Delete Or Lock?

[TheWickerFan]

Just curious how the majority of members feel on this subject:

When a heated argument occurs between members (whether or not it temporarily derails the thread subject) should the entire exchange be deleted or should the thread be locked if the argument shows no sign of letting up?

[_____V_____]

Deletion = further discussion can continue on the thread topic.

Locked = no further discussion permissible in thread.

In most cases, locking a thread in the middle of a heated argument does not solve any purpose. Members then open a new thread and vent their frustrations on the Mods, instead of the people they are arguing with. That is why deletion is a better option - at least it makes members cool off a bit and they can return to discuss on the thread topic.

Remember, we are a public international forum. We usually have 8-10 members online and over 80-90 guests, who are browsing through thread topics looking for info on the same. Unnecessary arguments and derailments results in a bad image of the forum to the visitors.

Too bad horror never set some rules for this place.

[TheWickerFan]

I understand where you're coming from, but I think having all posts deleted might cause more friction. I've seen both approaches in action, and it seems like once a thread is locked, the argument does indeed stop. Deleting seems dangerously close to censorship, and I, for one, don't appreciate posts disappearing. I could be the only one; that's why I asked everyone.

[_____V_____]

If a topic has been discussed enough and then there are arguments which lead to derailment, locking the thread is the better option. But for a new topic, this is a pretty tough decision.

It's not about censorship as much as it is about pointless posts filling up threads - censorship is removing things which are said by someone's free will on the topic/subject being discussed. If the argument/discussion is beyond the topic/point, it's actually pointless posting, and stands to be removed. A casual observer will rummage through such posts and find nothing of use to him. He has come to read about info on the subject, not deviated stuff which he either: 1) already knows, 2) doesn't want to know.

Like I said, we should have had rules on this. Makes a forum much easier to moderate.

I am a member of this forum as well :- http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/ , and it is one of the strictest forums on the Internet (in terms of moderation), with a complete set of rules and announcements to be followed. If you deviate from them, you get infractions in points. 10 points mean temporary banning of 1 month, and a 3rd temporary banning results in permanent banishment.

Check this - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/announcements/45713-team-bhp-warning-infraction-system.html

Horror should have set up something like this ^ for HDC as well.

[TheWickerFan]

Wow! Hardcore! Newb wouldn't last a day.:D

[ManchestrMorgue]

If a topic has been discussed enough and then there are arguments which lead to derailment, locking the thread is the better option. But for a new topic, this is a pretty tough decision.



This is the dilemma, isn't it.

I mean, locking a thread ends up in the discussion stopping dead - both constructive and destructive additions.

It is a shame for someone's thread to be shut down when there might be more constructive input out there, that subsequently does not get to be voiced.

Deleting posts "cleans up" a thread, but allows further discussion to continue. In a lot of instances, this is preferable.

With regards to the censorship vs freedom argument, I can sympathise. However, there is a difference between censoring (or deleting) on-topic posts and totally off-topic posts. Like lots of things, which is the lesser evil? Censoring some posts or allowing threads to become totally derailed, leaving people who start threads possibly in the position where they can't achieve what they had set out to do by starting the topic?

If posts have to be deleted, I like the way they do it on another forum that I am a participant on. The posts don't totally "disappear" but they remain, with the body of the text deleted and replaced with a reason for deletion (e.g." Deleted: personal attack" or "Deleted: off-topic"). This seems a bit more transparent in that it demonstrates to those viewing (and those who were deleted) that there was indeed a post in that place, but that it was removed in accordance with forum rules.

I am glad that horror.com forums are not too heavily moderated with regards to deleting posts. The character of this place is that it is a bit irreverent, a bit unforgiving. And that is OK, all forums have a cetain character, and that character tends to select the sort of members that stick around. And those that stick around this place for any reasonable period of time tend to be people who have an interest in the genre and a passion for discussing it (for the most part, anyway). Sure, some people who are passionate about horror are probably turned away, but that would happen no matter what sort of environment this forum had. Can't be all things to all people ...

Naturally, there are also dickheads who turn up here from time to time. Some are more persistent than others. But they mostly get bored after a while and leave.

