My input on the forums
Honestly, the listings are about as dead as the auctions(at least that's how both of those features seem to me.). I personally don't see anything wrong with using the general forum as a place to ask for P/C, T>, S>, Guild recruitment and any other maple related topics. I've been actively reading the general maple forums for the past week or so and not much has happened in the way of new posts in relation to spamming the forum section with unrelated spam.
Same goes for the class sub forums. They'd seem dead if it weren't for the post or two that happens from time to time. Yet, mods like to lock threads if no one posts after a month or so(not really sure of the time cut off). How would necro-posting a valid response in a thread that actually poses a valid question do harm? It would keep the forum active and potentially help someone with a question that they might just post again because the thread they searched was locked and was never really answered because it was locked.
We have the deputy system now so posts/threads that are troll/redundant/against ToS can be filtered much better. Sorry for the long rant. This was just something I noticed about the forums.
7 Comments • Newest first
[quote=BobR]@ClericBoi81 Actually, with the lowered level of activity here we've relaxed a lot of the things you were talking about, a great deal.
About the only time a thread is locked or deleted in General Maplestory now is when it's obvious trolling or flame-baiting, and threads are usually only moved to a different section when it's something that can be better addressed somewhere else, like the tech sections, or the Fun Chat section in the case of misplaced random spam.
Locking of old threads is done automatically by the forum software after, umm... I think it's 30 days, not 100% on that, to prevent necro-posting.
In a lot of cases, things change over time and usually it's better to just start a new thread with a question rather than tacking it onto the end of an older discussion, but in some cases I agree, it might be better to continue an older discussion. If there's ever a specific thread you, or anyone else, would like to add something to, feel free to PM a Moderator and we'll be happy to unlock it for you.[/quote]
I can understand the auto locking to help necro-posting. I also agree that sometimes it's best to just start a new thread. Something I've noticed is that basilers sometimes link to a locked thread that is relevant to the current thread. I like this idea. Keeps you guys from having to unlock threads, and we can still add to/develop the old topic, while building on it with a new idea.
[quote=Pavchka]Stuff's as follows. Sorry, I'm fundamentally unable to be concise, so next time you get a long mod comment, you know who did it.
- Listings and auctions are indeed not doing well and therefore [b]users are allowed to use the forums instead.[/b] Yes, you heard that right; you can auction and list... listing(?) in the forums right now.
- Threads are locked automatically after a certain period of inactivity. We don't have the time to manually lock all expired threads. Necroposting's not a violation any more, by the way. Every thread that hasn't been automatically locked, is still alive. As Bob said, if you'd like to chime in on a discussion held in a locked thread, we can unlock it for you. I think we need to observe a limit of sorts, but a recently expired thread, yeah, why not?
- As far as the Deputy system is concerned, many comments that break the rules aren't reported, either because there are no Deputies around, the Deputies are having too much fun watching stuff unfold, or the Deputies present don't agree with the rules, or they generally don't care. Not meaning to attack the Deputies here, because they're providing us with interesting information on how people feel about the rules, so them not doing anything is useful too. Now I think of it, that sounds really stupid.
- @tsubasa128 I agree. Every single official fansite I've been a member of or have observed - whether it's Sleepywood, Basil or the Dutch websites SOMDA and D5Z; they all have the irrelevancy rule. It's because they know the reason they exist is watching them and they want to make a good impression. For dead Sleepywood and Basil that's Nexon, for SOMDA it's the Dutch Railways, for D5Z de Efteling. It's all the same thing. It creates a really tense posting atmosphere. That said, we've loosened up the rules somewhat (this and agree, post extending, allowing one-word replies, memes okay if comment makes sense), but nobody seems to have noticed/care. The rules page needs to be updated.
- @Icephoenix21 I don't agree with that policy, so I'm not locking this thread. Thing is, that people don't know [i]why[/i] the threads are locked and I can't blame them for jumping to certain conclusions, even though they're incorrect. MrBasil wants us to lock that kind of stuff for two basic reasons:
1. Criticism is often accompanied by argumentum ad hominem which tends to spiral into reductio ad absurdum not to mention reductio ad Hitlerum and MrBasil wants to protect us from that by putting us in an ivory tower.
