Since the last thread pertaining to this subject magically diappeared, I decided to start a new thread.

Posts stating "wrong forum" or any simialar incarnation of the statement are unnecessary and do nothing to help the thread. Some look as the posts as padding, which is not that big an issue since post counts do not equate to anything, but the bigger issue is denegrating the tone of the thread.

It is much easier and more efficient to e-mail a moderator to let him know your feelings on a thread than to post "wrong forum" which could be construed as flame bait or an insult by the original poster. It will help help the forum operate more smoothly and help spread good will. Posts like this are right up the lines of "nice bargain" posts which many times lead to suspensions.

Thoughts, suggestions?

J

I agree. I must add that the mods have been a little slow in catching and moving stuff that is posted in the wrong forums lately. I realized they don't get compensated, so perhaps Geoff should add a couple mods to help keep up. I think DVD Talk/Movies,Movies,Movies definitely needs a couple more mods as that is where this is the biggest problem since the split is new.

[randyc]

You guys need to get a sense of humor!

You're all so testy!

[/randyc]

this response is coming. I just thought I'd get it out of the way for him.

The reason I deleted the old thread on this topic was because certain moderators were taking it way off topic into some discussion about a Conspiracy Forum.

Not to mention, the "wrong forum" pads are really funny. I guess it just takes a good sense of humor to realize it.

But what do I know, I'm just overreacting.
-rolleyes-


[Edited by Bust on 04-02-01 at 11:30 PM]

I dont understand why you guys are soooo worried about Wrong Forum and IBTL. If I see one, I just move on, no harm done. Doesn't hurt me seeing them. Whinners! :D

I think you're missing the point. It's not about worrying and harm being done.

Imagine you start a thread and you mistankenly post it in the wrong forum. Let's say it's a burning question that you can't wait to have answered. You log on to DVD Talk the next day and click on the forum you posted in. You see your thread right at the top of the list and there are 4 replies. WOW you think, I will get my answer! So you click on your thread and the 4 replies consist of:

wrong fourm

in before the move

why is this posted in the bargains forum?

mods, please move this to the DVD Talk forum

I would think you might be a little annoyed. None of these posts does any good at all except to 1) Pad a post count, 2)Belittle you and your original post, or 3)try to show how perceptive these members are -rolleyes-.

But in the previous thread mentioned above, our mods already decided that these posts are really cool and funny.

Bust, I think you are still being testy...and you totally missed what I was saying in the other thread...and now have somehow changed it that I support the off topic posts.

You need to get a clue, as I do not support posts that say IBTL, or Wrong Forum, etc. I do not think they are funny. Your logic is truly bizarre.

I made a joke, you missed it...it did not have anything to do with this.

And yes, you are still overreacting.

Are you serious that I was serious about a conspiracy forum? Sheesh... THAT is what I meant about lighten up.

You know, there is one thing that would help in this situation.

If the "Start Thread" Form would include a selection box that listed all Forums and you were required to select one and only one Forum to post your new thread to it may cut down on posts that are placed in the "wrong forum" to begin with. There could be a link to a "help" page to fully describe each forum that way the original poster will know what to post to and why.

This "selection" box could be defaulted based on the Forum the "Start Thread" originated from.

I would think this would be simple to do and since selection would be required, it would make the poster think before they do.... maybe in that case the selection box should not default.

I guess that is a thought. I know that some people post in the "wrong forum" on purpose sometimes in an effort to ensure high visibility. While the poster may like this, it isn't always appreciated by others. Some post unintentionally in the "wrong forum". In this case it wasn't really their fault but they will probably receive some rude comments pointing out the error. In either case the original starter of the thread should realize, they screwed up and they should not take the jabbs so personal.

I find myself responding to such threads trying to give an appropriate response (helpful) while also pointing out the error in the forum it was posted to.

Geoff, what are the chances of putting in a Forum "selection box" on the "Start Thread" Form?

Imagine that.

This was my logic:

I started a thread with a completely legitimate idea that the "wrong forum" posts were unnecessary and should not be allowed. Your response in that thread was basically, [paraphrasing]"some people around here are so testy and need to get a sense of humor"[/paraphrasing]. You later confirmed that said post was referring to me (as well as others) and you never once said in that thread, "I do not support posts that say IBTL, or Wrong Forum, etc. I do not think they are funny."

