Closing "repeat" threads - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

visotech · 04-21-2006, 03:19 PM

I knoticed in titled sexuality whenever a "repeat" question is posed someone searches and links the older thread, then closes the thread.

It seems like this totally kills the mood in titled sexuality, many people don't end up posting there anymore. When an older thread is linked nobody wants to contribute to threads that are already dead (with so many posts that your opinion will just be glanced over). I think its worth the bandwidth/space to revisit old topics in new threads, that way new input can make its way in. I don't know about you guys but I sure don't like responding to a post with 400 responses already because I know chances are my contribution will be overlooked anyways.

Toaster126 · 04-21-2006, 05:40 PM

Threads get revived all the time. It doesn't seem to hamper discussion. If anything, it makes extra discussion, because people are talking about things said a year or three ago.

maleficent · 04-21-2006, 06:36 PM

Responses that make a contribution do not get ignored... whether you are the second post in the thread or the 292nd post - -your response will get read.

staying in the same thread also makes it interesting - especially for folks who've been here a while - they can go back into the thread and see where their mind was a year ago - in some cases their opinons have changed...

I like the revivals...

ubertuber · 04-21-2006, 07:45 PM

Yeah, I've seen it go both ways. Sometimes the old threads are just so... clogged with old posts that a new one has a good life. But often we end up doing the same threads over and over again.

visotech · 04-22-2006, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubertuber

Yeah, I've seen it go both ways. Sometimes the old threads are just so... clogged with old posts that a new one has a good life. But often we end up doing the same threads over and over again.

Maybe its just me, but I find repeat threads more exciting then no new threads.

nezmot · 04-22-2006, 12:53 AM

Quote:

(with so many posts that your opinion will just be glanced over)

If you're worried about this, then you might be posting for the wrong reason. It's not about being seen, or saying the coolest thing - it's about reading the experiences of others, and learning from them.

Nimetic · 04-22-2006, 06:02 AM

Perhaps there can be both.

In some areas of the forum, the aim might be considered to be the achieving of some sort of group opinion. Or failing that - a communication that highlights the issues and makes progress.

Other areas of the forum are more like discussion. Shoot-the-shit stuff. Like IRC only threaded.

My feeling is that in the serious areas, the leaning should be towards building on what was done before - while at the same time, in other areas, allowing for discussions between currently on-line (or near online) participants to revisit areas.

So... as an example perhaps. The topic of male vs female driving (differences or not) in gender issues would be something that I'd suggest keeping and/or reverting to. While at the same time... if somebody posts "stupid young guy driving dangerously past me today" in a news or "happenings" section - well that's ok as well I think. Different flavour.

Make sense? Is it workable?

tecoyah · 04-23-2006, 03:57 AM

Would it be preferable that we simply merge like threads together?

Eliminates the closure, and allows for comparison within the thread.

Charlatan · 04-23-2006, 04:51 AM

I was thinking we could merge the two threads with title of the newest thread becoming the thread title...

maleficent · 04-23-2006, 05:24 AM

generally the new thread gets closed after no more than one reply... doesn't seem much point in merging the threads -but rather closing it - and redirecting people to the old thread and lett he discussion continue there...

ubertuber · 04-23-2006, 06:49 AM

I don't think the merge example exactly addresses visotech's concern. Sometimes threads or topics are so bloated that they don't work anymore.

Take the politics section - if we were really ruthless about merging similar threads, we'd have "the abortion thread", "the gun control thread", etc... People wouldn't want to post in them because they're choked up with what's already happened, and we all know that we haven't "done" those topics to the point that there's no reason to discuss them. Sometimes a fresh start is appropriate.

On the other hand, the sexuality section is pretty much the opposite. Every thread on penis size or cheating or porn on the boyfriend's computer says the same stuff - almost invariably they go the same places, and that makes them seem really tedious to people that have been around for a bit... Maybe people feel like we're too aggressive with those threads? I don't know.

Glory's Sun · 04-24-2006, 03:29 AM

The search function is built into the board for a reason. IIRC, the newbie section advises to use this function before starting a new thread. So based upon that alone, repeat threads should be closed and the poster(s) directed to the other threads.

Forum Guidlines Section I

Before posting a new thread, use the forum's search function to make sure that you are not making a duplicate post.

Sexuality has become a bore to me. (I'm going to be blunt and honest here) I'm sick of hearing all the dumb relationship stories that drone on and on about "what should I do?" Well, communicate would be step number one. Ask the person how they feel and discuss the problem.. gee.. what a novel idea!

In my eyes, the sexuality board is about expanding ideas of sexuality as we know it and focusing on issues that cause sexuality to be progressed in society.

Ok, so I'm sorry I ranted.. I just think that if people would learn to use the search function to start with, we wouldn't have very many repeat threads and this issue wouldn't come up.

-- as far as politics board goes.. well that's an animal within itself.

Redlemon · 05-01-2006, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

I was thinking we could merge the two threads with title of the newest thread becoming the thread title...

