There are a few things i have noticed lately - some I can't quite put my finger on - some I feel I can. One being consistency.
Call it a whinge if you want - I prefer to think of this as an observation and a question or two.
There appears to be some fluctuation in the criteria for the locking of threads that to an observer (such as myself) does not make any logical sense.
I appreciate there are always some borderline cases and some difficult calls, however imho some of my recent observations are not close call cases.
It is not the threads which have been locked which really concern me - it is a number of threads which haven’t that do.
If you look you should be able to spot a few for yourself.
Why does it matter?
It matters not for many a regular user - but inconsistency sends a confusing message to newcomers to the forum and some threads send out totally the wrong message - as they are impossible for people outside of a particular crowd to join in. I am aware that particular comment has been made before about the GFZ - even though that has pretty much become the purpose of the GFZ thread, at least it is contained.
It worries me when what appears to be “clique†type threads appear and are left to run.
It worries me when one thread of a particular type is locked and others of a similar type are not.
Why does any of that matter?
It is obvious by the numbers of people on other parts of the site that as a whole the site is growing - the cafe however does not appear to be expanding at the same rate - if anything it may even be shrinking. The danger is the café could become an even smaller insular group and lose the thing that for me makes it special.
I feel quite protective about the café and have taken great pleasure from being part of it. Subtle shifts never really cause problems immediately - however over an extended period of time ….?
Perhaps it would be useful for the mods and admin to revisit the subject of locking just to refresh the focus?
Perhaps I am the only one who thinks they have noticed soemthing changing?
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Consistency
Sex God
Good post Polo
only yesteday I was discussing this with another forum member, the ammount of new threads, and replies to posts has certainly dropped in my oppinion.
I had put it down to the extra facilities in the chat rooms that are weaning some regular cafe users away.
It would be a great shame to loose some of the epic posters from the past as it is the folks with the fantastic subtle humour, and the more serious posters that made the cafe what it was.
imho
only yesteday I was discussing this with another forum member, the ammount of new threads, and replies to posts has certainly dropped in my oppinion.
I had put it down to the extra facilities in the chat rooms that are weaning some regular cafe users away.
It would be a great shame to loose some of the epic posters from the past as it is the folks with the fantastic subtle humour, and the more serious posters that made the cafe what it was.
imho
Sex God
good post polo lady..........not quite sure whats changed....but something has........no-ones been shot down in flames in ages........even trampers not provoking a good row...... 
as to the locking of threads.....think it depends which madhouse guard is on duty at the time...........and everyones scared to join in or step out of line...
maybe the forum needs a bit of a shake up / revamp in line with the rest of the site?????
would`ve caused a riot even suggesting after the takeover
lets have some ideas......
maybe a newbie sticky introduction thread to help break the ice???
as to the locking of threads.....think it depends which madhouse guard is on duty at the time...........and everyones scared to join in or step out of line...maybe the forum needs a bit of a shake up / revamp in line with the rest of the site?????
would`ve caused a riot even suggesting after the takeoverlets have some ideas......
maybe a newbie sticky introduction thread to help break the ice???
Sex God
I haven't been on enough lately to notice subtle changes but I can't see that there is a problem in threads not being locked - especially if the number overall is lessening.
If some threads tend to be a bit cliquey then - so what? They'll stay that way and die with the rest of 'em. In fact it's always been thus in my view.
Personally, I welcome a light touch by the Mods in the present circumstances. It's only if the Café is swamped with dross that we need the strong control.
If some threads tend to be a bit cliquey then - so what? They'll stay that way and die with the rest of 'em. In fact it's always been thus in my view.
Personally, I welcome a light touch by the Mods in the present circumstances. It's only if the Café is swamped with dross that we need the strong control.
Quote by PoloLady
There appears to be some fluctuation in the criteria for the locking of threads that to an observer (such as myself) does not make any logical sense.