Logic formula: Bust says "wrong forum" posts are unnecessary + randyc says Bust needs a sense of humor = randyc thinks "wrong forum" posts are funny

you're right! How bizarre! -rolleyes-


At least I'm in good company around here. Who will be providing the clues? You? rotfl


I never said that I thought you were serious about starting a conspiracy forum. But there is no denying that the thread was hijacked and the responses it recieved had degenerated into discussing this idea. The thread was no longer being used to discuss the original topic and so I deleted it before it was locked for going off topic. So no, I wasn't serious. Is THAT what you meant?

Nope! Suffice to say you still don't get it....and your paraphrasing is way off. But now you have made it your crusade to whine about your confused perception and have managed to (ironically) take another thread off topic.

Good thoughts BadAsh. If someone is to post "wrong forum" into a thread at least do it contructively where you add something to the thread then suggest maybe it would be better suited elsewhere. This gives the original poster a chance to request a change as well as you who noticed the mistake to contact the moderator.


As for randyc and Bush, you guys go at it quite a bit. I think a thread is in order just for you guys to have it out man to man, may the best DVDtalker win ;)

J


[Edited by Master J on 04-03-01 at 03:43 PM]

Hey, I was beating the Bush! :p

But that Bust...that is another story. I think I am done debating, because we are really debating two different things.

P.S. I agree (and I always try to do this) with the add content to the intended humor point. I posted way back that the Nice Bargain threads were way out of line. If it's a newbie, KINDLY suggest the correct forum. Ask a mod to move it.

As Mod, I move threads everyday, and I also try at the same time to provide an answer if I can.

So, let me get this right...

Bust and MasterJ are asking for what? For people to stop pointing out that they didn't spend about 3 seconds of thought and realize which forum their thread should go into?

rotfl

Just think if you took all the energy you have expelled here complaining and put it to use to *think* before you post, you'd probably never be in the wrong forum again!

When I post a "Moving to..." remark it is intended to help the thread starter realize his/her error and maybe take the time to fix it.

If it really annoys you so much to have a couple of posts telling you to move, then maybe you ought to spend another couple of seconds thinking before you start a thread???

This is a joke, right? -rolleyes-

Leave the moderation to the moderators.

"Moving to..." posts are every bit as obnoxious and wholly unnecessary as "IBTL"s. They don't particularly bother me, but anyone thinking that they're in some way providing a positive contribution to the forum by posting such messages is deluding himself.

Exactly. And just what kind of help is it to the original poster if you post "Moving to..." or IBTL after 20 people already did it before you? I think by that time, he gets the point.

FWIW, I find IBTL, IBTM, and Wrong Forum very annoying. If I see it once or twice, I just ignore it. I do notice certain members who seem to live off of these posts though, and they annoy me. In fact, unless I heard differently from the other Mods, I would tend to delete these posts, when I see them.

I think we're getting off on another topic. What Bush and the last couple of posters are speaking is padding.

I was responding to the original post of this thread.

And it still makes me laugh that you people are pouring so much energy into debating this, but refuse to use 1/10th of that top make sure you're in the right forum.

Wow, how lazy we have gotten.

I guess I can "debate" this all I want, then, because in nearly a year I have been a member here, I have never had one post moved for being in the wrong forum.

As far as I can tell, we're all still talking about the same thing.

I don't recall ever having a post moved.

If I see a new member post something like "Hey I got a good deal on this dvd here" in the wrong forum, and I know they are new, I might post "Thanks for the info. On a side note, there is a bargains forum for this, and I am sure the moderators will close this and move it there soon. Just a heads up."


I see nothing wrong with that. The prob. is some people like power in any form, and just love doing things like "Wrong forum"


Still I think all of this is silly, and we should just let anyone do anything they want! :)

*Scratching Head*

I am really at a loss as to what you are referring to here. I dont think I have ever had a post moved, or for that matter posted in the wrong forum. The issue was making needless posts about "wrong forum" when the accomplish nothing without contacting a moderator.

Maybe the subject it is too complicated or you do not understand the topic, but you are really missing the point. I can explain more, but it is pretty well laid out in my initial post. The issue was never padding, oh well...

