Hello all, After a few issues we have encountered after the last few grand prix I thought I would ask you guys for your opinions on how we can improve the place and stamp out any issues we may have. Some Arguments have lead to members of this forum leaving such as Genji, SilverArrow and Manny. Luckily Manny has returned so his input would be valuable. If you could go along initialy on these 3 points: 1) What you like about the F1 Board 2) What you dont like about the F1 board 3) How we can improve the board Also BLS has set up a topic in the Pits2.0 Group for your opinions on the forum. Best Regards, El_Bando
First of all, I would like to say that I think it is great that the Mods are responding to recent concerns and threads like this along with the one in The Pits 2.0 are a good idea. 1 - The things I like about the F1 board - It is genuinely enjoyable that we have contributors on here who support different teams & drivers. It adds the spice of variety to all the topics under discussion on here. - We are also very fortunate that there are contributors on here who have considerable knowledge on some subjects and that they are willing to share it with us. - All of the polls, sweepstakes and off-topic groups etc augment the enjoyment of the board. - When all is well, the standard of topics and the ensuing discussions are at a very high level. 2 - Things I don't like about the F1 board - The unnecessary use of swearing and bad language that some members use. It completely undermines any point that a member wishes to make and only shows that they would rather post rude comments than concentrate on backing up their argument. As I have mentioned previously, if we forget that this is an internet forum and imagine that it is a 'face to face' meeting somewhere, this type of language wouldn't happen. Imagine if we were all at James Allen's FOTA Fan's Forum, I doubt very much if people would use the same language when putting forward their points. Just because we are all sat typing at a computer does not mean that we need to lose politeness or civility. In what possible scenario can swearing and using poor language help to maintain a friendly, polite and respectful atmosphere? - The ease at which people become frustrated and arguments become heated. I greatly acknowledge that when someone has posted a comment that reads as aggressive and disrespectful, or even merely unrealistic or unreasonable, it is difficult to remain calm. However, this is key to preventing such discussions from boiling over. If one approaches these comments/threads with a peaceful attitude, and thus with a non aggressive & polite response, the situation resolves itself and respect is maintained. For example, instead of replying to a comment that you perceive to be unreasonable by saying 'What?? That's rubbish, clearly you have no idea what you're talking about!!', you could easily reply with 'That's a surprising view. Would you mind elaborating your reasoning a little bit please?'. More often that not, this results in good debate without becoming heated. I guess that, in summary, the key word is respect. 3 - Things I would like to see changed Well, this was kind of covered in section 2. I feel that a slightly more 'proactive' approach to the moderation would be useful. However, I would like to stress that first and foremost, it is the members of the forum that control what is posted on here. After all, if everyone posted with a view to making this a great, enjoyable and respectful place to read about F1, we wouldn't need moderation at all! Finally, I would also like to direct everyone's attention to my signature. I think it pretty much says what I want from a forum. Cheers
Thank you for your input Westcoast, every response this thread gets can help to make this forum a better place.
Good post Westy. I'll write a fuller response a little later, but you raise some important points. I am also heartened to see the very existence of this thread and the manner in which El_Bando has set about consulting the forum: there is some real wisdom there Bando!
Thanks West Coast. Respect is the key but It will take time to get that. Once we have established the trust and respect between us all then we will be cooking on gas. But an F1 board is like keeping Jews with muslims or Celtic fans with Rangers fans and us mods are the UN/SFA
I'm very happy you addressed my gripe about personal insults from other users just for expressing an opinion, I will be using the board now again as got a bit fed up with it. T
I think it's good, if you look at other bards there is a LOT more swearing/insults etc. (which I don't think is neccesarily a bad thing, it can be funny), as long as people enjoy it, that't the key thing. Nobody has an obligation to be here, it's just an online discussion board, but I think we're doing ok.
