- 28,471
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- Johnnypenso
@photonrider posted a thread describing his disappointment in the direction he feels the GT forums are heading HERE. In his opinion it's devolved into a battle of those that love and those that hate the franchise and every thread ends up in a battle of wills between the two sides and it makes every thread repetitive and ugly. I understand his disappointment and as a fellow Canuck I'm here to tell him and you, there is a solution to this and it's within your control. So everyone please listen up, school is in session, Mr. Johnny is here
.
The solution to this "trolling" dilemma as described in the in @photonrider's OP is quite simple. A well worded, well thought out, tightly defined original post, followed by an OP that maintains control of the thread through active participation. If you want relatively troll free threads, you need to define the conversation first and foremost, and this will also gives others that are interested in maintaining a neat, tidy and positive discussion the tools to do the job.
Now before you jump up and down yelling, "Johnny is nuts, that won't work"
, yes it will. I don't start a lot of threads around here, but when I do, I often keep a tight reign on the discussion and it starts with a narrowly defined OP. Ever been into one of my Undocumented Changes threads? Read the OP. It spells out exactly what I want in that discussion and what I don't want. Then watch my posts throughout the thread. When someone drags it off topic, I gently push them back. The responses aren't always pleasant from the participants, I think "dictator" has been hinted at a few times, but I don't care. It's my thread, I posted the OP as to what I want to discuss, and I'll report anyone that tries to derail my thread after being warned first. Doesn't win you a lot of fans, but it sure makes for a nice, neat, tidy discussion.
So if you want a discussion where you can control the trolls, you must take charge of the thread, starting with a well worded OP and followed up with actively cajoling people back into line and as a final resort, reporting those that don't heed your warnings. These are the tools the @Jordan has given us and the mods allow us to use and they work well and most importantly, you will get the active support of moderators to allow you to do this. That's what they are here for, to ensure that you get to have the types of discussions that you want to have. When you entitle a thread, "Hey look, a new VGT", YOU left the door wide open to any response, and it's your own fault if the discussion devolves into a trail of posts criticizing Kaz, GT, the VGT Project etc., because YOU didn't define the discussion and you're well aware of how things are around here these days. If I were starting a VGT thread and wanted to control the off topic nonsense, this is something I might do:
First, assume that many posters will read the title, not read the OP and just start to post. So your title has to help define what you want, like this:
Now to the OP. I'd do something like this.
The new Ford VGT is upon is..pics below...blah blah blah. The purpose of this thread is to discuss the pros and cons of this particular car and to celebrate it's imminent release. Everyone is entitled to express their like or dislike for this car, suggest improvements, wishes for performance, compare it to other VGT's etc. etc.
What this thread is not about is bashing the VGT Project, the GT series, the lack of real car DLC, Kazunori Yamauchi or any aspect of Gran Turismo. You are still free to do that in the appropriate thread which I have linked HERE. Please limit your discussion to the new Ford VGT
That's all you have to do. You've narrowly defined the discussion and given yourself the tools to reign in anyone that posts off YOUR topic in YOUR thread. The worst thing that might be acceptable would be something like, "That's the ugliest car I've ever seen" or, "it's boring and uncreative" etc. etc. Anyone expressing dislike for the car should be ok and you as the OP have to ensure that those that like the car don't try to actively target someone who says they don't like the car. If you as the OP decided that dislike of the car is acceptable in your thread, you have to manage that as well.
When the inevitable joker
pops in with (paraphrasing), "GT sucks, VGT sucks, Kaz sucks, lolwut" etc. my first move would be to quote the portion of the OP that tells them that's unacceptable to them, suggest they stay on topic, and if they continue, then you report them. Just make sure you aren't reporting posts because you don't like them, even if they fit within your OP. You will get mod support if you have tightly defined the conversation and the violation you are reporting is clear and precise. If you report everyone that makes posts you don't like, but are actually within the spirit of your OP, expect to get ignored.
The power is within you, to create the kind of
that you want. This is your Expecting random chance to make it work the way you'd like it to work doesn't work. Expecting the mods to babysit this place and read your mind as to what you want doesn't work either. Take charge, take the bull by the horns, make the you want it to be, or to put it bluntly, stop whining and complaining, about whining and complaining, because if you don't want to be part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
Do something about it.
