Soapbox posts, first time users

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2886 posts

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#1063736 11-Jun-2014 22:56

mattwnz: Maybe preventing new posters from starting a new thread, unless they have made 5 posts in existing threads, could be an idea to stop it occurring. This is what some forums do to stop this, and to also stop spammers.

Maybe something like that if it got out of hand, but personally I don't think it's a frequent enough problem to warrant such a change. Plus, then you would have to police them simply dumping 5 random pointless posts (simply saying "I agree" or similar) in other threads to get over the line.

The thread in question was quite funny when It started. It read kind of like a cross between the Monty Python Dead Parrot Sketch (with the OP seemingly the only one who didn't realise the parrot/topic was dead) and a McGillicuddy Serious political rally. But then it got circular and tedious, and I gave up on reading it.

I think the resolution was the correct one.

mattwnz

20164 posts

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#1063737 11-Jun-2014 22:56

solaybro:
mattwnz: Maybe preventing new posters from starting a new thread, unless they have made 5 posts in existing threads, could be an idea to stop it occurring. This is what some forums do to stop this, and to also stop spammers.

I think that's a bad idea since people come here for help because their ISP can't/wont help.

But sometimes those are the sort of topics that become soap box posts, which are the ones that become the problem. At least if people have to participate on these forums first before posting their own topic, it gives an indication of their sanity first and they learn how to use write in forums, rather than posting a big rant. They are possibly also more likely to remain posting in the future, rather than disappearing after their issue has been fixed.

mattwnz

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#1063740 11-Jun-2014 23:00

JimmyH:
Maybe something like that if it got out of hand, but personally I don't think it's a frequent enough problem to warrant such a change. Plus, then you would have to police them simply dumping 5 random pointless posts (simply saying "I agree" or similar) in other threads to get over the line.

The forum systems I have seen require at least 10-20 words in each post to stop that occurring. If they were just posting rubbish, then they would probably get deleted anyway.

I read the first page of it too, and I think the guy was serious. But it was a 1st world problem.

dejadeadnz

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#1063744 11-Jun-2014 23:08

I am just not that bothered by these so called soapbox posts. The ones that truly warrant removal are promptly (and rightly) removed IME. The rest of the time I just don't get why some people insist on feeding the trolls or essentially rush in with variations of "Go away, troll" lines that are just equally boring +1s of previous posts.

IMO, leave the forum as it is. It's well run and let's not make things unduly difficult for innocent people just because of a few fools.

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#1063748 11-Jun-2014 23:17

I am not planning any changes. I just wanted to tell people why a long thread disappeared.

Lias

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#1063768 11-Jun-2014 23:44

I like to think I've been a contributing and productive member of the GZ community for some time now.. that being said I do believe my first post was a soapbox post having a waahhh about a pre 3-strikes copyright violation notice and Mauricio told me off :-)

So not all soapbox posters are bad :-)

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DarthKermit

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#1063777 12-Jun-2014 00:50

Somehow I think locking his thread and banning him won't do anything to ease his paranoia.

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kiwitrc

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#1063779 12-Jun-2014 06:21

I think it would be fair to say that I am generally irreverent and live in a different universe to the PC brigade, however whenever I read a rant like the one that triggered this, it makes me wonder about a posters foibles.

There are a lot of people in the world (and IMO in GZ) who for whatever reason don't think or react like the majority (thinking Aspergers for example), when I decide that something like this must be the reason for the rant, I make the decision not to fuel the fire.

Doesn't mean to say I dont read the replies though :)

Athlonite

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#1063787 12-Jun-2014 07:56

And thank dog it was removed after reading it I just wanted to smack the OP in the head with a rather large lump of 4x2 or run screaming into a brick wall until I lost conciousness

gjm

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Ultimate Geek

#1063795 12-Jun-2014 08:19

can we have a ticker across the top of latest people banned :)

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MikeB4

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#1063797 12-Jun-2014 08:25

The ex member made some mistakes and his/her motives were unclear, however how many actually knew the person? think about it. As much as the offending thread was not good I don't believe that a bash fest is a good look for Geekzone either, I believe this thread has run its course and its time to move on.

SaltyNZ

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2degrees

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#1063815 12-Jun-2014 09:05

nakedmolerat:
mattwnz: Maybe preventing new posters from starting a new thread, unless they have made 5 posts in existing threads, could be an idea to stop it occurring. This is what some forums do to stop this, and to also stop spammers.

I disagree.

It doesn't happen that often to warrant this.

True. If it was a huge problem, then maybe. But from memory, that was one of only one or two in the --telco name redacted-- forum I can remember in the last 5 years. I expect the --other telco redacted-- and --other other telco redacted-- forums have proportionally more because they're bigger -- but that still only works out to a a couple annually.

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freitasm

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Geekzone

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#1063829 12-Jun-2014 09:25

Exactly. It's not a big problem in volume. It just pisses me off when people who aren't really trying to get help but troll comes and accuse us (myself and moderators) of receiving rewards from telcos/industry to hide their problems.

As if we needed more conspiracy theorists in the world. I bet these are the same folks that believe in contrails/chemtrails, HAARP, UFO coverups and other crap.

MikeB4

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#1063831 12-Jun-2014 09:30

freitasm: Exactly. It's not a big problem in volume. It just pisses me off when people who aren't really trying to get help but troll comer and accuse us (myself and moderators) of receiving rewards from telcos/industry to hide their problems.

As if we needed more conspiracy theorists in the world. I bet these are the same folks that believe in contrails/chemtrails, HAARP, UFO coverups and other crap.

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freitasm

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#1063832 12-Jun-2014 09:34

Well, I know they are because I watched The X files - in the original run back in the 90s and then again a few years back on Netflix. Great documentary!

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