Possible forum posting change?

[Travel Guru]

Given the number of 1st time posters of late who are simply out for a whinge and offer nothing in the way of value to the forum, could it not be possible for new members to have to say post replies on at least 10 existing threads prior to being able to create a new thread of their own?

Not sure what you all think, i'm just a bit disappointed of late by the lack of quality and substance in alot of people creating a thread for their first post, I think it detracts from the overall quality of the forum.

Any thoughts?

TG

 

[v8Statesman]

I second that notion...

 

[Driver]

I belong to another forum that encourages this view. They are clear though that you do not have to have a large knowledge base of the forum subject. However an interest is expected. Comments don't have to be technical - support, helpful advice, general comments and views, questioning, asking advice, having an opinion are all encouraged.

I have no tecnical knowledge but my dad was a navigator in B-52s in the US Airforce when I was a kid - we used to go out to the end of the runway and watch them take off in formation. We got to fly space available on airforce flights and go up into the coughpit. A great childhood which engendered a love of flying and travel in general.

I think your forum covers and interested persons needs - travel reports, questions, comments etc. Seems like a fairly close knit community with friendly and caring members with a variety of knowledge.

 

[MelUser]

I agree - I laugh when 1st post recommends that we all go out and buy a product or service (although haven't seen one of these for a while)!

 

[docjames]

Agree (10 char min)

 

[JohnK]

I partly agree. I think admin already has a feature in place where threads and posts of first time posters need to be approved by admin or a moderator before appearing on the forum.

I don't remember exactly but I think one of my first ever posts was a thread asking how to best maximise SCs for SYD-BKK returns in economy.

 

[Alanslegal]

I'd agree in principle however suggest a minimum of say 10/15 posts rather than TG's suggestion of 10 different existing thread.

I also agree with Driver's view that not everyone (esp me) have a technical expertise on forum topics but (do hope) I can provide something positive in return.

 

[oz_mark]

While I do have some sympathy for the idea, I do wonder whether it would just cause such posters to vent on a vaguely related (or maybe not even related) thread. If they are out for a whinge, then let them do so in their own thread!

 

[Travel Guru]

I'd agree in principle however suggest a minimum of say 10/15 posts rather than TG's suggestion of 10 different existing thread.

I also agree with Driver's view that not everyone (esp me) have a technical expertise on forum topics but (do hope) I can provide something positive in return.

I fully support just posts, not different threads.

I totally agree not everyone has a technical expertise, my expertise lies in being an experienced TA owner, but obviously others have expertise in other areas, but none the less, as long as someone is adding value, i don't really mind whether they know anything or not, more that they what they sad adds rather than detracts from the overall quality of the forum itself.

It just seems to be a recurring theme that threads from first time posters are of poor quality and either a whinge or a sales attempt.

TG

 

[vt]

errrrr....I'm not sure if I would fully support this idea.

This is a great site where people can attain alot of information about flying and frequent flyer schemes.

If we start imposing a post reply minimun, we'll lose new blood rather quickly.

 

[Travel Guru]

errrrr....I'm not sure if I would fully support this idea.

This is a great site where people can attain alot of information about flying and frequent flyer schemes.

If we start imposing a post reply minimun, we'll lose new blood rather quickly.

I don't know if i'd agree with that, I think you'll find most of the long term posters (ie. those who have been members over a year or so and have posted over say 500+ posts) posted many more than 10 replies prior to starting their own thread, i know in my case it was well over 200 before I felt i had anything interesting enough to add or ask to warrant starting a thread.

I'm not suggesting Admin would do it, just wondering who agrees with the idea, and it's certainly meant to add value rather than prevent people from joining the site, which i can't see it would do.

Always open to hearing opinion though.

TG

 

[dajop]

I don't think the volume/rate of new threads on AFF really warrants this sort of restriction, there aren't that many happening each day, particularly from new time posters.

Albeit only taking a sample size of 1 - today I noticed that this thread would have been excluded under the proposed rules, but it seems perfectly fine to me.

