Off Topic Posts - Why they are bad...

[ebradway]

Whoa - you mean your current system doesn't use an SQL backend?

As far as bigger message boards, just look at Slashdot (http://www.slashdot.org). Millions of hits daily, tens-of-thousands of posts, cooking right along. The other possibility is to move to a nntp-based soluton - after all what you are doing here is emulating a news server.

-Eric

P.S. The $75 upgrade sounds like the way to go. Cheap too. There are free solutions out there, but that'll give a smooth upgrade path.

------------------
Eric Bradway
'86 911 Targa
http://www.bradway.net/porsche

[old_skul]

Originally posted by J-RAD:
The point is that those posts don't belong here. This is not really a software issue (although according to Wayne there is an issue here as well), it's mainly a content issue in my view.

Well, considering that Wayne started this post complaining that the software/hardware couldn't handle the volume of posts, it's not really a content issue. But we can discuss that as well.

This board helps promote their business and bring their target market together, it's good for business - so long as the topic stays on their business. If someone comes to this board looking for tech info and finds nothing but garbage OT posts, what kind of message does that leave?

If someone comes here and makes friends, and then posts off-topic and finds their message thread closed and moved to the OT forum, what kind of message does that leave? Also not good.

By making an effort to reduce the OT posts now, Wayne is being proactive and cutting off a problem before it gets out of control.

While I agree that there has to be some moderation of content - I have seen other boards (that I frequent still, sigh) that are 90% off topic - I think it would be best if the blame were not placed on the very people who comprise the "community". Fix the problem - not the people.

OT has its place but its not here.

I most heartily disagree. Vehemently, even.

When my girlfriend was in a car accident and was in the hospital for 4 months, a post on this very forum brought loads of flowers to her hospital room.

When Nostatic bought his car, and then sold it because his wife didn't approve, everyone weighed in. It was OT - about a woman, not a Porsche.

When the Twin Towers were hit, there were no end to OT posts - even Wayne started one - and we ranted on about everything and Krazy Kurt insulted Saffs and I made sure to look like a liberal pansy - and it was OT.

When Leland left to go fight for our country's way of life - including the freedom of speech (cue the patriotic music, please), it was OT.

These threads remain on the board today, and I say that this forum would not be as lively or vibrant or as interesting without them.

Thank you.

------------------
Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9 RIP
The Porsche Owners Gallery

[critter]

Well said Mark, I could'nt agree with you more.

------------------
Grant 75 911s targa

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

Wayne, jump onto that SQL driven bulletin board.

I would wait for the first service pack

¦Â testing can be time consuming.

Gr¨¹sse

[old_skul]

Bob,

Congratulations on your advanced degree.

I didn't even finish tech school. I ran out of money and had to move out of my parent's place. I worked my ass off instead.

I'll try to keep my buzzwords to a minimum - I wouldn't want to upset a professional.

------------------
Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9 RIP
The Porsche Owners Gallery

[Wayne 962]

I still don't understand why it's so freakin' hard to place the OT posts in another spot on THIS SAME BOARD! It literally takes two clicks to get there, and there are many people from the other 914/944/R1100S forums there as well...

I don't have time to do a major BBS upgrade before the end of the year. It's one thing to install and test a demo with 5 users. It's another thing to transition a board that gets this much traffic...

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

I still don't understand why it's so freakin' hard to place the OT posts in another spot on THIS SAME BOARD! It literally takes two clicks to get there, and there are many people from the other 914/944/R1100S forums there as well...

I don't have time to do a major BBS upgrade before the end of the year. It's one thing to install and test a demo with 5 users. It's another thing to transition a board that gets this much traffic...

-Wayne

[beepbeep]

UBB Forum with 100000+ posts that i attend frequently:

http://62.119.64.76/forum/index.php?s=

[J-RAD]

When my girlfriend was in a car accident and was in the hospital for 4 months, a post on this very forum brought loads of flowers to her hospital room.

When Nostatic bought his car, and then sold it because his wife didn't approve, everyone weighed in. It was OT - about a woman, not a Porsche.

When the Twin Towers were hit, there were no end to OT posts - even Wayne started one - and we ranted on about everything and Krazy Kurt insulted Saffs and I made sure to look like a liberal pansy - and it was OT.

When Leland left to go fight for our country's way of life - including the freedom of speech (cue the patriotic music, please), it was OT.

These threads remain on the board today, and I say that this forum would not be as lively or vibrant or as interesting without them.