I appreciate there are always some borderline cases and some difficult calls, however imho some of my recent observations are not close call cases.
It is not the threads which have been locked which really concern me - it is a number of threads which haven’t that do.
If you look you should be able to spot a few for yourself.
I did notice a particular instance a couple of weeks ago and pm'd a mod and asked them to raise the issue in the Mods lounge to come up with a course of action that was consistent to avoid confusion for newbies.
I've also noticed a change in The Cafe recently - I know this place does go in cycles and get a bit stale every now and then, but it does seem to have lost a little something recenlty.
Now I've made no secret that I'm not exactly a fan of the GFZ & "Post count bump" threads, but I have noticed that the level of more in depth and the highly amusing threads seems to be dwindling.
Sex God
power mad???? u r meant to be power mad.....you`ve got a madhouse to run!!!!!!
Hi PL
I am in agreement about the locked threads in a lot of ways.
I would like to stress - that this is definitely not because I have had a couple locked in the last week. They were, however, locked without any explanation, which is not what used to happen. I wasn't really bothered - in the scale of things there were not important.
I think you are correct in that there should be consistency in the approach though.
I also have noticed the Cafe slowing recently.
This is a great shame as it was always a great place to be.
But as the popularity of the cafe has declined somewhat, the reverse has happened in the chatroom. I am finding I frequent that more than the cafe these days, and I am seeing more and more forum people in there too.
There is also a certain amount of attrition here too. Also Many people are sharing their time over 2 and possibly 3 sites these days,. Subsequently the volume of posts will inevitably reduce (and so will the quality in my opinion). I will be honest, this is the only site I actively use although I have memberships elsewhere.
The people I care about are still here, so here I will stay.
I would love new members to be able to see this site how it use to be (now lads - I dont mean technically, I mean the community, the acceptancy, the humour and the caring side).
It is appearing to be more just a sex site at times, which is such a pity as it was and is far more than that. That is the magic which is SH.
I remember when newbies (normally blokes) used to come in all guns blazing, thinking that a one liner post would get some woman drooling. We regs used to poke fun yes, but in a helpful way and before long they were joining in with the banter and showed their real personalities! Perhaps we need a revival of SH mentoring!
I know I have rambled and wandered off into my own thoughts - my apologies, but your post got me thinking PL - and that is always unwise!
Hugs'n'stuff
Alex x x x
I am in agreement about the locked threads in a lot of ways.
I would like to stress - that this is definitely not because I have had a couple locked in the last week. They were, however, locked without any explanation, which is not what used to happen. I wasn't really bothered - in the scale of things there were not important.
I think you are correct in that there should be consistency in the approach though.
I also have noticed the Cafe slowing recently.
This is a great shame as it was always a great place to be.
But as the popularity of the cafe has declined somewhat, the reverse has happened in the chatroom. I am finding I frequent that more than the cafe these days, and I am seeing more and more forum people in there too.
There is also a certain amount of attrition here too. Also Many people are sharing their time over 2 and possibly 3 sites these days,. Subsequently the volume of posts will inevitably reduce (and so will the quality in my opinion). I will be honest, this is the only site I actively use although I have memberships elsewhere.
The people I care about are still here, so here I will stay.
I would love new members to be able to see this site how it use to be (now lads - I dont mean technically, I mean the community, the acceptancy, the humour and the caring side).
It is appearing to be more just a sex site at times, which is such a pity as it was and is far more than that. That is the magic which is SH.
I remember when newbies (normally blokes) used to come in all guns blazing, thinking that a one liner post would get some woman drooling. We regs used to poke fun yes, but in a helpful way and before long they were joining in with the banter and showed their real personalities! Perhaps we need a revival of SH mentoring!
I know I have rambled and wandered off into my own thoughts - my apologies, but your post got me thinking PL - and that is always unwise!
Hugs'n'stuff
Alex x x x
Quote by twos_company
power mad???? u r meant to be power mad.....you`ve got a madhouse to run!!!!!!
