Problems in the top 4?

[Birma]

I am very fond of Photoclubalpha; I find it an informed, informative, friendly and dare I say fun, place to hang out for photography in its very broadest sense. Over the last few months this seems to only apply those forums South of Lens Lore. The top 4 forums here seem to be sliding into the worse aspects of DPR, and I'm sure no one familiar with the forums on that site needs further explanation.

Now, I could just abandon those threads on a personal basis and walk away, but I must admit I sort of resent having to do that as I have found a lot of very useful information there in the past. The A55v thread is a classic example. The Doc started that thread in good faith for discussion of the new model that everyone is talking about, and that he actually has real experience of. It has now descended in to the same old circular (and off topic!) arguments. I'm not against argument and debate when carried out in a respectful way, and when it is an argument that is going somewhere new.

So what is the answer? Beg, ban, harder moderating, or becoming harder hearted? You would hope that none of these were necessary. Perhaps all it takes is for those in the silent majority to ask that members keep it on topic and, more importantly, keep it respectful.

(Yes, I am an optimist!)

[pakodominguez]

Hi Birma,

You will always have people trying to kidnap a thread, and people trying to spread wrong information. Then you have those people that just go into forums in search for "fight"...

Since a Forum is not just a band of mates, but a source of information, this kidnappers need to be redressed in order to stop the spread of misinformation (like the SEL 16f2.8 been "soft"; ghosting on the SLTs, etc). Information, good information, is the best we can offer and defend this proper information is what motivate some posters here to fight those "people".

I actually skip most of those well know "trouble-makers" until they start trolling, then I try to defend what I consider the "truth"...

[InTheSky]

I think probably for the Top 4, a limit reply for thread should be a good start, and I'm not knowledgeable on this kind of open source forum system, but it will be great for the original poster to have the right to stop the discussion or to insert a conclusion.

The 4 topic are kind of general, and by looking at the lens lore, there is not that much divergence on the discussion. And it is almost the same for other topic. Compare to DPR ... this is best structured topic forum I have seen on Minolta photography (now Sony). Dyxum.com is not bad too.

But we are way beyond the Negative and bashing replies like we can found on DPR.

What about postulating for OP or moderator of those topic Birma ?

Regards,

Frank

[Dusty]

Well, I just posted an off-topic reply on the SLT-55 asking one of the guys to stop the ad hominem attacks, and adding in some arguments in-line with what the topic had devolved into. I enjoy debates, especially spirited ones, but wish them to remain debates, not bashing. I also feel like anyone should be free to post anything they've observed or heard about an item good or bad, and let other support/refute it. If I heard the Nex 16 was soft, I want others who have it to refute it. If I have a Nex 16 and see it as soft, I want to post that evidence no matter how many guys got one as sharp as a CZ.

Perhaps we can have the topics originator request to have certain posts moved to a new topic?

Dusty

[Dr. Harout]

...Perhaps we can have the topics originator request to have certain posts moved to a new topic?

Dusty

I don't think people will talk about anything (good or bad) if it hasn't got a big impact (good or bad).
A55 is really a good camera albeit with some issues, but still a very good one.

[Greg Beetham]

I think the A55 thread had a good run and had coverd the camera qute well before it 'diverged' a bit here and there as threads are want to do, and I'll admit I diverge a bit sometimes to explore something or have a 'light' moment, but I really don't get along well with defenders of the realm types I'm afraid.
The minute someone starts offering critique of a poster rather than the camera and it's attributes or lack thereof, the post is way 'off thread,' even way 'off forum' as far as I'm concerned.
Greg

[KevinBarrett]

This could be a good time to point out the "Ignore" option in the forum. I haven't seen it or used it in years, being a moderator eliminates that luxury for me. "Ignoring" a user helps cut down on trolling by eliminating the temptation to respond to a specific user's off-topic or otherwise undesirable posting habits. It won't cure all, but it helps.

Could it be time to close (not delete) one or a few of the topics in the Top 4?

[Birma]

Thanks guys for your replies. I appreciate your thoughts and comments.

I'm sure it must be coincidence, but since my post all of the posts within the top 4 have returned to the sort of discussion I would expect and hope for. A paragon of reasonableness . Long may it continue.

[aster]

A little intervention of persuasion or objection sometimes has its reward, Birma; this time by you.


Yildiz