talkmagic.co.uk

Likewise... although I imagine I'm probably partly responsible!

I myself am taking the 'post where you only really have something worthwhile to say' approach. There's not really much point doing otherwise really, is there?

Surely when people post excessively to the point that it's lowering the quality a warning could be issued? Granted it's often the result of enthusiasm but if the forum as a whole is suffering I don't think a Utilitarian approach would be out of line.

Meaningless posts, the same questions being asked over and over again (resulting in wastelands of threads)... yep, TM is a different place these days.

*Checks that wasn't a meaningless post and offered something not yet been mentioned... check!*

Well then what can we do to correct things?

I used to love coming on here and reading all your posts and I gained so much of everyone. The past couple of weeks have got really really bad, so many threads having to be locked as it just filled with the usual circular arguments that have nothing to do with the topic.

I know that there is an option on forums to prevent spamming by having a time restriction after you make a post, to post again. Maybe this could be given to some people rather than an outright ban or suspension?

EDIT (didn't wanna make another post ) Could we leave the following of the rules to all the mods. I'm sick of people lashing out and calling for bans and sin bins.

99% of the problems are comming from people bitching and argueing. If only people could get along and respect each others views, everything would be fine.

Here here Lady of mystery, a little bit of common sense goes a long way

Lady of Mystery wrote:99% of the problems are comming from people bitching and argueing...

...and from people saying Welcome in the Introductions forum, in "quantity bundles", without even reading the intro.

When I joined, there were a few members that said Welcome! to me and it made me feel good to be welcomed to the forum. I started to bid newcomers welcome, but I think that an introduction that says:

Hello, just thought I'd say hello here.

...is pointless.

And a blind: Welcome! to people that are not even intruducing themselves, is even more pointless.

I don't think so, not everyone feels comfortable writing a big description about themselves for total strangers. If the just want to say hello, which is a polite thing to do, then I think that's fine.

And I think it's nice for those new members to have existing members say hello back, even if that's all it is.

I find the posts by regular members like "you and me" repremanding other members a little "off putting".

for example, a relatively new member asks a question and is instantly hit with a "why dont you introduce yourself first". suddenly the tone of that post and subsequent others changes from friendly and helpful to "who the hell do you think you are".

i loved reading the vigorous debates on things like hypnosis and palm reading... up to the point where serious debate (which is both healthy, entertaining) becomes nothing more than a personal "he said/she said".

...That said, as much we thrash about regarding the situation, and moan about what's happened to our fantastic forum of late, there's NOTHING we - as members - can do about it.

Sadly, the ultimate direction things go in, will be down to Moderator decision.

Whilst I'm sure they'll have done their own debating, between themselves, I'm not sure that any action has yet been taken which will put the Forum back onto any even keel.

Unfortunately, this just makes it look like the Mods are doing NOTHING, except sitting back, and letting the place degenerate.

Let me say that I'm 100% certain this is NOT the case, and they've probably spent hours between themselves, agonising over how to handle the situation, for which they should be thanked; but the fact remains that the sitautaion does need some positive action from them...and not us.

Let the guys at the top do their job, and keep your finger's crossed things don't get any worse in the meantime

Lady of Mystery wrote:99% of the problems are comming from people bitching and argueing. If only people could get along and respect each others views, everything would be fine.

Yeah. What she said.

I think this is the first thing that has to go. There is nothing worse than one pointless message followed by 99 pointless message saying how pontless the first pointless message was.

As the good lady* says. Let's see if we can get along a little better and respect those we don't necessarily get along with...


* I say good lady - of course I don't know for sure. In reality she may be a very bad lady.

robstanley1 wrote:Unfortunately, this just makes it look like the Mods are doing NOTHING, except sitting back, and letting the place degenerate.

Let me say that I'm 100% certain this is NOT the case, and they've probably spent hours between themselves, agonising over how to handle the situation, for which they should be thanked; but the fact remains that the sitautaion does need some positive action from them...and not us.