I don't understand the argument but the debate isn't new. It's old hat. I'm ALMOST tempted to search for the old threads on the same topic - it's ALL cyclic. Moans; complaints; praise; renewal; change. People come and go and the site changes with it. Some people are some place else, some people are using two sites, some are using one site and some are even using THREE sites (
) and some people are saying very different things depending on which site they are using!! It just happens.
:P
Quote by Alexandra
I would love new members to be able to see this site how it use to be (now lads - I dont mean technically, I mean the community, the acceptancy, the humour and the caring side).
It is appearing to be more just a sex site at times, which is such a pity as it was and is far more than that. That is the magic which is SH.
I know what you mean.
I've been bumping a few of the old favourites recently as I wanted some of the newer members to see some of the threads that used to have me crying with laughter or shaking with anger.
Is those kind of emotion inducing, thought provoking threads I miss.
Quote by dambuster
some are even using THREE sites (
:P
Aint THATthe truth.
Consistency would be far better placed in that aspect :roll:
Yep - I can see somany games being played and so many lies being told it's just amazing! I have no idea which site has the truth but it doesn't take much trawling around to see lies being told!
Alexandra - I can only find one thread of yours locked in May - the public apology one which is obvious why it's locked. Can't see any others but haven't looked back past 02 May.
Sex God
Quote by HornyLittleBlonde
I did notice a particular instance a couple of weeks ago and pm'd a mod and asked them to raise the issue in the Mods lounge to come up with a course of action that was consistent to avoid confusion for newbies.
I've also noticed a change in The Cafe recently - I know this place does go in cycles and get a bit stale every now and then, but it does seem to have lost a little something recenlty.
Now I've made no secret that I'm not exactly a fan of the GFZ & "Post count bump" threads, but I have noticed that the level of more in depth and the highly amusing threads seems to be dwindling.
Very true HLB, Im not going to turn this thread into a GFZ battle, you either love it or you hate it
but I have also noticed that when an 'in depth' thread is posted it rarely gets past page 2 before it dies and the what I like to call inteligent and articulate posters who used to keep an in depth thread going for weeks, just don't seem to be posting anymore.Like polo I too feel very passionately about the Cafe and to be honest I would be lost without it. (sad innit)
I still am of the oppinion that the migration to the chat rooms has been a factor but also agree that the quality of recent posts has not been as high as we have become used to.
The reason that intelligent threads don't go past page 2 is that they are mostly TOTALLY hijacked very quickly by people chatting and not contributing to the topic under debate. No wonder people give up! It's a matter of despair for many of us, Mods as well, when this happens. And it happens LOADS.
Seems that some can't just leave threads alone. In the 'past' a serious topic would run for many many pages before running out of steam -now they just get bogged down in rubbish!
And then there's the 'sympathy' threads... don't get me started!! :twisted: :twisted: Especially when the topic requiring sympathy turns out to be untrue!
:x
:P
Seems that some can't just leave threads alone. In the 'past' a serious topic would run for many many pages before running out of steam -now they just get bogged down in rubbish!
And then there's the 'sympathy' threads... don't get me started!! :twisted: :twisted: Especially when the topic requiring sympathy turns out to be untrue!
:x :P
Quote by Pete_sw
Very true HLB, Im not going to turn this thread into a GFZ battle, you either love it or you hate it
No battle hun. I'm not going to like every thread in The Cafe and the simple way to deal with that is just not to go in the ones I don't like
1 thing I would like to add here. The 1 topic I saw and inconsistency on (out of god knows how many 1000's), when I talked it over with 1 of the Mods, they understood, by point, discussed it & came up with a fair & logical solution to the issue within 1/2 hour.
Now there's always going to be the grey areas, but if it's a genuine problem and it's approached consistently it's usually resolved quickly.