Now, to take this post off-topic :D I didn't realise you were a rev-head too, V. Nice to know.

[hammerfan]

Just my opinion: if two (or more) members are going to have an argument that has nothing to do with the particular thread that said argument is in, I wish they would take it to PMs.

[TheWickerFan]

Just my opinion: if two (or more) members are going to have an argument that has nothing to do with the particular thread that said argument is in, I wish they would take it to PMs.

I think in the heat of the moment you're not thinking 'let's take this someplace private' with the person you're arguing with. Of course I'm strictly talking about the vicious arguments rather than debates, when you're not so hot under the collar.

[newb]

Wow! Hardcore! Newb wouldn't last a day.:D

yeah...fuck that shit...I need a beer just reading it.

[TheWickerFan]

yeah...fuck that shit...I need a beer just reading it.

For shame! 5 points.;) Oh wait, profanity AND alcohol, you are banned!

I definitely understand the frustration of starting a thread and having it go wildly off topic, but deleting all evidence that an exchange took place just doesn't seem right.

[_____V_____]

I definitely understand the frustration of starting a thread and having it go wildly off topic, but deleting all evidence that an exchange took place just doesn't seem right.

Wait...frustration?

What was done to the thread was not personal. It was a Mod's duty to clean up the thread and make it presentable for future discussion (for members and visitors alike), after sending an infraction to the most guilty member to stop his fanboy-ism and derailing the thread repeatedly.

[Let me clarify here that the said member replied back in words which cannot be posted in this thread, so he has been temporarily banned for one month for his behaviour (which was most definitely "I will keep going, fuck you all" attitude)]

Do you want all of that "exchange" stuff back in the thread? If yes, post in the positive and I can bring it all back in a jiffy.

Do you prefer no deletions from henceforth because in your view it's censorship?
Then okay, I can promise you this - no amount of derailment posts, arguments, bickerings, fights, heated "discussions" will henceforth be deleted from any thread.

Promising this from my side only, other Mods are free to do as they please on this matter. From now on, I will confine myself strictly to removing spammers and spam posts/threads ONLY.

[newb]

ok....now I'm curious...was this recent and who was banned

[Sistinas666]

I hate seeing posts deleted. The most recent incident didn't seem right to me. However as a mod I can see the dilema, were do you draw the line? Arguements? OMC Dave style jibber jabber? Flaming? Name calling?


I guess in all I feel like warnings should issued and bans instituted as opposed to deleting. If Bobert has a "you can't stop me" attitude then his banning is justified, imo.

[TheWickerFan]

ok....now I'm curious...was this recent and who was banned

It's got to be Bob Gray, the man who believed all books to be superior to all movies based on said books. This was a large part of the reason I started this thread.

@V - I never said anything about taking this personally; I just said threads are derailed all the time, not necessarily for a fight, but just because members were in a silly mood. I've been guilty of this myself, and I've had it happen to my threads before. I don't consider it a big deal, just part of being on a forum.

If you'd rather not try the 'lock' approach, that's fine. I just wanted to put in my two cents about the 'delete' approach.

[Straker]

I think, generally speaking, deleting posts is the best way to handle most situations. I don't like seeing threads locked, especially if an off topic argument is the cause. It stops people actually discussing the thread subject. Leaving arguments up in the thread just clogs it up for people trying to follow the intended topic, which only really leaves deleting posts. That said, I think when things go off topic without arguments then there's no harm taking the off topic posts and creating a seperate thread.

The only time deleting posts is a problem is when you have a forum where mods are getting into arguments or part of forum cliques and become 'selective' about what gets deleted, thats not the case on HDC.

In short, I really don't mind having the odd post deleted when I drift too far off topic or act like a prick. :D

[Elvis_Christ]

Delete.

No one needs to read a lot of the shit that gets taken down and it just makes the board look like it's full of retards. Plus the discussion can continue.

I've been guilty of being a fucking idiot on here and have no problem with my posts getting removed.

