3 things i am getting tired of doing

[highdesertranger]

like the tittle says I am really getting tired of,

1.  having to go to every link that doesn't have a description and adding it to the post or deleting the post.

2.  having to edit/delete post by newcomers that don't have the required number of posts to qualify to post links.

3.  having to move post that are in the wrong sub forum.  this is especially true for the "Newcomers corner"  please only post once there for your intro.

what's really annoying is these 3 issues are clearly spelled out in the rules.  either people are not reading the rules or are just outright ignoring them.

PLEASE READ THE RULES.

highdesertranger

 

[Van-Tramp]

I ran a website with 35,000 members for 10 years. We had just SIX rules for that community and THREE functions that FORCED each and every user to the rules page before they could take part in any way.

I could still count the number of people who read the rules on a single hand.

Hate to say it HDS, but it wont change unless it is forced upon them by hard coding those things into the PHP of this site.

PS - Heck, I don't think I have ever read the rules here either

 

[wayne49]

You can either not let it get to you OR you can quit being a Moderator.

Do you, yourself, really need to be a Moderator?

You may be facing burnout. Happens often to well intentioned volunteers when overwhelmed.

Take a break?

Thank you for your service to the Forum.

 

[Minivanmotoman]

FWIW, change the rules, change your life. Lol.
Seriously.
1. Link descriptions and deletions. Really necessary?
The thread 99% of the time tells you that the link will be relational. As well, if you didn't abbreviate the link in the post automatically, again, 99% of the time the link is descriptive.
Is the time consuming censorship really necessary? What if you didn't? Who exactly are we protecting with that rule? Protecting members from the internet?
And if they have a data plan, they already KNOW not to click on videos as they are data intensive and will go over their limit. Plus most on low data plans are already running to free WiFi to watch their videos of Bob at McD, Stars, Wally, library...

2. And why is it necessary to have a 10 post newbie rule else delete the link? What if you didn't, what horrors would ensue? The occasional spam post? Not easier to delete those?

3. Comes with the territory and part of the job. Worthwhile, and necessary, and to what extent? Overwhelming? Maybe that's saying something.

Imho, the internet onslaught will not abate.
Especially not at the rate gaining new members on here.
Why be Don Quixote fighting windmills?
Change your life, change the rules.
Maybe it's time to re assess what and how moderating is done and make the task more supportive and less intrusive. Then you would have more time to post quality content which I think you prefer.

The internet was invented to share info, not spend all of your time censoring for the supposed benefit of adults, who can decide for themselves.

 

[wasanah2]

^
Well said, Minivanmotoman.

 

[Parkedinavan]

Thankless job, but thank you.

 

[cyndi]

Add to that editing unnecessary quoting

 

[cyndi]

FWIW, change the rules, change your life. 

FWIW the guidelines have been developed over time, because people abused the forum. Rules aren't made or instituted because people have nothing better to do than enforce them.

 

[rm.w/aview]

I don't know what the results would be if the moderators didn't moderate. Would the forum be OK? Would it resemble the commentary on youtube after a while? I believe that folks would still find answers to their questions as others walk them through the options, but would it be like walking in NYC in '68 where nine days of a garbage strike left 100,000 TONS of trash on the streets? Or would be like a walk in the park with only an occasional errant frisbie to deal with?

 

[rvwandering]

I don't know what the results would be if the moderators didn't moderate. Would the forum be OK? Would it resemble the commentary on youtube after a while? I believe that folks would still find answers to their questions as others walk them through the options, but would it be like walking in NYC in '68 where nine days of a garbage strike left 100,000 TONS of trash on the streets? Or would be like a walk in the park with only an occasional errant frisbie to deal with?

 :-D  :-D  Pretty much like that!

 

[DannyB1954]

I think this thread needs to be moved to Forum Issues. LOL. Sorry, the devil made me do it.
On a more helpful note. There could be a sticky post at the top of the newcomers forum listing the basic rules.
Something like Hello new people welcome to the forum here are some brief guidelines that we would like you to follow. Bla Bla Bla etc. and so on.
As it is now a new person goes to the new section and there are no instructions before they make their post.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

FWIW, change the rules, change your life. Lol.
Seriously.
1. Link descriptions and deletions. Really necessary?

2. And why is it necessary to have a 10 post newbie rule else delete the link?

3.  . . . Worthwhile, and necessary, and to what extent?  . . .

Bob's forum, Bob's rules.  The moderators just enforce 'em.  Chaos is not informative.

1. Yes.   doesn't tell me anything.  I have limited data, I don't think I am within 25 miles of WIFI let alone free WIFI, and I don't want to spend my life in McD's looking at irrelevant videos.  Think of it as a courtesy for those of us who have to save the link for later viewing.

2. Now you want the moderators to go through the extra work to determine if a first time poster is spamming or is serious about joining the community?  Seems like it is easier on the moderators to delete links of first time posters until they show a minimum commitment to the group.

3. You're an adult.  What is so hard about putting threads in their proper location.  The definitions of the sub-forums are clear as to what they are supposed to contain.  Makes things easier to find.  You scatter your medications in random jars?

Thanks moderators, for keeping this an informative site.

 

[bigskybob]

Maybe move on and let someone else moderate?

 

[Fitter]

Sorry I screwed up committing #2 . I should've re-read the rules more than once. After I post this I will probably go and read the rules again . No sarcasm intended .
Your hard work is part of what makes this site as helpful as it is .

Thank you .

 

[Jacksonricher]

I love this site, I love the way it is run, smooth and clean. No junk no issues or stupid links to spam.
If there were no moderators this site would go down the tubes.
I am a newbie but I have been on forums for years and there is something very special about this group. I have been thinking about this site for a couple days now as I have been looking at other RV forums. This site feels organic, from the heart, real and people, real down to earth people. Nobody on here that I have read are blow hards or braggers or better than anyone else.

Now having to do the same things over and over. Maybe more moderators for each section
Maybe send newbies a simple quiz about these three issues. I know I post stuff in wrong places but did not know where to post it. Now that I have been around the forum I know. Maybe some more sections.

Thank you for all you do to run and outstanding forum site.
Jackson

 

[flying kurbmaster]

Forums don’t really need moderators I am sure that forums would work without rules, likely wouldn’t get so boring with the same culture that sorts itself out based on the moderators. Give anarchy a chance.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Mowing the lawns, cutting firewood, and fixing fences.

:dodgy:

 

[Cammalu]

Tx I have a huge assortment of jobs here so if you get tired of one you can just change to another. I love to mow. Come on out [emoji16]

 

[ChezCheese:-)]

People don't read rules. I didn't. I participate in a few forums, and I have never read the rules of any of them. It's like reading the privacy policy of a website...

If you want those 3 rules to be obvious, condense each into a sticky thread title, put it in caps, and tack each in the sticky section. That way, nobody has to go anywhere to have the 3 golden rules put in front of their eyes.

Another thing you could do, possibly, is put the 3 golden rules into the registration process and make newbies actually check them to proceed with the registration. I don't known if that is possible with the customizations available with the forum software.

 

[Weight]

All the problems you outline could, and should, be handled by the software. Thank you for your moderating.