at this thread, as they do most content-rich threads, think "oh god, tl;dr" and give up on their chance of getting easy AP.
Oh and if you don't know something about a subject feel free to google it and educate yourself a little before posting. Which reminds me of another problem: The "What is this about?" posts. Another example of people not reading the OP, or actually caring enough about the topic to make an effort.
This problem always ends up in a frantic debate by people who know alot. Especially in the World Events Section where you see all sorts of half-baked and annoying answers. I stopped going there frequently to keep my blood pressure down =p.
I get the feeling the majority of users looking at this thread, as they do most content-rich threads, think "oh god, tl;dr" and give up on their chance of getting easy AP.
That's another problem. Good threads which spawn lots of debates are usually tossed aside for easier threads such as a 'favourite thing' thread.
Is people really that afraid of discussing? Of discussing something that matters? Or is a fear of having to realize that they make these mistakes as well, and more often that you might think? Well, I am not the one to answer. But at least I will try and bring it up again.
They'd rather post in easier, less content and less typing threads. Like a 'hit and run' kind of thread. Sounds like a crude metaphor =p.
However, IF I was to answer then I would say that the moderators(again, spellling?) and admins need to start cracking down more on those users who do use just 1-2 word answers.
At some point I would say it is our own responsibility to do something about this problem. Some of the mods, I talk to, say it is less fun to become a mod, simply because they use all their time on correcting people, instead of doing what they did when they were regular users: Have fun.
Ah, the nobleness of them! It's not that easy to crack down on all of them. Simply too many. Which is a sad thing!
Maybe there was some who was about to say that this was a duplicate as well, we will never know. But they all just looked and went away.
Still at least they followed the old adage "It's better to let people think you're an idiot than open your mouth and prove them right." Of course they could always attempt to not be spammy but the problem arises that only they can make that decision. The best we can do is hint at them.
I'm sure we could boil this whole behavior down to instant gratification. The quicker they feed their urges the better they feel. It takes a bit of maturity to overcome that. Then there is the general dislike of responsibility. Everyone learns pretty early that maturity tends to come with more responsibility and who wants to be doing 'work' when you could be having fun?
Spammers tend to come with childish mindsets so of course they'll test the rules.
I get the feeling the majority of users looking at this thread, as they do most content-rich threads, think "oh god, tl;dr" and give up on their chance of getting easy AP.
At least we know a relatively simple way to make a private topic. Have each poster C/P a huge block of text and then follow up with what they actually want to say.
At least we know a relatively simple way to make a private topic. Have each poster C/P a huge block of text and then follow up with what they actually want to say.
XDDD
Worst part is, it is not impossible that that would work.
Oh, and... Some of all those views may come from people like me who read without posting. >_> But I'm sure some were pouncing the thread preparing to yell duplicate - I probably would have done the same if you hadn't linked me to it (but of course I always read the threads before I act on them).
Double posting for the sake of contributing (and so you can delete the other one)
At least we know a relatively simple way to make a private topic. Have each poster C/P a huge block of text and then follow up with what they actually want to say.
You know... That's a good idea...
And the saddest thing? You had to make this thread. People can't quite grasp the concept of etiqutte... Especially when they can't spell it.
Spammers tend to come with childish mindsets so of course they'll test the rules.
Testing rules is fun. I've had thirteen permanent bans on Kongregate.
This problem always ends up in a frantic debate by people who know alot. Especially in the World Events Section where you see all sorts of half-baked and annoying answers. I stopped going there frequently to keep my blood pressure down =p
Same here. Especially all the religious based threads... Actually all the threads.
That's another problem. Good threads which spawn lots of debates are usually tossed aside for easier threads such as a 'favourite thing' thread.
Yes. The community is a) a place to gain ap (which works better in the games, actually...) b) there is no b.
They'd rather post in easier, less content and less typing threads. Like a 'hit and run' kind of thread. Sounds like a crude metaphor =p.
Very so. Which again is why I should never become a mod: I would actually delete all spam (not that the mods are not doing it already), and then watch them try and gain them back in a better way. The Game sections need better supervision as well.
"It's better to let people think you're an idiot than open your mouth and prove them right."
Or more likely: *opens mouth* Lol.
Spammers tend to come with childish mindsets so of course they'll test the rules.
Most flamers are on the other hand rather intelligent, since it just makes them look stupid if they flame like a spammer would.
At least we know a relatively simple way to make a private topic. Have each poster C/P a huge block of text and then follow up with what they actually want to say.
Worst part is, it is not impossible that that would work.
Correct... It is a little weird... But it would at least look better than most of the other topics.
And the saddest thing? You had to make this thread. People can't quite grasp the concept of etiqutte... Especially when they can't spell it.
I find it interesting. Also, RPoAG has now begun to make threads with "Justify your opinion" even though there is no spam already... I am not sure wether it annoys me or if I find it terribly funny.
Testing rules is fun. I've had thirteen permanent bans on Kongregate.
MWAHAHAHAHAAAA!! I mean... Better test it there than here.
