Useless Topics/posts

[quick_spider]

There are a lot of useless topics and posts around. Useless topics from New Members are tolerated as this is the whole point of NMC.

Useless replies from (often full members) is not tolerated. Think before you post or you will be warned for spamming the forum.

Repeated Pointless posts (posts which add no content to the topic) = 1 warning point

[harmertrials]

How do warning points work then? Is it like three and you get a ban or something? (this is not a pointless post so don't bother saying it is).

[quick_spider]

The Warning System

There are 10 'notches' on the warning bar -

5 warning points (50%) = Automatic 1 week suspension.

10 warning points (100%) = Automatic ban.

But how do I earn myself some of these points?

Repeated Pointless posts (posts which add no content to the topic) = 1 warning point

The harassment of other members* = 2 points

Repeated Abusive or obscene language = 2 points

Posting porn/indecent material = 5 points

Using other members accounts without permission* = 5 points

*it doesn't matter if 'your just messing its my mate' - we don't know that, which means others don't know that, which means if we let YOU get away with it other members will think they can get away with it too. So if you plan on 'messing about' with friends, make it clear that you are just joking and not being serious.

Please bear in mind, anything else not mentioned, which is seen as unsuitable for the forum will result in warning points.

At the moment, warnings are often accompanied by a short suspension.

[Krisboats]

How can a post not add content to the topic? I mean, everyones perceptions of adding content is going to be different, so surely you can't really moan about it. If someone makes a quick joke about something someones said, is that seen as a useless comment? Because i personally find those kinds of things amusing, so would like to see them stay in threads.

Or is it when people leave just a couple of smileys as a post? Because a picture is worth a thousand words remember

So how can you define someone as not adding content to a topic? Surely by replying they are adding content and are expressing their opinion on something, whether its related to the topic or not. And this is a forum after all, somewhere intended to discuss things and talk amongst each other as friends.

I think its rather sad that someones actually going to be sat there patrolling the forum looking for lame posts just to add warn points to someones profile. And i think someone who were to do that is very, very sad and should definately get out more, as they have far too much time on their hands. Maybe go round validating people instead if going out is such a problem

[harmertrials]

How can a post not add content to the topic? I mean, everyones perceptions of adding content is going to be different, so surely you can't really moan about it. If someone makes a quick joke about something someones said, is that seen as a useless comment? Because i personally find those kinds of things amusing, so would like to see them stay in threads.

Or is it when people leave just a couple of smileys as a post? Because a picture is worth a thousand words remember

So how can you define someone as not adding content to a topic? Surely by replying they are adding content and are expressing their opinion on something, whether its related to the topic or not. And this is a forum after all, somewhere intended to discuss things and talk amongst each other as friends.

I think its rather sad that someones actually going to be sat there patrolling the forum looking for lame posts just to add warn points to someones profile. And i think someone who were to do that is very, very sad and should definately get out more, as they have far too much time on their hands. Maybe go round validating people instead if going out is such a problem

Now I don't like to argue against a moderator because I want to get validated but in this case I just have to agree with kris. Surely adding any sort of comment to a topic is adding content, wether it be bad or good. Its fair enough that people get warning points but I don't think that they should just for posting a short comment that you may not find interesting or helpfull. Why does it matter... This is a forum and posts will drift off topic occassionally but we all know that they will come back to the original topic in the end. I do spend alot of time on trials-forum and put alot of effort in to my posts and I totally understand why you mods are there, but sometimes you can get a bit over-the-top with things.

I think you should allow new members to be more free so you can understand if they are genuine or not. Some people may be completely fake and once they are validated be total idiots but thats just my view.

Apollogies if I have interpretted your posts wrongly but I think I have a good grasp of what you are getting at.

[eskimo]

I think he's getting at the 'use the search button idiot' posts. Which to be fair they do suck and annoy me too.

[quick_spider]

I think he's getting at the 'use the search button idiot' posts. Which to be fair they do suck and annoy me too.

Pretty much. Especially when the previous 10 replies all said the same thing.

Jon

[harmertrials]

In that case I appologise Jon, I got the wrong end of the stick but I still feel the same about the other stuff I said, cheers Jack

[Simpson]

If someone makes a quick joke about something someones said, is that seen as a useless comment? Because i personally find those kinds of things amusing, so would like to see them stay in threads.

Yea i do that alot i guess.... so would you prefer we report a usless thread or to simply ignore it and let the new members sort it out themselves? i.e. a thread like this... Before/After WTF? i made a shitty comment in that.... just to stop doing it? i will if you want

[Krisboats]

Pretty much. Especially when the previous 10 replies all said the same thing.

Jon

Wouldn't it have been easier to just clearly lay it down like that then? So is it a completely no use of "use the search" or is it for the people who post it despite it already having been mentioned?

Also, if its for anyone saying it, what if they show the search results and finish with something like "theres a search button for a reason", does that get a 10% warn as well or is that allowed?

Sorry to be a fussy b****** but i think these things need to be fully explained, rather than just "posts that don't add content".

[Mark W]

People posting "Use the search button."

People posting unhelpful answers just because they want to post something.

People changing the topic so they can just talk to their friend about something (as in talking to someone else in a topic like it was an MSN convo, seems to happen in NMC and the rest of the forum quite a bit).

People just generally posting crap.