As you are aware Bando, you stepped in ona debate in which I was involved! Whilst i would like to pint out that at no point was I angry or felt aggressive towards the other user i am unsure how my text may have been percieved by others? The problem with text (unless overly jovial) is that it can be taken in many differnet ways by different people, after all perception is reality! For the record, I was merely trying to point out that extreme and continued attack toward a particular driver, team etc is counter productive and not enter into a slanging match with the other user! I echo alot of the points already raised, however would like to add my twopennyworth! I was an active member on 606 but lost intrest due to some of the viscious debates that took place. I like all on here have my personal preferences to topics and wish for desired results, but I feel I am able to acknowledge other sucesses and openlt debate the pro's and con's! Some users are unable to do so and merely attack the opposite of thier preference! There will always be an element of divided opinion, but some of the die hard fans appear unable to acknowledge this and will argue balck is white. I think in an ideal world, users would refrain from continueing with a post if they had nothing constructive or acurate to add, and or a moderator may make a comment, statement in relation to posts that are boardline to prevent them being continued! Maybe a Red, Yellow card system where a comment can be flagged and everyone then knows not to attack or respond directly to it. I am aware that a moderator has to be impartial, but alot of these heated debates could be nipped in teh bud at an early stage. The final point I would like to add, is that there is obviously different levels of fan (however non more sigificant than the other) which will lead to different level sof understanding about the sport. It was noted on 606 that alot of newer fans to the sport had vastly different views to fans who may have been watching or invilved with sport 10, 20 or 30 years prior! Although difficult, I do think a moderator should publically acknowledge when factual information and plain common sence is being deliberatly overshadowed by pure fanatical responses! The Alonso - Hammilton conflict and now hammilton - Button discussions seem to be discussed from 2 very different extremes. Just my thoughts in attempt to stop things getting out of control but Hey Ho - you guys are the mods!
If you could go along initialy on these 3 points: Right here we go - 1) What you like about the F1 Board : - Good clean forum most of the time, great discussions but still room for banter, because if we were all technical geniuses if would lead to boring full on debate. - We have good features as Westy said, the sweepstakes, prediction competition and other various user articles. 2) What you dont like about the F1 board : - I think everyone will say the same, the provocative comments wrote on here to cause arguments after Hamilton wins or bins in a race, Vettel finishes lower than usual or anything that can cause opposites to clash. - A bit like point 1, another i dislike is the users that come on here on race day and cause havoc. 3) How we can improve the board : So how do we move on, - I think we need to just keep our heads down a bit after a race, and dont give provocative comments the notice they want. Dont give these one days wummers the satisfaction of throwing good honest users to leaving the site, because if we lose the users that started on this forum we lose some of the community feel around the core of the F1 section. - Ive seen the idea raised of an additional mod, i dont think this is necessary. What i think could work is an experienced user, like a ''policing user'' who can be referred back to on an issue if the mods cannot come to a decision, bur i suppose that is the same as an extra mod really.
the UN/SFA ????? they are appalling. I hope you mods are better than that.. I'd prefer that you all try to be wise sages.
Ok to some up so far, the big issue is personal insults (in a nasty way). I think us mods will be working hard on this and deleting any offence and handing out warnings. I would also like if you guys could help out and alert a mod via PM linking to anything we have missed out on. If a moderator is not online then we would ask please to not elevate the situation and guide others not to do so till it is dealt with. If you have any other issues please carry on letting us know on here or on the Pits2.0. Thank you all for your contributions!
Just to add to what El_bando said, if you report a post (the triangle with a ! in at the bottom of each post) it emails our personal emails so can alert us if we are not online. for the thoughts so far
I really don't think any changes need to be made, I like the minimal liberal moderation, it makes for better arguement, although some need to lighten up a bit, It's only a motor racing forum, no body dies, there are more serious issues in the world to get annoyed about. You can't please all the people all the time, sadly there will be some fallout, thats just the way it is.
The forum is essentially sound. But just like any circus, when things get out of hand and the animals start playing up the ring-masters need to show who is holding the whip And I don't mean Max!
Good to see lots of members putting their views on the forum out there. The personal insults moderation will obviously be stepped up now but I'm sure there are other bad things you'd like to see less of, and of course good things that you'd like to see more of
Guys I think really no one has responded to my suggestion to add one more mod to this forum due to the more insults. I think Cosicave would be a good mod. Westy summed it up really.
