Question re threads getting out of hand in P&N

[Mursilis]

I've noticed on several occasions that otherwise constructive threads in P&N can end up locked due to certain posters resorting to personal insults.

Example

Instead of locking a decent thread, why not just ban the offending parties? A week-long vacation should be enough for them to cool down and learn the rules. Just locking the thread really doesn't seem to addresss the underlying problem of certain posters turning discussions into flamefests.

Thanks.


We'd end up banning 3/4 of the membership who post there if we did.

Anandtech Senior moderator
Red Dawn

 

[ProfJohn]

I find it ironic that the person who was doing the insulting in that thread was the OP.

That thread probably should have been locked from the start due to its title which is nothing but flame bait.


BTW I have no problem at all with sending people off for excessive personal insults. IMO that is the biggest problem with P&N. To much name calling and to little valid discussion.

 

[boomerang]

That's a decent thread? It was inflammatory from the start. When you start off singling a group out and swearing at them, it's only a matter of time before the thread degrades down to the gutter. The title set the tone for the potential replies. I'm amazed it went as long as it did.

I would have locked it after the first post. I don't care if it is P&N.

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: boomerang
That's a decent thread?

Maybe it wasn't, but the mods let it get to 3 pages over 4 days before it got the lock.

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
BTW I have no problem at all with sending people off for excessive personal insults. IMO that is the biggest problem with P&N. To much name calling and to little valid discussion.

I'd love to see a strict but fair zero tolerance policy in that forum. The mods should break out the ban hammer with a vengence in there.

 

[OCGuy]

I actually think commentary should not be allowed in P&N thread titles. Other boards where you must only post an article headline or summary seem to be much more civil.



Example:


This: "Obama signs new greenhouse gas emission bill"

(Commentary of OP then goes in first post)


Not this: "Idiot Obama signs new greenhouse gas bill that will destroy our country"



I would put this in the suggestion box, but I doubt it would be implemented.

 

[dphantom]

Originally posted by: OCguy
I actually think commentary should not be allowed in P&N thread titles. Other boards where you must only post an article headline or summary seem to be much more civil.



Example:


This: "Obama signs new greenhouse gas emission bill"

(Commentary of OP then goes in first post)


Not this: "Idiot Obama signs new greenhouse gas bill that will destroy our country"



I would put this in the suggestion box, but I doubt it would be implemented.

I try to follow that rule. Take the headline of the source, perhaps a brief secondary description and then post my observations in the posting itself.

As for the OPs example above, that had flame war written all over it from the start. As for why it lasted so long, I cannot speak for the mods by any means but IMO I would let something go for a period of time to see if the topic stayed on track even if the original posting was flame bait. Of course there would be all kinds of exceptions where a topic could be locked immediately.

The mods have a really difficult job, I know I am a mod in another forum - not nearly as large or busy as here. I'd give them the benefit of a doubt.