Here's my take (if you haven't already read my 2 cents):

There's WAY too many threads.

There's WAY too many threads about NOTHING.

The Org is becoming less & less enjoyable each week.

Since people can't seem to control themselves when it comes to clicking the "start new discussion topic" link, I think new threads should have to go through an approval process, like the avatars do.

I know it's more work for the Org staff & I HATE to impose that, but it would keep this place tidy by eliminating "mistake" threads, "dupe" threads, & "dumber than shit" threads.

Maybe a committee of Orgers could be appointed or something - ANYTHING to keep me coming here. It's a great site, I hate to see it marred by stream of consciousness posters with itchy fingers... CONTENT MATTERS!

WHAT DO YOU THINK???

YEAH!!!!! EXACTLY WHAT CALHOUN SAID!!!! WAY 2 MANY THREADS WITHOUT MAKING SENSE....PEOPLE SHOULD GET A HOLD OF THEMSELVES, AND RETHINK BEFORE THEY POST CRAP..RIGHT? RIGHT!

hmmm....sounds like a good idea. is a "ketchuphead" forum in order?

SmegHead said:

even betta. then again, that'd be singleing an .orgster out.....that wouldn't be so good.....or would it?

I completely know where you coming from CalhounSq hon... BUT.... I just don't think it will work... like you said, it would be too much work for the admin, way too time consuming, and as for a few orgers (committee) deciding this, that would bring in a whole hierarchy situation and yea, you'll hear all the censoring bashing, and yea.. what is a good topic to some is a shocking topic to others...

The pathetic threads will end up lost somewhere far away when ppl stop replying to them...

I think you'll end up with a situation where ben says either no threads at all, or accept things the way they are...

Lets just hope the "novelty" of posting mindless threads for nothings sake will wear off eventually...

But yea, I don't think ben and the others have the time to be approving some threads and filtering out others, they probably spend too much time approving people's ever changing avatars and pictures etc, once they have to start looking at all the threads I think they'll go insane!!!! I know I would
[This message was edited Mon Apr 1 7:17:59 PST 2002 by Diva]

What Ben might do instead is to show how much content is taking up space on the site and how much the additional traffic is costing him. Then people might get a clue and slow down on the millions of threads.

I don't even want to think of what kind of backup nightmares he must have.

- Cheers

Dauphin said:

Good point, Dauphin. I still don't think that would stop people, even if he tried to appeal to them to be sensible. Plus miscellaneous threads aren't even being deleted most times, they're just locked. What good is that? We still have 25 pages loaded with crap in the General forum.

I started this thread about 2 hours ago & it's already off the main page, 4 or 5 new threads in the space of an hour or so.

*

BTW, Dauphin, I LOVE your avvy!





.
[This message was edited Mon Apr 1 8:30:10 PST 2002 by CalhounSq]

Perhaps limiting the number of threads, per week or day, like Bootsinox suggested would help. If one is allowed a limited number of threads there may be more thought placed in them. Then again...maybe not.
[This message was edited Mon Apr 1 8:33:33 PST 2002 by Maxar]

No
It would take all the fun away

Cal Sq...I am hearing ya girlfriend!!!

Something needs to be done.

However...
Since Suby has used up, I figure, about three years worth of frivolous New Topics and Nep has used up about five years worth....

If we just disallow these two attention starved, thread pumping, irrelevants the priviledge of starting any more New Topics...

the forums may just be, once again..... relevant!!!!


So, hear me talk!!!!!

Life Sexy u all

If u dont like the look of a thread, just dont read it. Then only the threads we're talking on stay at the top & it doesnt matter about the nonsence threads.

That may save Ben time & clear up this problem at the same time

Lewis

I just wish people would stop starting silly threads.I mean,it's great that we have the freedom to start a new discussion,but come on people....let's not abuse that priviledge.A thread should only be started when you have a great,thought-provoking topic to discuss,or an intriguing question you want to ask.

Ben doesn't have the time to read through all of these threads.We are,presumably,all adults here so let's stop it with the absurd,childish threads!

If there are silly threads, don't respond. The posters will get the message.

