Mark a "moderated thread"?

[b52hbuff]

Sometimes during the life of a thread, it gets "special attention" from a moderator. All of a sudden the thread is "zero tolerance" for an off topic post.

If the thread is short, it is easy to see a warning. If the thread is long and the warning is buried in the middle of the thread, it might be harder to find. The warning becomes a landmine as new participants might not see the warning. It can get worse if you see several off topic posts that stay posted until the moderator can prune the offending posts.

Would it be possible to hijack one of the post icons (like the exclamation mark in the triangle) and mark the thread so we all know special care is required when posting to the thread?

 

[QDP2012]

Just as important long-term items have been "stickied" to the tops of forums, it would seem useful if a moderator's thread-level warning could be "stickied" to the last-post-position on the thread-of-interest, so that every reader would be reading it as the "most-recent-post" for that thread. I don't know if this is even possible, but it would seem useful.

Hope this helps,

 

[WayneH]

All we can do is edit the first post in the thread or make a note in the subject. We don't have any other options.

If it's because of constant OT traffic then that's the fault of the member posting OT content and we'll do nothing about it because it's already in the rules.

 

[QDP2012]

Thanks

Thank you for checking and clarifying.

 

[WayneH]

Sometimes during the life of a thread, it gets "special attention" from a moderator. All of a sudden the thread is "zero tolerance" for an off topic post.

I'm guessing I think I know where this is coming from. You do realize the second post in the thread, from me, says the following:
I'm sticking this. Lets keep the chatter noise floor down. Use the other existing threads for basic questions or speculation. Thanks.

I'm not going to resort to jack-booted-thug remarks at the beginning when no one has done anything wrong. And see the last part of my earlier reply above.

 

[loumaag]

Sometimes during the life of a thread, it gets "special attention" from a moderator. All of a sudden the thread is "zero tolerance" for an off topic post.

If the thread is short, it is easy to see a warning. If the thread is long and the warning is buried in the middle of the thread, it might be harder to find. The warning becomes a landmine as new participants might not see the warning. It can get worse if you see several off topic posts that stay posted until the moderator can prune the offending posts.

Would it be possible to hijack one of the post icons (like the exclamation mark in the triangle) and mark the thread so we all know special care is required when posting to the thread?

This sort of reminds me of the failed argument against red light cameras; the argument is always about how it is an invasion of privacy, or it is unfair, or they don't work. None of those arguments are accurate and what the real reason is that when someone runs a red light they don't like getting caught and that is real reason they don't like them.

If you are going to participate in a topic, then you should already understand that the rule for staying on topic is a rule everywhere, just because you got caught doing something wrong is no reason you should look anywhere further than your fingers. There are no land mines, there is only the fact that you aren't following the rules. It used to amaze me how many people would get mad because they were being stopped for speeding, running a stop sign, etc. and blame the person writing the ticket as opposed to looking in the mirror. You can speed and not get caught, that doesn't make it right. You can post off topic and not get caught, that also doesn't make it right. In either case, when you are caught doing it, then look at yourself, because you are the only one to blame.

 

[RadioDaze]

When I was young, flying in an airplane was a special experience, and we dressed up in suits and ties. Now it's commonplace, and people wear sweats.

In early days of Internet communications, people were aware that the world could read their thoughts, and it was a special thing. They paid attention to what they wrote. Now they post from their dens while dressed in Jockey shorts.

When people stop taking these posting privileges for granted, and instead be more mindful of what they're reading and typing, it won't be necessary to remove posts in order to maintain some semblance of quality and decorum.

We have a worldwide audience. Let's treat it like it means something.

 

[b52hbuff]

All we can do is edit the first post in the thread or make a note in the subject. We don't have any other options.

I'm just thinking out loud to see if there is a better way to make the existing warning mechanism more effective and visible.

The simplest approach would be to edit the subject line with a well known tag to let everyone know that the thread is under "zero tolerance" moderation.

I've looked a bit in the vBulletin manual, and maybe adding such a tag to the "thread prefix" settings would be convenient?

Here is the link in the manual:
vBulletin Manual - Not Found

It appears as if thread prefixes were used in the legacy classified section for "FA", "FS" and "FT".

If properly advertised, then maybe a [ZT] (zero tolerance), or [MW] (moderator warning), or whatever you pick would be useful to more broadly advertise a thread's state?

It looks like a thread prefix can be color coded. So a red warning on the subject line may better get people's attention? Not sure if you can add color codes to subject lines...

 

[GTR8000]

I'm just thinking out loud to see if there is a better way to make the existing warning mechanism more effective and visible.

The simplest approach would be to edit the subject line with a well known tag to let everyone know that the thread is under "zero tolerance" moderation.

What you seem to fail to comprehend is that there is already a site-wide policy in effect that prohibits thread hijacking. There is no need for any convoluted "thread marking" to reinforce the rules that have been in effect for years. You keep implying that it's generally allowed, until the moderators crack down and decide to do their jobs. Do you ever pause to read what you write? I suspect not, based on your posting history, because you generally come across as arrogant and insulting.

Now please, let it go. Move on to some other gripe you have with the website, which you seem to never be short of. :roll:

 

[b52hbuff]

What you seem to fail to comprehend is that there is already a site-wide policy in effect that prohibits thread hijacking. There is no need for any convoluted "thread marking" to reinforce the rules that have been in effect for years. You keep implying that it's generally allowed, until the moderators crack down and decide to do their jobs. Do you ever pause to read what you write? I suspect not, based on your posting history, because you generally come across as arrogant and insulting.

Now please, let it go. Move on to some other gripe you have with the website, which you seem to never be short of. :roll:

I wasn't complaining. I was simply asking. And with respect to the post you're responding to, I was responding to Wayne's question. I'll go so far as saying, I was responding respectfully.

If you want some fun, search the forum for "last warning" sent by your favorite moderators. Given the site wide policies, moderators seem to be giving out a lot of warnings. I was simply asking if there would be a way to make these more effective so there'd be fewer OT posts to remove and hopefully more time to do other things?

 

[GTR8000]

Wayne never asked a question. There are no question marks in his post. He stated a fact, he wasn't asking you to comb through the vBulletin manual to find a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

You're neither a moderator nor a database administrator, and yet you're always so concerned with how this website is managed. Give it a rest already, your schtick is growing old.

 

[Duster]

Given the site wide policies, moderators seem to be giving out a lot of warnings. I was simply asking if there would be a way to make these more effective so there'd be fewer OT posts to remove and hopefully more time to do other things?<Emphasis added>

1. I'm not sure why it is so important to you what the Mods spend their time on...

2. Crux of this issue: DON'T GO OFF-TOPIC, and you will never need to be concerned about any Mod warnings. Just sayin'... It's not THAT hard to start a new thread if a dazzling new idea comes to you while in a current thread discussion.

Following the rules...it is such a simple concept; people who are unable to do so and/or remain within societal norms are the reason many of us on this forum are still gainfully employed.

I am not trying to fan this thread any further, and really don't intend to continue commenting on it...however, I felt that the above point (#2) really needed to be waved for all to see, since it is apparently not an obvious choice to some people.

C'est la vie!!

 

[mancow]

"Don't take life so seriously; no one gets out alive anyway!"

 

[gr8rcall]

We have a worldwide audience. Let's treat it like it means something.

RD, you nailed it!

 

[blantonl]

This thread really needs to be closed. It evolved from a simple suggestion to a pissing contest.

Come on people... keep it cool.