That would confuse me, and probably other members as well. But that's OK.

ratbastid · 05-01-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redlemon

That would confuse me, and probably other members as well. But that's OK.

Yeah, I think I'd find that confusing too.

You know, I don't mind how it currently works. Some rook posts a "How can I make my semen taste better?" thread, and some old-timer posts a half-dozen links to threads the rook would have found if they'd searched any one of which would answer their question, some mod locks the thread, and we all get on with our lives. Works for me!

04-21-2006, 03:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
visotech Insane Location: San Diego, CA	Closing "repeat" threads I knoticed in titled sexuality whenever a "repeat" question is posed someone searches and links the older thread, then closes the thread. It seems like this totally kills the mood in titled sexuality, many people don't end up posting there anymore. When an older thread is linked nobody wants to contribute to threads that are already dead (with so many posts that your opinion will just be glanced over). I think its worth the bandwidth/space to revisit old topics in new threads, that way new input can make its way in. I don't know about you guys but I sure don't like responding to a post with 400 responses already because I know chances are my contribution will be overlooked anyways.

04-21-2006, 05:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Toaster126 Extreme moderation Location: Kansas City, yo.	Threads get revived all the time. It doesn't seem to hamper discussion. If anything, it makes extra discussion, because people are talking about things said a year or three ago. __________________ "The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me." (Ayn Rand) "The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." (M. Scott Peck)

04-21-2006, 06:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	Responses that make a contribution do not get ignored... whether you are the second post in the thread or the 292nd post - -your response will get read. staying in the same thread also makes it interesting - especially for folks who've been here a while - they can go back into the thread and see where their mind was a year ago - in some cases their opinons have changed... I like the revivals... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

04-21-2006, 07:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
ubertuber spudly Location: Ellay	Yeah, I've seen it go both ways. Sometimes the old threads are just so... clogged with old posts that a new one has a good life. But often we end up doing the same threads over and over again. __________________ Cogito ergo spud -- I think, therefore I yam

04-23-2006, 03:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
tecoyah Illusionary	Would it be preferable that we simply merge like threads together? Eliminates the closure, and allows for comparison within the thread. __________________ Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

04-22-2006, 06:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
Nimetic Junkie Location: Melbourne, Australia	Perhaps there can be both. In some areas of the forum, the aim might be considered to be the achieving of some sort of group opinion. Or failing that - a communication that highlights the issues and makes progress. Other areas of the forum are more like discussion. Shoot-the-shit stuff. Like IRC only threaded. My feeling is that in the serious areas, the leaning should be towards building on what was done before - while at the same time, in other areas, allowing for discussions between currently on-line (or near online) participants to revisit areas. So... as an example perhaps. The topic of male vs female driving (differences or not) in gender issues would be something that I'd suggest keeping and/or reverting to. While at the same time... if somebody posts "stupid young guy driving dangerously past me today" in a news or "happenings" section - well that's ok as well I think. Different flavour. Make sense? Is it workable?

04-23-2006, 04:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I was thinking we could merge the two threads with title of the newest thread becoming the thread title... __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

04-23-2006, 05:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	generally the new thread gets closed after no more than one reply... doesn't seem much point in merging the threads -but rather closing it - and redirecting people to the old thread and lett he discussion continue there... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

04-23-2006, 06:49 AM	#11 (permalink)
ubertuber spudly Location: Ellay	I don't think the merge example exactly addresses visotech's concern. Sometimes threads or topics are so bloated that they don't work anymore. Take the politics section - if we were really ruthless about merging similar threads, we'd have "the abortion thread", "the gun control thread", etc... People wouldn't want to post in them because they're choked up with what's already happened, and we all know that we haven't "done" those topics to the point that there's no reason to discuss them. Sometimes a fresh start is appropriate. On the other hand, the sexuality section is pretty much the opposite. Every thread on penis size or cheating or porn on the boyfriend's computer says the same stuff - almost invariably they go the same places, and that makes them seem really tedious to people that have been around for a bit... Maybe people feel like we're too aggressive with those threads? I don't know. __________________ Cogito ergo spud -- I think, therefore I yam

04-24-2006, 03:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	The search function is built into the board for a reason. IIRC, the newbie section advises to use this function before starting a new thread. So based upon that alone, repeat threads should be closed and the poster(s) directed to the other threads. <b>Forum Guidlines</b> <i>Section I</i> <b><i>Before posting a new thread, use the forum's search function to make sure that you are not making a duplicate post.</b></i> Sexuality has become a bore to me. (I'm going to be blunt and honest here) I'm sick of hearing all the dumb relationship stories that drone on and on about "what should I do?" Well, communicate would be step number one. Ask the person how they feel and discuss the problem.. gee.. what a novel idea! In my eyes, the sexuality board is about expanding ideas of sexuality as we know it and focusing on issues that cause sexuality to be progressed in society. Ok, so I'm sorry I ranted.. I just think that if people would learn to use the search function to start with, we wouldn't have very many repeat threads and this issue wouldn't come up. -- as far as politics board goes.. well that's an animal within itself. Last edited by Glory's Sun; 04-24-2006 at 03:33 AM..