Helps to keep a tider forum so other threads don't get crowded out by multiple threads on the same basic subject
Only problem with merging threads is you have to scroll through a few pages of content to get to the actual news. Too many threads are made on the same subject though.
Not if Moderators are sufficiently vigilant! If multiple threads are noticed very quickly, they can be merged before it becomes untidy and therefore more difficult. As with so many things in this forum, it is a case of nipping it in the bud before it gets out of hand!
I've asked on the Mod forum. The issue has been raised a few times, Mick says he accidentally gave a mod banning powers a few months and he banned three users of other teams within a day, so Mick's reluctant to do it. None of us three would abuse it though, and it's really so we can just stop LewisWDC doing what he did last night. If he does come back again could people try not to comment so much on his threads, makes it harder for us to tidy the forum up, just do what Sam suggested and spam his visitor page.
yeah, feeding a troll almost always causes more trouble, or at least we have far more to delete. If trolls don't get a response they tend to just give up.
I am surprised (and somewhat alarmed) that at least one of the Moderators of this F1 forum does not already have the power to ban disruptive members. This is the first time I have been made aware of this and it is rather a shame that sufficient trust does not exist. Thanks for the explanation AG. I agree with your suggestion that people try to resist commenting on deliberately provocative threads. But I feel compelled to question the wisdom of your last sentence. Quite true.
Can the Mods stop merging threads so much? Most threads are getting placed in the 2012 Line up thread when they cover other topics as well, and become generalized. Not a criticism, but some people put a lot of time and effort to discuss a certain topic like Dr Janitor mentioned Sutil getting a rough deal in his thread and it got moved, where it won't be noticed in the 2012 Line up thread.
The thing is, any move (such as Sutil's) affects where other drivers may end up next year and thus, different team decisions affect others in the sport. Therefore, if we have several threads on different driver's deals, we'll end up discussing the same things in each thread more often that not. Much like how it is impractical to have a different thread to analyse each driver's performance in the same Grand Prix. One driver's race will undoubtedly have an affect on others, so naturally if we have separate threads we would see the same points being put across (just like the many Hamilton threads that turned up this year after he had a bad race!). If a post is good enough then it will receive recognition, regardless of whether it has it's own thread or is moved to a relevant, pre-existing one (you may note in fact, that it didn't go 'unnoticed' and that I myself replied to Dr Jan Itor with my own comment!). However, when there is already a thread where the topic is being discussed, there is little point in starting another thread just because one has a slightly different take on the news. This is not a slight on Dr Jan Itor or anyone else - I'm glad when any poster makes the effort to contribute a respectful and civil comment - but it didn't depart from the original thread, hence why it was merged with the existing 2012 thread.
Really good point's Westy. But sometimes I feel that sometimes some thread's need to be there otherwise people won't bother posting different opinionated topic's over fear of them getting moved like Manny mentions in his recent thread. Maybe if we have 3 or 4 on the same topic, then it would be ideal to merge some, but when someone has a opinion (like Janitor) and it gets generalized, then it won't get the attention that the OP wants it to, which could dilute real, interesting, debate. I fear some of martial/xig's thread's become too personal by some other users because he does create some great debates.
I tend to agree with Westy's comment above, although until things become consistent, I also sympathise with Sam's concern. The thing is Sam, that any new thread should also be a new topic: one which does not fit into any pre-existing one. It may well be that one's point might add a different perspective or direction to a thread, which can revitalise it and incorporate and encourage fresh interest and discussion. This is a good thing. But it is not helpful to have several different threads where one's comment might warrant repetition in each one. Each thread should become richer if people seek to make their point in one which already exists. Conversely, if one begins a new thread because of feeling that a point will be less noticed elsewhere, lots of little threads will each have less substance, with a consequent loss of quality to the whole forum.
Cheers Cosi Maybe you're right. But sometimes these mega threads don't allow people opinions to shine out, whether massively misjudged opinions or sensible opinions, creating great debate that attracts many of the boards users. Take Xig for example, he may post very opinionated arguments (and I mean very) but it creates a debate that attracts many users. There is nothing worse than a sparse, empty board, just look at JA.
I really understand your concern Sam. I think it worth remembering that whenever a new contribution is added to a thread, it immediately 'bumps' it up to the top of the list of threads being debated, thus bringing the new post to the immediate attention of anyone interested in the subject as a whole. This is the method through which any debate can change course, although still remaining true to its original purpose. If, on the other hand, a new contribution would steer an existing debate completely off course; this is when it would justify an entirely new thread.
Merging is deleting and is just arbitrary censorship. Can members not be trusted to read articles and respond to the ones that matter? Why not just have one article about F1 and insist that we all post on it? Oops we have http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/58286-2012-Predictions-Driver-Line-up-News-etc... etc
Merging should not involve deletion. Any topic can be sub-divided into sub-sections, but there must surely be some reasonable point at which to draw a line? Without being 'reasonable', one might envisage everyone making their point in a new thread and ignoring the points made by others. Thus, debate stops because everyone just makes their own point! Of course, what I have just written is a ridiculous extreme, which in practice would not happen (hopefully!). However, starting new threads which are effectively sub-divisions of an existing topic, dilutes the debate unless members sift through every thread where they think their point may be relevant, and makes the same (repetitive) point in each.
When BBC606 was alive then there was a problem with repetitive articles. Sometimes, if there was a controversial incident then there could be 10 pages of the same thing. But there were reasons for that. 1. Several people posting at the same time in the belief that they were the first 2. People not bothering to read the initial post 3. People posting an article as a way of replying to an existing article But I don't see that same problem here. Wait for the problem to arise and then address it.
I agree RI. I would also suggest that if and when such problem does arise, it be dealt with promptly; otherwise it allows the potential for the same problem to arise here.
Crucial point here Sam is that the subject was being discussed in another thread by about a dozen different users. If you look above Janitor's post you'll see that the topic of discussion was the Force India line up, there's no point having the same discussion twice just because one user has written a particularly lengthy post on the matter. Same thing happened the other day with the Toro Rosso line up, someone posted the news in the "mega thread" several people responded and then a couple of hours later another user "broke the news" in a separate thread. I think the merging the predictions thread with the driver line ups one was overzealous since they're different subjects, but the thread is mainly being used for driver line ups anyway.
There's the updated version of whats been said, rather than dwelling on it again perhaps its time the house rules were adjusted. You may see that some suggestions are directly opposing, so I'm afraid I may have to make a poll or two. Cheers, Bright
If you just post a note saying that you don't want the thread merged, and it is a decent one with much research and time put into it. There is no reason for the mods to merge it. They listen
