Sub-forum deletion?

[ninaholic37]

Does this forum section really have a point any more? It seems that every topic is about the same "Windows Hate/Love" quarrels over and over again with the same people writing the same opinions/replies.

Since there's already a Linux, Apple, and Android section, at the very least I think this section should probably be renamed "Microsoft Arguments", or just mix this into the "Software for Windows" one. Then again, MS fans and enemies can just talk on Microsoft forums, and there's already a "Computer Help" forum also.

I vote to just delete this sub-forum. I think it has run its course.

 

[JackMDS]

I believe that this is a periodic phenomenon. It occurs whenever a new version of OS is released.

This time the period is extend because of the way Microsoft slow releasing unfinished product (look at it as a very extended Beta period), and the scary Notion that "I have to do everything now so that I would some money and get it for free before the Free Upgrade period is expiring.

It quite clear that Many posters are very uniformed about the Technical aspects of the New Release and Acting out of "Extremer Anxiety".

That said at a certain point every one will calm down and then the Forum will auto resume dealing with the technical aspects of Win 10.

 

[Elixer]

Well, the sub-forums titles are misleading.
· Software for Windows
· All Things Apple
· *nix Software
---
Since each of those, you can post OS related questions as well, and a OS is software anyway.
Should be
· Windows: OS, Apps & utilites
· All things Apple
· All things Android
· All things *nix / BSD

And put a fork in Operating Systems.

 

[Charlie98]

Should be
· Windows: OS, Apps & utilites
· All things Apple
· All things Android
· All things *nix / BSD.

:thumbsup:

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Well, the sub-forums titles are misleading.
· Software for Windows
· All Things Apple
· *nix Software
---
Since each of those, you can post OS related questions as well, and a OS is software anyway.
Should be
· Windows: OS, Apps & utilites
· All things Apple
· All things Android
· All things *nix / BSD

And put a fork in Operating Systems.

Literal ninny.

 

[balloonshark]

Wow! I disagree with someone's point of view so I vote to get rid of the forum section altogether. Is that what forums and their users have become?

It's funny how the minority viewpoint is always labeled as complaining, hating or whining when someone disagrees with their point. It's also funny how the minority speaks out against a company, product or service while the opposition gets personal and calls them names yet nothing is ever done about it. I believe a person that blindly defends a company, product or service that can do no wrong is called a "fanboy". In my experience you can get a "hater" to listen and change their mind but a "fanboy's" blind loyalty won't change until they get completely screwed over which is inevitable.

MS's policies on Windows 10 are a huge deal. This is the first time your personal computer is not personal anymore. This isn't a cell phone we're talking about. This your PC with your data. IMHO this is the holy grail of privacy, security and stability violations.

 

[Magic Carpet]

No. This one is great.

 

[Mushkins]

MS's policies on Windows 10 are a huge deal. This is the first time your personal computer is not personal anymore. This isn't a cell phone we're talking about. This your PC with your data. IMHO this is the holy grail of privacy, security and stability violations.

The issue is that the threads being posted here are not actual discussion of the privacy issues. It's mostly people posting conspiracy theories and ridiculous rants that aren't based in reality, or the same handful of people posting multiple "the sky is falling, Microsoft hates us for our freedoms" threads over and over and over again linking to whatever this week's crazy and incorrect blog article is.

If someone wants to have a proper discussion about the *technology* at work and not go all tinfoil hat, that discussion absolutely belongs here. IMO the question here shouldn't be an issue of whether or not the OS forum should be closed (it shouldn't), but whether or not the mods should be more heavily cracking down on the over the top conspiracy theories and fearmongering with no basis in reality that get posted here daily.

 

[mv2devnull]

There are multiple valid ways to bin questions about software. In princible there are OS and applications. The OS can further be subdivided into Win, OS X, Linux, Android, *nix, etc, but some are more similar than others. Some applications are for one platform only, while others can be used ubiquitously. Games are applications too. All software is developed by someone and all can contain security issues.

*Technical* questions about software are about what it does, how it does that, how it can be used, and configured.


Policies of some company implemented in their products are mainly ethical, moral, social, political, or commercial topics. However, they cannot be outright banned on technical Fora, for the (regular) readers might not follow those other (non-tech) Fora and thus could not become aware of topics that they have strong personal opinions about. Thus, on one side spamming with same topic is bad, but on the other side censorship is bad too.