[Sistinas666]

Simply deleting is crap. If you care enough about the original topic its not that hard to turn the conversation back. Locking is shit because it destroys good threads. Warnings and then bannings If you get a pm warning about your behavior in a thread take it into account. If you choose to ignore it then get a permanent or temporary banning at the admins discretion.

[newb]

It's got to be Bob Gray, the man who believed all books to be superior to all movies based on said books. This was a large part of the reason I started this thread.

@V - I never said anything about taking this personally; I just said threads are derailed all the time, not necessarily for a fight, but just because members were in a silly mood. I've been guilty of this myself, and I've had it happen to my threads before. I don't consider it a big deal, just part of being on a forum.

If you'd rather not try the 'lock' approach, that's fine. I just wanted to put in my two cents about the 'delete' approach.

figures....I think I voted him "new member with most potential".

[Fearonsarms]

Simply deleting is crap. If you care enough about the original topic its not that hard to turn the conversation back. Locking is shit because it destroys good threads. Warnings and then bannings If you get a pm warning about your behavior in a thread take it into account. If you choose to ignore it then get a permanent or temporary banning at the admins discretion.

I have to say I am in complete agreement with this. I also agree with wickerfan that deleting posts feels like censorship especially-to give an example- when the multitude of people who have posted in some of the sticky threads have had their ON-TOPIC posts deleted just to make the threads seem smaller-that has been beyond frustrating. Why are those threads kept small and not like the various "Last Seen Movie" threads allowed to go on forever? I genuinely am curious why we are not allowed to discuss the movies in the top lists? I personally would have thought it would attract more members into discussions.

[TheWickerFan]

I have to say I am in complete agreement with this. I also agree with wickerfan that deleting posts feels like censorship especially-to give an example- when the multitude of people who have posted in some of the sticky threads have had their ON-TOPIC posts deleted just to make the threads seem smaller-that has been beyond frustrating. Why are those threads kept small and not like the various "Last Seen Movie" threads allowed to go on forever? I genuinely am curious why we are not allowed to discuss the movies in the top lists? I personally would have thought it would attract more members into discussions.

I never noticed that. Weird.:confused:

[Fearonsarms]

I never noticed that. Weird.:confused:

I should have mentioned this earlier when I had noticed a lot of posts disappearing especially in the "Gorific" thread but while we're on the subject to give a specific example the posts by me, leezuki and ferox13 about "The Incredible Melting Man"?

[TheWickerFan]

I should have mentioned this earlier when I had noticed a lot of posts disappearing especially in the "Gorific" thread but while we're on the subject to give a specific example the posts by me, leezuki and ferox13 about "The Incredible Melting Man"?

It does seem strange. I guess the lists aren't meant to be discussion threads?:confused:

[FreddyMyers]

It does keep it as a list more so than an actual thread, huh, if someone wants to discuss a certain topic or such on a sticky thread they can always just make a seperate thread for that said topic. Keeps the "TOP" stickies as just the lists.

Agreeing with Elvis-Delete. Id rather be reading HDCs opinions on the topic than have to read through the mindless bickering between people. Maybe post a warning within the thread about possible deletions/banning or something.

[Zero]

i like mindless bickering & threats of violence. reminds me of my childhood

[Sistinas666]

Agreeing with Elvis-Delete. Id rather be reading HDCs opinions on the topic than have to read through the mindless bickering between people. Maybe post a warning within the thread about possible deletions/banning or something.


Its usually the same person/persons bickering. This is were the ignore function comes in handy. I don't mind reading(or being involved with) the bickering, some of the funniest shit I've seen here were in arguements. "Give me your address so I can come kick your ass" is probably one of my favorites.:D A little bickering is fine with me but it should stop with a warning from a mod(or common sense). That should, one would think, clean up unnecessary amounts of mindless fighting. Ignore the warning and feel the wrath of the ban hammer.....

[Ferox13]

I should have mentioned this earlier when I had noticed a lot of posts disappearing especially in the "Gorific" thread but while we're on the subject to give a specific example the posts by me, leezuki and ferox13 about "The Incredible Melting Man"?

DAmn they deleted my posts on that film - I have no idea what they were but what a lost to the whole community...Its sad really.