I'm afraid, speaking honestly, this hasn't gone well. Those that want a side forum seem to be spamming the board with OT threads. The majority want continuity which means the football only group are put out. The calls for self moderation have been said before and the reminder works for a while but then drifts back to how it was. If anything, the mods now have more work trying to unpick this to get things back to the fairly reasonable level they were at a week ago but with added rules now needed to prevent the transgressions that weren't bad in the first place by people that haven't been especially out of order. An opportunity missed and the forum is already a worse place for it. Sorry to Brix for his wasted efforts. Apologies for my candour but just calling it as I see it.
Unfortunately I am coming to the same conclusions Matt. We have had long periods before without a game, but I can't remember so many OT threads springing up. I come on here primarily to discuss all things QPR. Side issues are a welcome distraction at times, but for me, this is a football forum. The house rules are there for all to see and I think that maybe a tweak or two with those is all that's needed. Self moderation is the way forward and I am of a mind that those who continually push their luck should go elsewhere.
You, of all posters on this forum, have nothing to apologise for Matt. I’m sure that everyone respects your opinions and candour. First up, is there a football only group on here? I’m no reading back through all the posts on this thread and the original one to see, but I don’t remember there being any. There is a quality thread only group, of which I’m a fully paid up member, but many of the off topic threads have been of high quality, DT’s Parkinson thread and Beth’s Dubai being the latest obvious examples. Secondly, has this process been a waste of time? Somehow I doubt it. I’m sure that wily old fox Brixton had a shrewd idea of how this would evolve and is still at least one step ahead. I think the posts I highlighted on my “self moderation fest” with Woody reverting to the keep it all together camp and Peru’s only post if it is fit for work are the pivotal moments. With SB, Beth and Col, for me all members of the top table here, all calling for self moderation, perhaps the final outcome will be that some of the well respected contributors, such as those and yourself, will be more likely to intervene when a thread is going down the road to hell. Brixton and Nuts may have just saved themselves some work. A wily old fox indeed.
Agreed Roller. I'm not for one minute saying that we should only ever discuss football on here. Threads that start out one way and move in other directions are fascinating and I'm all for that. Also, you're quite right in that some OT threads are brilliantly interesting. It's just that, like you, I'm sick and tired of threads being hijacked, either through posters using it as a virtual boxing ring or simply wanting to wind people up for the sake of it. Some of that is expected, harmless and can be entertaining. Too much, as has become the norm of late is in danger of ruining the board for those of us who see it as MAINLY a QPR related forum.
The more I think about this the more I’m in favour of having a less regulated sub-section within the QPR board. The real problem for me is not actually those threads which start with an off topic opening thread. As Roller eloquently says, some of these such as DT’s Parkinson and Beth’s Dubai can be both engaging and thought provoking. The real problem, as Col points out, is when a perfectly on-topic opening post gets hijacked and descends into personalised bitching. Not only is this frustrating for those who want to continue to talk about football, it is mainly just unbelievably boring. With this in mind, can I ask if it is possible, theoretically speaking, to split threads? What I am thinking is that when a thread gets hijacked, or even just when one starts becoming NSFW, would it not be possible to split the thread in two? The on-topic posts can stay in the original thread, and a second thread can be created and shunted into the “NSFW Section”. Posters who want to indulge a little swearing, or in anything ranging from banter through to bitching can continue to do so in the new thread. Similarly, those who just want to open a thread with a picture of a pair of tits can start this thread in the NSFW sub-section too. Anyway, it was just a question/idea I thought was worth putting out there.. Also, I’m a bit concerned about what is implied when we hear that the site management might “not be receptive” to the idea of us having a sub-section within the QPR board. Given that the Newcastle board have exactly this on their board, it would be a plainly unfair double-standard not to allow us to have one too. Our QPR board is one of the most popular on the site (what is it, about the fourth most posted on board on the whole of not606 or something?), and it is us the posters who make it a such a success. So, whilst I really like this using site, and I’m not interested in causing any trouble for the sake of it, I will say that the board management need to be very careful about this kind of approach. They should be mindful of the fact that theirs isn’t the only show in town. Many, if not most of the posters on this QPR board emigrated from the old BBC 606 site, and if we feel marginalised by the site management there is nothing to stop us move on again if we need to. I’m just saying..
Whilst this is primarily a football forum there will be times when it is good to discuss other topics otherwise how are we going to get through the summer as an example? The broad base of topics improves the enjoyment of being part of this forum afterall there is only so much that can be talked about the R's. Again the whole principle comes down to self moderation, surely there is no place for insults or personal adgenda's to take over particular threads....if one doesn't agree with a comment say so but don't use bully boy tactics to get your message over and accepted by everyone, that is the art of debate to try and persuaed people to come around to your way of thinking without insult or threat. I thought the bar room analogy was very relevant, think or this as having a discussion with your mates at the bar.....I'm sure people wouldn't start hurling insults at each other if they were standing side by side. Without having to add to the workload for Brix & Nutso, who we must remember do this voluntarily, it would be appropriate for someone partaking in a thread to step in if it became apparent that someone was losing the plot so to speak, and just have a quiet word along the lines of "cool it" before it gets out of hand. In a way we are all "moderators". Lets help the lads out in this respect.
I'm very sorry but this has become enormously tedious and incredibly frustrating. None of this would be taking place if individuals were not treating each other with respect and moderating their language and tone. In these PR times it is impossible to comment on certain issues without incurring the wrath of some outraged at what has not been said, so best not to even try.
Agree with Uber, this is all getting a tad boring now. We have all been p***** off at some time or other by some other poster on here and almost certainly we have all, at some time, p***** off another poster with a comment made at some time. This board, as great as it is, isn't real life and the world will not end if it goes under. I think we ALL need to chill out and be grateful for what we have got here.
Fully appreciate all the points being made and am very grateful for your ongoing participation. Everything said is being taken into account, believe me. Sub-forum is an option from a comprehensive needs point of view - but there's NO indication yet that site management would be willing to facilitate such needs. TIMK's absolutely right to suggest Newcastle's 'Sexy Poll' could be used as a precedent in seeking this kind of solution. It has been - and we await management response on this. [However, I remember that when the SP was granted, it being a time of great unrest on the biggest / most active board on this site. Virtual war with those cool dudes on General Chat and a mass exodus of Toon fans in the offing. The Sexy Poll deal seemed to spring out of that as a trade off for calmer waters.] So whilst the notion of a sub-forum is being considered, we must have other solutions for our future development in place. Could be that those wanting to accommodate soft porn, virtual fight club and/or other lower standard materials will be disappointed. Be prepared. Certainly from the consultation so far, there's a need for some fine tuning of our rules and practices in order that things can be modded fairly according to agreed lines. Examples like further definitions of concepts like self-moderation, banter, wumming, trolling, hijacking etc. are being looked at, among other things. I've got some heavy work going on in real life right now and with the United game just hours away, probably won't be able to get the next stage of the consultation up before Sunday or Monday night. That gives you a bit more time to develop your thoughts further and leave in no doubt of what these may be. Cheers guys, thanks for all your interest and help on this.
Felt it my duty to say my bit on this thread.. though I've nothing new to add. I'm in 'aint broke' 'take the porn off' self moderate' 'ignore' camp.
Brix, I think the debate is done. The general concensus is that people dont want the board to change. They want certain posters to change their behaviour.