Personally, I don't find the current subnames intuitive, but I have a minority viewpoint.

 

[Raduque]

The issue is that the threads being posted here are not actual discussion of the privacy issues. It's mostly people posting conspiracy theories and ridiculous rants that aren't based in reality, or the same handful of people posting multiple "the sky is falling, Microsoft hates us for our freedoms" threads over and over and over again linking to whatever this week's crazy and incorrect blog article is.

If someone wants to have a proper discussion about the *technology* at work and not go all tinfoil hat, that discussion absolutely belongs here. IMO the question here shouldn't be an issue of whether or not the OS forum should be closed (it shouldn't), but whether or not the mods should be more heavily cracking down on the over the top conspiracy theories and fearmongering with no basis in reality that get posted here daily.

This is why I posted a request over in the Suggestion Box to get all the "WinX is spyware/I hate WinX" threads merged into one single mega thread where everybody can discuss that to their hearts content while leaving the general forum uncluttered so actual discussions and technical issues can breathe.

 

[balloonshark]

The issue is that the threads being posted here are not actual discussion of the privacy issues. It's mostly people posting conspiracy theories and ridiculous rants that aren't based in reality, or the same handful of people posting multiple "the sky is falling, Microsoft hates us for our freedoms" threads over and over and over again linking to whatever this week's crazy and incorrect blog article is.

If someone wants to have a proper discussion about the *technology* at work and not go all tinfoil hat, that discussion absolutely belongs here. IMO the question here shouldn't be an issue of whether or not the OS forum should be closed (it shouldn't), but whether or not the mods should be more heavily cracking down on the over the top conspiracy theories and fearmongering with no basis in reality that get posted here daily.

Did you ever stop and think some of us want to continue using Windows but are not willing to if MS persists with its policies? The only way I know to get them to change is to make noise and inform others.

For me it won't matter after the free upgrade period ends because I will be moving on without Windows and Microsoft products. I tend to vote with my wallet and will be happy to spend my money elsewhere. MS lost my trust by it's string of bad updates, vague info on updates and force feeding Win10 to everyone. Even worse was the telemetry update to Window 8.1 that started spinning up my data HDDs and sending info to Singapore more than once a day. If MS wants to keep me as a customer they better change before July.

I also wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the conspiracy theorists. They've been right about a lot of things in the last 5 years. It's pretty obvious companies and government (is there a difference?) want to know everything we do. That may be acceptable to some but don't expect everyone to lie down quietly and conform.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Does this forum section really have a point any more? It seems that every topic is about the same "Windows Hate/Love" quarrels over and over again with the same people writing the same opinions/replies.

Since there's already a Linux, Apple, and Android section, at the very least I think this section should probably be renamed "Microsoft Arguments", or just mix this into the "Software for Windows" one. Then again, MS fans and enemies can just talk on Microsoft forums, and there's already a "Computer Help" forum also.

I vote to just delete this sub-forum. I think it has run its course.

I do not understand this. Just because you have no use for it you think others should not have it?

 

[Mushkins]

Did you ever stop and think some of us want to continue using Windows but are not willing to if MS persists with its policies? The only way I know to get them to change is to make noise and inform others.

For me it won't matter after the free upgrade period ends because I will be moving on without Windows and Microsoft products. I tend to vote with my wallet and will be happy to spend my money elsewhere. MS lost my trust by it's string of bad updates, vague info on updates and force feeding Win10 to everyone. Even worse was the telemetry update to Window 8.1 that started spinning up my data HDDs and sending info to Singapore more than once a day. If MS wants to keep me as a customer they better change before July.

I also wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the conspiracy theorists. They've been right about a lot of things in the last 5 years. It's pretty obvious companies and government (is there a difference?) want to know everything we do. That may be acceptable to some but don't expect everyone to lie down quietly and conform.

You totally missed my point.

You want to discuss legitimate privacy concerns? Be my guest, but we don't need 5 out of 10 threads to be about the same topic.
People are not doing that. People are posting sensationalist nonsense that is quite literally untrue, and then inciting 10 page long rants that have nothing to do with any legitimate privacy concerns you may have.

They are hurting your cause, not helping, as anything legitimate is immediately buried in a sea of junk, lies, and fearmongering. Either way, Microsoft is not coming to the Ananadtech forums to make policy decisions on data collection, so all these posts are doing is pushing regular forum users and valuable community members away.