They are only human after all. :shock:
Quote by Jags
And then there's the 'sympathy' threads... don't get me started!! :twisted: :twisted: Especially when the topic requiring sympathy turns out to be untrue!
:P
And not forgetting my personal favourite - The Timewaster thread that then takes a twist when the thread starter then gets outed as a timewaster
Quote by Jags
No way we can win!
I thought I had acknowledged that position with the close call and borderline point.
And as I said - call it a whinge if you want. I have made an observation, explain the main part of my concern and made a suggestion. I do not feel I am being unfair.
I am also aware the subject has been covered on more than one occasion - usually in a manner where the poster is not quite as concerned about trying to be constructive. I felt it relevant to cover the subject again as my observations are 'now' and not relevant to post locking issues in the past.
My observation is not intended to be a criticism of anyone. There is a very appropriate quotation on feedback - but for the life of me I cannot think what the fluck it is at the moment.
Quote by Jags
The reason that intelligent threads don't go past page 2 is that they are mostly TOTALLY hijacked very quickly by people chatting and not contributing to the topic under debate. No wonder people give up! It's a matter of despair for many of us, Mods as well, when this happens. And it happens LOADS.
Seems that some can't just leave threads alone. In the 'past' a serious topic would run for many many pages before running out of steam -now they just get bogged down in rubbish!
And then there's the 'sympathy' threads... don't get me started!! :twisted: :twisted: Especially when the topic requiring sympathy turns out to be untrue!
:P
Very valid points!
I didn't think or infer that you were whinging PL.. just stating the facts that Mods can't win any battle about locked/unlocked/easy/powermad. No answer apart from the regulars doing some self moderation. It's always best.
Now.. timewaster threads?? So flipping many of them it's like a rising tide of sewage!
:cry:
Now.. timewaster threads?? So flipping many of them it's like a rising tide of sewage!
:cry:
Quote by Pete_sw
... but I have also noticed that when an 'in depth' thread is posted it rarely gets past page 2 before it dies and the what I like to call inteligent and articulate posters who used to keep an in depth thread going for weeks, just don't seem to be posting anymore.
.
I don't care how long a thread runs for before it dies - sometimes the most passionate/in-depth threads are difficult to add to - as it has all been said by the original poster.
I do care about ensuring the cafe remains a place where they can be started - along with the humour/challenging/silly/light-hearted/serious/informative/fun threads - by both the regulars and new-blood.
I kknow there has been a lot of threads around on similar subjects of late (site speed to name one) and some have been locked and others havn't but normally those that havn't have wanderd so far off course they have become amusing or interesting in their own right. However I have noticed the cafe has slowed down of late for what reason I'm not sure may it be chat may it be other reasons, but I miss the jokes the occasional newbie flaming when they come up with a classic such as I've begged my wife to sleep with my ten rugby pals but for some reason she syas no how do I change this. So lets put the life back into this place hell I'll even line myself up for a flaming if it'll get us bouncing again we could all do with a good piss take at some one elses expense, after all there is no malice in it. :D
:D Sex God
Quote by Jags
The reason that intelligent threads don't go past page 2 is that they are mostly TOTALLY hijacked very quickly by people chatting and not contributing to the topic under debate. No wonder people give up! It's a matter of despair for many of us, Mods as well, when this happens. And it happens LOADS.
Seems that some can't just leave threads alone. In the 'past' a serious topic would run for many many pages before running out of steam -now they just get bogged down in rubbish!
And then there's the 'sympathy' threads... don't get me started!! :twisted: :twisted: Especially when the topic requiring sympathy turns out to be untrue!
:P
very true, I too have been guilty of thread hijacking, but tend to wait until most of the required information has been past and the thread is starting to flag.
