We've got a major problem...

Zer0 · 08-07-2013, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sequoioideae

I used to use this site for all of my music needs, but I go on last.fm, and occasionally plug with people to get my fix. There really isn't any point for me to post much on the forum anymore. Why? Because either I've already discussed the bands I like with people, or I will end up making a thread no one will ever reply to. I'm more known know about my little bitchfits about my life then what I actually listen to. As far as new members go, there was a member named Andrew that I almost instantly took a liking to, he actually turned me onto Iceage, and he was fairly interesting, but I'm not surprised he stopped showing up to MB. Facebook is also one of the reasons I don't need to come here to discuss something new in the music world, some of the groups I'm a part of always post stuff I like, notably Spacemantra and Dead TV. The more singularly genre oriented groups are wankfests though, but if you end up finding a facebook group with an eclectic group of people you will always find something. So, why am I still here? I have no idea.

I actually can't remember the last time I discovered something new from this place. Rate Your Music, Last.fm and more recently Plug.dj satisfy my music needs. I originally joined this place to discover new music and talk about music that I couldn't talk to my friends about but this place hasn't satisfy that need in a while.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sopsych

I've been saying this stuff for a very long time.

I do not have all the answers, but I think it starts with this:
Make tore head moderator (his duties determined by him) and enforce all the rules he created. For threads that start going off-topic in a hostile way, the mods need to not personally participate in that and instead quickly warn and then delete and at least temporarily lock.

Also, with the exception of tore, allow members to vote mods out, and let them vote mods in, subject to at least tore's approval.

Follow that advice, and I'm likely to resume starting (good) threads, the lack of which is helping to suck life out of the forum.

Tore was a great mod and did so much for this place but he's not interested in being a mod here anymore as far as I know. Voting mods in and out won't work either because then the mod team would consist of the most popular members rather than those fit for the role.

GuitarBizarre · 08-07-2013, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zer0

Tore was a great mod and did so much for this place but he's not interested in being a mod here anymore as far as I know. Voting mods in and out won't work either because then the mod team would consist of the most popular members rather than those fit for the role.

Exactly. We simply don't have a large enough number of people to form a working democracy. Small voting blocs would have too much ability to skew the results.

A relative meritocracy, similar to what we have now, is the best way, and I don't think there's any reason to change the current system - the team is already reasonable enough to weed out the bad mods.

Zer0 · 08-07-2013, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

Exactly. We simply don't have a large enough number of people to form a working democracy. Small voting blocs would have too much ability to skew the results.

A relative meritocracy, similar to what we have now, is the best way, and I don't think there's any reason to change the current system - the team is already reasonable enough to weed out the bad mods.

The current system is the best system. I mod on another forum and if one mod leaves we just compile a list of potential candidates, investigate their posting history and general attitude and then select who we deem fit. It rarely fails.

The general problem with this place isn't even to do with the mod team. Anybody can help to make this place more worthwhile with thoughtful and constructive posts and threads.

Ninetales · 08-07-2013, 05:04 PM

Hello nublet here. (As an aside I dont have an inclination to leave this place. yet..)

I think the main issue here is what was said earlier in that the actual music portion of the forum is being overshadowed by the lounge. Ive already found a lot of really cool and interesting music from members here but its mostly happened on plug.dj. If it wasnt for that I'd have a hard time figuring out what kind of music almost any of the members here even like (albeit ive only been here for like a month or two). It seems like the bulk of the music forums are just about singular artist which really dont create much discussion other than "I like them" or "I dont like them". I guess I could start making threads that I find to be interesting but it doesnt seem worth it if people arent interested too. I tend to not make threads when Im relatively new to a forum just so i can gauge other members and their interests but this one has been pretty hard to do in terms of their music tastes, on the forums that is.

In terms of the clique-ness I think that happens in most forums. Especially since theres a lot of members here that have been around for years which tends to make feelings on other long term members stronger (whether in liking or disliking). Personally I havent felt that I must belong a this clique or that one around here but again im like 40 posts in so what do i even know.

Generally everyone that ive interacted with has been cool and I can tell I can learn a lot from a variety of members, while contributing some of my own tastes too. MB could be a lot worse, and I think it just takes a few interesting music threads and discussions to make it a lot better.

misspoptart · 08-07-2013, 05:06 PM

I have to agree with Arya on this one... there are FAR too many threads about non-music BS going on here. I don't get it. Isn't there anywhere else you people can go to talk about which men/women you'd bang, whether or not rape is the victim's fault, or your bad day?? Maybe I'm being a bit hypocritical -- I also post in these threads from time to time... but those topics are NOT what makes a music forum, and frankly, that's not what I'm here for. I'm pretty sure the internet is big enough for everyone to find an outlet. I would LOVE if people actually replied to threads that were about music. More.

Why not just get rid of the damn lounge altogether? Sorry for being so bold, but I don't really see its value.

Unknown Soldier · 08-07-2013, 05:12 PM

I agree with Duga's original post that a lot of what goes on in the lounge is very much the rotten apple of the forum and too many people spend too much time on there fuelling up the dramas on there and it's usually the same culprits. There's nothing wrong with a debate and a bit of fisticuffs as we don't necessarily want a forum with angels either, but when it becomes constant trolling and verbal abuse I think that should be knocked on the head straight away. Personally I think the mods should take a firmer hand with certain people on here that are unable to interact in a decent manner, For example that Serbian nut that was one here and got banned, after spending about a week abusing people that didn't agree with him, he really should have been warned after the first abuse and banned on the second, I don't know why it went on for so long. If this type of no-nonsense message was made clear then the drama whores would leave and there would be a greater focus on music debate.