Now having said all this, if the mods think I'm way off base here and overstepping my authority, feel free to close this thread
.The solution to this "trolling" dilemma as described in the in @photonrider's OP is quite simple. A well worded, well thought out, tightly defined original post, followed by an OP that maintains control of the thread through active participation. If you want relatively troll free threads, you need to define the conversation first and foremost, and this will also gives others that are interested in maintaining a neat, tidy and positive discussion the tools to do the job.
Now before you jump up and down yelling, "Johnny is nuts, that won't work"
, yes it will. I don't start a lot of threads around here, but when I do, I often keep a tight reign on the discussion and it starts with a narrowly defined OP. Ever been into one of my Undocumented Changes threads? Read the OP. It spells out exactly what I want in that discussion and what I don't want. Then watch my posts throughout the thread. When someone drags it off topic, I gently push them back. The responses aren't always pleasant from the participants, I think "dictator" has been hinted at a few times, but I don't care. It's my thread, I posted the OP as to what I want to discuss, and I'll report anyone that tries to derail my thread after being warned first. Doesn't win you a lot of fans, but it sure makes for a nice, neat, tidy discussion.So if you want a discussion where you can control the trolls, you must take charge of the thread, starting with a well worded OP and followed up with actively cajoling people back into line and as a final resort, reporting those that don't heed your warnings. These are the tools the @Jordan has given us and the mods allow us to use and they work well and most importantly, you will get the active support of moderators to allow you to do this. That's what they are here for, to ensure that you get to have the types of discussions that you want to have. When you entitle a thread, "Hey look, a new VGT", YOU left the door wide open to any response, and it's your own fault if the discussion devolves into a trail of posts criticizing Kaz, GT, the VGT Project etc., because YOU didn't define the discussion and you're well aware of how things are around here these days. If I were starting a VGT thread and wanted to control the off topic nonsense, this is something I might do:
First, assume that many posters will read the title, not read the OP and just start to post. So your title has to help define what you want, like this:
The Ford VGT Positive Discussion Thread
Catchy eh?👍 But it tells you it's about the Ford VGT and it's positive and that's what counts.
Now to the OP. I'd do something like this.
The new Ford VGT is upon is..pics below...blah blah blah. The purpose of this thread is to discuss the pros and cons of this particular car and to celebrate it's imminent release. Everyone is entitled to express their like or dislike for this car, suggest improvements, wishes for performance, compare it to other VGT's etc. etc.
What this thread is not about is bashing the VGT Project, the GT series, the lack of real car DLC, Kazunori Yamauchi or any aspect of Gran Turismo. You are still free to do that in the appropriate thread which I have linked HERE. Please limit your discussion to the new Ford VGT
That's all you have to do. You've narrowly defined the discussion and given yourself the tools to reign in anyone that posts off YOUR topic in YOUR thread. The worst thing that might be acceptable would be something like, "That's the ugliest car I've ever seen" or, "it's boring and uncreative" etc. etc. Anyone expressing dislike for the car should be ok and you as the OP have to ensure that those that like the car don't try to actively target someone who says they don't like the car. If you as the OP decided that dislike of the car is acceptable in your thread, you have to manage that as well.
When the inevitable joker
pops in with (paraphrasing), "GT sucks, VGT sucks, Kaz sucks, lolwut" etc. my first move would be to quote the portion of the OP that tells them that's unacceptable to them, suggest they stay on topic, and if they continue, then you report them. Just make sure you aren't reporting posts because you don't like them, even if they fit within your OP. You will get mod support if you have tightly defined the conversation and the violation you are reporting is clear and precise. If you report everyone that makes posts you don't like, but are actually within the spirit of your OP, expect to get ignored. The power is within you, to create the kind of
that you want. This is your Expecting random chance to make it work the way you'd like it to work doesn't work. Expecting the mods to babysit this place and read your mind as to what you want doesn't work either. Take charge, take the bull by the horns, make the you want it to be, or to put it bluntly, stop whining and complaining, about whining and complaining, because if you don't want to be part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Do something about it.
Now having said all this, if the mods think I'm way off base here and overstepping my authority, feel free to close this thread
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Thanks man:tup:
👍
👍
