More visible moderation of PC threads

Genocidal

Genocidal

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Sad to me that I have to ask for this, but there are plenty of people who have trouble behaving themselves that are doing their best to ruin a good thing. I'm all for lively discussion but some people are taking it too far, to the point of the Amazon thread driving Tony (the Amazon Digital rep) away.

I'm thinking of a couple threads in particular that would benefit from some more structure though I've probably missed others:

Amazon PCDD Thread
Steam Deal Thread
Steam "Group Buy and Gift Request" Thread (honestly needs renamed too since it's become more of a general digital PC buy/sell thread, without any of the rules that make the other buy/sell threads less of a cluster)

These are the threads I most frequent and because they're the most active so they stick out to me. Any others that people feel could use more attention, please post them. I don't know if it's an issue of the mods being mostly console based in their gaming so not spending a lot of time there, but the two deal threads are constantly in the top 5 on the main page and have become insufferable. I understand it will probably die down after the winter sales, but they are still fairly active during the "off-season".
 
While I agree that the threads should be moderated more frequently, moderation tends to go a bit too far sometimes, which leans me more towards disagreeing with having more moderation.

For example, if a thread topic strays from its intended purpose. I love the side-talk that goes on in these threads, which might not be possible with more moderation in place. It all depends on what passes through the filter, in my eyes. However, what is and isn't filtered isn't something that is consistent, since mods are only human. I'd say leave things the way they are. I honestly believe that the newbies who are here ruining things won't be here long.
 
That is one downside, but I think having a mod who is the designated "PC mod" would make it less of an issue if they're someone who understands that the threads should get some extra latitude for discussion since all of the PC gaming discussion more or less gets shoehorned into a small set of threads. I'm mostly concerned with some of the obvious outright flaming, whining, entitlement, and name-calling that has become extremely prevalent over the past couple of weeks.
 
[quote name='Severose']While I agree that the threads should be moderated more frequently, moderation tends to go a bit too far sometimes, which leans me more towards disagreeing with having more moderation.

For example, if a thread topic strays from its intended purpose. I love the side-talk that goes on in these threads, which might not be possible with more moderation in place. It all depends on what passes through the filter, in my eyes. However, what is and isn't filtered isn't something that is consistent, since mods are only human. I'd say leave things the way they are. I honestly believe that the newbies who are here ruining things won't be here long.[/QUOTE]

The problem with that is that a lot of people don't like that. Most people like a topic to be used for its intended purpose. They want to know about deals in a deals thread, or they want to trade in a trade thread. Most of the time, off topic posts in those types of threads will be deleted.

As for more moderation, the mods would be happy to clean up a thread if it gets reported. We can't be in every thread at once. Obviously if a thread has hundreds if not thousands of pages, we can't clean up the whole thread, but I usually try to take care of the last couple of pages.
 
[quote name='Trakan']The problem with that is that a lot of people don't like that. Most people like a topic to be used for its intended purpose. They want to know about deals in a deals thread, or they want to trade in a trade thread. Most of the time, off topic posts in those types of threads will be deleted...[/QUOTE]

I can see your point, but honestly if a thread were to stay completely on-topic 100% of the time, I would think that things would start to get bland, and quick. In the Steam Deal Thread, people post all sorts of things. For outsiders, or people who don't frequent the thread, I can definitely see how this off-topic banter would be quite annoying since it isn't deal-related. However, for the regulars and people who visit the thread frequently, it gives us a great sense of community. One of the things I've come to love about the Steam Deal Thread is the diversity and genuine awesome people as well as the awesome discussion that goes on there. Sure, there are some stinker conversations that go on in there that the thread can do without, but every family has their problems.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but if a thread was to stay on-topic 100% of the time, I would think that people would stop being so enthusiastic about it, and it wouldn't be somewhere that people would enjoy coming to. I guess I'd have to experience a thread that's on-topic 100% of the time to see if things got awkward. To be honest though, if the Steam Deal Thread got bland and was dedicated solely to 100% deal-talk, I'd probably resort to creating another thread, allowing for off-topic banter on top of the deals, like the current Steam Deal Thread is right now (not sure if that's allowed, I'll have to check up on that to make sure). Deal talking only goes so far. When there are no deals, what else am I supposed to do? Get a life? Nonsense! :lol:
 
[quote name='Trakan']As for more moderation, the mods would be happy to clean up a thread if it gets reported. We can't be in every thread at once. Obviously if a thread has hundreds if not thousands of pages, we can't clean up the whole thread, but I usually try to take care of the last couple of pages.[/QUOTE]

And it's been appreciated, the group buy thread for example has become much better over the past few days. I guess I'll be more liberal in my use of the report post button.
 
