Why the aggressive moving of threads? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

wilsodh · 10th August 2007, 15:10

So I'm trying to get some visibility on a proposed M5 meet for Chicago-area M5rs and posted an announcement on the main e39 forum the other day. I promptly got 15 responses, some from people I hardly ever see post.

Then this thread was hauled over to the 'Events' forum where it basically died. THE BEST way to get visibility is to post on the main forum. NOT post on a 'side forum' (side forum = 'Events' forum, etc).

At any given time, these side forums get maybe 1/10th the viewing traffic as the main forums, if they are LUCKY.

So I ask: what purpose does it serve to move threads like this to a side forum? Now my call for participants languishes and I'm getting very little traffic.

I appreciate the desire to organize the M5 board, but I'm seeing no benefit to moving threads like this to side forums. Who's interests does this serve??

Alright, I'm really cranky and am going to get my coffee now.

Dave

00M5MD · 10th August 2007, 15:49

Why are you getting all bent out of shape?

All you have to do is ask one of the moderators or admins to keep the thread where you want it, that's it.

I've done this numerous times on multiple forums (including this one). Just send them a PM and ask for them to leave the thread at your desired location for a set amount of days or explain to them why you'd rather have it stay where you want it.

They understand, for the most part. Bottom line, they're doing their job, but if you're polite and ask them, I'm sure most, if not all, will let it stay where you want.

It's alright, man, it's the weekend ..

wilsodh · 10th August 2007, 16:29

I have no doubt a PM would resolve the matter, but I'm wondering why it was moved to the side forum in the first place? Do we have too many pointless side forums?

Here's another example. Some guy is looking to sell his car. His thread needs visibility. Then it get promptly hauled over to the 'For Sale' side forum where there is very little traffic. Do we really have that much objection to seeing the occasional 'for sale' thread on the main forum? (C'mon, we don't see THAT much stuff for sale by members around here.) Who's interests does THIS serve?

Why don't we have a side forum for "Hello, I'm new to the board" threads? Or a side forum for "Look at the cool pix of my car!!" threads? I'm assuming it is because getting some visibility on positive, relevant threads that serve the interests of the members and community (and ultimately the advertisers) is what the M5board is all about. So why the excessive differentiation?

Alright, the caffeine is starting to make me feel human again. Last night I had a vivid dream that my RR beast was stolen and stripped. I came upon its raped and beat up carcass...

Time for a drive.

Dave

BimmerHead · 10th August 2007, 18:21

IBTM (In Before the Move) :p

Beemer Guy · 10th August 2007, 22:28

I guess it depends on the forum. I brought up the exact opposite thing in the Rennlist forum; that place probably has 20x the traffic that this does largely because the typical Porsche pilot is so freakin' anal retentive... but I digress. Anyway, some bozo put his "for sale" in the main forum, and then he'd bump it every day or two. I thought that was rude and said so. He said "I want exposure". I think he should have put it in the "for sale" section.

So, yes, in a high traffic forum, I think that the threads should be categorized appropriately. Especially for sale stuff - if I'm not looking for something, then don't clutter up my list. If I am looking for something, then I don't want to search through 4 pages either.

But in a relatively low traffic site like this, I'd say keep the "For Sale" stuff separate but everything else can pretty much go in the main forum. Regional events should stay in regional forums.

My .02

Michael

ard · 10th August 2007, 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerHead

IBTM (In Before the Move) :p

I just SO wanted to move this to OT!

Everyone knows that mods and admins are not a 'monolithic' group- it is hard to synchronize policy and behaviors.

I missed the post and the move, and I can't tell if iit was moved and by whom.

I'd just ask that the OP add a line such as 'please leave up on the main board until the day of the event'... I always try to do this- seems an easy and obvious policy- but maybe a reminder will help.

I do, however, disagree on for sale posts. Shoppers go to the For Sale section. Sure it has lower traffic than main forums, and will receive less "Nice Car, Good Luck With Sale" posts, but I believe it will be seen by an equivalent number of potential BUYERS. I usually tow those to FS pretty quickly.