Normally I'm not one for a strict control on most things but when it comes to an internet forum, I think those in authority have a responsibility to go tough on offenders from the word go.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 08-07-2013, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Personally I think the mods should take a firmer hand with certain people on here that are unable to interact in a decent manner, For example that Serbian nut that was one here and got banned, after spending about a week abusing people that didn't agree with him, he really should have been warned after the first abuse and banned on the second, I don't know why it went on for so long. If this type of no-nonsense message was made clear then the drama whores would leave and there would be a greater focus on music debate.

I think your memory may be playing tricks on you.
He joined on August 1st, received his first warning from Duga on that day.
Then I gave him a ban in the early hours of August 3rd.

So in reality he was barely here a day and a half and we did exactly what you just suggested to the letter.

Unknown Soldier · 08-07-2013, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

I think your memory may be playing tricks on you.
He joined on August 1st, received his first warning from Duga on that day.
Then I gave him a ban in the early hours of August 3rd.

So in reality he was barely here a day and a half and we did exactly what you just suggested to the letter.

Ok squire, my mistake

GuitarBizarre · 08-07-2013, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

I agree with Duga's original post that a lot of what goes on in the lounge is very much the rotten apple of the forum and too many people spend too much time on there fuelling up the dramas on there and it's usually the same culprits. There's nothing wrong with a debate and a bit of fisticuffs as we don't necessarily want a forum with angels either, but when it becomes constant trolling and verbal abuse I think that should be knocked on the head straight away. Personally I think the mods should take a firmer hand with certain people on here that are unable to interact in a decent manner, For example that Serbian nut that was one here and got banned, after spending about a week abusing people that didn't agree with him, he really should have been warned after the first abuse and banned on the second, I don't know why it went on for so long. If this type of no-nonsense message was made clear then the drama whores would leave and there would be a greater focus on music debate.

Normally I'm not one for a strict control on most things but when it comes to an internet forum, I think those in authority have a responsibility to go tough on offenders from the word go.

Again, I really, REALLY don't think moderation is the problem here. At some point members, and that includes me, you, and everyone else, have to stand up and say "If the mod team need to be stricter with us, then we are not being strict enough on ourselves".

Crowing for greater "control" or whatever, is just going to destroy the easygoing atmosphere we currently have, and won't make anyone any more "welcomed".

Arya Stark · 08-07-2013, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misspoptart

I have to agree with Arya on this one... there are FAR too many threads about non-music BS going on here. I don't get it. Isn't there anywhere else you people can go to talk about which men/women you'd bang, whether or not rape is the victim's fault, or your bad day?? Maybe I'm being a bit hypocritical -- I also post in these threads from time to time... but those topics are NOT what makes a music forum, and frankly, that's not what I'm here for. I'm pretty sure the internet is big enough for everyone to find an outlet. I would LOVE if people actually replied to threads that were about music. More.

Why not just get rid of the damn lounge altogether? Sorry for being so bold, but I don't really see its value.

The only thing is we ve had the lounge with no problem. Why remove something that people like? I don't see anything wrong with the lounge, I just think people either take stuff too personally or not personally enough when its actually offensive. Idk how long youve been around, I took a hiatus for a while, but we used to have trolls and dramatic people and they were taken with a grain of salt unless they a tually did something ****ed up... Now its like a free for all with some members and a probation for others. I honestly don't recall it being this way.

08-07-2013, 05:04 PM	#34 (permalink)
Ninetales Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: livin wild Posts: 2,179	Hello nublet here. (As an aside I dont have an inclination to leave this place. yet..) I think the main issue here is what was said earlier in that the actual music portion of the forum is being overshadowed by the lounge. Ive already found a lot of really cool and interesting music from members here but its mostly happened on plug.dj. If it wasnt for that I'd have a hard time figuring out what kind of music almost any of the members here even like (albeit ive only been here for like a month or two). It seems like the bulk of the music forums are just about singular artist which really dont create much discussion other than "I like them" or "I dont like them". I guess I could start making threads that I find to be interesting but it doesnt seem worth it if people arent interested too. I tend to not make threads when Im relatively new to a forum just so i can gauge other members and their interests but this one has been pretty hard to do in terms of their music tastes, on the forums that is. In terms of the clique-ness I think that happens in most forums. Especially since theres a lot of members here that have been around for years which tends to make feelings on other long term members stronger (whether in liking or disliking). Personally I havent felt that I must belong a this clique or that one around here but again im like 40 posts in so what do i even know. Generally everyone that ive interacted with has been cool and I can tell I can learn a lot from a variety of members, while contributing some of my own tastes too. MB could be a lot worse, and I think it just takes a few interesting music threads and discussions to make it a lot better.

08-07-2013, 05:06 PM	#35 (permalink)
misspoptart gimme gimme Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: istanbul Posts: 897	I have to agree with Arya on this one... there are FAR too many threads about non-music BS going on here. I don't get it. Isn't there anywhere else you people can go to talk about which men/women you'd bang, whether or not rape is the victim's fault, or your bad day?? Maybe I'm being a bit hypocritical -- I also post in these threads from time to time... but those topics are NOT what makes a music forum, and frankly, that's not what I'm here for. I'm pretty sure the internet is big enough for everyone to find an outlet. I would LOVE if people actually replied to threads that were about music. More. Why not just get rid of the damn lounge altogether? Sorry for being so bold, but I don't really see its value.