J

Thats the main point of the argument. People just post "wrong forum" or whatever just for the sake of doing so. It is not needed especially when it is more than once in one thread. If everyone is concerned so much about things being in the wrong forum why not just e-mail the mod and nip it in the bud?

J

This is what I was trying to explain to you... what you are talking about here is padding. You may think it is a lot of people really upset that there's a thread out of place, but it is not. Trust me, it's padding.

It's a separate issue from "If threads out of place bother you, then e-mail a Mod."

Spend a little more time around here, especially in the Other Forum, and "wrong forum" posts will quickly become the least of your concerns.

And to Ct and scott and the others... gentlemen, it's a moot point. We have different opinions. I feel that complaining about "wrong forum" posts is akin to complaining about any other form of padding - there's nothing that can be done about it and when you really step back, it's not that big of a deal. But obviously it bothers you a lot. I'm just surprised that you are not bothered by the multitude of other posts (or pads) around here that (IMHO) seem much more bothersome than "wrong forum."

If you think my "Moving to..." posts are pads, that's your take and I respect that. But I doubt you could find one that was ever entered after another so called "wrong forum" post. If you feel it would be easier for me to e-mail a Mod and explain the situation, to be honest, it doesn't matter that much to me. I post it, usually within the first few posts of the thread to see if the starter might delete and reassign. If not, so be it. Who cares?

I really think there are other things to worry about.

Re-read my first post in this thread a little more closely.

That's quite a conclusion to make. Apparently you don't read "Forum Feedback and Suggestions" regularly. I, as well as a number of the participants in this thread, regularly post about padding and numerous other forum issues.

The way foxdvd described pointing out an off-topic post is the mature and intelligent way to do so, though still unneccessary. A four word post like "Moving to TV TALK" strikes me as snotty, slightly hostile, and immature. Your mileage, of course, may vary. Besides, if you're pointing this out to newbies who aren't familiar with the forum, do you think they'd know to delete their thread and replace it elsewhere? Maybe they'd assume from your faux-moderator post that you actually had the ability to move threads or something. I've been here long enough to just ignore inane, unnecessary posts like that, but if <i>I</i> were a newbie and someone posted a response like that to one of my first messages, I'd imagine I'd think "What an ass." and move on to greener pastures.

Sure there are. Start a thread about those 'things' or reply to an existing thread. I'm glad to see 'wrong forum' posts addressed, personally.

Wow.

Will all do respect you are very wrong in your statement that "nothing can be done about" wrong forumposts and other types of padding, Geoff can very easily say posting "wrong forum," "Moving to...," etc. would lead to suspension/banning, much like he did with "Nice bargain" posts (from what I have heard, although those were before my time here so I don't have personal experience with them). [Note: I am not saying he should implement such a policy, I am just saying that he could, and it would most likely put an end to those types of posts.]

It bothers me a lot. Thank you for putting words in my mouth. Let's review my first post in this thread: Two simple sentences, posted in passing. Believe me - if it bothered me a lot, I would have posted a lot more than that.

As Adam said, in the past couple months, I have contributed my thoughts against other unnecessary (pad) posts in threads similar to this one here in Feedback. If you would like, I will post some examples.

Nobody mentioned anything in this thread about you posting "Moving to..." except for yourself. None of us are discussing whether or not you are one of the people who does it before or after other "wrong forum" posts - this thread is about that type of thread in general.

For the record, I also, have not been a victim of the rude "wrong forum" pads.

For BoatDrinks who is having a bit of a tough time undersanding the situation here in this thread, I am quoting my entire original post once again.

Padding is not the issue (which for some reason is continually on your mind), it is denegrating tone, air of superiority, and just plain rubbing the initial posters face in the fact he made a mistake. In the time it takes to type and post "wrong forum" one could easily have e-mailed a moderator and had the situation taken care of immediately, or for that matter post constructively to the thread and suggest in a more proper way that theposter may want to post elsewhere for his quesions/comments.

I'll give you an example BoatDrinks... for instance,instead of me saying "wrong thread" to your continual posts about padding, instead I would ask you nicely to start a new thread for your fascinations or I would e-mail a moderator to suggest to you to stay on topic. Sometimes a little decency goes a long way.

