This place is going to the dogs again.

[WhiteTiger225]

Does it really matter that much??

Christ...just ignore it.

Agreed. We were once new users. They didn't punish us each time we do somthing or say something stupid. Why should we punish them.

When I was a new user, I didn't post repeated topics and my spelling and punctuation is always checked. I have a spell checking built into my browser because I KNOW I am a poor speller, but I care enough about not looking like a 12-year-old Halo addict to make sure my posts aren't littered with a lack of punctuation and spelling errors. Being new to the forum isn't an excuse to have posts seeping with ignorance.

Okay we get it, you are god! Yeesh! It's the frakin internet people! LEave your sanity at the door.

Far from it. I don't fancy myself a god, or even better than others on these forums. Just because it is the internet doesn't mean people should just stop trying to communicate in some clear method. It just shows laziness and a lack of willingness to have intelligent discussion.

ys bcz lord nos eye em on teh intermawebz 4 itz stimolating combersations.

[http://www.motifake.com/internet-hard-men-demotivational-poster-26095.html]

 

[chronobreak]

I don't see how this and that are similar. The wonderful thing about the internet is you scroll over it, or don't open the link. Easy right? I just don't see how you can be annoyed by something so petty. Life is too short, don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things. Live and let live I say.
I understand your concern for a "better" community really I do, but if you're looking for a "better" community, the vast ocean of users over a free and open forum is not the place for it.

And with that I answer your analogy with another. You get spam mail. Its inevitable. You report it to spam but more is going to keep coming whether you want it or not. You don't open it. Easy.

So, if I open a thread like this, that really interests me, and there are a bunch of posts with terrible spelling and grammar, and low content, it's my fault because I chose to scroll down to see the comments? Come on now. Basically what you are saying is don't click on any threads, and if I do, I don't have a right to complain. How does that make sense? Why even have a message board? I understand you think it's "petty", but it isn't your job to tell me what I should think is petty or not. This is the kind of person I am, I like to help and make things better in any areas I can, personal life first, everything else second.

Just because there are a lot of users here should not be an excuse for low content, as is stated in the forum guidelines. As far as spam mail, I could use the same analogy and say it's exactly how people get trojans and shit from spam mail, because while the title and header look good, you open it and all it is is a bunch of garbage. That is why people fall for it, and you can't really blame them most of the time unless of course they are internet savvy.

 

[Nomad]

Not sure if anybody else has noticed, but there has been another influx of new users posting misspelled, insubstantial, contentious and repeated threads.

At the risk of sounding like a grouchy old person, shouldn't the admins/mods impose some kind of rule for new users?Achieving a certain post-count [80 would provide ample experience, I think] before being granted the privilege to start threads?
Of course, there are exceptions, but I'm sure they would understand.

I'm aware that my threads aren't exactly full of flowering prose or concise points, but nevertheless, it's sad to see the standards of this nice community being lowered like this.

Opinions?

... First of all, you registered in late march 2009. You are a new user, and this topic you just created isn't exactly brilliant.

Second, setting a postcount-related limit of any sort only encourages people to post nonsensical posts for the sake of upping that count. Is it better that someone makes 80 bad replies before making a bad thread, than him only making a bad thread and little to no bad replies?

Finally... If you don't like a thread, don't read it. There is noone forcing you to read every single thread that pops up under gunpoint. And should you mistakenly click a bad thread and notice only afterwards, then I'm sure you're not too busy to accept those 4 seconds as an acceptable loss.

Do you not think that the worst thing is when a long term member says "liek omg you should have used the search bar. This topic was so totally posted first 4 years ago"

I agree. Almost as bad as "report and move on".

Edit: Speaking of which, I lurked for a few months before even registering. And between the time it took for me to even register and reach 80 posts, like half a year passed. Setting a post-related limit is a bad idea on every single level.

 

[sneak_copter]

The thing is though... it's becoming daily we get versus threads and needless posts.

Having said that, some of the old breed can get a bit... y'know, bitey.

 

[Legion]

I can see where you are coming from, but there are plenty of older (in terms of join dates) members who are just as lazy when it comes to the quality of their posts and threads. Some of them act as though because they are not 'new' that it's ok.

Even worse is the older members who boost posts by keeping these threads alive by using the phrase 'Report and Move on' and 'Use the search bar' even though it has already been said by a previous poster, it gets even more frustrating when they criticise somebody for posting a low content OP or post and that's all they say. They give no contribution to the thread and fail to see the irony.

I haven't really noticed it but I tend not to pay attention to those things

But I don't think a posting restriction is a good idea because sometimes new posters can post something great. And because they could've been watching for a long time and finally decide to post things.

Indeed. Although the idea is appealing it is somewhat harsher to the new members of this forum who have something to contribute. It would actually encourage them to be worse members by post boosting in order to be able to create a topic.

Agreed. We were once new users. They didn't punish us each time we do somthing or say something stupid. Why should we punish them.

