05-04-2008, 11:20 PM
[quote JJ]MAVIC,
I don't think posters need to be knowledgeable or experienced in order to be civil.
Also, it appears that some of the name calling is coming from knowledgeable and experienced posters.
Yes, I agree. I think I didn't clearly convey what I was getting at. Typically, when a forum is filled with lots of good information, there isn't much room for attacks & flaming. I think when helpful and knowledgeable people (signal) leave then the room for bad behavior (noise) increases.
On another forum I moderate, due to some loss of jobs for a few key people, this last summer there were no events for the forum. That meant the community didn't have much new to talk about. The amount of flaming, personal attacks... multiplied dramatically. Once the events started again, then all that died down as people had stuff to talk about. That sort of behavior isn't an isolated incident.
The signal to noise ratio is set by the moderators. And it can pretty much be set to whatever they want. The thing is, the more noise the more it will drive the signal away, and vice versa. So if people think having a lot of noise is okay, then they need only to ask themselves where some of the most knowledgeable people have gone.
For example, it used to be when I asked web related questions here I would get responses from three or four very knowledgeable people. Now I'm lucky to get a responses at all, and those people are gone.
[quote Stephanie]This issue of bad behavior has been a problem since way before this forum was even started.
Maybe it's just spring fever? Too much testosterone in the air? Male PMS (I only say male since most posters here aren't female)?
Definitely a long-standing problem.
True, but it's been getting worse, here, over the past 6mo or so. With some forums I frequent, the problem is almost non-existent. Many communities are understanding how to better manage the end result, so there are are lot more choices these days that don't have that problem.
I don't think posters need to be knowledgeable or experienced in order to be civil.
Also, it appears that some of the name calling is coming from knowledgeable and experienced posters.
Yes, I agree. I think I didn't clearly convey what I was getting at. Typically, when a forum is filled with lots of good information, there isn't much room for attacks & flaming. I think when helpful and knowledgeable people (signal) leave then the room for bad behavior (noise) increases.
On another forum I moderate, due to some loss of jobs for a few key people, this last summer there were no events for the forum. That meant the community didn't have much new to talk about. The amount of flaming, personal attacks... multiplied dramatically. Once the events started again, then all that died down as people had stuff to talk about. That sort of behavior isn't an isolated incident.
The signal to noise ratio is set by the moderators. And it can pretty much be set to whatever they want. The thing is, the more noise the more it will drive the signal away, and vice versa. So if people think having a lot of noise is okay, then they need only to ask themselves where some of the most knowledgeable people have gone.
For example, it used to be when I asked web related questions here I would get responses from three or four very knowledgeable people. Now I'm lucky to get a responses at all, and those people are gone.
[quote Stephanie]This issue of bad behavior has been a problem since way before this forum was even started.
Maybe it's just spring fever? Too much testosterone in the air? Male PMS (I only say male since most posters here aren't female)?
Definitely a long-standing problem.
True, but it's been getting worse, here, over the past 6mo or so. With some forums I frequent, the problem is almost non-existent. Many communities are understanding how to better manage the end result, so there are are lot more choices these days that don't have that problem.