J

Pot, meet kettle.

It isn't? Did you happen to read the original thread that Bust started? Padding, or more specifically, "blatant padding" was very much the issue/accusation. I ought to know, since the original accusation was indirectly levied against me.

I might also direct you to Bust's post right over yours.

The "denegrating tone", "air of superiority", and "just plain rubbing..." are all imagined by the reader, sir. To assume any of those things from the two words "wrong forum" is remarkably fallacious and you know it. If I had added several :rolleyes: emoticons or something that would be different.

Hardly.

There we agree completely and I have started doing just that.

I am still amazed (and amused, to be honest), that this issue has been raised and perpetuated with such fiery rhetoric. I do not recall anyone posting "wrong forum" but myself (could be wrong on this) and I did it a grand total of 3-4 times, the last time being on or around the 26th or March. Is this really such a hotbed issue or are you guys just looking for some excuse to bitch about something? You'll forgive me if I say that I see much evidence to point to the latter.

Yes, you're wrong. One-line "moving to..." posts from non-moderators is very common and have been around for as long as I've been reading DVD Talk.

Yes, you're absolutely right. A non-moderator posting "wrong forum" will either magically move the thread elsewhere or get a new user unfamiliar with the software to delete the thread and repost. Simply directing a moderator's attention to a thread would be futile.

Leave the moderation to the moderators.

Ahem...I do not recall anyone posting "wrong forum" but myself (could be wrong on this). Those little " thingies are called quotes. Sorry for the sarcasm, but you deserve it.

Yes, you're absolutely right. A non-moderator posting "wrong forum" will either magically move the thread elsewhere or get a new user unfamiliar with the software to delete the thread and repost. Simply directing a moderator's attention to a thread would be futile.[/quote][/b]

Since we were discussing the actual amount of time it takes to do one versus the other, not whether or not it actually results in the thread being moved...

In Master J's defense, he hasn't mentioned anything about padding in his original post or in any of his backup replies. So in reality, padding is not the issue (in this thread). I, on the other hand, think it still boils down to padding and/or belittleing the original poster. For your consideration, cut and pasted from the forum rules:

(things that are not allowed at DVD Talk)
• Padding your post count with one line posts

I would add to that, one line posts that do not contribute in any way to the original topic of the thread. ex. "wrong forum"

I interpreted it as "wrong forum"-style posts, not necessarily being a direct quote.

You're correct, it's just not a major issue because it isn't blatant padding. Unlike IBTL, you don't see ten "wrong forum" posts in the same thread. It's more of an issue of people trying to be moderators than people padding, though it is certainly a useless one line reply in many cases. If I see a post in the wrong forum by a newbie I will politely inform him where it should be so he will know for future reference AND e-mail the mod so the thread will actually get moved. I see no problem with this. However, just posting "wrong forum" with out being nice and telling the member where it should go is a waste of everyones time. And it is even more of a waste if you don't notifiy the moderator so the thread can be put in it's proper place. If someone is too lazy to do all that, then they should just ignore the other post, and leave it for the mods to discover, or someone else to discover and inform a mod.

JustinS,

Once again I would like to direct you to the initial post I made where I specificaly pointed out that my issue was not padding which seems to keep getting on peoples mind. If you have issues with padding or people calling you a padder deal with them yourself. On this board post counts do not equal more privaleges or anything along those lines so I dont see why you would stress over such a matter.

When trying to make your argument it is not very effective saying "you know it". That is a sophmoric response not backed up in reality or facts.

I don't know how your e-mail works, but there are links to the moderators adresses right on the forum, I click then send an e-mail. Seems pretty simple, but I can explain the process to you in more detail if you would like me to at a later time.

If you do not see what I am getting at regarding the wrong forum posts, I am not sure if you will ever understand the issue. Maybe you like posting "wrong forum" or "moving to" or something else along those lines to some how get moderator powers or for some other reason. I really don't understand your rationale here. What if everytime you posted something in any forum someone who did not like what wrote replied "idiot post", "pointless post", etc. It does not help the attitude one bit of the forum, just as the "wrong forum" posts do not help the problem one bit. Oh well.

J