Agree.

So, here is my question... We agree... thread should be locked (right?).

Does it get locked right away?
Do we post a comment to get back on topic?
Do we remove the post(s) that steered the conversation off topic?

There are pros and cons to the actions we take here..and this is part of the opportunity that we face. I'm not a fan of just locking the thread.... to the OP, they may still have a question that didn't get answered. Now their thread gets locked and you know what happens? Two seconds later... We get an email complaint or a new post asking why we locked the thread.
If we remove the posts, then we will have the same follow-ups as we would from the OP. If we PM the people who went off tangent, the response will be the same as well and again, be viewed as over-moderating.

I like the Target analogy as well.. There are parts of the Fish Principle built into that example so I'm a fan (good read for sales people if you have never read it). I don't necessarily feel that we handle the forums quite to that extreme though.
[/quote]

I like the idea of simply posting to keep the thread on topic, or reminding people to stay on topic.

Locking a thread should be a last resort, IMO.

 

Agree.

So, here is my question... We agree... thread should be locked (right?).

Does it get locked right away?
Do we post a comment to get back on topic?
Do we remove the post(s) that steered the conversation off topic?

There are pros and cons to the actions we take here..and this is part of the opportunity that we face. I'm not a fan of just locking the thread.... to the OP, they may still have a question that didn't get answered. Now their thread gets locked and you know what happens? Two seconds later... We get an email complaint or a new post asking why we locked the thread.
If we remove the posts, then we will have the same follow-ups as we would from the OP. If we PM the people who went off tangent, the response will be the same as well and again, be viewed as over-moderating.

I like the Target analogy as well.. There are parts of the Fish Principle built into that example so I'm a fan (good read for sales people if you have never read it). I don't necessarily feel that we handle the forums quite to that extreme though.
[/quote]

I like the idea of simply posting to keep the thread on topic, or reminding people to stay on topic.

Locking a thread should be a last resort, IMO.
[/quote]
I agree on locking the thread as a last resort.

The 'cost' to allowing a thread to run on is near zero. While the damage done to the community by stopping a conversation is high.

 

Here's an analogy. Think of the forum as a Target department store. If someone is in the isles screaming foul language, the moderators need to step in. But if someone asks where the shoe department is, the moderator shouldn't get all huffy and tell them to read the map at the front of the store. If a few people congregate in the shoe department and talk about dish soap they shouldn't be rudely pushed out of the department. If 100 people a day come in and ask where the cell phone department is, maybe it needs a bigger sign or a re-organization of the store layout. What it doesn't need is a moderator who thinks the customers are idiots because they ask the same question 100 times a day.

To me it feels like a few of the moderators are taking things too seriously. There seems to be the attitude that the S2000 Talk section is a "cesspool" of "crap" and it needs to be cleaned up in a hurry. I don't think that's the case. For the most part the forum has always been a fun and helpful place. It still is. Plenty of forum guests are happy to give helpful advice and answers to newbies. No need to start enforcing the 55mph speed limit with an iron fist here. I think the S2000 Talk forum should have more leeway because it's a catch-all forum.
[/quote]

Here is the main difference between any store and this or really any forum or community. The users have an equal responsibility to keep the community going. As a customer in a store you have no responsibility to better that store or add information to it. You go in buy your stuff and leave. The end. You Don't stock the shelves, clean up messes, or otherwise contribute beyond paying for the goods you pick out.

Here you not only go in and consume information you also add your own information that can be consumed by others. That's why it is called a community not a store. As in every community there are rules that must be followed and enforced so that order is kept and so people can get the most out of the information being exchanged. I do not and have not seen any instance where mods attack people for asking them a question or for their help. What I do see is the same rules being broken over and over and over again and even though a reason is given all that generates is complaint threads about the Mods being overbearing and damaging to the user experience which is not our intention.

The S2000 talk section does seem to be an area of particular difficulty due to the number of users that land here without properly exploring the forum or they searched and bumped an old thread that existed before other sections were made. I did ask for examples and while the 2 that were given probably should not have been locked for different reasons it still does not address the complaints of old threads being locked.

On the topic of "should a new thread be made about the same topic" the answer is yes. Can you imagine scrolling through a thread that has been going for 10+ years on the same topic to find the answer to your question? Try going through one of the official color threads in the gallery. It takes forever and you could never find your answer and this is where the search and Google fail since it is just one giant thread. Instead referencing the thread you have looked at and asking your question will provide the most up to date answer. This in turn can help the next person that searches because they are then looking at a recent thread and not one years ago and it may answer their question they then they don't need a new thread. Lets face it there probably isn't a topic or question that hasn't been asked at least 10 times before so an 11th time isn't going to kill anyone. Just know if you ask it in a stupid obnoxious way you will probably get flamed for it.

