Regarding Filled Topics.

A small request to watchful Aqua-Soft members. We do get several requests for help on these forums and quite often these are promptly answered by our knowledgeable members. If a topic seems filled, please post a reply in the thread with the words

*ASFilled*

This will indicate to forum moderators/admins that a topic has been filled and can be closed. This also helps in mass closing of topics. A Mod/Admin can run a search through the whole database for topics which include the words *ASFilled* and can run a mass-close topic tag for all those threads. This makes it much easier for mods/admins to find and close filled request threads.

The reason why I say this needs to be implemented is that recently we have had a spate of old threads being resurrected. If those threads can be closed, it will put an end to this.

I am also PMing a link to this thread to all moderators/admins. If I get their approval, I would appreciate your assistance in implementing this.

Thank you,

Sid.

#145733

That is indeed an excellent idea Sid, but just as the tagging, it will take time and memeber's cooperation, specially members cooperation.

#145736

Maybe you could have an ASClosed team or something. Not sure it would work well though - just an idea....

#145737

I also feel that until the admins/mods unitedly agree on implementing this, I think the thread should be closed. Timan can re-open the thread if he feels this needs to be done and then we can get feedback from members about what they think about this.

I have PMed all the moderators and admins with a link to this thread. We can wait for their reply.

So Seph would you do the honors and close the thread temporarily?

#145738

closed at sid's request, and FYI i like the idea. provided people didnt post after someone has already placed the tag.

-The Unknown

#145739

Well I see a few problems with mass closing of threads, for one it looks like an utter mess on the forum index when you see 99% of the topics closed it kinda looks like a joke if you ask me.

Another issue is... You guys tell people that make new threads to use the search button... well what if they had a comment to add to all these closed threads, its just one issue I see.

I just think it looks unprofessional when you see so many closed topics and topics with [tags], like put your self in the guests point of view, they come to the site and see all these closed threads, they are going to be scared to death to post :S.

I'm going to reopen this thread just to see what others think.

#145792

i dont see why the topics need to be closed, what if someone wants to add something to it , whats the advantage to closing it

#145799

I agree with Timan and carbonfiber. What if some new member wants to add/ask something about the topic that has been closed? He creates a new one. I think it's a big mess, circle of repeating topics in periods of time. We should utilize this great database of knowledge we have here, not multiply it without need.

#145808

Yeah all these closed threads are crazy, i dont like it one bit. Whats the harm of having them open? Mabie if someone is asking for like a milk skin and someone posts a link, someone else might want to chime in and say "ohh i use so and sos milk skin, and i think its better" or "You might want to check out GUI-pod too"

And plus i think its too much of a controled board, kinda like a police state. Too much controll makes people less open. Non of the other boards i go to have so many closed posts. Closing a post should be a resort that should be used to stop conflict.

An AS-close team would be awsome, for badges we could put "thought police"

#145841

Originally posted by lostspyder@Apr 17 2004, 05:44 PM

[cut]

And plus i think its too much of a controled board, kinda like a police state. Too much controll makes people less open. Non of the other boards i go to have so many closed posts. Closing a post should be a resort that should be used to stop conflict.

It's definitely a good point. I hope we'll do something about it, at least I promise I'll be more careful with closing threads.

#145854

Yeah, forums are about communicating, not just question/answer. There's absolutely no reason to close a thread once the original problem has been solved.

#145873

Originally posted by Timan@Apr 17 2004, 01:57 PM

Well I see a few problems with mass closing of threads, for one it looks like an utter mess on the forum index when you see 99% of the topics closed it kinda looks like a joke if you ask me.

Another issue is... You guys tell people that make new threads to use the search button... well what if they had a comment to add to all these closed threads, its just one issue I see.

I just think it looks unprofessional when you see so many closed topics and topics with [tags], like put your self in the guests point of view, they come to the site and see all these closed threads, they are going to be scared to death to post :S.

I'm going to reopen this thread just to see what others think.

I'm torn on this - on one hand, I think closing topics to stop them being bumped unnecessarily is a good idea, but, by the same token, we do also stop "necessary" bumping... Maybe we should have a rule about "bump" posts being removed at mods' discretion?

With regards to the tags, I think, personally, they make the forum easier to navigate - you can see what's a release, what's a preview, what's a request, what's a call for help, and so forth.

#145899

Again I'd like to emphasize the point of implementing this.

This will NOT stop posts asking for requests. We get them regardless of whether we close filled topics or not. We've been noticing this ever since the beginning of Aqua-Soft and to be honest it is a common feature of message boards. There will always be people who will just make requests. It has to be accepted.

What this will stop is bumping of OUTDATED posts. We have seen this happening recently in that people try and resurrect threads that are very very old and outdated. There's just no point in doing that because most of the members that were involved in that discussion do not exist anymore or just dropped the particular idea/mod/skin being discussed.

It's just an idea...I mean I have seen this being implemented on other boards to GREAT effect and it works if properly implemented. Anyway I'm not the authority here and it's your call.

Sid

#146399

i think a solution to the bumping old topics is to lock them, once they become so old...*volunteer*

-Lou

#146436

Originally posted by Lou@Apr 18 2004, 06:51 PM

i think a solution to the bumping old topics is to lock them, once they become so old...*volunteer*

-Lou

That's what this whole debate is about, if you hadn't noticed

#146440

I don't like the idea - it will only result in more mess.

The tags we have at the moment are very very handy - it would be nice if something could be added to the search section to include searching specific tags....

#146441

Originally posted by Sid@Apr 18 2004, 07:56 PM

Again I'd like to emphasize the point of implementing this.

This will NOT stop posts asking for requests. We get them regardless of whether we close filled topics or not. We've been noticing this ever since the beginning of Aqua-Soft and to be honest it is a common feature of message boards. There will always be people who will just make requests. It has to be accepted.

What this will stop is bumping of OUTDATED posts. We have seen this happening recently in that people try and resurrect threads that are very very old and outdated. There's just no point in doing that because most of the members that were involved in that discussion do not exist anymore or just dropped the particular idea/mod/skin being discussed.

It's just an idea...I mean I have seen this being implemented on other boards to GREAT effect and it works if properly implemented. Anyway I'm not the authority here and it's your call.

Sid

1. If we don't close 'outdated' topics, most of requests will be posted within them. We want to avoid double posting and we want our database to be usable, not overwritten.

2. What I have seen recently in outdated threads was some 'thank you' posts and one or two help requests. The fact that the thread's starter isn't here anymore/dropped the idea doesn't mean anything. We have other members that might be willing to pick up the idea or share missing files.

Sorry Sid, I'm still contrary to your proposal

edit: great idea DoubleD! :woot:

#146442