Maurice,
<< Good grief, there is a perfectly good place here where people can write what they like >>
There certainly is, so I figured I'd drop over and chat for a bit.
<< How come they feel the need to pollute a perfectly habitable place like Ramsey's clean stream where nothing but high quality potable water should be flowing? >>
... and that is the question I have been asking myself. As you say, a combination of simple ignorance, exhibitionism, passive-aggressive tendencies, arrogance or stupidity, I guess, but I don't really understand it entirely.
<< SI really needs a moderation method where the moderator can ditch posts they don't want >>
This would make real sense to me, and be preferable to the recently introduced SI method of moderation, which essentially puts the "ignore" feature in the hands of a single individual (exclde poster).
I am a long time participant in a very popular thread here (not wireless). The thread recently started to deteriorate. Lots of bashing of the company, flames, unusual focus on the minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day, movement of the stock. I thought back on this and remembered that this was not the first time that this had happened on this thread. In fact, it has happened every time the NAZ has tanked and the company (a long time stellar performer) along with it. This brings the sky is falling boo birds out, which leads to flames, which leads to endless streams of meaningless posts, with price movement posts scattered all throughout. I used the "ignore" feature (which I have used VERY sparingly in the past) with all 3 options on, "ignoring" 5 posters. Poof! The thread was readable again. Ignored messages flew by. Not of course just from the ignored, but the many responses to the ignored that their posts promulgate.
Now, having just readjusted to the thread as a result of the use of the ignore feature, I noticed that one of the regular posters decided to start a new moderated thread (since he was not the founder of the original thread he did not have the option to change the original thread from unmoderated, to moderated), which stated that bashing or personal attacks would be grounds for removal.
After a few days I decided to give the new thread a try. The message count showed about 40 messages, but when I tuned in I only got about 3. It turns out that the new thread founder was one of the 5 I had placed on ignore (rightly or wrongly) and I was now ignoring all posts from him, and all posts to him, and one or the other constituted the majority of posts on the thread. I unignored him and bookmarked the thread. After a few days, I realized that the thread founder was an individual who is highly focused on momentary price movement, and I presume a day trader, and consequently not interested in the company and its long term potential. Nothing wrong with that, if thats what your into, UNLESS the thread header specifically defines a different purpose, which IS the case for "The New Qualcomm - a S&P500 company", founded by Ramsey.
I recently removed the bookmark on the new thread which has not proven to be to popular, but before I did I noticed this post from the thread founder:
OK... so the thread is dead and XXX wants to liven things up. He says he's reformed. Do we let him back in or????
. . . which sort of leads in to your next point:
<< Many, or most, or all of us at times post stuff which really comes into the category of junk. A shame to chuck the poster out with their single rotten post. That stops them learning how to post >>
. . . which I totally agree with. And I've done my share of junk as many of us have.
<< I vote for a Ramsey Su moderated thread >>
I voted differently, as you know. In fact I have probably contributed too much to thread bloat there by explaining my sentiments, and have decided that I have said enough on the subject on that thread which needs to get back on course and we don't need to be bogged down discussing "freedom of speech" for the rest of the week, or until a decision is reached on whether the thread becomes moderated.
For the most part, I think that the thread has worked well, and most posters (or at least those that are familiar with why the thread was founded, who have bothered to read the thread header, and who are interested in the company as opposed to simply wanting to be heard at all costs) can police themselves and the thread.
But ... maybe moderation is necessary ... and if the capability you suggested for the moderator existed, I would be voting for that form of moderation now.
In the interim, I have chosen to use the ignore feature for the first time on "S&P 500" and have applied it to 2 individuals whose intent, it seems, is to simply "pollute a perfectly habitable place like Ramsey's clean stream" and one other who is either just plain obtuse, or, has never bothered to read the thread header.
- Eric - |