I am more that happy to hear more comments... before this gets moved!

Adam

Blockdoc · 10th August 2007, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by ard

I just SO wanted to move this to OT!

Everyone knows that mods and admins are not a 'monolithic' group- it is hard to synchronize policy and behaviors.

I missed the post and the move, and I can't tell if iit was moved and by whom.

I'd just ask that the OP add a line such as 'please leave up on the main board until the day of the event'... I always try to do this- seems an easy and obvious policy- but maybe a reminder will help.

I do, however, disagree on for sale posts. Shoppers go to the For Sale section. Sure it has lower traffic than main forums, and will receive less "Nice Car, Good Luck With Sale" posts, but I believe it will be seen by an equivalent number of potential BUYERS. I usually tow those to FS pretty quickly.

I am more that happy to hear more comments... before this gets moved!

Adam

Thanks for your work, Adam. You do a nice job.

Brian

kees · 10th August 2007, 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by ard

I just SO wanted to move this to OT!

Everyone knows that mods and admins are not a 'monolithic' group- it is hard to synchronize policy and behaviors.

I missed the post and the move, and I can't tell if iit was moved and by whom.

I moved it.

The reason why we are fairly pro-active with moving 'off-topic' threads is pretty obvious if you see some of the **** that is posted on the main boards. Have a look at the Off-Topic forum - most of the stuff in there is posted on the main boards...

Quote:

I'd just ask that the OP add a line such as 'please leave up on the main board until the day of the event'... I always try to do this- seems an easy and obvious policy- but maybe a reminder will help.

I do, however, disagree on for sale posts. Shoppers go to the For Sale section. Sure it has lower traffic than main forums, and will receive less "Nice Car, Good Luck With Sale" posts, but I believe it will be seen by an equivalent number of potential BUYERS. I usually tow those to FS pretty quickly.

Agreed - there is a definite 'grey zone'.

Each 'meeting' post is only interesting to a very limited number of members. If every area had a thread on the main board for each potential meet (and remember people will then want copies in the E60, E39, E34 forums) it would rapidly become a mess - and it did - which is why we created the 'Meetings' forum. I can understand that you want to drive traffic to that thread but I also think that with a little pro-activity you can do that yourself as well. For example track down threads of previous meetings in your area and just post a one-liner pointing to the upcoming meeting thread. Or perform a search on the members list on location and then PM people. Once this has been done then you either live in a pretty remote area or it might be a sign that you have BO.

With regards to for sale posts we make some leeway towards interesting cars or well-known members' cars. But there's lots of members who seem to sign up with the sole purpose of posting 'for sale' ads...

Anyway - it's a grey area that depends on a lot of things - like the moderator in question, if he's had coffee yet

, if you're someone who's put in effort to make this a nice place, etc.

Does it answer the question?

gsfent · 11th August 2007, 00:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by ard

I do, however, disagree on for sale posts. Shoppers go to the For Sale section. Sure it has lower traffic than main forums, and will receive less "Nice Car, Good Luck With Sale" posts, but I believe it will be seen by an equivalent number of potential BUYERS. I usually tow those to FS pretty quickly.

I am more that happy to hear more comments... before this gets moved!

Adam

Agreed. There is better exposure, but it really is OT. If I am looking to buy, I simply cruise the For Sale forum, which I do regularly.

Can't one simply subscribe to the FS forum and be advised of all items posted? If you are the BUYER, that takes care of the problem. If you are a seller, well I may not want to be bombarded with "for sales" in the regular discussion, which I think is the reason those are moved.

An unusual sale (like el diablo) might be OK for a couple of days because of its rarity, but otherwise, I think the mods are on the money.

As to events, my experience is if you ask something to be left up for a few days, the mods are pretty accomodating, just don't abuse the priviledge.

My $.02 (prior to investing in the Bear Stearns/Goldman Sachs hedge funds.......)

Regards,
Jerry

540-S3 · 11th August 2007, 02:05

Yeah, I tried to post my dyno results here, but it got hauled away and buried about 4 levels deep. The only reason I posted it here initially was because there was previous interest in my numbers by M5 owners.