[onelovemp]

1. What is the purpose of the OTF forum It has no purpose, no goal other than what everyone has already posted -- to be an online home where the community relaxes in non-CIV mode.

2. How should we deal with personal attacks, flames, etc. This is what will define the new ownership. We have some volatile combos of personae here. Don't expect them to play nice all the time. One thing, however, that I urge you to consider: Judge people by their actions, not their histories.

The new admin is starting with a (relatively) clean slate. It should be the same for all posters as well.

3. How should we deal with thread jacking If a poster is serious about the thread, he/she will be involved enough to keep it on the rails. Not a mod/admin issue.

4. How should we deal with user-spam (not commercial spam) No one cares. The no-post-count idea is interesting.

5. Is there anything in these forums you miss? What kinda debates / topics aren't possible here but would be good for the OTF, what can we do to bring them here? This place is about fun, relaxation, and learning from the stupid opinions of those with whom you disagree. So we're good, thanks.

6. Are there reasons for you to post or not post in this forum Nope. It's my default place to go between bouts of RL. I like to see it active.

7. Do you like the idea of a 'closed threads' forum, or do you prefer to keep closed threads in the forum, or do you prefer them to be deleted completely? I strongly support the idea of a "closed threads" forum. This assumes that ALL closed/deleted threads (and yes, posts) go there. If there was a commitment to total transparency of moderation, this administration would quickly gain the confidence of the OTF community.

8. What can in general be done to make the OTF a better place Like I said, we're good as-is. But hmm...

This is weird and out of the blue, but I'd like to see organized daughter window links/embeddings of various web comics. This could become a source of discussion, and would save me from having to remember what days to cruise which sites. The denizens here could construct a pick hits list of targeted sites. (I like Basic Instructions and xkcd, for example.)

9. What should remain to keep the OTF a good place? The Sports sub-forum.

10. Anything else? 1. Don't confuse the OTF with "content." The On Topic (Civ etc) areas are your "content." The OTF is more like a neighborhood tavern than anything else. It's a hive of meaningless activity, but activity is the one thing this site needs most.

2. Robert, we've already disagreed pretty strongly over an issue or two (one regarding gameplay, another re moderation style) in the on topic area. I know from that experience (and tracking the game for awhile afterwards) that you possess the (rather unusual) abiility to admit your mistakes. Use that to your advantage. This is a good start.

[GustavM]

So, we've new mods and owners around here.
1. What is the purpose of the OTF forum

Imran said it best.

2. How should we deal with personal attacks, flames, etc. Depends on the spirit, severity, and amount.
If you can tell it is in good spirit, or that it was very short lived knee-jerk - leave it alone.

If it is mean spirited, intentional trolling, and very aggressive ("fascist scum" >> "you jerk") then
1. post a warning + PM
2. if it's severe / prolonged / repeating - 12/24/48h ban.
3. if it's a 2-way feud - punish both.
4. if the personal feud disrupts the thread, delete offending posts while trying to keep conversation flow. NEVER EVER do this without explaining what you did.

In general - ALWAYS post explaining moderator action. ALWAYS be consistent. Even if it's silly 12h bans for people to cool off.

In the TOPIC forums - post more warnings regarding aggressive language that can be overlooked in the OT. That's where noobs likely start out.

3. How should we deal with thread jacking
In the OT - only if the thread starter complains. If it's an interesting conversation - split it. If it's intentional badgering - warn + punish. Be careful not to nib conversations that naturally flow from one subject to another. As Drake said, often 'thread jacks' make threads better.

ON TOPIC - This is much more likely to be due to natural conversation flow. If need be - split a 2nd thread. If it's spammy in nature - a warning should do in 99%.

4. How should we deal with user-spam (not commercial spam)
Spammy posts
OT - ONLY IF threat starter complains, or thread is severely disrupted (continuously posting the huge mile long picture). ALWAYS start with a warning, unless it is someone's vendetta to disrupt someone else's thread.

ON TOPIC - one or two friendly spams add to friendly atmosphere. Prolonged spam should call for warning.

Spammy threads
ON TOPIC - leave threads in good fun. move/close threads that are disruptive. Always explain why.

OT - unless they are vile / utterly dumb - Give it a chance to turn into fun discussion. We've had very interesting / amusing discussions rise out of various spammy drunk threads.

If the spam is crap, the thread will die on itself, and it can be locked and moved later.

while I basically agree with Other than personal insults and porn, I honestly think anything goes. No one is harmed by threadjacking or spam threads or copycat threads, it's all just harmless funning. No harm, no foul. It is important to moderate some spam. Having 8 copycat threads, 5 of them being unfunny, is disruptive. So is people posting APOLYTON APOLYTON in large font in random discussions.