And start your own posts, and respond to the threads that have "relevance". That way the nonsensical ones get pushed to the bottom.

raven said:

i used agree with that but now IMO the number of new threads starting is getting out of hand.
if you are able to check up with the org everyday, it is easy to keep up to date on the threads that interest you. i've been away for a few days and there have been over 100 new threads in the GD forum and about 50 in the prince music forum.
IMO most of those new threads in the GD forum are totally pointless and a waste of webspace and it's a pain digging through them to get to the intelligent stuff.
i think (if it's possible, i don't know much about running a website) that each poster should have a limit of starting 2 threads a day. we've got this system regarding orgnotes, is there anyway to apply it to new threads?
approving threads first would cause alot of work for the moderators, who i'm sure devote alot of their spare time to this site already.

I am really getting tired of all the spam and garbage threads being started. And I don't want to hear any more of this Vavoom garbage, lol.

Seriously, we're going to have to form a new site or something if this don't stop!

What if in each section, have a moderated and unmoderated section. Those of us who are tired of all the garbage can stick to the moderated areas. I'm sure we could find some volunteers to moderate (not me lol!).

Check the latest poll on the homepage...

Okay, maybe thread approval is asking for too much.

It's a GREAT idea to limit the amount of threads folks can create - it still gives everyone the freedom to contribute but it doesn't let them abuse the privilege. I say the limit should be 3 threads PER WEEK.

It's SO hard to keep up with the new comments on each thread AND the numerous new threads - I'd sooner give it up than be here all the bloody time. This would solve the problem for complainers like me but not make more work for Ben, etc...

BTW, I'm willing to moderate should it come to that!

CalhounSq said:

My concern is this: if we require approval to create a new thread, people will get around the approval process by hijacking existing threads. This frequently happened at the old prince.org news page... people would (ab)use the comment feature to discuss something totally unrelated to the news item above it (or even to post junk such as "I like pizza").

matt said:

That's true. Maybe, as others have said, the Thread Limit would be a better idea. That way the freedom isn't taken away, just controlled...

I think part of the problem is the term "general discussion." Some people think it's general discussion of items about Prince that don't fit under the other categories; others, that it is open season.

If the org wants to have a general forum about anything and everything, one should be designated. Then it is a matter of getting the threads to the right forum (Prince GD vs. everything else GD).

All of which depends, primarily, on what Prince.org is supposed to be about. If it's just a Prince site, i.e., music, then it's time to make it one. Considering the topics Prince himself covers, it will be hard to narrow it down. So divide and conquer. If you want it open to anything and everything in the world that remotely touches on Prince, well...congratulations. You got it.

A search feature would help, IMO. Then again, people are lazy and don't want to do the work.

:::::checkin the pockets for more than .02:::::

matt said:

Easy peasy: "three strikes and you're out". Abuse the system and lose posting rights for a certain amount of time. And if they keep misbehaving, ban them for life. Simple as that.

DavidEye said:

Can be solved very easily: give some users "demi-god rights" and have them vote away offending threads (and even users). If a certain number of demi-gods think the thread isn't appropriate, then it's closed or even blocked (and hidden from view). Ben/Kevin/Matt then get final say. If one demi-god sends out an alert, other demi-gods get an "alert" (email, org note) about his decision, so they can check out the thread themselves and vote on it.

.
[This message was edited Fri Apr 19 5:51:51 PDT 2002 by luvy]

Bart wrote:



Or at least until they get another free email address from Hotmail, et al.

no

Yeah? Why mess with it? It's beautiful kaos...!! Smile The message boards on here are actually not too bad.... the No Doubt official website had similar messsage boards and then they got over run, by Marilyn Manson fans posting whatever was able 2 make the No Doubt people freak out, with various photos and bad language.... and No Doubt stopped their message boards for like 4 or 5 months and when it came back online picture posting and profanity was banned...

RoseOfSharon said:

OFF TOPIC!!! OFF TOPIC!! I keep screaming this site needs an off-topic forum... oy!!!

matt said:

There's other ways of identifying someone...

BartVanHemelen said:

I think that's a great idea!

How about a Sanhedrin or Star-Chamber made up of subyduby, Divinity6, Sexlovely, Nep2nes, Femi Jiya ( as an outside, objective participant, if he's avaialable), klhk, BillySparxxx, and myself?

I'm already working on the secret handshake.