Comments on SYM rules -NO SPAM!

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Mon Mar 18, 2002 9:24 am

Check your pms

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Mar 18, 2002 9:47 am

Originally posted by Vivien
But...well..this is SYM after all....the land where I thought this was acceptable and this has happened in threads with specific topics but without the 'no spam' in the title or opening post or anywhere. I get confused, because I thought going off topic in a friendly way was okay, and it is in some threads, but not in others? I guess I sometimes enjoy the way a thread takes a life of it's own and twists and turns into uncharted territory...

Most of us can tell at a glance when a thread is meant to be taken seriously, and when its subject is frivolous and open to "mutation."

The rule is intended for those people who occasionally can't seem to understand this, even when NO SPAM is posted on the thread's title (as happened yesterday in the Updated Anatomy of GameBanshee members--two people decided to have a private conversation in the thread). If it's stated clearly in the rules, a person can't whine that they were never told.

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Mon Mar 18, 2002 10:24 am

Fable,

I'm working on a pm.

Viv

frogus · Post by **frogus** » Mon Mar 18, 2002 11:17 am

twenty different reply's all saying "Grog Me!"

letting you know that I appreciate the EFMI ref.

Anyway, a thread about dog's should not have conversation about pirates in it. That is spamming because the subject of the thread is dogs. the subject of Tavern threads, is however, by their nature, anything, in specific alcohol and woe. I think the rules cover it.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Mon Mar 18, 2002 11:38 am

I think that trying to reign in discussions when they stray from the original topic can be dangerous because sometimes it is for the better. I'm not talking about highjacking threads but sometimes a discussion will take off in a direction the original poster never intended and the result is something very productive. Trying to keep a conversation within the confines of a singular area may stunt the discussion rather than add to it.

As our friend fable has said, more often than not, people are pretty good about keeping threads more or less on the right track, but I would caution against closing threads or deleting posts which are not directly related to an original topic but may fit into a larger context.

Also, since there are threads marked "No Spam, Please", maybe we could have other threads marked "Spam Away!" where anything goes with regard to content (excepting violations of the forum rules) and people can countdown to their latest posting milestone, drink virtual alchohol concoctions and grok away to their heart's content without fear of their posts being deleted or the thread being closed.

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Mon Mar 18, 2002 2:38 pm

I feel that the tavern threads are fine, there's no particular topic, just conversations that appear.

That actually has some purpose. I'm more concerned with spamming of serious topics and conversely serious topics popping up in lots of different threads. That makes it hard for people to remember where they saw a particular point and disallows people who like debating certain topics the chance to answer. I realize that things do start to wander from the original subject. If these deserve their own thread we ask people to do that or start a new one ourselves.
If the secondary topic is just spam, we'll ask that it be stopped or moved to an appropriate place.

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Mon Mar 18, 2002 6:38 pm

COMM could have stopped this!

Originally posted by T'lainya
I feel that the tavern threads are fine, there's no particular topic, just conversations that appear. That actually has some purpose. I'm more concerned with spamming of serious topics and conversely serious topics popping up in lots of different threads. That makes it hard for people to remember where they saw a particular point and disallows people who like debating certain topics the chance to answer. I realize that things do start to wander from the original subject. If these deserve their own thread we ask people to do that or start a new one ourselves.
If the secondary topic is just spam, we'll ask that it be stopped or moved to an appropriate place.

When I formed COMM (which is now no more

) is was a golden rule for a member of COMM NOT to spam up serious topics. The light of COMM was to show the true way to converse and have a great time while doing it. The underhanded, vile and evil lies finally took it's toll on me and I gave up....maybe the Mods can do a better job.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Mar 19, 2002 8:38 am

Originally posted by HighLordDave
As our friend fable has said, more often than not, people are pretty good about keeping threads more or less on the right track, but I would caution against closing threads or deleting posts which are not directly related to an original topic but may fit into a larger context.

Also, since there are threads marked "No Spam, Please"...

On the other hand, I've twice observed over the last four days several people spamming up the Updated Anatomy of GameBanshee Members, which is clearly marked "no spam." It seems people can't resist adding comments to that thread, though they could just as easily send PMs or start new topics, if they so wished.

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Tue Mar 19, 2002 8:44 am

First of all, I would like to join my fellow SYMians in expressing their profound appreciation with the way the mods handle this forum. I think that the mods' different personalities and styles have succeeded in maintaining SYM as a very stable yet a dynamic and colorful forum.

HLD has already expressed my sentiments and concern although I would like to add that if the author of the "No Spam" thread would still insist on his/her thread to be purely on topic, he himself could politely request the posters concerned to discuss their unrelated yet productive discussion somewhere else.

Kudos again to SYM's exalted tribunal.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Wed Mar 20, 2002 6:45 am

Originally posted by HighLordDave
I think that trying to reign in discussions when they stray from the original topic can be dangerous because sometimes it is for the better. I'm not talking about highjacking threads but sometimes a discussion will take off in a direction the original poster never intended and the result is something very productive. Trying to keep a conversation within the confines of a singular area may stunt the discussion rather than add to it.