 

[admin]

We do have a number of checks in place to ensure that obvious spam or inapproriate posts made by new members are either never displayed or are deleted fairly quickly. So, I don't really think we have a problem.

In principle, I'm also against the idea of restricting functionality (such as starting new threads) based on number of posts. We are trying to create a friendly and helpful online community where all are welcome. I'd rather error on the side of being too accepting, rather than place restrictions and thereby potentially miss out on valid and useful discussions.

But, it the situation changes and it becomes obvious that we have a problem, I'm happy to reconsider.

 

[mr_matt_t]

Travel Guru - don't agree.

I think someone having a good old whinge sometimes generates interesting discussion. As long as spam and inappropriate posts are suitably filtered as Admin suggests happens then first time posters should be encouraged.

I believe having a minimum posting reply level encourages people to 'pad' their posts and detracts from new people making useful comments.

My 2 bob.

 

[codash1099]

I tend to agree with TG but I'm not sure that a fixed rule will accomplish anything. I would suggest that all posts from newbies be filtered through the Moderators or Admin before posting. At some manageable level (maybe 5 posts?) the newbie could be said to have "graduated" and would be allowed direct posting.

A downside of this appraoch may be delays if Mods are not available, but posts of great urgency are rare.

 

[Travel Guru]

Travel Guru - don't agree.

I think someone having a good old whinge sometimes generates interesting discussion. As long as spam and inappropriate posts are suitably filtered as Admin suggests happens then first time posters should be encouraged.

I believe having a minimum posting reply level encourages people to 'pad' their posts and detracts from new people making useful comments.

My 2 bob.

I accept your view, I don't think either of us are right or wrong, I just thought it would make for an interesting discussion given the several first timer forums whinging about this or that of late.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

TG

 

[thegurio]

I dont have an issue with first time posters posting new threads or whatever, as others have said it doesnt happen all that often so its not too bad to worry about.

What i do have an issue with is new comers dredging up old posts i.e. over 2 years old, and then conributing absolutely nothing to the discussion. There were at least 2 over the last week with a "I agree" added on to it which adds nothing and makes you read the whole post again.

For my daily catching up i use the "new posts" button which i find helps me streamline my visit if i havent been here for a day or two and then i jsut open them all up and read them one by one.

FWIW i have asked, and most other newbies, stupid questions that just could have taken some searching but unfortunately its not that easy to find some things like Airport Codes, DONE4's etc. It really is a new language when you first come in here!

 

[tuapekastar]

Good idea in the right circumstances Travel Guru, but I tend to favour the view that the problem is not significant enough ATM to warrant it.
But a good one for admin to have up his sleeve should things go significantly downhill in that area!

Without checking back, I suspect my first (or at least a very early one) post was a question which required a new thread. If the restriction had been in place I would have had to make up a bunch of replies to existing threads in order to position myself to ask my question(s) - or just have been lucky in that a current thread was already open on the same topic.

 

[Dave Noble]

I tend to agree with TG but I'm not sure that a fixed rule will accomplish anything. I would suggest that all posts from newbies be filtered through the Moderators or Admin before posting. At some manageable level (maybe 5 posts?) the newbie could be said to have "graduated" and would be allowed direct posting.

A downside of this appraoch may be delays if Mods are not available, but posts of great urgency are rare.

There is a system in place where if a post/new thread is made by a poster with 0- a lowish number posts that the post is checked by some software and may cause the post to require moderator action to approve it

Dave

 

[mainly tailfirst]

There is a system in place where if a post/new thread is made by a poster with 0- a lowish number posts that the post is checked by some software and may cause the post to require moderator action to approve it

Dave

Which sounds like a perfectly acceptable compromise to me. In the interests of contributing something to this thread (less my mod points go down I looked at my post history and I replied to 10 threads before I did my first new post, which was a trip report. So perhaps TG's original suggestion isn't too onerous. Of course, we'd have to allow TRs to be exempt form the rule, since they are not whiny questions usually. Now, that reminds me, I have a TR from June I really should get around to finishing one day...

mt