2. MrBasil wants people to take their responsibility, stop thinking in terms of "They suspended ME, nothing wrong was done by ME, they hate ME, they're out to get ME" (well, there clearly is a pattern) and use their brain to figure out what happened before furiously storming into the forums in order to write a furious thread in which they claim we suspended them for having beef with them. Thing is, I don't have beef, only a half-empty can of Spam. I agree that people should stop being so darn paranoid, but we're not exactly improving the situation by locking threads. The policy [i]also[/i], if not mostly, affects users who want to post genuine criticism or who have received a completely weird suspension. How can we, as moderators, moderate a website when we don't know what's cooking?
I think we can solve many problems by being more open about stuff, especially now Basil is a bit smaller than it used to be. Now is the time to open up. With that in mind, kind request to everyone not to shoot the messenger here. I'm only explaining stuff, I'm not challenging anyone. And if this thing is going to be erased, I'm going to be pis- I mean: [i]dismayed[/i].
I bid all of you goodnight.[/quote]
HaHa! It's kk @Pavchka. When my ADD meds wear off, I can seem to be lost in my postings, and when it just kicks in, it can be just as long, but makes more sense!
- I really appreciate you guys letting us use the forum for listing/auctions. It makes the forums seem active, while helping us buy/sell/trade/recruit, with a wider audience. KUDOS!
- Again, unlocking recent threads that contain somewhat current subjects(or maybe even something that's a bit older but still relative to the current game) for us to contribute valid points/advice is really nice of you guys. As I was saying to Bob, I like the idea of linking to an older thread to help bring it back to life with fresh new perspectives and questions.
- Well, my thoughts on the deputy system have been a bit reserved. I've been holding back a bit for fear that you guys might think I was turning into Baby Klaus VonHitler. I consider myself a mature guy who knows right from wrong. I guess I just shouldn't be afraid to use the system, as it can help you guys out in the long run. I honestly don't care if people think I'm a hardbutt. I believe in what's right is right, what's wrong is wrong, what's stupid is stupid & what's funny is just plain funny! I'm actually going to go read through all the "current rules" to see how they all apply to the "current Basil".
I would like to thank @Pavchka & @BobR for taking the time to address our concerns. It's nice to see you guys care about our community here at Basil. I've worked with Bob on a few other occasions concerning forum matters and he's always been helpful with open ears & an open mind. I've just recently started poking my head here in the site talk forum and have seen that you are active here Pavchka so that's why I decided post and get to know you a little better.
@tsubasa128 @Icephoenix21 @Baroo, Thank you for contributing to the thread! We've all shown some initiative here, so let's see what we can learn from this and help build a better Basil!
I'm bothered of forum posters (mostly chat) who are deleted (their 3 day restriction limit gets a clean slate again). So they just come back to post more annoying stuff again with more lenient/late timeouts. My problem are posts that annoy me yet don't exactly break the rules enough + nobody else reports or they enjoy them
Stuff's as follows. Sorry, I'm fundamentally unable to be concise, so next time you get a long mod comment, you know who did it.
- Listings and auctions are indeed not doing well and therefore [b]users are allowed to use the forums instead.[/b] Yes, you heard that right; you can auction and list... listing(?) in the forums right now.
- Threads are locked automatically after a certain period of inactivity. We don't have the time to manually lock all expired threads. Necroposting's not a violation any more, by the way. Every thread that hasn't been automatically locked, is still alive. As Bob said, if you'd like to chime in on a discussion held in a locked thread, we can unlock it for you. I think we need to observe a limit of sorts, but a recently expired thread, yeah, why not?