5. Is there anything in these forums you miss? What kinda debates / topics aren't possible here but would be good for the OTF, what can we do to bring them here?
nothing you can do beyond regular moderation as described in 2,3,4. Paraphrasing Guynemer: curtail personal attacks and keeping everything else as it is now.

Prevent threads on religion / middle east / torture / UAVs / MBTs from reaching high tone personal feuds. These decrease interesting conversation in the current thread, and also prevent such threads from being started in the future.

6. Are there reasons for you to post or not post in this forum descent to personal feuds is a reason not to post certain threads / new topics.

7. Do you like the idea of a 'closed threads' forum, or do you prefer to keep closed threads in the forum, or do you prefer them to be deleted completely? If a thread is closed by mod action - you could send it to the closed forum, so people can see what happened. Beats plain deletion, and can be reopened if mod over-reacted.

Also opens up a leeway to a locked porn archive

If a thread is closed due to natural reasons - reaches 500 posts / request - close and let sink.

8. What can in general be done to make the OTF a better place A bit more moderation, applied consistently - especially to prevent threads collapsing to the usual personal feuds.

9. What should remain to keep the OTF a good place?
Current level of sex talk / babe posts is good. No new censorship.

Btw, the "harsh OT" idea is bad. People always had other forums to vent off (CG and the likes).
Keep it that way. If people have a legal refuge where they can badmouth and insult other people, it's bad.

Thanks for your input. thanks for your inquiry

I very much agree with all the points Asher makes, regarding moderation as well as regarding generating new content for Apolyton the site, and the On-Topic forums.

[shodulsilfeli]

My bad, Lancer.

I read it as you calling for "constant" moderation; you said "consistent." That's not nearly so ironically funny as what happened in my head.

[lorrieholdridge]

So you have finally given up on branching threads.

JM

duuuude. Let's go swap spit with Plompie.

[Beriilosal]

Change what people say? I disagree strongly JM.

[feedcomnet]

Yeah I learned about those in school. Plant eater of the jurassic, right?

[Quonuttott]

whatever, split-tail

[sbrscnds]

Oh, and Mister Robert Sir, I think ALL bans should now be called GPs and I think TCO should get one for that.


PLeeeeaaassseeeee

[GutleNus]

One more thing, Mr. Plomp, and OT moderators.

If you edit people's posts and leave no record of it, people may get quite irate.

[lookanddiscover]

JM, you are doing a great job at a time of adversity, cudos to you.

[GaryBulguihb]

I know how to delete stuff. The current procedure is that we don't delete stuff, but close it and move it into the Closed Threads forum, otherwise known as the Troll/Spam thread hall of fame.

JM

[Pypeassesty]

I think the moderation should only draw the line at actual filth (EG: Tubgirl level),
clear personal attacks or death threats too...But insults between well known
posters are part of the camaderie of the OT, and should be allowed to stand.

Also, spam threads should be allowed, as long as they have funny content.

PS
Creating two OT threads would kill the place, far too clumsy.

Just my views...

[Freeptube]

Spencer, the guys that do that have their own trophy room now, the closed forum thread. While I do have a few in there I doubt I will have any more. WePlayCiv is where I start threads these days as do most of the Poly OT regulars. While Robert might make a go of the on topic the off topic has pretty much ground to a halt. I wish them luck.

[ceagstuntee]

6. Are there reasons for you to post or not post in this forum

--


#1 post - ideally interesting discussions, but in reality these days, rarely more than amusing one-liners due to inevitability of #2

#2 not post - no hope in ever getting anywhere interesting with the post, in the end too lazy to post anything... and just move to the next bookmark in the internet wasteland...

people for the most part already have their positions, and watching them dig into them more with every post, is just slightly more amusing than watching paint dry (and from time to time, this has to do... but... mostly it's just "skip"... "next"... )

[andrekuper]

I'd just like to state for the record that I have been very impressed with Jon Miller (and Lori) thus far. Our New Overlords have done well in picking a couple of level-headed guys to be moderators.

Q.F.T.


Edit: Nice, so the forum doesn't alter an ALL CAPS first word, as long as it's got periods between the caps.

[Maydayvar]

I'll go on record thinking that having the closed thread forum is the equivalent of a Hall of Fame for bad behavior.
It might encourage people to make their mark.

[acissombiapse]

I'll go on record thinking that having the closed thread forum is the equivalent of a Hall of Fame for bad behavior.
It might encourage people to make their mark.

Yes, it's the Troll Hall of Fame. The latest threads are even featured above the fold. It's the best idea ever.