talkmagic.co.uk

I propose locking the whole forum from new threads/users for a whole day, to encourage people to READ things a little before instinctively POSTING.

A very educational exercise, I think.

I've actually spent more time today editing, revising, deleting and moving posts than I have working. And to tell the truth I am getting a little tired of it.

The quality of posts on the forum seems to be going rapidly downhill. And so does the respect, manners and usefulness of some of the members.

Read the title: TALK MAGIC. But as you're taught as a kid, it's good manners to not butt into conversations unless you've actually got something to say.

I second that. There are way too many people posting random posts related in no shape or form to magic. New users clearly dont read the rules.

Considering we are all here for the same purpose, there seems to be a lot of bitching going on which I dont understand.

I think its a great idea.

Sounds like a great idea. I think it will also put off the one post people who just want to know how an effect is done. If they cant post straight away they will probably go elsewhere and annoy someone else

Can I just clarify something- the dove's head is ok for general chit chat and banter?

I know the rest of the rooms are for magic and I have been pretty hesitant to post there due to the fact that if I have a problem or query I can usually find it in past posts using the search function.

But I know I have been talking a load of nonsense in the DH.

In another forum I was on they used to give warnings by PM to people then suspend them from posting for a while. Maybe this would help?

Its not a complete ban but a lesser evil might make people think more before posting.

I also think it would be a good idea as long as you can reply to old threads because that way we can all go hunting and bring some old posts back to life and see what happens.

My idea wasn't to discourage new posters so much as to actually encourage people to have a dibble and LEARN SOMETHING from the forum, rather than just jump in and get chatting. There's a LOT of information here, just not everyone realises it at times.

Agreed.

I lurked for a while, and read lots before starting to post myself.

However... It seems to be new members that are the problem (I realise that I'm no veteran myself, but I don't believe I've caused any problems!!). I think we need a way to force to people actually ready the rules before posting.

Is it possible to add an "I agree I am not posting spam and this post abides by the rules" checkbox that MUST be manually checked before submitting for the post to be added? Or would that just get annoying?

I joined in October but was scanning this forum from end of August. I waited a month before I joined, as I didnt consider myself worthy of an opinion to that which I knew nothing about

I agree with the suggestion.
I've lurked the forums for quite a while before I was sure I could post.
And by saying post I don't mean "How does Derren do that trick?" on the first topic I see.
I mean the full Monty :

Introduction --> Some posts for information --> Reading Reviews --> M.Wilson, RRTCM , Bobo --> CUPS

I forget which forum it was, but we went in and found threads in which no one ever responded and for a full week, brought them forward and even encouraged all members to look through these lists and take on a handful. It helped in several ways; a.) we found out where the deadwood laid in our midst i.e. those that wouldn't respond as well as those that had given up hope on getting a reply that ventured off to more fertile soil; b.) a whole new course of conversation was able to get started vs. dealing with one more line about who or what is the best and why such questions are ignorant.

Too many folks want to talk about "their" issue and "take" rather than give back. Too many tend to be too lazy to look in the archives or do a search in order to find existing threads that deal with what they are interested in chatting about. Then again, too many just want to extend surface thoughts on things rather than applying themselves a bit and actually "get involved." But as an old country preacher pointed out to me long ago... less than 10% of any congregation steps forward to do the work that all the others talk about... it don't have to be a church, this is generally true of all gatherings in which human beings are involved.

It would be nice if members would just post when they have something intelligent to say. "Intelligence" is subjective... but when even YOU know that your post is not intelligent, there's a pretty good chance it isn't. People should avoid posting just to post.

As a relatively new user of this forum I have seen a definate downgrade in the past year. The very valuable information in here is getting buried deeper and deeper. It's also very annoying when new users jump all over new posts by SUPPOSED "wannabees" and scream SINBIN SINBIN while not even giving new posters a chance to explain themselves. Someone mentionned that it would be right to give people the source/where to purchase of the effect they are looking to know the secret of. That is in fact the correct course of action. If they INSIST on being freeloaders, then as I read someone mention earlier - they're fair game. But even then, when someone makes a ridiculous post, why even bother replying?? If anyone wants to be nice, maybe the perpetrator can be pointed in the right direction. If not, then just leave the post unanswered!

(PS the above does not apply to all the Mark Lewis threads because they are in fact an interesting read! However what makes them interesting is the use of the Engligh language and not the back and forth insults - rather the way in which they are written!)

...and of course the search function is underutilized. How many threads are there entitled "ID"?

Just my opinion.

Thanks

surely when you sign up and click the link to register can't you be directed to a copy of the rules with a check box that says you have read the rules before your activated after all you have to sign an end user licence for just about everything thease days.

recently i have refered people to the rules that aply to them especialy if they post multiple entries asking the same question and i renew my request for a night moderator who can at least delete post from the likes of you cant stop me and other tell me now people that often post an night to catch the morning croud.

I'm certain I saw a plug-in somewhere recently for phpBB that limits newbies to specific areas, but can I find it now? Can I hellers like!

It's nice to see the problem on the agenda, though.

I think it's a total waste of time. People generally don't search when they can ask. The solution to the problem is either to making posting harder (at least initially) or to make searching easier.

A wise man once said...

It's a *discussion* forum.
You post at your own discretion, and risk.
If you don't expect answers, spamming or flaming, then don't post!

... and that about sums it up. I don't think there's any way to make an open forums such as this any better than it is already. As Marvell says, lots of people will ask before searching. A few think other members exist solely to answer their every need. Others visit only to promote themselves or products (not so much here). Some want a laugh and others want serious discussion. And with such a wide range of people, with presumabley very little in common other than magic (and not much in common when it comes to magic) disagreements, bickering and arguments are going to flare up every so often.

Locking the forum for a day wouldn't make people read old posts, they'd just go somewhere else for the day. I think, at best, you'd save yourself a day's worth of deleting spam.

If the workload becomes too much for the current mods then the solution is to get more.