The Future of peakoil.com

Aaron · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:24 am Post subject: The Future of peakoil.com

The staff here @ peakoil.com has special "Staff Only" forums where we can discuss site issues and other semi-private matters.

Some of you have your own threads in there where we discuss your specific contributions.

Smile

One of the current topics we are debating in there, is the signal/noise ratio on this forum.

We are exploring the level-set of what constitutes an acceptable post. We are considering if we should change any of our current policies in any way, to try and introduce changes to the board.

So I though I'd solicit opinions from the members here & see what you guys think.

The positions expressed thus far run the gambit:

Pretty much not allowing crappy threads to live.

I'm going to hold my own opinion for the time being.

So... make with the wisdom please....
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Doly · Expert Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 4031

My opinions:

In my experience, forums that eliminate the "Open discussion" section get the same kind of off-topic comments but in normal threads, so I don't think that's a good idea.

Eliminating ad-hom posts looks like a good idea to me.

Eliminating bad threads sounds like a good idea, until you realise that different people have different ideas of what was a "bad" thread.

Grifter · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:34 am Post subject: Re: The Future of peakoil.com

MD · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:36 am Post subject: Re: The Future of peakoil.com

Perhaps enhanced thread ownership would help? Allow the thread author some control over what's posted in a particular thread, through whatever means are available?

Right now I notice the "last 24 hr" sort leaves out open threads, while the "posts since visit" keeps them in. Make them the same so that HOF and Open posts are not refreshed, but leave the forums open.

Free Speech Rules!

I may bitch about polite behavior, but I am not looking to silence anyone.

That said, maybe a little more forceful suggestions to the raw flamers to back off a bit.

about two-cents there...next?
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Leanan · News Editor Joined: May 20, 2004 Posts: 4489

I agree about the Open forum. If you don't have one, the chitchat will pop up in the other forums. If you eliminate the Open forum, I'd say you have to allow OT posts in the other forums. (I've actually seen this work, even at fairly busy sites. There's usually an unspoken agreement that OT posts should be clearly marked as such, and that there shouldn't be too many of them.)

The Hall of Flames can go, as far as I'm concerned. Much as I love the title of that forum, I really don't think it adds anything.
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AgentR · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:55 am Post subject: Re: The Future of peakoil.com

As much as I dislike wasting time posting in Open/HOF, and can't seem to help myself anyway, having those forums open allows a place to move a marginal thread out of the realm of serious discussion, but keeps the content searchable for future reference.

Who knows, maybe information on Israeli magic wasps will at some point be relevant...
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Kingcoal · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:11 am Post subject: Re: The Future of peakoil.com

I think that replies should be as unrestricted as possible. Naturally spamming should not be allowed under any circumstances, however ad hominem, comic and other diversionary replies should be allowed; they are just part of the natural noise of a debate.

The area which needs the most attention however is the liberal policy towards posting threads (topics.) There are way to many rehash and ridiculous threads. Those should be curtailed severelly. Duplicate topics should be deleted, ad hominem topics, ditto. Notice I'm differentialating between ad hominem replies and topics. One is acceptable in my opinion and the other not.
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thuja · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:52 am Post subject: Re: The Future of peakoil.com

Deleting posts...threads? Are you kidding me? Repeat after me...free speech. If people don't don't know how to ignore or skip posts or threads, they need to go back to third grade. The fun of the internet is freewheeling no holds barred conversations. PLease don't limit.

Speaking of which, I know this will never change but I think the idea of merging threads is one of the dumbest things ever. Sorry Monte. I do not want to read a book before I can join a conversation. Allow for multiple threads to coexist about any subject whatsoever, including Israeli magic wasps. People will find the most inteligent, salient threads by themselves. There. Rant over. Thanks for all the work folks!

DantesPeak · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:54 am Post subject: Re: The Future of peakoil.com

The most serious problem is the number of threads, however to solve this problem requires more work on the part of the moderators to consolidate them.

The title of threads sometimes are misleading, some intentionally so for effect, but I rather have the subject clearly stated than reading a long post that may not interest me to find out what it’s about.

Another problem is senseless, ad-hom attacks. I mention that Nigeria’s oil production is down and I’m accused of supporting Nigerian death squads, or I say that light sweet crude has peaked and I’m accused of implying modern civilization will collapse within months. Again to solve this problem would take the time and judgment of moderator to determine what is excessive, plus the moderator would have to know that maybe I didn’t really support Nigerian death squads. Smile

I don’t mind having the open forum available for discussions that would otherwise intrude in other threads.

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3111 Location: Maine

I think people should be able to speak freely, but I am annoyed by the racist crazies sometimes. I can't say that I mind sending them to the hall of flames. Send any crazy rants down there. Then if the Hall of flames is deleted after a few days, that's ok by me.

MD · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:20 am Post subject: Re: The Future of peakoil.com

Your signal to noise ratio reference reminds me of my analog audiophile days.

The noise sure does take away from the sweetness of the music
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"Don't ever become a pessimist... a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events."
Robert A. Heinlein

md@peakoil.com

alpha480v · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:23 am Post subject: Re: The Future of peakoil.com

Don't eliminate the Open Discussion forum. It is a necessary place to talk about topics besides peak oil. Granted, there are many topics in open discussion that are garbage. Just don't respond to the posts. Don't feed the trolls. It's that simple. Eventually the garbage posts die, and the trolls move on.

The hall of flames I could care less about. Maybe getting rid of this would help with peak oils credibility. I would think that someone new to peakoil.com for the first time would be turned off by what he or she reads in the hall of flames. Some of the posts in this section make us look like a fringe group that can't be taken seriously.

pstarr · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:30 am Post subject: Re: The Future of peakoil.com

Crude oil is down to recent lows and Peakers are anxious. There is a shortage of new blood at the site. The predators are pacing and the flock is lowing. There is unease in the herd.

I vote for No changes The fixes will make more work for the moderators and participants, and accomplish nothing for the veterans or the newbies. The former already know who to disregard and the latter will not benefit from restrictions.

be patient. things will deteriorate Smile

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pstarr · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:35 am Post subject: Re: The Future of peakoil.com

alpha480v, I think the HOF is necessary just as the open forum is. These are places the rabble and newbies can practice, pontificate, spout off, blather, and bitch-slap the other without intruding on the royalty in the serious forums. I'd be nowhere without them Confused

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mmasters · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:43 am Post subject: Re: The Future of peakoil.com

Another vote for consolidation of thread topics.

Sometimes there's 3 or 4 current threads about the same topic