I also have had my threads hijacked and yes, if it happens very early on it can be infuriating, but a good
:smackbottom: :smackbottom: :smackbottom: administered to the offenders usually gets it back on track.as for the sympathy threads i will unashamedly admit that i have posted one or two of those in the past, I particularly remember my Swingingheaven Angels thread which I nearly resurrected as I've been home alone again this month
I have no idea about sympathy threads being untrue as i don’t have the relevant information, but we all need a shoulder to cry on from time to time and i must say i have found certain members of this community to be kind, willing to listen and extend the hand of friendship.as for the light-hearted banter that goes on, if like me you spend your day writing reports, filling out forms, sending out requisitions, sorting out other peoples fuck ups and wiping stupid buggers noses who quite frankly are old enough to know better, then sometimes this place can be a blessed relief just to be able to kick back and have a laugh with likeminded friends.
As a Mod I can see your frustration and often picture you sitting up there looking down on us and shaking your head thinking ‘like a bunch of effin school kids’ But from down here it very often is just a way to unwind and clear the workady cobwebs.
As for the thread locking thing it doesn’t really bother me that much, I have had threads locked and wondered ‘what was that all about?’ but then moved on to other things.
Bottom line is that the Café is suffering at the moment, but as you say, these things are cyclic and hopefully all will return to normal in due course.
I wasn't getting at sympathy threads in particular - there have been two recently which were really worthwhile and informative as they concerned the health of the original poster. I'm thinking more of the 'I'm bored', 'I've broken a nail', I've ... insert as appropriate' stuff. One has rankled with me in the past couple of weeks cos what was said in it, and gained a lot of sympathy for, is not the same message being given out on another site.
:P
:P
Sex God
Just a quick clear up Alex, I locked your thread the other day, I assumed, probably rightly because of posts since, that it was a hang over from the chat room great for those one or two involved, a dead thread for the majority who were not. I do try to post a reason, but like the rest of you I have been losing the site and thats what happened at that time.
I agree that consistency would be great as a clear marker and indeed that was always the case and where we can, it still is, but as things change, then the need to chuck some flexibility in there rears its head. I logged on this morning and saw three threads that in the course of normal play, I would have locked, I then looked at three or four other padlocks, at least two threads that to my mind are just post counters and are counter productive despite the big post counts as they give 'easy options' and a GFZ , so where do I go now, lock em? let you guys that like some clever banter, or are able to get on the end of a thread and turn it, to wake up to seven or eight locked threads, two post count threads and a GFZ I took the view that I needed to surrender some consistency so folk didn't open up a mine field of padlocks and crap threads.
I fully take your point polo that if clear pointers are not shown then it becomes a dog chasing its tail and folk carry on posting the sort of threads and posts that in my opinion are weak compared with the past because they post what they see, but trust me I really do hover over the delete, the lock, buttons at times hoping to christ it gets turned into something worth reading because another padlock would be just as damaging.
I tried a while back to get back to my piss taking, but one or two folk didn't like that, folk suddenly decided that cos its green, it aint allowed an opinion as a member, it aint allowed to rip the piss and try and get a laugh, so I've kinda given up and plod around the ads doing a bit of cleaning etc.
I will remain consistent with one opinion though, one that I've aired before and thats is that the best moderators are the members, not the psuedo mods that charge around LMU with snipes dressed as advice, not the members whose names are green, but the members who in the past knew how to leave threads like this alone to stay on point and who turned dull threads into things worth reading and who battered the fuck outa tossers. All said and done more often than not, they got locked after you guys decided they were shite, unfortunately those signals, are getting less and less leaving us to ponder WTF now.
I agree that consistency would be great as a clear marker and indeed that was always the case and where we can, it still is, but as things change, then the need to chuck some flexibility in there rears its head. I logged on this morning and saw three threads that in the course of normal play, I would have locked, I then looked at three or four other padlocks, at least two threads that to my mind are just post counters and are counter productive despite the big post counts as they give 'easy options' and a GFZ , so where do I go now, lock em? let you guys that like some clever banter, or are able to get on the end of a thread and turn it, to wake up to seven or eight locked threads, two post count threads and a GFZ
I took the view that I needed to surrender some consistency so folk didn't open up a mine field of padlocks and crap threads.I fully take your point polo that if clear pointers are not shown then it becomes a dog chasing its tail and folk carry on posting the sort of threads and posts that in my opinion are weak compared with the past because they post what they see, but trust me I really do hover over the delete, the lock, buttons at times hoping to christ it gets turned into something worth reading because another padlock would be just as damaging.