- As far as the Deputy system is concerned, many comments that break the rules aren't reported, either because there are no Deputies around, the Deputies are having too much fun watching stuff unfold, or the Deputies present don't agree with the rules, or they generally don't care. Not meaning to attack the Deputies here, because they're providing us with interesting information on how people feel about the rules, so them not doing anything is useful too. Now I think of it, that sounds really stupid.
- @tsubasa128 I agree. Every single official fansite I've been a member of or have observed - whether it's Sleepywood, Basil or the Dutch websites SOMDA and D5Z; they all have the irrelevancy rule. It's because they know the reason they exist is watching them and they want to make a good impression. For dead Sleepywood and Basil that's Nexon, for SOMDA it's the Dutch Railways, for D5Z de Efteling. It's all the same thing. It creates a really tense posting atmosphere. That said, we've loosened up the rules somewhat (this and agree, post extending, allowing one-word replies, memes okay if comment makes sense), but nobody seems to have noticed/care. The rules page needs to be updated.
- @Icephoenix21 I don't agree with that policy, so I'm not locking this thread. Thing is, that people don't know [i]why[/i] the threads are locked and I can't blame them for jumping to certain conclusions, even though they're incorrect. MrBasil wants us to lock that kind of stuff for two basic reasons:
1. Criticism is often accompanied by argumentum ad hominem which tends to spiral into reductio ad absurdum not to mention reductio ad Hitlerum and MrBasil wants to protect us from that by putting us in an ivory tower.
2. MrBasil wants people to take their responsibility, stop thinking in terms of "They suspended ME, nothing wrong was done by ME, they hate ME, they're out to get ME" (well, there clearly is a pattern) and use their brain to figure out what happened before furiously storming into the forums in order to write a furious thread in which they claim we suspended them for having beef with them. Thing is, I don't have beef, only a half-empty can of Spam. I agree that people should stop being so darn paranoid, but we're not exactly improving the situation by locking threads. The policy [i]also[/i], if not mostly, affects users who want to post genuine criticism or who have received a completely weird suspension. How can we, as moderators, moderate a website when we don't know what's cooking?
I think we can solve many problems by being more open about stuff, especially now Basil is a bit smaller than it used to be. Now is the time to open up. With that in mind, kind request to everyone not to shoot the messenger here. I'm only explaining stuff, I'm not challenging anyone. And if this thing is going to be erased, I'm going to be pis- I mean: [i]dismayed[/i].
I bid all of you goodnight.
@ClericBoi81 Actually, with the lowered level of activity here we've relaxed a lot of the things you were talking about, a great deal.
About the only time a thread is locked or deleted in General Maplestory now is when it's obvious trolling or flame-baiting, and threads are usually only moved to a different section when it's something that can be better addressed somewhere else, like the tech sections, or the Fun Chat section in the case of misplaced random spam.
Locking of old threads is done automatically by the forum software after, umm... I think it's 30 days, not 100% on that, to prevent necro-posting.
In a lot of cases, things change over time and usually it's better to just start a new thread with a question rather than tacking it onto the end of an older discussion, but in some cases I agree, it might be better to continue an older discussion. If there's ever a specific thread you, or anyone else, would like to add something to, feel free to PM a Moderator and we'll be happy to unlock it for you.
[quote=ClericBoi81]Same goes for the class sub forums. They'd seem dead if it weren't for the post or two that happens from time to time. Yet, mods like to lock threads if no one posts after a month or so(not really sure of the time cut off). How would necro-posting a valid response in a thread that actually poses a valid question do harm? It would keep the forum active and potentially help someone with a question that they might just post again because the thread they searched was locked and was never really answered because it was locked.[/quote]
I definitely agree with this.
So many good viable threads in the class sub sections get locked after lapsing into a period of inactivity.
The sad part is that this thread will be locked soon because you can't openly express opinions of this nature on this forum.
I agree. Strict moderation in the past where Maplestory and Basilmarket has a decent amount of population is necessary to keep things organized. But now it's just excessive and ridiculous. I got suspended for irrelevance... Which is part of the rules that I agreed to but that's like a police ticketing you for jaywalking. It's too much.