My take on why the general board sucks ass

[Laxation]

Everyone seems to be bitching lately about how there is no interesting posts going on, and then when there is interesting posts, they get fucking locked.

Whoever is moderating the general board, get a fucking hold of yourself and stop taking it so fucking serious.

http://www.nbaliveforums.com/ftopic47535.php

This post was a perfect example of something that couldve turned out to be fucking hilarious, along the lines of meloboy loves kiara. Instead, the general board now has really interesting posts such as:
"what are you doing these holidays?"
"what phone do you have?"
A fucking cursor thread, and some stupid fucking flash cat fucker

So go on, lock the fucking holiday thread, lock the fucking phone thread... go and fucking lock something that is actually boring - because seriously... no one gives a flying fuck about them.

[---]

I gotta agree. I don't see why something should get locked unless its against the forum rules.

[JaoSming]

I'd rather not see chain letters like that one posted here. Seeing them on Myspace is more than enough.

[Jackal]

Laxation, I think you're an idiot. Someone should lock you up.

You don't pay attention to those kind of things when you get them in your e-mail, but you want them to be allowed on the forums? Why? So everyone can see you're a beast in bed? So that everyone can have you quote some mumbo jumbo and say, hey, that's totally me.

Why not start another "hey, I'm not dating anyone right now but I'll give you all the advice you'll ever need regarding women...here, let me sum it up...be a jerk, they love it. W00t, you's gonna score tonight. you can thank me later" thread.

[Andrew]

I gotta agree. I don't see why something should get locked unless its against the forum rules.

Well, it really is a no win situation for us. If we lock threads that invite a lot of spam, we're blasted for getting in the way of fun. If we let them go, we're blasted for leaving "rubbish threads" open. Not everyone has the same tastes when it comes to those posts.

For the record, spamming or posting nothing but complete rubbish is actually against the forum rules which is why we'll lock a thread that isn't going anywhere or is just plain nonsense/spam...regardless of whether it breaks any additional forum rules (flaming, links to adult content and so on). It is admittedly a judgement call so I can understand your frustration with the situation.

It's true that some ridiculous posts do have the potential to become amusing, off-topic threads that are fun once in a while but at the same time are just as likely to be spamfests of complete and utter junk. I don't believe promoting those kinds of threads stimulates quality discussion that regulars have been bemoaning the lack of in recent times.

Personally, I think we can do without chain letters in the Forum. They're annoying and often cast aside when they come in other forms, so why should they be allowed/encourage here? I certainly wouldn't deem such posts as "interesting topics". Surely any worthwhile discussions that could arise from such posts could be started some other way.

[Laxation]

It's true that some ridiculous posts do have the potential to become amusing, off-topic threads that are fun once in a while but at the same time are just as likely to be spamfests of complete and utter junk. I don't believe promoting those kinds of threads stimulates quality discussion that regulars have been bemoaning the lack of in recent times.

So why not lock the other spam threads; the holiday one, and the phone one?
Why is that shit allowed to be posted, when something of higher quality (yes, I believe a fucking chain letter is better quality posting than the other shit) gets locked?

Look at the phone thread, there is 1, maybe 2 replies to someone elses post. No one gives a flying fuck who has what phone, yet somehow that is not complete and utter junk?

[Andrew]

Settle down, there's absolutely no need for a profanity laced tirade. You can raise a point without being abusive about it.

Not everyone shares your opinions on which threads are better than others. Asking someone their holiday plans is not a spam thread. It's a fairly common thing to talk about in the off-topic section of a forum, as is discussing phones and various gadgets we might own.

[Oznogrd]

lax and flite usually i dont have a problem with you guys but come on...a chain letter in a forum? wtf? it doesnt spur conversation, it takes up space, and is just dumb (all of them ,from teh surveys to the zodiacs to the bill gates is giving away his money one) This encourages no discussion. The cell phone: did you have a problem with "NLSC Garage" thread? its pretty much the same thing, we're just talking about what we own and what we like or dislike about it....as for the march break...why not discuss who and what we'll be seeing or doing (or vice versa as the case may be)....? i've yet to question why certain threads get locked or certain members get banned, most have it coming and if you dont see that in all yalls time here (as compared to my short time here) i'd be surprised

[Nick]

Laxation needs some relaxation.

Or a swear jar. We'd make millions.

[---]

Personally, I think we can do without chain letters in the Forum. They're annoying and often cast aside when they come in other forms, so why should they be allowed/encourage here? I certainly wouldn't deem such posts as "interesting topics". Surely any worthwhile discussions that could arise from such posts could be started some other way.