Why do you assume most new users are irresponsible in their posting? I lurked here for about 6 months before posting, and still haven't really made many threads, yet I make sure the overwhelming majority of my posts are more than "this" or other insubstantial crap, and I have been doing so since post one.

Exactly, my first post here was longer than the first page on a lot of these discussions and there were no mistakes in terms of spelling, grammar or punctuation to my knowledge.

Being 'new' is not synonymous to being an 'infant' it should not be necessary for new uses to need to be told by other forums members how to behave. They should read the rules and look how other people post.

This goes for older members too, being here longer doesn't give anyone the right to be unnecessarily rude to other people or to create low content threads and posts.

It's mostly the terrible spelling and grammar that pisses me off. If I want that sort of thing, I'll visit youtube.

if its really the terrible spelling and grammar that's pissing you off so much you had to make a thread about it maybe you should just stop being so anal. as long as its readable and respectful it shouldn't be this big of a deal. its not like people are intentionally using poor grammar or spelling to offend you, and its not as if better spelling or grammar means their a superior person. this is not a classroom its just the internet its not necessary to be ultra formal.

I think you misunderstand the reasoning.

The way I (and many others) see it is that if somebody can't be bothered to take the time to make their post readable then they shouldn't expect others to take the time to read it.

It's about showing respect to your readers and not making reading a post more taxing than it should be to read; especially as spell checking is extremely easy and anyone over 11 should be able to grasp basic grammar and punctuation. The opinion isn't going anywhere so there's no excuse to not take the time to make your post presentable.

Well i think pretty much everyones first thread was bad.

I don't believe mine was.

Is that the third time this week it's gone to the dogs again?

Apparently it cycles very quickly.

Or maybe, ironically, this is a repeat thread.

Lets say for example you're on a Englishman on a... Well, lets say a Bulgarian forum.
Would you try to speak in their native tongue?

I wouldn't go on a forum unless I was fluent in the language.

 

[SilentHunter7]

Not sure if anybody else has noticed, but there has been another influx of new users posting misspelled, insubstantial, contentious and repeated threads.

Joined: 28 Mar 2009

Sorry, but you really are in no position to be complaining about new people, seeing as you haven't even been here 6 months.

Personally, I don't care about the new guys. They'll get better. Or they'll get banned, but we don't like when that happens.

 

[PxDn Ninja]

Does it really matter that much??

Christ...just ignore it.

Agreed. We were once new users. They didn't punish us each time we do somthing or say something stupid. Why should we punish them.

When I was a new user, I didn't post repeated topics and my spelling and punctuation is always checked. I have a spell checking built into my browser because I KNOW I am a poor speller, but I care enough about not looking like a 12-year-old Halo addict to make sure my posts aren't littered with a lack of punctuation and spelling errors. Being new to the forum isn't an excuse to have posts seeping with ignorance.

Okay we get it, you are god! Yeesh! It's the frakin internet people! LEave your sanity at the door.

Far from it. I don't fancy myself a god, or even better than others on these forums. Just because it is the internet doesn't mean people should just stop trying to communicate in some clear method. It just shows laziness and a lack of willingness to have intelligent discussion.

ys bcz lord nos eye em on teh intermawebz 4 itz stimolating combersations.

That proves the issue. Sites like the Escapist try to be places where people CAN have conversation about what interests them (in this case games) and just because it is the internet doesn't mean we all should just say fuck it and act like elementary school students on too much caffeine. If people want a community like that, let them join 4-Chan and YouTube.

 

[Kasawd]

I'm a new user and I have seen this happen a couple of times. I find the increase in these types of threads amusing. Something in me loves reading the pointless discussion, fanboyism and flaming that come along with incompetent posters.

That being said, I view myself as an intelligent and eloquent individual whose posts are more often than not substantial(A few are just simply wit, though). I believe that several of these new users have the potential to become upstanding members of this community. So, the banhammer seems a little like overkill as it might discourage new users.

I say we let the threads run their course. Who knows, we may just gain a few good members out of it.

 

[scotth266]

I don't agree with the idea that you should need a post count to make threads.

"HEY NOOB, YOU DON'T GOT ENOUGH POSTS, SO FUCK OFF!"

That's what that says to me.

 

[are.you.the.god.its.me.vader]

Oops, i feel bad now.

First post i ever made was my own thread i think..

I WAS YOUNG AND CONFUSED!

 

[PxDn Ninja]

I can see where you are coming from, but there are plenty of older (in terms of join dates) members who are just as lazy when it comes to the quality of their posts and threads. Some of them act as though because they are not 'new' that it's ok.

Even worse is the older members who boost posts by keeping these threads alive by using the phrase 'Report and Move on' and 'Use the search bar' even though it has already been said by a previous poster, it gets even more frustrating when they criticise somebody for posting a low content OP or post and that's all they say. They give no contribution to the thread and fail to see the irony.

I haven't really noticed it but I tend not to pay attention to those things

But I don't think a posting restriction is a good idea because sometimes new posters can post something great. And because they could've been watching for a long time and finally decide to post things.