[quote name='Genocidal']And it's been appreciated, the group buy thread for example has become much better over the past few days. I guess I'll be more liberal in my use of the report post button.[/QUOTE]

I'll also make use of it. I usually never report anything, since nothing I've come across I would flag as absolutely inappropriate. Usually, I've come to think the threads rely on regulars to make inappropriate comments unwelcome, a sort of vigilante justice system, if you will. However, I'll make an exception for the sake of thread integrity.

You've been pretty awesome about moderation, Trakan, thank you! :)
 
While I wouldn't mind a bit more moderation, I wonder if perhaps it wouldn't make sense to have a big PCDD topic in one of the non-deal forums (i.e. PC Games and PC General Discussion). With enough participation from the regulars on all of the current deal threads, I think it could work. I gotta run to work, just throwing this out there.
 
[quote name='CrimsonTribe']While I wouldn't mind a bit more moderation, I wonder if perhaps it wouldn't make sense to have a big PCDD topic in one of the non-deal forums (i.e. PC Games and PC General Discussion). With enough participation from the regulars on all of the current deal threads, I think it could work. I gotta run to work, just throwing this out there.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't mind it but would the entire heard move there for their general chit chat.

And at what point does talking about a deal become off topic? I'm not sure how strict that policy should be.
 
What has been bothering me is the increasing number of openly hostile and deliberately insulting posts. There are certainly a few on CAG who regard this as "appropriate" behavior (a lesser case is the guy who pushed Tony over the edge).

Perhaps I should make more liberal use of the report button (over the ignore button) for such openly hostile posts (due to their effect on the community).

I do not think I would welcome off topic moderation (I'm assuming heavy handed).
 
If we split the Steam thread to off topic, I think most regulars would go there, and mostly ignore the deals thread. And everyone in the off-topic thread would ask for deals to also be posted there, so they don't miss anything if they don't check the deals thread. Nothing will actually change.

I also don't support moderation with an iron fist. I like off-topic posts. Without it, deals are very bland.
 
[quote name='asheskitty']What has been bothering me is the increasing number of openly hostile and deliberately insulting posts. There are certainly a few on CAG who regard this as "appropriate" behavior (a lesser case is the guy who pushed Tony over the edge).
[/QUOTE]

These types of posts are my main concern and the reason I started the thread. I suppose reporting more often would probably curb this, but a ton of reports always seemed like they'd annoy the hell out of mods to me.
 
[quote name='Genocidal']These types of posts are my main concern and the reason I started the thread. I suppose reporting more often would probably curb this, but a ton of reports always seemed like they'd annoy the hell out of mods to me.[/QUOTE]


Right! I was just interpreting this bit below. Maybe just a short period of mod intervention would set the standards straight. An even us Steam/AMZN thread regulars sometimes have difficulty keeping up with the thread. So if I think I'm being asked to use the reporting button on such posts, I will.

[quote name='Trakan']
The problem with that is that a lot of people don't like that. Most people like a topic to be used for its intended purpose. They want to know about deals in a deals thread, or they want to trade in a trade thread. Most of the time, off topic posts in those types of threads will be deleted.
As for more moderation, the mods would be happy to clean up a thread if it gets reported.
We can't be in every thread at once. Obviously if a thread has hundreds if not thousands of pages, we can't clean up the whole thread, but I usually try to take care of the last couple of pages.
[/QUOTE]
 
[quote name='Severose']While I agree that the threads should be moderated more frequently, moderation tends to go a bit too far sometimes, which leans me more towards disagreeing with having more moderation.

For example, if a thread topic strays from its intended purpose. I love the side-talk that goes on in these threads, which might not be possible with more moderation in place. It all depends on what passes through the filter, in my eyes. However, what is and isn't filtered isn't something that is consistent, since mods are only human. I'd say leave things the way they are. I honestly believe that the newbies who are here ruining things won't be here long.[/QUOTE]
that would mean no more burger pictures. that would make me a sad panda. :cry:
 
Ideally, threads should remain on-topic.

However, I'm a hypocrite for saying that as I've always been one who strays from that practice, and in truth, I personally don't mind some off-topic discussion. Some. And within reason.

For instance, discussion of the merits (or lack there-of) of a game which is the topic of a deal, always made sense to me. People will see what might they might think is a great price and wonder if it's worth putting their hard-earned money into it.