I completely agree with locking that chain letter thread. I should of been more specific, I just think things are getting shut down to quickly when they could turn into to something decent/funny while not becoming spam. Things like the "Official Whos Better Thread" should be shut down before alot of the other threads. If spam is really so bad, why is this thread already like 7 pages long? 99% Just say a name then give their two names and don't even go it discussion or give reasons for their answer.

In NBA talk, it seems that it is very rare for a thread to go unlocked if it is related to a certain team or event. I remember two threads that were good examples, one thread was made asking if Michael Redd deserved to be an all star. Yes, that could go into the All Star Thread, or better yet, the thread asking what people thought about the All Star Reserves.... oh wait, that got locked too.

There was another thread asking if Kobe will ever be the same again after his injury that caused him to miss the start of this season and required surgery. The author of the thread edited his post and said he forgot this could go into the Lakers thread, but if he hadn't, would that of been locked? I would say so, even though in my opinion it was a legit thread that could of really caused some good discussion. When a thread that would of been fine on its own has to be merged with a much larger one, the smaller topic and question at hand tends to get lost amongst all the other conversations and debates going on and goes to waste. I think threads like those two definitely were fine on their own.

I think the new-ish mods will probably become better with these judgment calls and the forum will be better for it. Like everything else, experience will definitely help.

Nicks post

[Nick]

My opinion is that internet moderating (not nlsc specificly, but definetly included) can be over-eager and taken too seriously.

I guess people like to have control. Which is fine, otherwise there is the risk of things getting out of hand. But my favourite threads are always spontaneous...

(People who complain about the keen locking are taking it too seriously to a new level too.)

[bigh0rt]

My opinion is that internet moderating (not nlsc specificly, but definetly included) can be over-eager and taken too seriously.

Try it sometime. Far too often you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

(People who complain about the keen locking are taking it too seriously to a new level too.)

You can say that again.

[Ty-Land]

But that raises the question of where the line is drawn? Some people want the place run strictly so it is under control and easy to navigate. Others want practically any thread to be acceptable.

I mean I would have locked the chain letter thread if Andreas didn't before me. The key facet of being a moderator is trying to be moderate. I think it can be taken seriously because we are attempting to look out for the perceived best for the community. I think people have to realise that is the underlying motive and the reason for the majority of our actions.

That, in my view, promotes criticism as discussed above (just not in the flagrant and abusive tone Lax used). We need to hear peoples views, so the way the forum is run stays grounded. But at the same time, we can't be too soft on the rules as they will lose any significance or meaning. We have seen the debacles before when the rules came into question, and there was concerns that they weren't going to be imposed. Another situation like that will not help this place.

So lets keep the criticism up, by the right means and in the right manner, so we can shape this place. But let's also keep the rules in consideration. There has to be a level of control (and consequently order), but there is a necessity to limit ho much or how little.

I hope the spontaneous threads continue to pop up, as they are always the best. I thought the recent one about the midget (well 5'7) dunking was heading that way before the guy flaked out.

[Jackal]

Midget? You dare call that guy a midget? May the curse rest itself upon you.

"man that boi be straight from the ghetto's and he gon be the nba supasta, you just a h8r "

[Ty-Land]

If he's shorter than me then he is a midget in my view, cause I aint tall.

[Laxation]

discussing phones and various gadgets we might own.

Look at the post.

Where is the discussion?

I should of been more specific, I just think things are getting shut down to quickly when they could turn into to something decent/funny while not becoming spam. Things like the "Official Whos Better Thread" should be shut down before alot of the other threads. If spam is really so bad, why is this thread already like 7 pages long? 99% Just say a name then give their two names and don't even go it discussion or give reasons for their answer.

Thats my point too... TBH, I didnt even know it was a chain letter until someone I had already posted this thread.
Its been annoying me for a while now - and this was what reminded me to get pissed off about it...

[bigh0rt]

TBH, I didnt even know it was a chain letter until someone I had already posted this thread.
Its been annoying me for a while now - and this was what reminded me to get pissed off about it...

So you spewed out profanity laden diatribe with regard to a thread that you didn't even know what it was?

[Andrew]

I completely agree with locking that chain letter thread. I should of been more specific, I just think things are getting shut down to quickly when they could turn into to something decent/funny while not becoming spam. Things like the "Official Whos Better Thread" should be shut down before alot of the other threads. If spam is really so bad, why is this thread already like 7 pages long? 99% Just say a name then give their two names and don't even go it discussion or give reasons for their answer.

