POLL - Thread merging - for or against?

[Spangran]

And as for "#overcontrolled"...............if that's how you feel after 2 bloody posts, why don't you go to a forum where you are allowed to spend all day being shouted down and abused.

Alternatively, I suggest COYS where you may actually have to ask to be allowed to breathe before posting anything.

(and my apologies to COYS for taking your forum name in vain there)

Well my old account which I can't get into now had about 2000 posts.

Yes I do think the wording of the poll has influenced the results which is why i've been trying to open up the debate into something a little more nuanced than just love it or hate it. I've not been abusive although my last post was pretty sarcastic.

 

[footballmatters]

Immediate merging makes live discussion difficult. A dominant topic will make it difficult to follow other things in the thread. Keeping the more topical things separate while live discussion is ongoing allows other topics to continue in the main thread.

While merging later will also mix it up, its more an archive feature for people who only come on the site occasionally. They might appreciate having everything in one place rather than checking several index pages for threads.

So it strikes me that keeping new threads separate while they are active, while people are having a discussion in more or less real time, helps keep separate discussions ongoing. Then merging when the discussion slows down helps keep things tidy and easier for people who come on occasionally. This way would benefit both regular users and more sporadic users.

I agree mostly with the above, but as a more sporadic user I've got this to add:

I registered on one of the previous incarnations of this board back in 2003/4 I think, but I've never been posting much at all. I felt it was the most mature of the boards I knew of. Discussions and general content always seemed to drop a bit in quality during school breaks, but that's just the way it is I suppose. As time went by my life and habits changed a bit which meant I no longer found the time to visit this place as much as I perhaps wanted, but, as a more casual user it was still possible to keep up with everything that was going on just by scrolling through the first page.

In the current state of the board (and I know the mods do their best) getting a quick overview of things isn't as easy as it used to. What's new about Bale? Well, I'm not going to browse through 125 pages, I have more interesting things in my life. What do people think about AVB's tactics, are they working? Well, which one of the 253 pages should I begin with?!? Guess I have to let that thought go as well then. Boo-f***ing-hoo, no one is feeling sorry for me

That's your loss, some might say.
Well, maybe it is, but it definitely seems like other people are dissatisfied as well, and (as unlikely as it sometimes may seem) we're all here for the same reasons. Thread merging (even if it rarely happens any more) should perhaps be revised and/or a new system come into place for people who carry arguments across multiple topics.

Another thing -- I know that some forums will give you suggestions of other threads before you start a new one, perhaps based on your title or the words in your post. I don't know if such a system is in place here or if you've tried it before, but it could perhaps be something to look at.

 

[Crawley]

Ok, this thread has become a little bit of a battleground sadly.

Let's try and resolve a few issues constructively, rather than destructively, shall we?

The mods have always stated we are happy to listen to proposals, ideas, suggestions. That is exactly why we have, at this time, the transfer sub-forum.
That was a direct result of the forum members desires. And I think it is fair to say, it's working pretty well.

This particular thread relates to supposed "mega-threads" and the merging of new threads into them.

So, without any malice or hidden agendas, would those interested state which particular threads they find an issue currently, and then make a suggestion as to how to deal with them.

For instance, threads like harry, AVB, Liverpool, etc.............shall we lock them and move them to classics, and let things start afresh?
Personally, I feel there will be complaints from some sections were we to do that, and I also fear that any newly created thread on similar subjects would end up going the same way, but that is just my personal thoughts.

So...............it's open to you guys. I guarantee the mod team will read and take on board all sensible suggestions.

It's time this forum stopped the bickering and worked towards the greater good (fudge me i feel like a communist writing that!!!!)

Go for it.

 

[Hashegotthesackyet?]

you'll never be able to please everyone to be fair. from a personal perspective, there seems to be a thread for each of the different players, and there's no 'headline' to grab my attention. But I'm not complaining, as I say, it's impossible to win and we could end up with 58 threads about how brick Ade is at the moment.