I do hope that you lot realise we ARE doing something.

Today, my first day back in front of the computer in 5 days, I recon I've:

1. Resoved 4 arguments
2. Deleted around 20 posts
3. Edited obscenities from 2 posts
4. Edited rubbish from at least 50 posts
5. Removed personal/deflamatory posts and notified the culprits
6. PMd 12 members to warn them of forum etiquette
7. Read through countless complaints PMs (still trying to answer them all, keep waiting)
8. Just been brainstorming ideas of how to combat the deluge

So, before anyone complains about 'how the mods let the forum turn to rubbish', please bear in mind it is the IDIOTIC AND NUMBNUT USERS who have turned this place into a joke, not the mods. We're on course to resolve. I hope.

Seige - as mentioned in my post - I hope NOBODY here feels that nothing is being done; quite the reverse, as the points you've made illustrate strongly.

It wasn't a dig at you guys, honestly

I was hoping to point out to folk that, just because we can't see things happening, doesn't mean that action isn't being taken behind the scenes.

See? You Mods really are Magic!

B0bbY_CaT wrote: a relatively new member asks a question and is instantly hit with a "why dont you introduce yourself first". suddenly the tone of that post and subsequent others changes from friendly and helpful to "who the hell do you think you are".

I don't know if I'm the only one, but I never even look at the introductions forum. If someone becomes an established member then I will get to know them, if not, why bother?.

I'm with siege; despite having been a member here since the very beginning I am finding it a less and less enjoyable place to be. This is not because of the people who cause the most complaints, however, but because of the endless stream of those complaints and the aggression of the complainants.

Trying to look on the bright side of things there are still decent posts being added and still plenty of golden nuggets of information being imparted.
Along with many of you I have felt the decline due to the influx of useless polls and banal threads start. Hell, I could have started more than one myself.
But the important threads are still there and are being posted by the regular few who contribute so much to this site.
Yes the huge amounts of posts and their shallow nature can be frustrating but I for one am gonna sit tight, pick the threads I read carefully and try to only post when I feel I have something of use to say..... which for many may mean I will probably never post again.

But surely, Nick, the kind of volume of complaints you guys are seeing, and are now trying to resolve, are indicative of a problem (or problems) which affect multiple members?

Are you saying that, if members don't like what's happened to the forum, they should just 'not complain'?

If so, I'm not too sure I understand....so I'll just shut up, instead

I'm not the most active member on this forum, but I really enjoy coming by every once and while.. to read and learn, get new ideas.. share my videos, and views. and have a joke here and there.

So here's my humble view on things :
Maybe it would be an idea, to first have to receive an email, to activate your account at TM when first registering (maybe this is allready the case)

Maybe there could be a short summary of the rules at TM in this email.
Talking about exposure, and about Introductions. And some other things, new members should know about, and can read in the "Read first" section

Also, I have read a lot of nonsense posts, like we all have:)
But now there are many complaint posts (oops did I just make a complaint post myself) *this is not complaining:) just a statement of my observation.

Everyone is talking about that TM is changing, or has changed. Maybe if we just let it be. and let the mods do their jobs, which they do very well, after reading Seige's post.. (a busy man keep it up )
maybe if we just let it be.. things will turn back to normal.

There have always been many ppl replying to new members with "hello, and welcome, and other short messages"

There have always been members, that like to post a lot and get higher ranking.

There have always been new members, not introducing themselves correctly, and they ussually just join, for one simple question, and never return. The members that intend to stay, and are active, ussually Introduce themselves thoroughly.

So I guess some members might have this feeling, because all these things have come at the same time.

As a dutch saying goes:
It's not always moonlight and fragrance of roses.
I believe things will turn back to the way the are..

I enjoy TM and love magic.
And I'll keep coming back:)
Hope you mods can figure the things out. and keep looking on the bright side;)