Finally I think that locking a thread as a last resort is fine however again you guys need to help report people that are derailing threads with off topic comments. If we can just dump a few junk posts instead of an entire thread that is much more preferable but sometimes things spiral so fast there is no saving a thread.

Anyways please understand that the mods of any section are just trying to keep that section on topic and we are always open to questions and remember we are all part of this community and have a responsibility to try and better it so everyone can benefit.

 

Using a color thread is a very, very poor example. Of course it's going to be long, all it is is a series of pictures of a certain color of car; there's not too many questions one can ask or points that need clarifying.

However, back on point, when it comes to technical questions, the answers don't really change, the size of X bolt remains constant etc. so why would they need to be 'current'?

If Joe is reading about changing a subframe, and needs to know the thread of X bolt which he stripped, would it not be logical for him to ask his question in the thread instead of creating a new topic? Instead, we now have two threads on the same topic, subframe. Now when Mike has the same question, he only needs to look at one thread, instead of two.

 

Just wanna say this, all the moderating and locking in the world isnt gonna change a damn thing. People are still gonna do it, omly difference is now you have one mod gettinf attacked.
Why? Because if one little thing gets off topic, it gets locked. It doesnt help a lt all, just pisses people off. I understand wayy of topics, and threads that a simple search couldve answered, but if I ask someone, " you dont think its a fair price " and the thread gets automatically locked, thats a problem.
Like I said, this constant locking isnt gonna change anything, js.

 

I'm for locking old threads which contain outdated/incorrect information. For example, if someone asks what's the best tire for the S, a 10 year old thread isn't going to be the best source of information. That being said, even if an old tire thread was bumped the forum regulars would point out that the information is outdated. So really the mod doesn't need to do anything in most cases.

A mods #1 job is to take care of the things that significantly threaten the health of the forum. Spam posts, offensive language, offensive photos, arguments etc. If you've been a mod you know what I'm talking about. When a mod gets into nitpicking lots of normal conversations it becomes over-moderation. Sure there are rules, but let's face it, we're here to have fun and the rules aren't laws, just general guidelines that should only need to be used in a small amount of cases.

As I said before, the S2000 Talk forum is a catch-all section that entices people with the description "Discussions related to the S2000, its ownership and enthusiasm for it." It's for newbies and people looking to chat and help each other, there's no need to slap hands all the time. If people don't want to be bothered by a lot of repetitive posts they can go into the numerous specialized sub-forums like Under the Hood, Forced Induction, Vintage etc.

 

Nit picking

Maybe the mods can adopt a more relaxed approach to the Talk section. I think it's pretty obvious that the members who frequent that section like doing so because of the broad spectrum of subjects found there. I understand the euphoric idea that having the forum organized like an encyclopedia. I understand that would make it very easy to research specific subjects. But s2ki isn't an encyclopedia. It's a forum where people come and ask questions and share their experience. Maybe if we can agree on that much then the mods can reevaluate how they mod the section.

 

It would be logical that if there is never a different answer for a question (IE what thread is this bolt? what is the torque spec etc) he should be able to search and find the answer and he shouldn't need to bump the thread or start a new one. What I am saying is if he finds said answer but still has a further unanswered question that search has not provided the answer to start a new thread and explain the full situation.

Also I simply used the color threads as an example of a thread that has been going for years and years. There are plenty of questions in the color threads. What wheels are those what part is that blah blah blah.

If you look in there right now 2 of the newest threads are threads that should be in the modification section and will probably be moved shortly.

 

Oh I am not doubting the moving of threads, that is a good idea.

Regarding your point, people ask the questions because they can't find the answer; this discussion isn't about searching but about relevant thread bumping or new thread creation.

I am just doubting the logic of multiple threads on the same topic, but we can agree to disagree

On a side note today, I created a new thread referencing an old thread, instead of just replying on the old thread. As such, we now have two threads regarding an AP1 Center Console Cover, instead of one. I.e. the next person who searches will have to look at two threads for the complete information, not one...and if they have a further question, we will have three threads etc...

 

Here is another perfect example:

https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/104...k-today-bored/

Read the last few posts. All of which I had NOTHING to do with... (I have a screenshot in case it gets deleted after this reply is read, let me know)

So,

Luder, you have now been added to the list of power-tripping mods who start trouble in a thread and then immediately lock it when someone responds with something you don't like or don't agree with. It must suck for people to have no other power over anything or anyone in life to be so low as to try and be a "Boss" online, for free! Too bad I didn't get to respond to your ignorant and OPINIONated post and "enlighten" you. I may PM you the "correct" response to your replies about MY car. Another mod FTL .

And before anyone says I'm "bashing" a mod, as bad as I would LOVE to (in this specific instance), all I'm doing is pointing out fact. This is seriously out of hand and very OLD.. I was just about to pay to become a "Member" of this forum, but I'm seriously having second thoughts. While still better (to me) than any of the other S2K forums, my opinion of it is slowly changing, and not for the better...