After this last troll bout, would anybody really object to registering to be a member of this forum?
I’m not talking about paying, but just registering to use the site. It would perhaps delay that first posting until the registration can be completed, but after that it would be pretty much transparent.
I’m getting really tired of trolls spoiling our soup…
We already registered to use the site. At least I did. I can read without loggin on, but if I want to post I have to log on, and in order to log on you have to register…so…what additional registering would there be?
Trevor
Yeah, you’re right. I meant a verified registration - like the sites where they e-mail you a confirmation. You click on the link that is e-mailed to you, and your registration is complete. That way the site owner knows he has least has a valid e-mail for you…
Well Mark, I’m beginning to think we need something, I’m just not sure what it should be. Registration alone may not end the problem, but rather delay it. After much thought, I had an idea that that I think might cut down a lot of the trouble.
A limit of 1 new topic, per forum, per account, per day, would cut out most of the crap and clutter, as well as foil most trolls. The only problem that would still exist would be new accounts. They are harder to limit, without damaging the flavor of the forums.
What do you think?
Why is it not easier to enjoy our freedom and this great forum and just ignor the trolls and delete them as we are doing. I was in the middle of one of the issues, but don’t even know what this one is about, nor do I care. I don’t have to open or read or pay attention to things I don’t like.
As much as I like Big Boy, I am not fond of the idea of one new post per day. There are a few times when I had more than one question and have benefited by getting more than one answer.
Maybe a limit as proposed for the first 10 days or thirty days. If we limit everyone to one topic a day, I don’t think that would be beneficial.
Tom
Art, you may have misunderstood my idea. As many posts as you like, but only one new topic per day.
The trolls like to start a lot of topics, they get more attention that way. It would have killed gunit, and RR Redneck, and a bunch of others, as well as slowing down some of the kids here.
The problem with the status quo is, at some point Bergie has to come in with his “mop and bucket” and clean up. Why make that job bigger and harder than it has to be?
I’m all for registration and verification as I had to do this on another Forum but as to limiting New topics per day… I have reservations as some good threads that have been posted in the past were sub divided, which made a lot of sense and ensured the answers wouldn’t be convuluted. If your going to restrict it make it a more reasonable number such as four per day. It’s arbitrary but more flexible.
As for “whodunit” or whatever his/her/its name is, his/her/its threads are slowly loosing momentum and falling to the bottom of the pile.
More importantly… Big Boy! how’s the layout doing? You’ve been awful quiet as of late and we’re very interested on your progress[:D]
Fergie
I think Registration should have a 24-hour waiting period before a user can post. That’s not overly restrictive, and it’s a one-time inconvenience for new users. After that, maybe something like the Stars thing, where you can start more new topics after you’ve been around a while and demonstrated that you’re a responsible member.
I like the idea of a 24 hour wait before you can post new topics (you can respond to existing ones immediately). I think it’s minimally restrictive, and will baffle 99% of trolls who can’t be bothered to wait.
MisterBeasley, I like your twist on my idea. One thing we have to keep in mind is, are any of these ideas we come up with practical in terms of implementation? Then, would they be effective at solving the problem?
Perhaps my idea is a little selfish, because I’m the kind of guy that starts about 1 topic per month, maybe. It might kill a guy like Chip, who seems to love to pile them on. But, the overall effect would allow more people to see topics before they got buried. With a little patience and planning, Chip, and the rest of us, could adapt to a limit. Who knows, overall forum topic quality might improve, if new starts weren’t unlimited. Redundancy might also go down.
Fergie, consider your wish granted. Later today, just hope it doesn’t get buried too quickly.[;)]
I say we don’t worry to much about it. No matter what the rules, there will be trolls. If they are ignored, they will leave. Let’s talk trains.
Well said… Sad simple fact is, people Can’t or won’t ignore the trolls. Not just here but everywhere people get together to discuss a single topic like trains, cameras, photography, etc. Just look at how many threads are on the top 2 or 3 pages, warning to ignore the troll… One tried to start this morning, a simple email to Bergie (others may have written him as well) squashed the troll… Gone… He’ll return, send the Bergmiester another email and it’ll get taken care of… Even this particular thread is a response to trolls… They pop up everytime a troll does, and yes, I’m guilty, this time, of contibuting to it…
I like the fact that this forum is allowed to freely run as long as it’s not abused… So the best advice is to ignore the insignificant waste of skin and oxygen sexually frustrated little pukes and enjoy the forum. But as we all know and see, people can’t do that. They somehow feel personally attacked and therefore, the need to respond.
going back to my trains for awhile…
Jeff
Jeff, I didn’t touch a single one of the posts, and actually emailed Bergie at home just after it started. This one sprung into action right around 5:30 PM to get the maximum effect. You are correct, it is impossible to get everyone here to make no response of any kind, including warnings. Cyberspace doesn’t work that way.
I don’t like the idea of limiting freedom, but preserving order has merit too. What I don’t want to see, is our host getting frustrated to the point of wanting to dump the forums all together. If this means setting limits, so be it. There are other forums out there with heavy handed moderation. Fortunately, that concept seems to go against the principles of our host.
The best way to stop these idiots is to do the following:
Have a registration waiting period. After one registers, have a 24 or 48 hours waiting period before you can use the online site. This is “usually” enough to discourage the hit and run clowns that have nother better to do with lack of maturity.
This is probably the most important but least followed by our own members in good standing…DO NOT RESPOND to their threads. For the life of me, I cannot understand why some of our mature members engage these idiots. I have opened these threads, got a reading of what the nonsense encompassed, and backed out the same door as quickly as I entered. However, some people just cannot help themselves I guess, they fall into the trap and allow themselves to get themselves in an uproar. The Troll just sits back in laughter and keeps throwing more gas on the flames. Just like road rage guys…DO NOT ENGAGE…they will soon get very discouraged when no one “bites”.
I must have missed this latest Troll thing. I mentioned some controlling system over who gets to be a member here was needed, to Bergie a few months back. He said they might consider it.
So far its no dice…
I am not in favor of too many restrictions. The wide openness of the forum contributes to it’s vitality. I understand the problems with ignoring the troll, but I think it is the best way. If that proves unworkable - and I don’t think we are there yet - then there may have to be a limit on the number of new threads you can start per day. But there’ll have to be some limitation on new user accounts or the trolls will start several new accounts. Unfortunately, “breaking” in may become the game.
The other danger is that we chase away the kids with whatever restrictions are instituted. Sure some are a bit unruly, but that’s part of growing up. For the most part, their enthusaism is refreshing. And how many threads have there been moaning about the lack of new people to the hobby? A little tolerance among us Old Heads is called for here.
For now, I say let’s all concentrate on ignoring the trolls and they’ll go away.
Enjoy
Paul
Paul, you got me thinking about another point with young people. Yes, they do get un-ruly at times I agree, and this gives “us” olde timers ( or should we say…those who have just LIVED a long time ) a chance to educate them, tame them a little, cool their high testosterone levels a bit, show them a better way, and help them mature.
Here we go again. The last time this happened, I agreed with many others that the best way to deal with these posts from social misfits was to ignore them completely. A lot of folks agreed that this was probably the most effective way to deal with them. But look at this entire thread., We have just done exactly what they want. Read it and forget about it except for e-mailing the moderator. Don’t mention them at all!
Tom
I agree. Let’s talk trains,model or prototype. Ignore the trolls and they will leave. All they want is attention. But there are a couple of things I like,24 hour wait to post new topic and email confirmation.