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Why don't U, er, MERGE threads instead of closing them?
Those closed threads are numerous, and they all point to another thread. Why don't mods just acts like mods and MERGE threads with similar themes/discussions?
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Indeed, because some folks fail to search for an existing thread first and create a new one later.
Not true. Some are utter bogus, about twisted politics, porn, advertisements that have nothing to do with Bond...
We always post links or suggest that links posted by other members are being followed. Isn't that as good as anything? Merging makes sense but when a duplicate thread is just a copy of an existing one and if merging wouldn't add anything useful to said thread, what's the point?
Really? You want to go there? Okay, why don't some members act like fine members and actually help in keeping the forums clean rather than cause us all this additional work...?
So much for German efficiency. ;-)
Yeah, that Stamper can be so... uptight sometimes. You'll have to forgive him.
Anyway, I think the mods do publish the title of other relevant threads before closing one. It should be up to the members to copy and paste their comments onto the other thread - in my opinion - rather than the mods.
The mods are aware, and I'm sure they've been doing the best they can. This isn't their only work, however, so change is increasingly complicated.
This. You must've come across a computer via hard work and a paycheck - or from the good graces of your parents through chores or what have you - so how is it that one is so lazy that they can't do a Google search? Google "___(Your Thread Idea Here)___ MI6Community," and it will show whatever topics related to what you're planning on creating.
MI6 has a very unique forum setup that includes the poor search function. New MI6ers that are veterans on other forums can easily make the mistake about using the included search function because their other forums have good search functions.
A sticky thread for new users explaining the unique characteristics of this forum might cut down on the unnecessary threads. It would be a friendlier welcome than the near-instant complaint responses that lots of new users get in their very first threads.
However, of course there's no defence for existing users to make the same mistake twice.
The search function is indeed not designed to perfection, BUT I must interject three things here:
1) Think first. Some members still open up 'What is your favourite Bond film?' threads today. As if we would have an active James Bond forum for close to two years and no-one would have considered this idea... Yeah right.
2) Think about the appropriate section - something so simple yet given the amount of news-that-aren't-news threads we need to redirect (not lock, mind) apparently a difficult task for some - and go take a look there. Surely scrolling through those pages isn't that big a deal.
3) The google search function is so obvious an idea, anyone who's a little bit internet savvy should swiftly figure out how that gets done.
In case some who roam our forums wish to point to the old days of KTBEU, let me please remind them that the issue with duplicate threads created out of laziness kept us occupied then too and certainly no less than now. So whatever the confusion with this forum's structure, I feel that unless all our brave members put a little friendly effort into tracing potentially existing threads before creating new ones, we'll forever have to deal with this matter.
Also, let me introduce a typical cause for the abundance of locked threads, born out of laziness:
A) People neglect to search through our forum structure - which isn't too hard to do, let's be fair - and create duplicates...
B) ... which are consequently locked.
C) Also, people create nonsensical threads, or threads with at best a five post potential, which either...
D) ... die a quick death or get locked.
E) But because of B and D, the list of threads grows longer and longer really fast, making it even less attractive to search for a thread somewhere in them, and so we return to A.
If all here would from the start have considered opening up threads more cautiously and wisely, we wouldn't be in this situation now. For example, if instead of fifty "what if Roger Moore had been cast for DAF", "what if Dalton had been cast for GE", ... threads, one member had been creative enough to work from a more general "what if X had been cast for Y" thread, it would have aided in keeping the forum more concise. For the purpose of avoiding one-thread-per-question situations, the Debate thread and several other threads have been devised. But because some apply for membership now and open up twenty different threads the next few hours, four fifths of which get locked instantaneously, we immediately end up with a lot of mess. It's often a matter of members wanting to be the 'chief' of a certain thread rather than adding to a thread created by someone else. Actually, as the SF storm has somewhat settled, in the next year or so I can't imagine more than a few fresh threads here and there will be needed. Unfortunately, it'll be many more than that which will see the light of day, which we shall have to lock down, thus adding once more to thread pollution.
Lastly, some have complained about the way mods are handling things. I'd say we're being very fair. Forums exist where you can't open a thread yourself, even as a registered member, unless you're a mod or admin. Luckily we here at MI6 offer everyone a chance to open up a good and enjoyable thread. All we ask in return is a bit of fair play. But then some are just lazy, some can't see why you best not open up a thread to ask a single question, which gets answered in post number two and immediately terminates the thread's usefulness, ...
I don't know, if there are functions, this structure is offering, that are not being used yet. There should be, as it is incredibly unflexible as it is now.