And you don't think the same responses and discussions would've taken place by simply posting the topic on the correct forum? I do....I've seen it on other boards I frequent. Again check out clubb5.com for an example...look at how popular the Off Topic forum is and how well it works. It works quite well actually and keeps the content in the appropriate arena.
I guess we'll agree to disagree but untlimately it's Wayne's call. He has made it very clear as to what his expectation for this forum should be. There will always be a small amount of OT traffic but those familar with the expectations of the board should understand which forum is appropriate for their topic and post there accordingly. It's not a difficult task or concept to follow. With that said, you shouldn't be surprised or upset to see your thread closed and moved to the appropriate place.



[This message has been edited by J-RAD (edited 11-08-2001).]

[old_skul]

Originally posted by J-RAD:
And you don't think the same responses and discussions would've taken place by simply posting the topic on the correct forum?

LOL. Come on...please. No one visits the OT forums - look at the numbers on the forum list. The 911 tech forum is where everyone reads and posts. *Not* the OT forum.

...look at how popular the Off Topic forum is and how well it works.

Again, my point exactly. It doesn't work here because people neither read nor post there. Two clicks...sure. Waste of my time to post there? Yes.

I guess we'll agree to disagree but untlimately it's Wayne's call. He has made it very clear as to what his expectation for this forum should be.

Yes, and I'm making it clear, as a very vocal and opinionated person who frequents the forum, buys parts from Pelican (do you?), and posts on-topic quite a bit what *my* expectations of a forum are. There are other forums out there - and if the moderation on any forum becomes too heavy handed, the population simply migrates to a different one.

I've seen it happen on other forums. Example: The Online Gaming League. Their forums had tens of thousands of posts, with heavy website traffic that generated a lot of hits (and a lot of advertising revenue). The moderator implemented a foul-language filter, and then started closing (and deleting) OT threads.

Within two months, a new website had been opened by a disgruntled user, with a much more open policy for the forums. Today, that website has the entire community - and the ad revenue too.

Yes, I agree, it's Pelican's call as to how to moderate the forums. I am vehemently against the closure or removal of OT threads. I also stand against using language filters and tolerate the one on this site simply because I know how to get around it if I want to (and I seldom need to anyway). Pelican's policy on this matter will determine what this "community" does, and I'm simply pointing that out along with the idea that this captive "community" is a business asset to the business entity.

------------------
Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9 RIP
The Porsche Owners Gallery

[Kurt B]

Let me say, the OT forum should be one click away, not too. You have to click to the forum list, look around, scroll down, then click.
There should be a short cut directly to it on the main 911 tech page...just a thought.

A television is usually not going to be more than 6 to 10 feet away from any viewer. That doesn't prevent the viewer from tearing the house apart looking for the remote so he can browse stations without moving at all. It's the same thing with finding the OT forum. Put a link directly to it if you can.

[orbmedia]

Everything else aside listen to old_skul - he knows how these forums work. You can destroy the balance pretty quickly. This thing has a "life" to it, it's not about servers or software or even ownership. It's a self-sustaining community.

One thing though. His point about the other sites being supported by "ad revenue". That must be a joke, right?




------------------
Visit the Virtual
PORSCHE Rennsport Reunion Tour

[Planter91C2]

consider this: there hasn't been a post on the 964 board here in over a week. i see the 964 owners (including me) over here.

why does this happen?

interesting dynamic isn't it?



------------------
Daryl 964 Targa

[Saffs]

Love correcting links. For the above Rennlist link click:
here


------------------
'75 911S Targa
'81 BMW Alpina C1 2.3


[This message has been edited by Saffs (edited 11-08-2001).]

[J-RAD]

Let me say, the OT forum should be one click away, not too. You have to click to the forum list, look around, scroll down, then click.
There should be a short cut directly to it on the main 911 tech page...just a thought.

Actually Kurt, I will agree with that. The Off Topic forum could be made more visible and that would help. That way we don't have to endure another "How many posts do you have?", a ***** session about "ricers", or another why SUV's are bad arguement.

[This message has been edited by J-RAD (edited 11-08-2001).]

[old_skul]

Good lord, I have over 1100 posts now.

I don't care for riced-out cars, whether they're Japanese in origin or German. Rice is rice. (Did you know per capita China eats more rice than Japan?)

Oh, and SUVs *do* suck:



------------------
Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9 RIP
The Porsche Owners Gallery

[rscupper]

Wayne, if it's that much of hassle, don't save it - DUMP IT! Then see if anyone really cares. It sounds like a case of technology running peoples lives (do we really need to know everthing that everyone has said on this board?). Lose a thought? OH MY GOD!!!

[Doug Zielke]

Wayne,
Personally, I'd much rather see you spending your time getting the (promised) Engine Rebuild book written and published.

------------------
'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Member: SCWDP
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website
"If it ain't broke...we'll help you fix it 'til it is!"

[Wayne 962]

I've got a due date on the of February 2002, however, those guys take their time getting it into print.

-Wayne