 

[Jordinho]

For the casual lurker it works better with new threads for everything that happens I suppose, but IMO the bigger threads are better for those that spend some time on here (check in on daily basis). Even if you only come on a couple of times a week it's still not that much to catch up on. It can be followed chronologically if you want to or you could just go to the last page to see what the latest is. It's not really about merging either, but having to post in existing threads. Otherwise people would be starting new threads on the same subjects all the time, as soon as the existing thread drop beyond the first page, and every thread is pretty much the same people making sure that they've responded to it, usually without adding anything. Things get repetitive and boring and from my experience those forums are the worst ones.

 

[Crawley]

For the casual lurker it works better with new threads for everything that happens I suppose, but IMO the bigger threads are better for those that spend some time on here (check in on daily basis). Even if you only come on a couple of times a week it's still not that much to catch up on. It can be followed chronologically if you want to or you could just go to the last page to see what the latest is. It's not really about merging either, but having to post in existing threads. Otherwise people would be starting new threads on the same subjects all the time, as soon as the existing thread drop beyond the first page, and every thread is pretty much the same people making sure that they've responded to it, usually without adding anything. Things get repetitive and boring and from my experience those forums are the worst ones.

Agreed.

But............we will listen, won't we ?

 

[footballmatters]

Ok, this thread has become a little bit of a battleground sadly.

Let's try and resolve a few issues constructively, rather than destructively, shall we?

My apologies if my previous post came out as bitter/harsh/whatever.

So, without any malice or hidden agendas, would those interested state which particular threads they find an issue currently, and then make a suggestion as to how to deal with them.

For instance, threads like harry, AVB, Liverpool, etc.............shall we lock them and move them to classics, and let things start afresh?
Personally, I feel there will be complaints from some sections were we to do that, and I also fear that any newly created thread on similar subjects would end up going the same way, but that is just my personal thoughts.

So...............it's open to you guys. I guarantee the mod team will read and take on board all sensible suggestions.

It's time this forum stopped the bickering and worked towards the greater good (fudge me i feel like a communist writing that!!!!)

Go for it.

All of them

But more seriously, maybe a number of them has to be ended, the ones you mentioned would be a good start. But if we look at the second page of SNV there are a number of multi-page threads. If an old thread always will be resurrected even if the new post doesn't have anything to do with the original thought behind the thread, we will be back to square one again. I don't know if I should be much more specific than that because I haven't visited much the last 6 months or so, and because of this I might have missed many recurring arguments that really warrant a mega thread.

But to summarise my thoughts - keep the mega threads to a minimum.

All in my opinion of course.

 

[southstand1882]

Inane drivel? Doesn't that constitute to around 90% of your posts? Your incredibly unfunny one word posts are often the reason I personally get bored of the level of discussion at times and hugely part of the problem.

Ah. A good old fashioned personal attack

A step in the right direction perhaps

Reported

 

[Crawley]

Ah. A good old fashioned personal attack

A step in the right direction perhaps

Reported

Guess what?

We already had a little discussion that you would do this.

 

[southstand1882]

Guess what?

We already had a little discussion that you would do this.

It was a personal attack Crawley

It hasn't added to the debate

A rule was broken, was it not?

 

[Crawley]

It was a personal attack Crawley

It hasn't added to the debate

A rule was broken, was it not?

It will be further discussed in the appropriate manner. i.e not live on here

 

[southstand1882]

It will be further discussed in the appropriate manner. i.e not live on here

Ok. Bit surprised at your post then.

Wasn't expecting personal attacks, just because I voiced an opinion.

I'll say no more; and leave the thread permanently.

 

[footballmatters]

For the casual lurker it works better with new threads for everything that happens I suppose, but IMO the bigger threads are better for those that spend some time on here (check in on daily basis). Even if you only come on a couple of times a week it's still not that much to catch up on. It can be followed chronologically if you want to or you could just go to the last page to see what the latest is. It's not really about merging either, but having to post in existing threads. Otherwise people would be starting new threads on the same subjects all the time, as soon as the existing thread drop beyond the first page, and every thread is pretty much the same people making sure that they've responded to it, usually without adding anything. Things get repetitive and boring and from my experience those forums are the worst ones.