Indeed. Although the idea is appealing it is somewhat harsher to the new members of this forum who have something to contribute. It would actually encourage them to be worse members by post boosting in order to be able to create a topic.

I guess on second thought, a post restriction isn't really the best of solutions. Honestly I didn't even consider lurkers who decide to post being hit by such a rule, plus it would increase the spamming.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

I have noticed that since 09, there have been a lot of idiots.

 

[Nomad]

I have noticed that since 09, there have been a lot of idiots.

I have noticed that since at least August 2008, there has been no change in the clientel of this website.

 

[ChaosTheory3133]

I don't see how this and that are similar. The wonderful thing about the internet is you scroll over it, or don't open the link. Easy right? I just don't see how you can be annoyed by something so petty. Life is too short, don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things. Live and let live I say.
I understand your concern for a "better" community really I do, but if you're looking for a "better" community, the vast ocean of users over a free and open forum is not the place for it.

And with that I answer your analogy with another. You get spam mail. Its inevitable. You report it to spam but more is going to keep coming whether you want it or not. You don't open it. Easy.

So, if I open a thread like this, that really interests me, and there are a bunch of posts with terrible spelling and grammar, and low content, it's my fault because I chose to scroll down to see the comments? Come on now. Basically what you are saying is don't click on any threads, and if I do, I don't have a right to complain. How does that make sense? Why even have a message board? I understand you think it's "petty", but it isn't your job to tell me what I should think is petty or not. This is the kind of person I am, I like to help and make things better in any areas I can, personal life first, everything else second.

Just because there are a lot of users here should not be an excuse for low content, as is stated in the forum guidelines. As far as spam mail, I could use the same analogy and say it's exactly how people get trojans and shit from spam mail, because while the title and header look good, you open it and all it is is a bunch of garbage. That is why people fall for it, and you can't really blame them most of the time unless of course they are internet savvy.

You opened the thread for discussion, therefore it is my job to give you opinion on whether your hatred of the written word is petty or not. Otherwise you would've kept it to yourself.
I believe you are blowing up the problem larger than it is, and making connections that aren't there. The OP was about threads being started not about responses. You see a thread you don't like scroll past it. No matter how efficient a system is tards are going to slip through the cracks. On that note even with replies you don't have to stay on that thread. Just move on.
You are confusing what you want with how things run, that's all I'm saying on that matter to keep the discussion civil. The thing is that there are no trojans and basically no harm in open threads, besides one that you assign simply because you don't view it as up to your level of standard.
Its the world wide web, not the world wide you, therefore these things are going to happen. It is in your best interest just to ignore it friend.

 

[Proteus214]

The forums have their good days and their bad days. Sometimes there are a few bad days in a row. Doesn't necessarily mean everything's going to hell.

 

[Dale Cooper]

Jesus guys, boo-hoo waaahh, they spelled some things wrong.

Double threads? Solution... don't click on them. If you click and post you only bump them, even if you do say 'yeah my favourite XXXXXX is search bar' and that wasn't even funny the first time.

Or maybe, instead of 'swinging the banhammer' why don't they just make it so no new members can join? And anyone who is a member has to pass an intelligence and spelling test? And ban people outside of America and the UK, just in case their English isn't perfect?

I have never been on a whinier forum in all my life.

How do some of you cope in every day life? Most of you are under 18! I met so many rubes and pinheads day in and day out that if I bitched and moaned everytime I would have died from exhaustan.

 

[The_Prophet]

Not sure if anybody else has noticed, but there has been another influx of new users posting misspelled, insubstantial, contentious and repeated threads.

At the risk of sounding like a grouchy old person, shouldn't the admins/mods impose some kind of rule for new users?Achieving a certain post-count [80 would provide ample experience, I think] before being granted the privilege to start threads?
Of course, there are exceptions, but I'm sure they would understand.

I'm aware that my threads aren't exactly full of flowering prose or concise points, but nevertheless, it's sad to see the standards of this nice community being lowered like this.

Opinions?

You have "Joined: March 2009" in your details and therefore cannot complain.

 

[yaik7a]

I blame thest gosh darn viga james !

 

[coldfrog]

I like your idea, though I'd lower it to 74 posts so we don't choose a number just because it's psychologically appealing.

If you're going to go this route, don't just make it arbitrary, put some science into it. First look at the post counts of members when they post new threads. Then, using factors like probationary actions taken against that user, frequency of posting (anything, not just new topics), spelling errors, number of replies and number of threads found when searching the forum with certain key words from the topic of the new thread, determine when most users of at least average competence create their first topic. Perhaps finding the lowest post count that still has a reasonably discernible intellectual addition to the community? Something like that.

Then round it up to the nearest 5 because, lets face it, you just love a nice, round number.

However, as the original poster says, this "downfall" has been discussed before, and likewise the possibility of post limits and such has been discussed as well, and if I remember correctly, the end consensus was that because the mods manage the boards as well as they do, it was unfair to restrict posters who might have something worthwhile to discuss just because most people at that point DON'T have something worthwhile to discuss.