About Forum Moderating

[fubar++]

This isn't game related rather forum administration and moderation related topic and I couldn't find better place to put this.

There is quite a lot new suggestion in PR suggestions section, and many of them are already suggested. Usually moderators lock that thread saying it's alredy suggested and it is end of discussion at that place. I understand need for that, but I think there should be some guidelines how moderate threads. One often forgotten habit there has been referation, that is if someone claims something he should state his argument. Of course it doesn't concern just moderators, it should be common habit for all who are posting and argumenting but moderators are more responsible and could serve as an exsample with this matter.

So shortly: If someone locks a thread or says that something has already suggested, please put a link or other referation with your post.

[Thunder]

its somthing alot of moderators do.
but tbh its not that complex to just click that search button up top and start looking, theres also a sticky post with already suggested topics.

[Dunehunter]

Indeed, if I lock something for already having been suggested, I'll first check whether it's possible for people to find earlier topics about it using the search function and/or the "already suggested suggestions" forum.

[Masaq]

Speaking personally I only ever lock under "Already Suggested" if I know full well that the topic's been done to death in other threads.

Without wishing to sound like a complete cow, can you explain to me though why it is you're asking moderators to take the time to search for topics that they know to have been discussed previously (and know are in the A.S.S. thread) when the original poster of most of these threads can't be bothered to do the same? If they could, they clearly wouldn't post the new threads in the first place

[Wasteland]

Exactly. I'm not going to do somebody else's legwork for them simply because they were too lazy to have a good look in the first place.

As you can see Masaq, I have no qualms with sounding like a complete cow.

[fubar++]

Without wishing to sound like a complete cow, can you explain to me though why it is you're asking moderators to take the time to search for topics that they know to have been discussed previously (and know are in the A.S.S. thread) when the original poster of most of these threads can't be bothered to do the same? If they could, they clearly wouldn't post the new threads in the first place

First reason would be continuing discussion where it already (originally) has been, second to make sure all parties are speaking at the same matter.

Stating an argument is basic consept of discussion, without it uncontrolled discussions would circle at yes-no level to infinity.

[LtSoucy]

They did as they said above but how mnuch work is there in typing a short word to find your answer, then writing a whole in thread?

[Wasteland]

First reason would be continuing discussion where it already has been, second to make sure all parties are speaking at the same matter.

Stating an argument is basic consept of discussion, without it uncontrolled discussions would circle at yes-no level to infinity.

When posters demonstrate the respect of searching and checking the Already Suggested sticky, then they're worthy of an argument. Otherwise, they're just not worth my time. I don't stop to conduct an intellectual argument with every idiot who says something stupid at the bar. Why would I do the same here?

[fubar++]

I don't stop to conduct an intellectual argument with every idiot who says something stupid at the bar. Why would I do the same here?

Because that is what you are here for, representing a community and forum and not yourself?

Nevertheless, I'm not here to tell what way you should choose, that's your personal preference.

[Dunehunter]

Actually, we're not here to engage in a discussion with everyone. We try to keep the forum readable for others, and to weed out the threads that sprout up because the people who made them did not take the trouble to check whether their question (which is what every suggestion threads boils down to: "could you fix this/put this in/change this/...?" has been asked before. The DEVs have a lot of things to do, and searching through the suggestions for new or half-way sensible ones shouldn't be one of them.

[Wasteland]

And I have a lot of things to do, and catering to everybody who can use a computer to register on a forum and suggest fast roping certainly will not become one of them.

[fubar++]

I'm not gonna argue on this matter because I understand your point very well.

Just simple example to make it clear:

Someone is suggesting fast ropes. Instead just saying it's already suggested and locking thread you can put a referation like this:

"See Already Suggested Suggestions: Fast Ropes off BlackHawk"

That isn't much to add and it would certainly help even dummiest to see why that thread is locked. And if it isn't there at the list put link where you are referring to.

That's all what I wanted to say.

[Wasteland]

Yes. But that would mean that *I* have to go looking for it, when it's *them* that should have in the first place. I'm a busy guy. I'm a full time student, I work 27 hours a week, I have a girlfriend, I'm a bit of a bar star, and I occasionally like to incapacitate myself for a good three hours. I check the forums as often as I can, but I don't want to be spending time doing someone else's legwork.

[zardez]

i think we should get some labeled forum moderators so the devs don't have so much on their plate, it is a lot to ask of them to make the game we love so much (for free) and then deal with all the half wits who don't know how to think for themselves

[Red Halibut]

Hmmm,

This is just a suggestion, but many forums have "keywords" that automatically link to other urls when typed. My questions:

1) Do we have that functionality available here?
2) If so, and I did the legwork on already suggested suggestions then would it be possible to add those links in for things like "fastroping", "sights on M4", "hard-coded" and other popular and frequently asked questions?
3) Is there any point in 2)?

[Dunehunter]

Zardez, that's what we are here for The moderators aren't devs (though some might do dev work), our only job is to keep the forums clean so that the devs can get on with, well, devving.

[hx.bjoffe]

Seriously, i have a really hard time finding my way through the search engine at most times. Its not allways you have such unique and pretty "key words" to search for, and besides the search isnt 100% valid.
One thing is bloody f4ztr0pz-threads, but in many-a case i'd really like to see a link to the original thread, so OP/other newer users can continue the discussion there.
I mean, you R-MODs proclaim using the search function easy (wich i dont allways agree on) and besides you know better what to look for (thread-topics/posters/whatever) since you appearantly read that thread in the past. You are after all the masters of this maze!
I dont expect the bottom-line hyperlink for every closed thread, but would find it a fine bonus on more complex matters.

Edit-PS: Who's got the original fastropes-thread? A prize to the man who can dig that thread out. It probably should be stickied somewhere

[Doom721]

I haven't had any problems with forum moderating, I mean you guys are pretty lenient compared to other forums that lock threads when they become "hot"...

Should look at my sig... sums up my experience on the forums ( Go wasteland )