FORUM CHANGE Info ( Locked) (7)

As you know, site staff doesn’t sit in the forum and hold members hands to make sure members follow the rules. We don’t read every thread and every post, and we’re only aware of problems we find during site scans or receive reports about. Staff can’t deal with situations we don’t know about.

We believe that members enjoy the freedom afforded with this self-policing, hands-off approach, but that you would like more consistent control to keep the peace and prevent trolls from ruining what starts-out-to-be good threads. The best solution to forum problems is to catch them before they escalate.

Therefore, we’ve been working on changes to the forum 1) to give users more control of the threads, 2) to update the look, and 3) to keep the forum a fun, more peaceful friendly place to meet.

Below is some info about the changes and new options that will be launched within the next hour.
Keep an open mind... it will take time to get used to.

Forums Home:
The layout of the Forums Home (All Categories) page has been changed to make thread Categories and the latest thread in each Category more obvious. Click a Category name to view all threads within that category. Columns with underlined headings can be clicked to sort.

All Threads:
The layout of the All Threads page has been changed to be more readable and to add more info about the threads. Click a thread name to view the thread. Columns with underlined headings can be clicked to sort.

Viewer Hide-Post Option:
When you VIEW a thread— you will now have the option to HIDE individual posts. This HIDE applies to your own view while you are in that thread only and will reset next time you visit the page. The posts you hide won’t be hidden to others, only to you.

New OP Options:
When you CREATE a thread— you will now have 2 MODERATOR OPTIONS to use when needed.

1) BAN-MEMBER BUTTON- click this button and the member will no longer be able to post in your thread. Sometimes a member gets carried away in a controversial topic and a short timeout helps. If the member cools off and contacts you in mail to work things out, you have the option to UNBAN and let the member re-enter your thread (click “Users you banned” button in the right sidebar). The moderator ban you give applies to that thread only, not to any other thread you create.

2) OP HIDE-POST BUTTON- click this button to close/hide a post from view. This is NOT a delete button. Posts closed by the OP will be hidden to everyone. Members reading the thread will see it as a closed post, but they WILL be able to manually open it if they want to.

These 2 moderator options should be used sparingly… to maintain respect and tolerance in your thread while still allowing difference of opinion and lively discussion. Good use of these tools will result in popular threads; misuse will result in threads that no one posts in. Offensive threads or posts will still be subject to site staff decision.

Reminder... when you create a thread or poll:
Your title should clearly state your topic.
Your first-post should clearly describe your topic and what you want members to discuss. It may not be only a link, video, or emoticon; you must describe your topic and your purpose for including the link or video and your opinion of it so members know what your thread is about and can enter appropriate response to it.

continued below...

We posted this thread to inform you of the changes before they happened so that you will know how to use them... not to stir up unnecessary negative worries. Lighten up people!! This is a good thing :)
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Fair use of the OP tools will result in better discussion and a friendlier environment.

The natural consequence of unfair use/ misuse of the OP tools is that other members will quit posting in the thread. The worst thing for a troll is to be ignored.

If an OP "posts a thread without wanting open discussion"... why would you want to stay and post in it anyway? Debate is interesting, fights are not.

The threads can be 'open and educational' only when members are posting with respect. Quick response by an OP to stop troublemakers should make that more possible.

If an OP unfairly bans members who s/he doesn't like, there will be very few posters in the thread. If you are banned from a thread, find another thread.. there's lots of them. Again, lighten up!

If you're afraid that you're not liked and will be banned from all threads, it may be time for you to look at your behavior in the forum and possibly make some changes... or to become more confident... this is not a grade school clique, everyone who respects members and the site is welcome here. Those who don't... eventually get banned.

Note that when you are viewing a thread there is an white arrow button at the bottom of the page in the right margin.

Click that arrow to take you up to the top of the page.

Yes, the Blogs section will be updated soon, but a blog is totally different from the Forum and is being designed to fit it's unique purpose and requirements.

A blog is a personal journal, a diary of sorts, a public log of personal thoughts. Although it may allow comments, it's not really intended for back and forth chat, discussion or debate on a stated topic like the forum is. Changes will be different, and it will not look like the Forum.

The upset by some of you about the OP-ban feature has gotten blown all out of proportion.

It's important that you understand that the OP-ban is a ban from THAT ONE THREAD ONLY. AN OP member CANNOT BAN anyone from the site.. either temporarily or permanently. Only staff can do that.

The OP-ban feature gives the OP (creator of the thread) the right to ban a troublemaker from his/her thread ONLY. Now why would any of you think that was a bad thing??? Troublemaker... that's the trolls that you all have been complaining about.. remember?

When you all settle down and stop fighting change in general, we think you will find that this is a positive improvement that will create a more friendly environment... you know, the one that you all have been wishing for, yup that one.. ;)

The OP-ban button appears only to the OP inside a thread s/he creates.

The main goal of a troll is to gather attention. The OP-HIDE feature cuts down on the troll's fun by getting their offensive posts away from easy view. For those of you who enjoy reading that sort of thing, you can simply click the 'show' button on the hidden post to view it.

The thumbs up and down buttons are simply feedback buttons to show a poster that you especially like or dislike their post.

We're glad to address issues regarding errors, as there are certain to be some... just send them to Contact Us. But the changes have been well thought out, and they are here to stay. It is a new look and a big change that will take time to get used to.. so keep a POSITIVE open mind and give it a chance. If not, there are many other features on the site for you to enjoy.