Question about Hall of Shame and Moderators

burdette · March 2003

There seems to be relatively consistent comments on these forums about cleaning this place up.. posting only what is appropriate, etc. Comments about questionable behavior have been made by the moderators, too.

The site has a Hall of Shame for threads of, in some way, dubious distinction.

My question is... why aren't the moderators nixing, from the get-go, threads that aren't up to the standards of the site they want to present?

What possible reason (honestly??) is there to have a Hall of Shame and to save certain threads??

Now, perhaps something like the Tard Dance would not have been deleted right away, but once it was obvious the thread was a problem and contributing nothing positive to life, why not just delete the entire damn thing and be done with it?? And, frankly, why NOT have a standard that would have caused the original post to be deleted in a timely manner?

I mean... this is Polk's site.. I think the moderators could take a more involved approach to *moderating* and proactively keep things clean. There are plenty of other humor sites and 'man sites' for posting questionable topics. I noticed the Home Theater Forum does not allow political discussion.. how about if the Polk site doesn't allow threads that do not uphold the image Polk wants to present? They don't *owe* us anything.. they provide this bandwidth for us and in my opinion Polk should get more involved here.

shack · March 2003

The old "Protect us from ourselves" arguement huh? I'm sure the moderators have better things to do than to watch this forum to catch issues before they get started (they are employees of Polk Audio - not volunteer moderators like on other forums like HTF). I think that the current system of addressing it when it becomes an issue is ok. This will never be a serious audio only forum...that is just not human nature...and things get out of hand sometimes...that too is human nature. Besides...without a little controversy from time to time it would be boring. Just my .02.

burdette · March 2003

Well... I'm not sure I agree with all of that.. if Polk is going to go to the trouble and investment of having an internet site in their name that provides forums, then I think part of that deal is that they have employees overseeing the forums.. uh.. that is sort of the point of moderating. I believe that especially when the moderators have expressed reservations about some of the content. If the company cannot afford the 'upkeep' of forums, then there shouldn't be forums.

I voluntarily moderate a hardware and home improvement forum on a different site.. I don't get paid, therefore I don't worry too much if I can't check in every day or even every couple of days. That isn't the situation here regarding moderators.

Straying off topic is normal, I agree - hence an Off Topic forum. But if those "off topics" are driving away people who have genuine valuable input on AUDIO topics, then I think the *audio* theme should trump.

Just my 37 cents.

TroyD · March 2003

Here is my .02.....

I think Micah has better things to do than be the forum police. He does (or has), I think, done a pretty good job of locking down potentially controversial threads (politics, religion, **** etc)

I think you will find that the threads in the Hall, for the most part, started innocent enoughj but degenerated as they went along. Threads that start out with jokes, look, people just got to lighten up a little. They are just jokes, if you don't think they are funny then just move on to something that interests you.

As for the Hall itself, I dunno, I think just delete the thread and be done with it.

BDT

Dr. Spec · March 2003

My $0.02:

Micah and Justin get a vicarious thrill out of reading all the bizarre HOS candidates and they let them go as long as possible before pulling the plug.

I'm with Shack - no other forum on the internet comes close to the sheer entertainment value of this one. All the back biting, bickering, in-fighting, name calling, trash talking, chest puffing - it's all part and parcel to the unique Club Polk experience.

What are the first few threads that spring to your mind when you think of past Club Polk Classics? I submit they will invariably be HOS material.

While not all of us will sink to the level of either starting or contributing to HOS type threads - these are always the ones with the biggest number of hits. We're the Fox Network of internet audio forums.

Doc

madmax · March 2003

I disagree with deleting a HOS thread.

It happened and shows a record of those who start stuff, don't pay or rip people off or just say offending stuff. I believe polk made a very good judgement call when they came up with this system. I think a lot of thought went into it and has worked very well.
madmax

Ron-P · March 2003

I disagree with deleting a HOS thread.

Ditto. They are very entertaining.

Peace Out~:D

madmax · March 2003

Originally posted by ATCVenom
What the hell is the purpose of the hall of shame? To show record. What good is a record if it influences nothing.

The newbies will appreciate some of it. It is also a good example of what NOT to do.

So lets say I sell you something and rip you off. You complain and thread disappears. Next I rip off someone else. They complain and the thread disappears. I try to sell to someone else and someone complains and thread is deleted. I start selling one on one through emails and someone else gets ripped off, complains and thread is removed.

Well, I guess what I'm trying to say is I would have a definite edge on ripping people off if no one knows about it.

madmax

sterling bug · March 2003

I've been going to this forum regularly since Dec. of 02. I like this forum the way it is. I get lots of information from the many knowledgable people here such as Dr. Spec, H-Bomb, Frank Z, and many others, then there are many people here that make me laugh like Russman. If there is something that does not interest me I move on. We are all big boys here and we don't need a babysitter. People always disagree. State your point tastefully and everybody should get along.

madmax · March 2003

Originally posted by ATCVenom
Madmax,

While I whol heartedly agree with the example you provide, I feel the current threads in the Hall are not viable examples.

Well, my god, read the first thread in the HOS! That is why it was created. Go ahead and delete it. Let this guy rip off countless other people. I already know the concequences, dosen't bother me. Well, actually it does but what can I say. You know, if you forget history you will repeat it. Whatever, I must say I'm a little pissed but you know, whatever you want.
madmax

brettw22 · March 2003

Why does there have to be an actual 'purpose' for the HOS?

If you don't like that it exists, then don't post anything that you feel will end up there. Polk shouldn't employ someone to sit and watch us all day long.......that's ridiculous.

I'd create the HOS for my own personal enjoyment......why does everything need a reason any more..........jeez......

RuSsMaN · March 2003

Oh shut up already ATC, now its like a **** that won't flush.

You don't HAVE to understand, WE do.

HBombToo · March 2003

Ya know I have been thinking about this whole HOS thing and I must say, I wish I could discipline my 2 year old as well as Polk keeps us in line!

I'm a proud member of the HOS!

Bomber

madmax · March 2003

Originally posted by ATCVenom
There will always be a harmony of members here to forwarn unfamiliar individuals of those who hold less than honorable track records. Im sorry- but that logic does NOT fly.

Not if all questionable threads are quickly deleleted. Jeez.

Hey guys, you know I paid this guy and he kept my cash and never sent me the (DELETED!)

Unfortuneatly even the above would never be seen.

So how would YOU do it???
madmax

Micah Cohen · March 2003

I love you guys. Youz guyz. A thread debating the pros and cons of the Hall of Shame that degenerates into name-calling. I love that.

I have to say, that I appreciate everyone's patience with this forum. You know that Justin and I can not be here every second of every day, and I wish more Polk people got involved, and in the meantime, this is a place not only where newbies and oldies can get questions answered (hopefully SOMEONE'S answering real questions in the other Polk forums... Uh oh), but where we can all have fun. Fun fun fun.

But then, we also have to be a tad civilized. We have to pay attention to others and be considerate and mature enough to walk away from threads that piss us off. The Hall of Shame is indeed a record of what WILL NOT FLY here. If we started shitcanning members who piss us off, believe me there'd be no one left!

Now is a tricky time. War threads... What to do with them? They maybe really shouldn't be here, but healthy debate is good. Partisan namecalling is bad. Mostly. Anyway, now that I've written this, I have to go and read thru some of the war-oriented threads and hope you guys have kept things on an even keel.

This is the kind thing "forum policing" entails. And I appreciate your appreciation of that time-consuming effort on our part to try and keep things civil.

Did you know that it really is true: that once you pop, you just can't stop?

Micah