That's fair enough, and I agree that that particular thread does invite short answer, spam-like posts. But I'm sure if it were locked people would object to that too. As I said before it's a judgement call and when it comes to threads like "Who's better?", we often leave them open because some people choose to elaborate while others don't, and the occasional "game" thread is alright.

It can also stop a whole lot of individual "Who's better? Player X or Player Y?" popping up as well. In a way, it contains a percentage of spam-like posts because they're on-topic, within the one topic. That's usually what the decision comes down to.

Are there any threads in particular you feel were locked that could have been entertaining or in some way worthwhile had they left been open? I'm just interested to see some examples so I know what kind of threads we're talking about.

Look at the post.

Where is the discussion?

There's not much in the way of back and forth discussion, I'll certainly concede that. But those kinds of threads do involve posting something relevant and not something random in response to a completely unrelated subject, or simply sharing something with your fellow posters. Like the photo thread or the basketball profiles thread, it has a purpose.

[Indy]

Why not start another "hey, I'm not dating anyone right now but I'll give you all the advice you'll ever need regarding women...here, let me sum it up...be a jerk, they love it. W00t, you's gonna score tonight. you can thank me later" thread.

Everything that needs to be said has been said. I just want to say that this really cracked me up.

[Mazzocchi]

Because I'm not there.

[Jackal]

Rigth after that post...the whole board went silent.

After it registered...everyone died of laughter. So yeah, I suppose it is because of you, you killed us with that one.

[BIG GREEN]

I see laxation is still around putting his oral laxative to use.

[benji]

When a thread that would of been fine on its own has to be merged with a much larger one, the smaller topic and question at hand tends to get lost amongst all the other conversations and debates going on and goes to waste. I think threads like those two definitely were fine on their own.

I agree with this tons.

Sure a "[team/transactions] thread" makes things tidy, but it eliminates open specific discussion. Who wants to wade into the massive team-specific or "transactions" thread to discuss with the handful of people who frequent that thread. If Kobe is traded to Utah tommorrow, it'd be shuffled into the Laker thread would it not? Instead of there being a "Kobe traded to the Jazz" for just that specific topic.

Of course, if the "team-specific" threads are going to exist, they have to always be used, not just randomly.
http://www.nbaliveforums.com/ftopic47662.php
This is a Laker-centric topic, but exists as it's own instead of being folded into the Laker thread.

[shadowgrin]

Everyone seems to be bitching lately about how there is no interesting posts going on, and then when there is interesting posts, they get fucking locked.

Whoever is moderating the general board, get a fucking hold of yourself and stop taking it so fucking serious.

So go on, lock the fucking holiday thread, lock the fucking phone thread... go and fucking lock something that is actually boring - because seriously... no one gives a flying fuck about them.

Talk about irony.

I understand where both sides are coming from but I tend to lean on "not locking/merging" threads that could be a fine topic on their own (except that zodiac thread. E-mail spam = absolute crap).

Instead of locking/merging threads that tip-toe the line between the rules and mods' judgement, why not express an opinion in that thread.
The ones who hate the thread could argue/debate why such a thread shouldn't exist in the first place, against the posters who like the thread.
It might not be the intellectual discussion that some members are yearning but at least it might provide an insight on the members' attitude towards certain topics and certainly provide the mods a situation of which they can learn from and use when a similar thing arises in the future.

(Of course, those who hate a thread could just leave it alone and not post; and some threads do have a way of clustering together retards, which might serve as a "watch-list" for mods and other members)

[Andrew]

When a thread that would of been fine on its own has to be merged with a much larger one, the smaller topic and question at hand tends to get lost amongst all the other conversations and debates going on and goes to waste. I think threads like those two definitely were fine on their own.

I agree with this tons.

Sure a "[team/transactions] thread" makes things tidy, but it eliminates open specific discussion. Who wants to wade into the massive team-specific or "transactions" thread to discuss with the handful of people who frequent that thread. If Kobe is traded to Utah tommorrow, it'd be shuffled into the Laker thread would it not? Instead of there being a "Kobe traded to the Jazz" for just that specific topic.

I agree we are becoming a little too reliant on the "Official (Blank) Thread" topics. Ideally they should just be for random chat/general discussion about teams with noteable events/games etc being suitable (and indeed more appropriate) for their own seperate threads. That's something we could certainly emphasise.