And so on. It's not really "Adding content" to a thread. If you want to get needlessly pedantic, you could say "Useful content", but we (the moderating team, that is) generally credit people on TF with the ability to think for themselves, and assumed that as a direct result, people would be able to work out what wasn't "Adding content".

[Concussion]

This seems a bit OTT to me, nobody gets abused or bullied from what I can see. Leave em to fight there own battles IMO, unless it gets out of hand?

I'm not too worried as I always try and post kinda usefull stuff, I just hate threats.

What do you new members think? You need protection from ribbing?

[Krisboats]

People posting "Use the search button."

People posting unhelpful answers just because they want to post something.

People changing the topic so they can just talk to their friend about something (as in talking to someone else in a topic like it was an MSN convo, seems to happen in NMC and the rest of the forum quite a bit).

People just generally posting crap.

And so on. It's not really "Adding content" to a thread. If you want to get needlessly pedantic, you could say "Useful content", but we (the moderating team, that is) generally credit people on TF with the ability to think for themselves, and assumed that as a direct result, people would be able to work out what wasn't "Adding content".

Cheers mark

See Jon, thats how its done

Edited April 4, 2007 by Krisboats

[Token]

Is there any way that you can redeem yourself, for example if you have a high warn level, you don't constantly abuse the forum but once in a blue moon you overstep the line without realising it. I can see how somebody who is perfectly justified to be a full member could get banned because over a 2 year period for example they overstepped the mark a few times and caused offence without realising they had.

To me it seems unfair, imagine saying a variety of things (that you thought were okay to say) as a child and your parents saying 'dont say that word its not nice' then after 10 times over a 2 year period, you said it one time too many, and your parents locked you away in your room for a month. I just think it'd be abit fairer if you had the chance to lose your warn level if you have a been 'a good boy' as it were.

[Mark W]

Speaking personally, I'm less inclined to warn someone for something relatively mild if they're near the 40% or 90% marks. That does vary from case to case though, because sometimes people are more or less asking for the suspension/ban, but yeah...

Also, another point - people who are on here that long generally don't get up to 80%-90% warn unless they really, really f**k up. Certain notorious members on here are still yet to hit that peak, so the majority of posters on trials-forum needn't really worry. That's not me giving you carte blanche to f**k around or anything, just saying that there's some degree of leniency in some matters.

[Si-man]

If 50% is a weeks suspension, then why did I just have one for 40%??

When do they go aswell??

Where on the actual forum are the warning things anyway, bit where it says what you get for each 10% etc?

Edited April 4, 2007 by Si-man

[Krisboats]

Also, another point - people who are on here that long generally don't get up to 80%-90% warn unless they really, really f**k up. Certain notorious members on here are still yet to hit that peak, so the majority of posters on trials-forum needn't really worry. That's not me giving you carte blanche to f**k around or anything, just saying that there's some degree of leniency in some matters.

Spacemunkee

[Token]

It'd still be great if you could show some affection, give me some love, or even a birthday surprise by lowering my warn level.

I'm only kidding, I see how people having warn levels makes them think twice when they post. x

[Krisboats]

If 50% is a weeks suspension, then why did I just have one for 40%??

When do they go aswell??

Where on the actual forum are the warning things anyway, bit where it says what you get for each 10% etc?

So next time you mess up you can be banned again without having to get to 90%?

[Mark W]

We can suspend people (Or indeed remove their posting rights, sweet new tool ) if we feel the need's there. Apparently, a moderator thought a post of your's on something like the 17th of March (or whatever your warn log said) was worthy of a week-long ban.

[Fixed Pants™]

I think there should be some expiry on these warnings, i've had 40% for a while, and had 20% before that for longer, and i don't think they should still be there .

I've been a relatively good boy, and i admit, these warnings have made me cancel posting a few times. They work, but they should have an expiry depending on how serious they are, for instance, i post a vid of someone being killed/ something equally distasteful, i should get x% warning that doesn't auto run out, but if i was to post something like, a mildly distasteful joke, that mods/admin don't think is suitable and i didn't mean to cause offence by it i should get 10% or what ever and it run out in 3 months? Having a serious go at someone = 10% for a month? etc etc.

*cough cough*, i still see my warnings ;) lol (please don't give me a warning for that)

[Mark W]

You've also had 30%-worth of warn removed in between having the rest of it added though, and it's all for pretty much the same reason every time? Maybe the people who warned you feel you haven't really learned anything?

[quick_spider]

Wouldn't it have been easier to just clearly lay it down like that then? So is it a completely no use of "use the search" or is it for the people who post it despite it already having been mentioned?

Also, if its for anyone saying it, what if they show the search results and finish with something like "theres a search button for a reason", does that get a 10% warn as well or is that allowed?

Sorry to be a fussy b****** but i think these things need to be fully explained, rather than just "posts that don't add content".

I didn't want to single people out yet by giving examples, but have a look in the "new headset" thread and see how many replies in there you think if they weren't there, would the forum be a worse place?

It's those sorts of posts which are getting out of hand, as they provoke more unneccesary posts and result in flaming, either directly, or others jumping on the band-wagon.

I don't think anyone who's replied here really needs to worry! There's probably only a half a dozen uses who need to think before using the 'add reply' button

Warnings wise - what Mark said.

Jon

[F-Stop Junkie]

This isn't a formal process, you can't defame & offend anyone and everyone until you reach 40% warn. A single incident of significant severity will get a ban.

[mrBENN]

So your warn can get taken away if your good?