- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Hi I'm PyRo and I'd like to start Community Superchallenges.
There not Super because their good, its because these are going to be massive projects. Without YOUR help, this will never succeed.
I posted this here because this forum for the most part, has the more "Mature" posters in it and we are the veterans.
Recon's Rant on the N word
This will be a very long and hard raod, but with everyone's participation, I know we can do it.
So you ask "What do you mean by Fix the Forums"?
Well 1st I'm not talking about fixing features or bugs, thats achronos's job. I'm talking about improving the users we have on this site.
We all come here to:
1. Discuss Halo and the rest of Bungie
2. Get Stats
3. Get updates
4. Make friends
5. So much more
In the last few days, at least IMO, the spam has risen dramatically. I continuously see people searching for teams and such in the Halo 3 forum. At times I have just had to leave the forums for alittle while because I was so frustrated by the overwhelming amount of spam.
Coming to these forums gives every user the chance to learn and expand their knowledge.
One of the poblems of these forums is the fact that we have a lot of younger posters. They are generally the bulk of the spam posted here. There is no rule against them, as their shouldn't be, but we need to help them out especially and improve them and also every other user. They deserve to be here just as much as older users do, we're all equal.
This is a difficult issue. I wish sometimes that the mods could just hit a button and poof all the spam would go away. But the reality is that can't happen. Thats why we have that awesome spam button to hit. These forums are a venue to discuss Bungie by all of its users. So limiting ages isn't and never should be used as a solution.
Also amateur modding isn't helping anything. It just devolves into more spam and a greater pissing contest. This doesn't mean that you can't constructibely direct people to the correct forums or helpful ways. You have all seen examples of amatteur modding where it has gone bad. Resentment isn't what we should want here either.
Why do I want the forums fixed?
1. Ownership
2. Collaborative creativity
3. Getting to know people
4. Control
5. Treating Others
I know the forums are worthwhile to have because of all the good and constructive potential that is there. I will tell you that there are certain peoples threads and posts I particuraly like to read. They usually have good, constructive points, questions and they can back themselves up without the need to put others down. The more threads that are like this, the more enjoyable these forums will become. We need more constructive posters. How do we get these? We begin today on January 25th, 2008. We need the communitys help, as it will start with us and spread like a plague onto others.
1. Ownership
The forums should not just be seen as Bungie property. Why? The reason is because people will just spread graffitti type posts and will literally do anything for attention. When we come to Bnet, if we are here to participate in the forums we should feel welcomed to be here. The environment should be rich and free of hostility. If this happens spam levels will decrease dramatically.
You may know a few users who go around trying to help direct traffic constructively. As long as it is constructive, they aren't abusing the forums and are at least trying to help the forums succeed. The most important thing here is to just follow good practice. The more people doing this, the more who may have a chance of noticing and jump on the band wagon.
2. Collabrative Creativity.
A good thread doesn't half to be serious. Examples are one's that have laid back discussions and everyone can generally offer their opinons without much trouble. Some of these threads survive and well frankly some of them die off. Sometimes I like to just have a more casual thread as to relax and not half to be 100% serious all the time. These threads can also bring relief when the forums are full of morons or are dry.
3. Getting to Know people.
It's awesome that we get to meet people on xbox-live. But we, the individual user, all have the same chance to enrich our forum experience by making friends while were here. Want an example? The "Introduce yourself" at the top of this very forum and the flood. Also it is used in many groups so they may become alittle closer. For these forums to be awesome, we don't need a lot of strangers, we need family here. If you aren't a friendly face to someone here, its because your not fulfilling your role as forum poster, or your new. Helping out the brand new people on Bnet when you see them is important as we can guide them from day 1, as with others it is harder because they've fallen into this pattern.
4. Control
Probably the most difficult thing to do at times. When you disagree with someone, thats perfectly fine. Just make sure you do it without offending others and most importantly make it constructive. If someone disagrees with you, thats fine also. Just make your point without letting it evolve into a flame war. Flame wars just piss people off and thus contribute to rule breaking and even more spam. Also when you post, stay on topic. That will eliminate spam right there also.
The situations where you see a thread and just by the title you check it out to see if its spam and it is, is a point where I and others get very dissapointed. It just amazes me how some of these threads can get 150+ replies. If you recognize situations where a thread has devolved or shouldn't have ever evolved in the first place, act accordingly. Before you hit the submit button, make sure you really want to reply. There is nothing worse on these forums then just flat out adding to spam. All that does is devolve the enviorernment. This is why I am asking for the communitys help. Were going to evolve the forums into a more welcome place.
5. Treatment of others.
This goes hand in hand with #4. When you see a new person on the forums, if they accidentially post in the wrong forum there is no need to jump down there throat about it. If we do this, we won't gain anymore posters, and potential ideas may be lost. If someone takes the time out of there day to post on your thread, and follows all rules while staying on topic, then they deserve a personal reply from you. Not only is it the only way leagal "bumping" but it also recognizes there effort.
So how are we supposed to treat those who just wish to spam all day long? This is extremely simple. Ignore them. If theres no reason for them to get attention, then they'll be greatly discouraged to do so. Another way of slowly reducing the amount of spam on these forums. Example - If 5 straight threads are made nd are attention getting or pure spam we have 5 posts and threads of spam now. When 5 people reply to each thread now we have 5 threads and 25 posts of pure spam, thus just magnifying the problem. Also by doing this you have just given them the attention that they want. I dream of the day I see a pure spam thread just ignored and reported.
6. Miscellanious
When you post a thread that has potential for great discussion, that enriches the forums. People who just post *sign* or I agree aren't exactly considered spam, but it might as well be. (excluding H3 forums campaign thread with over 8k replies) They aren't backing themselves up or justifying themselves. Therefore there post was uneeded, unreasoned and uncaring. Put alittle bit of effort into your posts. It opens up conversation and keeps the discussion alive.
7. Forum Tips
Do not use the N word in any way, shape or form. There isn't a situation you can come up with that justifies it.
Get involved in groups. They'll also be revamped soon.
Use good grammar
Post constructive criticism
Assume people intend well, just because a post is in the wrong forum, just advise them nicely where to go.
Offer your knowledge, and contribute it so everyone is more educated.
Be fair. Evaluate both sides and try to see where their coming from.
Charm is way more powerful than force (Xcept Mods in some situations)
Use the search feature
Stop the posting of COD4 Vs Halo 3, Elites Vs Spartans.
8. Final statements.
I am asking for the community's help in order to begin to evolve these forums into a better enviorernment. It will be a long hard road, but with persaverance I know we can do it.
If there isn't a single point in this post here that makes you stop and think for a moment, or doesn't apply to any of your posts, then just post it and this will be abandoned. If you like, propose that this is a waste of space, as long as you can back it up. [/b]
I personally have been on many different forums for a long time and have almost 50,000 posts. I've seen an example of almost everything. I even saw on this site, a thread titled, Halo of Duty 4.
Feel free to challenge anything I have posted.
I do realize that not everyone can be changed, but at least enough people can to make this a more enjoyable place to be.
Open to comments, suggestions, ideas and ninja edits.
Looking forward to playing in the Community Humpday later this evening.
PyRo's Challenge
I challenge every community forum regular to change or help 1 person every week. Also get them to buy into this and we will begin to grow these ideas thru Bnet in no time. Hopefully every week we can expand.
Thank you guys for reading and have a nice day.
[Edited on 01.26.2008 12:56 PM PST]