I can respect that, I'd be foolish to think that you would wage the opinion of the less active part of the community higher than those who contribute more.

Agreed.

But............we will listen, won't we ?

:lol: :lol:


As an added thought - perhaps instead of closing threads and moving them to classics you could create a temporary sub-forum and move some of the threads there. That way people could still continue discussion there if they wish, but they would probably after some time find that posting in SNV would get more attention.

An alternative to that would have course be to have a non-temporary 'recurring discussions' sub-forum, and then let SNV be a place for actual news.

 

[Papercut]

Difficult for me to form an opinion (of preference) because every angle I look at - I see a positive and negative.

Personally, if I see let's say the Sandro thread has been updated; I do look at it out of curiosity (depending on who the last poster is ). If there was a new thread about Sandro? I'd look at it (depending on the topic err and the thread starter!). Either way, if I'm intereseted about the player/topic, then I'll look. The Liverpool thread as another example... I don't bother looking unless we've played them or there is a topical issue about them I'm interested in.

One thing about individual threads is people post them with one title, if the title is ambigious - then someone else starts a thread on the same topic. Sometimes this means some excellent posts in the original thread get missed in the new thread and the discussion in said new thread loses valuable points. Would this happen in a mega thread? Probably not (although I still wish I could get my head around the quoting hsitorical posts!).

Perhaps we give mega threads expiry dates? An example - The Bale Thread. Expires in 3 months. Then a new one is started? May not work...

Or perhaps mega threads are a bit more diverse in their topics? What kind of things are discussed about players in general? Transfers, Personal Life, Videos, Controversy, etc. I can't see that working per se so perhaps not a good idea.

When I look at boards with mega threads or sub forums, I generally find them easy to navigate. Perhaps because I'm lurking, I'm not fussed about individual threads. I'm likely to look on opposition forums when there is a matter of interest for me and I guess in mega threads the latest posts will be of interest to me as that is because they are topical (e.g. We are close to buying their player so I look - they discuss it).

Tired and my brain is leaking my thoughts randomly so perhaps not totally coherent.

How do posters feel about Random working?

 

[Jordinho]

I think we should let a player thread expire at the end of a season.

 

[thfcsteff]

I think we should let a player thread expire at the end of a season.

My thoughts on this?

If we're gonna have a 'player' thread, then we need a 'haters' thread too!!!!!

Playas n haytas...

(coat-in-hand...)

 

[ringo]

It's good that people feel so passionately about the merging of threads.

 

[Danners9]

Academy thread, 97 pages, over a year old.
Stadium thread, 112 pages, over a year old.
Other team's games, 480 pages, since August 2012.
Arsenal thread, 167 pages, over a year old.
AVB, 251 pages, since July 2012.
Chelsea, 65 pages, since April 2012.
Harry, 89 pages, since June 2012.
Bale, 125 pages, over a year old.
Trivia, 104, over a year old.
Liverpool, 197 pages, 2 days shy of a year old.
Lloris, 121 pages, since August 2012.
Fixtures and tickets, 73 pages, over a year old.
Defoe, 86 pages, over a year old.

That is on the first two pages of SN&V.

4th page has Kit thread, 96 pages, over a year old.

I have ignored the Match Threads for a reason, they attract lots of traffic and disappear after a few days.

Of the ones listed, it is - funnily enough - only the Other Team's games thread i'd keep at a push. The longest one. At least it is just from this season, despite being huuuuge. My suggestion earlier in this thread was to have one every week for that week's games, lock it on a Tuesday morning after the last game and start a new one.

The others, either season by season or move to classics and start afresh. To encourage new discussion, posters can start new threads. When it comes to housekeeping, merge them and move them to classics.

