What is tolerable when it comes to thread crapping?

[MadRat]

It used to be nice to assert an opinion not shared with the general community at large. We could have a little friendly debate about why each side thought the way they did. Of late its been tough to have a friendly debate because we've been overun with zealots of one belief or another; the trouble with zealots is they cannot debate with an open mind. If we tolerate zealotry then we'll potentially end up stifling free thought in this forum.

I have a beef with the thread crapping thats been going on. Lately it seems thread crapping is the norm. Zealotry pro-AMD and Pro-Intel has really been pushed to the limit. In a recent "pro-consumer SMP-based O/S" thread of mine it quickly became totally off-topic and beset with how ignorant I am for liking the simplicity of Win98. It quickly became everyone against the Win98 guy. I'm pretty well done with it altogether now that its become a NT=Win2k=WinXP thread and how it is that was just because they know it is...

Where do the mods draw the line?

 

[Rankor]

I thought the above issue only pertained to For Sale/Trade Forum threads and the prevention of a possible sale to prospective buyers.

Don't let comments from other individuals cloud your perspective on what you think is the best option for you. They're just comments/opinions based on what others believe. Take them with a grain of salt.

 

[Isla]

Hi Madrat

What you just described is a sort of 'mob mentality' and I don't know that the mods can do much about it. It's not really thread crapping as much as it is a case of the majority ruling. Anyone who pipes up with an opinion that doesn't fit into the culture here is going to experience it, like it or not. This is the case at all boards (and for that matter, in any social institution) and eventually only the people who share the same beliefs of the majority here will participate, kind of like a church. The occasional heretic might speak out, but only at his or her own risk.

The mods can ban those who personally attack others and who ignore the rules of the forum, but they can't do much about the 'personality' of the board. I think that the mods are trying really hard to keep this a pleasant place but they have no control over popular opinion here... and on a board this big, popular opinion (even if it is dead wrong) has weight.

Just my .02~

 

[dcpsoguy]

Madrat,

You are not making this problem any better by posting this. This is likely to turn into a flamewar. You should have just email the mods. And, Damnit, I hate people who say that they hate thread-crapping, while they do it themselves. That drives me crazy. Anandtech is one of the most popular forums on the internet, and there are many different kinds of people in this forum, and if you cant accept his or her own opinion, that is too bad. Deal with it.

 

[MadRat]

I like that last opinion. Exactly what the thread crappers need to respect.

I have a pretty thick skin so nothing said is personally upsetting to me. It is frustrating to look into a thread and see a simple "Intel r00z u!" I'd like to see those messages, even done tongue-in-cheek anymore, cut down considerably. It is really ruining the forum.

I didn't mind the debate about the O/S's until people started say how ignorant the whole idea was without reading the original topic. These people don't have anything better to do then to come in and destroy any amount of momentum of discussion in the thread?

 

[Rand]

Well I don't believe I've read the thread your referring to, but I think I agree with what your saying.

A lot of people refuse to consider any opinion other then their own, "AMD/Intel rules" Win2k/Linux rules" etc. etc. are unfortunately quite common posts. I don't see that the Mod's can really do much about that however.

I don't exactly agree with you about 9X being a very good OS and it seems most people don't but they should be able to post and calmly debate why it is/is not a good OS. Simply stating that it either "sucks" or is "wonderful" isnt exactly very helpful.

 

[GrumpyMan]

I find that when people are not very knowledgeable about a subject then they usually lower themselves to name calling without really being able to discuss the subject at hand. Many people cannot or will not debate their point of view sucessfully with facts and figures on hand, thus they have lob insults at one another. Take it with grain of salt, life is too short to worry about hide behind the keyboard bullies.

 

[HansXP]

MadRat, if you're refering to your bogus Win2K vs NT vs. XP thread, it is because there was no debate - you had severe misinformation, and we were trying to correct you.

 

[MadRat]

HansXP, the perfect example of a troll. Your sole mission in these forums is to spread misinformation. I like how you've busted into several threads and started spouting off your authority. Problem is you add nothing to the threads other than trying to incite reaction by using poor behavior.

<<...do you have a fvcking clue what you're talking about?!?>>
<<Stop being a troll. >>
<<This guy truly has *no* clue what he's talking about.>>
<<Guys, let the thread die... is obviously a troll/kiddie.>>
<<Guess what? If you had a fvcking clue, we wouldn't be posting those comments! Now go away, it's your bed time, kiddie!>>
<<Sure sounds like a troll to me.>>
<<There's a 100% chance you're wrong. Enjoy looking stupid!>>

Sound familiar? Your behavior in that one thread alone was unforgiveable. These comments are not mature, nor did they have anything to do with the topic. Pure garbage.

 

[HansXP]

Why don't you post what everyone else's reply was to that topic? The same thing! YOUR behavior was unforgivable in that thread because YOU wouldn't listen to all of the points everyone made.

 

[MadRat]

Who made you my master? Nobody. So get lost, creep.

 

[Azraele]

Could you post a link to the thread? That way, people (or the mods) will have a better idea of what, exactly, it is you're referring to.

<<Who made you my master? Nobody. So get lost, creep. >>

Let's try and keep this clean. It'd be awful if this turned into one of the very thread crapping episodes you're complaining about. And there is no need to resort to name calling. Relax.

 

[MadRat]

Its probably dirty to call HansXP a creep, yes. The guy came into a thread and generally attempted to be disruptive. I don't understand his urge to be a jerk when he generally is well behaved in most other threads. There have been exceptions, but I'd like to think he has improved his behavior of late.

 

[Azraele]

Calling him a jerk's not very nice either.

Please, let's keep it clean.

 

[MadRat]

Okay, then - he was behaving like a jerk. Better?

-------------------------
Yes Azraele, you are boring...
AnandTech Azraele Mod

(j/k)

 

[Azraele]

<<Zealotry pro-AMD and Pro-Intel has really been pushed to the limit>>

That's one of those hot topics that people argue about until both sides are frothing at the mouth. A lot of stuff like that is just heated opinion. As others have cautioned, take it with a grain of salt. If it gets too disruptive, a mod will most likely intervene.

<Edit> <<Yes Azraele, you are boring...(j/k)>>

Yep, I'm boring, and I will remain so until I find a new sig.

 

[Clinotus]

There is a fair amount of thread crapping in the OT forum, I hate it but realistically it's to be expected. There is always one person who will say &quot;I like cheese&quot; in any valid argument or discussion forum among a group of say...30 people. It's just human behavior. What we can do as the &quot;atoms&quot; of the forums are to ostracize the crapper. It's like pointing the finger back at the accuser. Simply saying, hey _______, thanks for the comment but lets get back to the discussion. Is enough to administer a gentle reprimand. Be advised that once you start screaming or trading jibes with the crapper, you've lost your thread, your credibility on the subject and the input of anyone else who may have been generally interested in the subject, IE: You just posted a Calling all idiots post.