Perhaps it should be up to the original creator of the topic to reign people in from diluting the topics too much, If the topic moves through differnet stages (like the marriage thread) then it is okay, however when a topic moves from discussing Marriage to talking about Pond life (or some other abstract idea) then i think there is grounds for stepping in.

As our friend fable has said, more often than not, people are pretty good about keeping threads more or less on the right track, but I would caution against closing threads or deleting posts which are not directly related to an original topic but may fit into a larger context.

I can't remeber ever deleting someone's post in a serious discussion that wasn't relevant, i just advise them to make their posts relevant. EDIT: I have deleted spam from threads before now, but i can't remember altering deleting a serious post in a no spam thread.

Also, since there are threads marked "No Spam, Please", maybe we could have other threads marked "Spam Away!" where anything goes with regard to content (excepting violations of the forum rules) and people can countdown to their latest posting milestone, drink virtual alchohol concoctions and grok away to their heart's content without fear of their posts being deleted or the thread being closed.

I think the countdown post is ridiculous regardless of the thread used.

To some degree if your suggestions were taken up then the members would have to be relied upon to mediate themselves since me, fable and T all have lives and we don't have the time to read every single post (as much as we try). How many people want to read a post that says "Holy crap dude" or something similarly not relelvant to the conversation, there isn't anything entertaining in this theoretical post. One of the reasons we are still a decent community in SYM is because we have stopped this type of thing (to some degree) so the spam still stays entertaining, i have seen way to many Bulletin boards that become continual spam replys and it destroys everything interesting in the board. If we can trust the posters to keep the spam relevant then i have no complaints, it is up to you the members.

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Wed Mar 20, 2002 11:15 am

Also, and I know every SYM member is guilt of it, is the simily posts. This is something should no longer be done, though it has decreased significantly.

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Thu Mar 21, 2002 3:35 pm

Originally posted by fable

On the other hand, I've twice observed over the last four days several people spamming up the Updated Anatomy of GameBanshee Members, which is clearly marked "no spam." It seems people can't resist adding comments to that thread, though they could just as easily send PMs or start new topics, if they so wished.

I'd like to apologise about that, it was my fault for starting the discussion about football and I take the blame for it. I agree completely with what the moderators are saying and I think it's important for us to realise that a no-spam thread, means no spam.

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Mar 21, 2002 7:06 pm

@Nippy, apologies aren't needed, which is why I didn't mention any names, above.

I was just trying to indicate that even if we use NO SPAM in a thread's title, good forum posters will from time to time forget this, and spam anyway. That's one reason (of several) why moderators serve a function on the board.

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Fri Mar 22, 2002 1:05 am

Originally posted by fable
@Nippy, apologies aren't needed, which is why I didn't mention any names, above. I was just trying to indicate that even if we use NO SPAM in a thread's title, good forum posters will from time to time forget this, and spam anyway. That's one reason (of several) why moderators serve a function on the board.

The herders will reign in the sheep! It must be difficult to moderate this sort of forum, after all, you even have to stop your own forum moderators!

Seriously though, thanks for the work you do.

frogus · Post by **frogus** » Fri Mar 22, 2002 4:35 pm

@Aegis what's a simily post? Do you mean Smiley post? in that case yes those are dispiccable...however I refute allegations that ALL SYMers have made them.
or do you actually mean simile posts? in which case I think fable should be stripped of his mod status immediately. His soaring flights of oratorial virtuosity are inexcusable. Maharlika is also prone to lapsing into flowery prose once in a while.

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Tue Mar 26, 2002 5:10 pm

I've added the moderators request on polls to the rules.

Aragorn Returns · Post by **Aragorn Returns** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 12:20 am

you know, i may just have to pull a morlock here and say that perhaps this should be unstickied. i mean, really it's just a lot of spam and doesn't really give any information about the rules or anything else. if you want a thread about what not to do just make "counting with aegis" a sticky, i'm sure that would be more effective.

Morlock · Post by **Morlock** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 1:52 pm

Originally posted by Aragorn Returns
you know, i may just have to pull a morlock here and say that perhaps this should be unstickied. i mean, really it's just a lot of spam and doesn't really give any information about the rules or anything else. if you want a thread about what not to do just make "counting with aegis" a sticky, i'm sure that would be more effective.

Pull a Morlock???

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 2:01 pm

Originally posted by Aragorn Returns

you know, i may just have to pull a morlock here and say that perhaps this should be unstickied. i mean, really it's just a lot of spam and doesn't really give any information about the rules or anything else. if you want a thread about what not to do just make "counting with aegis" a sticky, i'm sure that would be more effective.

It may spam up, but you don't need to read it all to pose a question. If the mods are prepared to wade through the spam to find the questions, then surely this is up to them

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 2:56 pm

Basically the reason this thread is around is to provide a place for people to ask questions or offer suggestions on the existing rules. The actual rules thread is a closed topic so if someone wants to comment in it they can't.
@ Ar..this is not the rules thread its a comment thread. Any changes that are implemented go into the Rules thread.