As much as I am all for the mods, I think, that some of the critisism they voice towards the members now is solely due to the forum, that is NOT user friendly. For the Bond 24 journey, I would maybe suggest, that they put in some overall thread title, where most of the info can be discussed without people being allowed to open a new tread for every news or every question. To be frank, it has become ridiculous for what people open a tread.
I wasn't here, when they shut down the old forum and I am sure, this has been discussed, but getting back some of the order it had, would be a good idea. maybe its possible with this as well.
And even google searching doesn't work all the time if people name their threads after a random Bond film quote or something that doesn't clearly show what the thread is about.
It's easy to find threads you know about because you'll remember the title, if you're new or don't know about that thread, how are you supposed to find it when half the time it's not even named after what it's about?
And instead of google searching, wouldn't a better solution be to get a search bar that works? I don't want to bitch and moan too much because I do like this forum, but it's fustrating thanks to the layout.
Thanks royale for coming on board.
I also repeat - its not about bitching, its about pointing out the difficulties and trying to find a way to solve them, IF possible.
Wholeheartedly agree. Too many nonsense threads on here. If you have a question about a certain part of a movie - post it one of the pre-existing movie threads.
Creasy, I don't feel that anybody, who spoke here has complained about lack of fairness. That is not the point.
Something happened in the posting process; mine have been deleted before, as well. If a mod edited/deleted it, it would state so in bold. Don't go blaming it on others before finding out the cause of it.
I will say this is a good idea---I always used this sites search function and could never get any results.
Lesson learned.
Fine, not looking for trouble. Thanks for the heads up.
Mod edit: double post merged into one.
Totally agree
To be fair, mods usually don't make less than friendly comments. Our tone is mostly sober and businesslike, the way it should be. We lock a thread and state the reason why. I admit that I sometimes display signs of irritation but that's mostly because the news section gets constantly abused for topics that aren't Bond news in the slightest - even new members ought to understand that there's an appropriate section for everything - or because, despite what the search function returns, some topics should not be expected to be original on a Bond forum that's been active as long as ours. To think that 'who is your favourite Bond?' hasn't ever been discussed here before is extremely naive.
Furthermore, I'd like to point out that a social community like this one is a self-correcting structure. We invite our members to state constructive criticism for the benefit of us all. The admins shall then take this criticism under sincere consideration and if possible work from interesting suggestions in future forum revisions. Even criticism which is stated in a fairly aggressive manner eventually finds its way to the good people who run the business.
Is it then, conversely, wrong for us to expect from our members, new as well as veteran ones, a certain level of self-correcting openness? Despite the tone they assume us, mods, have used whilst stating the reasons for locking their thread, might the reasons not be taken into account for the future? We're not asking for money or jail-time, you know. ;-)
When I first joined the old forum - dinosaurs still roamed the Earth back then - my very first thread was, with certain impoliteness, pointed out as inappropriate considering the section I had chosen for it. A mod, however, stepped in and posted a simple "moved to ..." line, explaining also why it was felt that my thread would better fit that other section. This never discouraged me to proceed; rather I swiftly understood that paying extra attention to these matters would be important were I to stay aboard. Well, I have stayed aboard. Mild unpleasantness in my newbie days did not, in the least, discourage me to go on. I'm a scientist after all; if I wouldn't put justified criticism to good use, I wouldn't be very good at my job. ;-)
I also want to express my gratitude, something that I feel happens not nearly enough in a thread where some form of critique sets the tone. Thank you, first and foremost, to those members who in this thread and in other ones have shared with the rest of the forum their confidence in, and appreciation for the work of our mod team. We really labour hard, in between other engagements in life, to keep this place a nice place for the lot of us. And we're only human after all. We'd never pretend to be wisdom incarnated. That's why we support constructive criticism from all our members. Secondly, thank you, all of you out there, who do pay close attention to the section in which a thread is posted, to the possible existence of a duplicate one, to the multi-page potential of an intended new thread. Brilliant threads are spawned from the minds of our members, offering all of us, mods included, countless hours of Bond discussing fun. This forum belongs to all of us; mods just keep an extra eye on certain things, process complaints and secretly worship those of you who, without blatantly seeking out forum glory, persistently help us in spotting duplicate threads and other flaws. Thank you all.
Lastly, let me say that when I ascend to the forum between every day quarrels and works, I don't immediately bring out the moderator's bludgeon but instead I come as a Bond fan, seeking to converse with you all, learn from you all, and share my passion with you all. The warmth that radiates from this forum, even in darker days, when certain members demand for instance that we touch their buttons ;-) , puts a smile on my face!