Have a ten page limit for each forum (not each thread!) and old threads that fall off those 10 get deleted automatically. I doubt people go back past the 2nd page anyway, unless they know there is a thread somewhere that can be bumped (I did it recently with the incorrect decisions thread). They come back to see their thread gone, merged somewhere and a few posts of 'there's already a thread on this' which i don't believe is meant entirely as helpful advice.

Stadium thread I see a reason for keeping, however perhaps it can be read-only and added to as and when something new comes along instead of being filled up with 'where is the stadium/enic won't build it/when does work start?' - if it's not in the thread, I doubt anyone knows. If they do, start a thread, a mod can merge it and open the big thread for discussion.

 

[Crawley]

Academy thread, 97 pages, over a year old.
Stadium thread, 112 pages, over a year old.
Other team's games, 480 pages, since August 2012.
Arsenal thread, 167 pages, over a year old.
AVB, 251 pages, since July 2012.
Chelsea, 65 pages, since April 2012.
Harry, 89 pages, since June 2012.
Bale, 125 pages, over a year old.
Trivia, 104, over a year old.
Liverpool, 197 pages, 2 days shy of a year old.
Lloris, 121 pages, since August 2012.
Fixtures and tickets, 73 pages, over a year old.
Defoe, 86 pages, over a year old.

That is on the first two pages of SN&V.

4th page has Kit thread, 96 pages, over a year old.

I have ignored the Match Threads for a reason, they attract lots of traffic and disappear after a few days.

Of the ones listed, it is - funnily enough - only the Other Team's games thread i'd keep at a push. The longest one. At least it is just from this season, despite being huuuuge. My suggestion earlier in this thread was to have one every week for that week's games, lock it on a Tuesday morning after the last game and start a new one.

The others, either season by season or move to classics and start afresh. To encourage new discussion, posters can start new threads. When it comes to housekeeping, merge them and move them to classics.

Have a ten page limit for each forum (not each thread!) and old threads that fall off those 10 get deleted automatically. I doubt people go back past the 2nd page anyway, unless they know there is a thread somewhere that can be bumped (I did it recently with the incorrect decisions thread). They come back to see their thread gone, merged somewhere and a few posts of 'there's already a thread on this' which i don't believe is meant entirely as helpful advice.

Stadium thread I see a reason for keeping, however perhaps it can be read-only and added to as and when something new comes along instead of being filled up with 'where is the stadium/enic won't build it/when does work start?' - if it's not in the thread, I doubt anyone knows. If they do, start a thread, a mod can merge it and open the big thread for discussion.

But the only reason those threads are still around is...........people still post in them!!!!!

Academy thread, 97 pages, over a year old. But still current and relative, and updated regularly

Stadium thread, 112 pages, over a year old. Same. not the busiest of threads, but important to most on here?

Other team's games, 480 pages, since August 2012. This was started afresh in August, and is supposed to be purely to discuss other teams games, like an OMT for everyone else

Arsenal thread, 167 pages, over a year old. Always a dangerous thread due to the original title. Would have no problem seeing this go

AVB, 251 pages, since July 2012. A valid thread, but the source of too much infighting and maybe should be locked and a new start made

Chelsea, 65 pages, since April 2012. Would rather not talk about this team much, but good for a laugh sometimes.

Harry, 89 pages, since June 2012. Even worse than the AVB thread. Really needs to be dropped now.

Bale, 125 pages, over a year old. Yes, could go. Anything new or relevant to the man could be re-posted as required

Trivia, 104, over a year old. No problem with this ongoing thread

Liverpool, 197 pages, 2 days shy of a year old.Tired and time to go

Lloris, 121 pages, since August 2012.No particular thoughts other than sad it has caused so many arguments. Think the original disagreements are long in the past now

Fixtures and tickets, 73 pages, over a year old. Useful at times

Defoe, 86 pages, over a year old. Same as the Bale thread

 

[Spursalot]

Dop the threads if you want. Within two weeks someone will have made it again.


So you end up back where you started anyway.