I tried a while back to get back to my piss taking, but one or two folk didn't like that, folk suddenly decided that cos its green, it aint allowed an opinion as a member, it aint allowed to rip the piss and try and get a laugh, so I've kinda given up and plod around the ads doing a bit of cleaning etc.
I will remain consistent with one opinion though, one that I've aired before and thats is that the best moderators are the members, not the psuedo mods that charge around LMU with snipes dressed as advice, not the members whose names are green, but the members who in the past knew how to leave threads like this alone to stay on point and who turned dull threads into things worth reading and who battered the fuck outa tossers. All said and done more often than not, they got locked after you guys decided they were shite, unfortunately those signals, are getting less and less leaving us to ponder WTF now.
Quote by davej
I tried a while back to get back to my piss taking, but one or two folk didn't like that, folk suddenly decided that cos its green, it aint allowed an opinion as a member, it aint allowed to rip the piss and try and get a laugh, so I've kinda given up and plod around the ads doing a bit of cleaning etc.
I will remain consistent with one opinion though, one that I've aired before and thats is that the best moderators are the members, not the psuedo mods that charge around LMU with snipes dressed as advice, not the members whose names are green, but the members who in the past knew how to leave threads like this alone to stay on point and who turned dull threads into things worth reading and who battered the fuck outa tossers. All said and done more often than not, they got locked after you guys decided they were shite, unfortunately those signals, are getting less and less leaving us to ponder WTF now.
:thumbup:
Quote by davej
I tried a while back to get back to my piss taking, but one or two folk didn't like that, folk suddenly decided that cos its green, it aint allowed an opinion as a member, it aint allowed to rip the piss and try and get a laugh, so I've kinda given up and plod around the ads doing a bit of cleaning etc.
:cry:
Sex God
Quote by PoloLady
I tried a while back to get back to my piss taking, but one or two folk didn't like that, folk suddenly decided that cos its green, it aint allowed an opinion as a member, it aint allowed to rip the piss and try and get a laugh, so I've kinda given up and plod around the ads doing a bit of cleaning etc.
:cry:
Me too!
I'm gonna start a campaign thread 'Free the old davej'.
Like I said before I really cannot see the problem in leaving some threads unlocked. So what if there's some inconsistency when it comes stuff that is not obviously against the AUP? There's far worse around. We have several mods - each with different takes on some things when it comes to fine distinctions - and each who have a right to have a different head on, depending on what happened last night.
And davej, if I don't see you ripping the piss outta someone soon I'm gonna complain to da management! Jeez, if you can't do that then life ain't worth living. I thought you were toning it down out of choice not because some people take offence just because yer a mod. Piss-ripping mods are not unknown and you are one of the best at it - so we've all lost something if you don't.
(sorry if this sounds a bit like a speech/lecture but I've just realised part of the reason why I don't visit here quite so often these days!)
Quote by PoloLady
I tried a while back to get back to my piss taking, but one or two folk didn't like that, folk suddenly decided that cos its green, it aint allowed an opinion as a member, it aint allowed to rip the piss and try and get a laugh, so I've kinda given up and plod around the ads doing a bit of cleaning etc.
:cry:
Yes. I wondered who had your tongue and was quite jealous it wasn't me :twisted:
Now put down the feather duster and let's see a little of the 'pink' again please... 'green'? no 'opinion'?.. bollox, I say! You're human, if we prick you, you'll bleed... if we lick you, you'll purr and if we.... never mind.. :rascal:
