I'm not saying that you aren't following your rules. I'm saying it's a bad rule.

"what game should I get?" is a good honest question to ask. It's a common question from potential newbies that might join your forum.

Shutting them down for neatness sake is like saying "go someplace else for that question". And they probably will go someplace else to get an answer. They got a question, and they want answers. And where they get answers is the place they will ask more questions and begin to become part of that forum.

I joined this forum because it was easy to get answers to my questions. If my first thread was closed like that, I wouldn't have bothered to give a second look to this forum.

And really, there's nothing wrong with people asking that question.

If you really want to be neat, just merge all the threads together after a week or two of inactivity. That will be much neater than seeing locked threads on the thread list.

What is even more unattractive than locked threads that fall to the bottom through the pages in a week or two is seeing five threads of the same or similar topic in the first page.


It DOES keep the forum more organized by keeping everything on that query to one thread.


I appreciate your concern, but it will remain this way, mainly because it is the most logical way to handle the situation.

quote SuddenlyImmortal

I'm not saying that you aren't following your rules. I'm saying it's a bad rule.

"what game should I get?" is a good honest question to ask. It's a common question from potential newbies that might join your forum.

Shutting them down for neatness sake is like saying "go someplace else for that question". And they probably will go someplace else to get an answer. They got a question, and they want answers. And where they get answers is the place they will ask more questions and begin to become part of that forum.

I joined this forum because it was easy to get answers to my questions. If my first thread was closed like that, I wouldn't have bothered to give a second look to this forum.

And really, there's nothing wrong with people asking that question.

If you really want to be neat, just merge all the threads together after a week or two of inactivity. That will be much neater than seeing locked threads on the thread list.

I do agree that newbies will be coming in here from time to time and asking the same questions....
I don't know why there can't be a permanent thread just for newbie questions...
On the alternative, anybody with a question like that can send me a neopm and I will respond....
Don't expect Ryan to change his mind..not a knock but the mods around here don't seem the changeable sort..lol....

quote ANGRYWOLF

I don't know why there can't be a permanent thread just for newbie questions...

Administration asks us to refrain from creating General Help threads. It's just kind've a rule of thumb for forums not to contain one. The only forum I've ever seen that's been successful with one is Loungin', and even there they don't quite get to every need.

quote Ryancola

quote ANGRYWOLF

I don't know why there can't be a permanent thread just for newbie questions...

Administration asks us to refrain from creating General Help threads. It's just kind've a rule of thumb for forums not to contain one. The only forum I've ever seen that's been successful with one is Loungin', and even there they don't quite get to every need.

And who is administration..people like Ren of the Heavens perhaps..I think it's likely those people aren't down here on the bottom and can't see /look low enough to see the little people who come here and may need help/assistance..and providing help and assistance is what a board should be about...smile....
Just my 2 cents...I don't expect to change your mind....

I know you want to do a good job, but Ryancola I think that you're closing too many threads too quickly. I appreciate that you want to work at this forum and keep it neat. But there's not much posting here.

Final Fantasy is a very popular subject amoung gamers. There are lots of people who like and talk about FF. But in this final fantasy forum, there is hardly any posting. Which shouldn't be the case for a forum with this many members, and on a subject this popular. Infact there are threads a month old that haven't been touched on the first page. Plus there are ALOT of closed threads on the thread list.

I know you have honesty and integrity about modding. But lots of closed threads that clutter and don't move off the forum index page is a bad sign. It means the forum is stagnating from too much moderation.

And at this rate, it will take months for the threads you locked to slide off the front page.

Right now, the FF forum need more posting. There has to be more posting to get the locked threads to flow off the front page. Posts should be falling off the front page every few days. It will take time to rebuild a flow in here again. But loosening the moderation and encouraging ANY posting will help.

quote ANGRYWOLF

quote Ryancola

quote ANGRYWOLF

I don't know why there can't be a permanent thread just for newbie questions...

Administration asks us to refrain from creating General Help threads. It's just kind've a rule of thumb for forums not to contain one. The only forum I've ever seen that's been successful with one is Loungin', and even there they don't quite get to every need.

And who is administration..people like Ren of the Heavens perhaps..I think it's likely those people aren't down here on the bottom and can't see /look low enough to see the little people who come here and may need help/assistance..and providing help and assistance is what a board should be about...smile....
Just my 2 cents...I don't expect to change your mind....

Administration is Redemption, the OWNER of Neoseeker and it's his rule.

General Help threads lead by one person actually stifles conversation and ends up siphoning traffic into one thread instead of the same traffic being spread across the forum, encourage more than one person to reply to each inquiry. In short, it engages ALL members of a forum to reply to a question, instead of just the post originator.

o......
I guess we should be impressed or intimidated....lol......
Oh well....
I think the other poster and I had our hearts in the right place..smile....
Rather than just see forums stagnate and die we presented something that could have revitialized them..could have helped to revitalize this forum....
If admin wants to just let their FF forums stagnate and die over time it's their business...I won't lose any sleep over it..and there are plenty of other websites where FF is being discussed....

No need for you to defend admin Daisy...there won't be a starwars type rebellion against them..smile.....
Have a nice day....

No need to be impressed OR intimidated. It's simply the rules of the forums, that's all. And since Ryan is a mod for the forums, he needs to (and does) follow the rules as well. I just don't think you guys should be giving him a hard time. Sure your hearts are in the right places, I don't see anyone flaming or being nasty, I am just trying to explain why the rule is the way it is, so you can better understand the stance on it.

I certainly don't think the FF forums are going to 'die' without it. In the three years I was mod here there was always a lull when people went back to school and when there is no new big FF news or games on the horizon. It is natural and in the natural progression of this forum, traffic will pick up again.

I wasn't giving Ryan a hard time..I rather like the guy..of course I've had issues with a few moderators..lol...but I respect Ryan..so it was never personal..
I just think it is a bad rule as does Immortal it seems....
As far as I am concerned I've said my peace/given my position about it and that's that and won't be beating a dead horse over it...

Have a nice day Daisy..gee daisy..no it's She daisy..smile.....my favorite supermoderator....lol.....

quote SuddenlyImmortal

I know you want to do a good job, but Ryancola I think that you're closing too many threads too quickly. I appreciate that you want to work at this forum and keep it neat. But there's not much posting here.

Final Fantasy is a very popular subject amoung gamers. There are lots of people who like and talk about FF. But in this final fantasy forum, there is hardly any posting. Which shouldn't be the case for a forum with this many members, and on a subject this popular. Infact there are threads a month old that haven't been touched on the first page. Plus there are ALOT of closed threads on the thread list.

I know you have honesty and integrity about modding. But lots of closed threads that clutter and don't move off the forum index page is a bad sign. It means the forum is stagnating from too much moderation.

And at this rate, it will take months for the threads you locked to slide off the front page.

Right now, the FF forum need more posting. There has to be more posting to get the locked threads to flow off the front page. Posts should be falling off the front page every few days. It will take time to rebuild a flow in here again. But loosening the moderation and encouraging ANY posting will help.

As Daisy mentioned, the forum goes through it's many ups and downs, during different parts of the year. I've been active here since April of 2004, and I've always noticed that the end of Spring and beginning of Fall are the two most stagnant times for its activity, mainly because of schoolwork and activities.


It will pick up again when more FFXIII info comes out, or if another game is released. If neither of those two happen soon, I'm sure someone will eventually create a thread that with garnish plenty of attention. It's just the way things go.


In fact, this isn't even the deadest period this forum has gone through. There was one period around this time I think two years ago when Daisy was moderating where the forum was at 1.5 PPD. It got better and eventually moved back up to 80 or 90 PPD. It happens, so don't worry too much. I appreciate your concern though, and will do my best when determining whether a new thread should be kept open or not.

Patience is a virtue.

I recommend this smile when closing a new member thread. It very much sends the message that I hold no hostility towards you. You simply are helping them in the right direction. Now they can more clearly see this. Even when it is a lie, it is a pleasant lie they might believe.

Don't get me wrong, close whatever threads you want. Just don't say, "No soup for you!"

I don't know if you can honestly expect new members to change how they post. It seems like a constant issue of ignoring the rules to an extent. They learn but I wouldn't say this is the most important rule. I don't think they will learn to post because of this rule. More then likely they will be very much like indicated by the others' feedback...

quote New member

WTF!?
<walks away>

Ah the joys of leadership. It builds character RC. At least you don't have to worry about the flood of VS threads. They bring hostile mean people that draw blood.

FYI:

http://www.neoseeker.com/forums/18/t1259733-unpopular-forums/4.htm

I feel very offended by that post in all honesty.


I've been a member of this forum since April of 2004, and from that point I not only was the most active member in the forum, but I was also one of the most helpful, and one of the main organizers of events and large threads.


I have continued to do so all the way up until my point of moderation. From then, I carried out everything I was asked to do and a lot more. I have only become slightly inactive because of Internet downtime, vacations, and being busy at school. This does not mean that I am unable to continue my job successfully.


I've even spoken with a supermoderator about it a couple weeks ago to see if there was anything I could do to help bolster activity and to make sure I was still doing a good job here. I received complete confidence in that supermoderator, and I would hope that I still have it today.

Even if you were not intending to instigate, by calling out myself and my forum you have publicly embarrassed what I try to accomplish here and I don't appreciate it at all.

Actually I was praising you...
If your feelings are hurt I am sorry...
However, it needed to be said...
Someday you will realize how unimportant it is what other people think about you....what is important is what you think of yourself...
Have a nice day friend...