But others only want the actual nuts and bolts of the deal. Especially in threads which tend to run long with updates. Having off-topic chatter, mindless questions and even "thanks, I got one!" annoys regulars who want to hop in, check for updates of actual information and be on their way. The non-informative and off-topic posts in long running deal threads is a legitimate complaint.


[quote name='CrimsonTribe']While I wouldn't mind a bit more moderation, I wonder if perhaps it wouldn't make sense to have a big PCDD topic in one of the non-deal forums (i.e. PC Games and PC General Discussion). With enough participation from the regulars on all of the current deal threads, I think it could work. I gotta run to work, just throwing this out there.[/QUOTE]
This is a perfect example of what i was just referring to.

We've tried spin-off threads in the past and they had a negligible impact. Idiots still posted off-topic, non-informative crap in the deal thread, and the conversation thread was ignored by most.

[quote name='asheskitty']What has been bothering me is the increasing number of openly hostile and deliberately insulting posts. There are certainly a few on CAG who regard this as "appropriate" behavior (a lesser case is the guy who pushed Tony over the edge).

Perhaps I should make more liberal use of the report button (over the ignore button) for such openly hostile posts (due to their effect on the community).

I do not think I would welcome off topic moderation (I'm assuming heavy handed).[/QUOTE]Trust me, we've always had openly hostile and insulting behavior on CAG. Owing to the nature people in general, this isn't going to change.

YES!!! Please, please, please make liberal use of the ignore feature and the report button. If someone is an intolerable idiot in one thread, they're likely to be just as idiotic when ever and where ever you run into them on CAG. Report the posts and then... Ignore that person. If they're tolerable, just report the posts.

[quote name='sunasun']that would mean no more burger pictures. that would make me a sad panda. :cry:[/QUOTE]
r/burger? Seriously, we're a gaming deals site. It's fun to make friends and have ridiculous conversations here. But that's not what the games and deals forums are for.
 
[quote name='guinaevere']Ideally, threads should remain on-topic.

However, I'm a hypocrite for saying that as I've always been one who strays from that practice, and in truth, I personally don't mind some off-topic discussion. Some. And within reason.

For instance, discussion of the merits (or lack there-of) of a game which is the topic of a deal, always made sense to me. People will see what might they might think is a great price and wonder if it's worth putting their hard-earned money into it.

But others only want the actual nuts and bolts of the deal. Especially in threads which tend to run long with updates. Having off-topic chatter, mindless questions and even "thanks, I got one!" annoys regulars who want to hop in, check for updates of actual information and be on their way. The non-informative and off-topic posts in long running deal threads is a legitimate complaint.



This is a perfect example of what i was just referring to.

We've tried spin-off threads in the past and they had a negligible impact. Idiots still posted off-topic, non-informative crap in the deal thread, and the conversation thread was ignored by most.

Trust me, we've always had openly hostile and insulting behavior on CAG. Owing to the nature people in general, this isn't going to change.

YES!!! Please, please, please make liberal use of the ignore feature and the report button. If someone is an intolerable idiot in one thread, they're likely to be just as idiotic when ever and where ever you run into them on CAG. Report the posts and then... Ignore that person. If they're tolerable, just report the posts.

r/burger? Seriously, we're a gaming deals site. It's fun to make friends and have ridiculous conversations here. But that's not what the games and deals forums are for.[/QUOTE]
but this guy loves burgers
arvim.gif

I may be certifiably insane
 
[quote name='Trakan']Pictures like the one I just deleted will always get deleted, sunasun. ;)[/QUOTE]
I'm sorry, you must be immune to the hypnotoad. :D
 
[quote name='Trakan']The problem with that is that a lot of people don't like that. Most people like a topic to be used for its intended purpose. They want to know about deals in a deals thread, or they want to trade in a trade thread. Most of the time, off topic posts in those types of threads will be deleted.[/QUOTE]

There are places far more useful for just seeing the deals. The community discussion is what makes the PC threads a must-visit. Without it I, and I'm sure some others, never would have become regulars.
 
[quote name='gilby']There are places far more useful for just seeing the deals. The community discussion is what makes the PC threads a must-visit. Without it I, and I'm sure some others, never would have become regulars.[/QUOTE]

As long as the discussion stays somewhat on topic, I don't mind people talking about the games that are on sale. Once it gets into endgame spoilers or completely off topic, then it goes too far.
 
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