SpudFiles

jrrdw wrote:Beleave it or not (to spite my post count) I read way more then I post.

You would have to - as you don't have over half the posts on the forum. (Actually, no, that would imply you'd read all the posts on the forum, which is probably a little unlikely.)

It's not as simple as just concern about a post getting modded, it's discouraging to write a post and then be told that it breaks some rule that doesn't make complete sense, at least at it's façade.

I can understand the list of basic forum rules, and I can see why each is in place - and they're all good reasons which I can agree with (or at least, don't disagree with), so I stick to them.
But when there's talk about off topic posting being modded... ok, I can understand why if there's a total de-rail of a thread that was still going on, but I like to know about the people I'm getting information from.

If I know nothing about someone, it's hard to trust them, and therefore the information that they give. My subconscious doesn't care if what it knows is their height and favourite pizza toppings, they've seen fit to trust me with information about them, and it then becomes easier to trust them back.
The opportunity to talk a little helps bring the forum together.
Anyway, sorry if I'm rambling a bit, but I've got an interest in psychology, and it all ties together.

Back to where I was before that - if a rule has reasons that aren't perceived as completely sensible, it's harder to comply with, and thus more of a worry, because it's not intuitive. The changes don't seem particularly intuitive, so there's all of these new concerns that have all been implemented so fast that it's an overload.

I deliberately put a lot of effort into my posts. I check them for spelling, grammar, potential errors, things that might offend, and other things... then usually preview them several times. It makes sure I say what I want to, how I want to, and make sure that it's read that way.
It's no small task, and a lot of effort - often a significant portion of an hours work.

To have something I have worked hard on, reviewed and then edited, probably with a lot less care than I applied...
Imagine you've done a drawing, worked really hard on it, then shown it to someone, and they've looked at it, rubbed out a large section, then re-drawn it with a crayon. It's a bit of an over-exaggeration, but that's the kind of thing.

Would you show your work to someone if they were going to do that?
It's probably irrational, but although I've accepted that risk, a number of new rules thrown into the mix has made me very uncertain of what the risks are any more, so I'm more cautious about what I post.

I know that's what you wanted, but I doubt you wanted it to this extent.
I've cut my posting to perhaps 10% of what it was, mostly because all these new rules were implemented too hard and fast for me to take it all in properly.

It might work out in the end, but I'm more concerned that other members will feel as overloaded as myself, but might not have the same dedication, and won't stick about.

Anyway, you can see some of the myriad reasons why I'm edgy about the changes. I know I'm far from the most rational person out there, so I don't doubt that other people might find some of those reasons weird. But consider that I'm a person who punched through a hardened glass window because the guy on the other side was looking at me funny - if you expect completely rational from me, you're looking in the wrong place.

I really haven't noticed anything different recently, other than JSR's absence and the constant flood of n00bs who think this place is an instant messaging service.

How's the LRC v3.0 coming Rag?

Well Rag, I my self have never had to do any modding to any of your posting, your deadication shows. I think your over reacting a bit. Did you go over the Parroting thread? It gave really good examples of what it's about. Try not to over think things in here, it's a spudding forum my friend.

jrrdw wrote:Try not to over think things in here, it's a spudding forum my friend.

That by no means means that thinking isn't needed though... I hope - I like thinking.
I work by calculation, rather than trial and error. It takes more time, but less wallet.

@DYI: Slow and steady, as and when I find time for it, which is more likely now.

For the last month, I've been heavily occupied with helping my parents get their narrowboat through a BSS (Boat Safety Scheme), basically an inspection to ensure it's "safe".
This test has nothing to do with whether the boat will sink, which might be a little unexpected, but it's mostly to do with safety of the fuel system, gas system, ventilation, battery storage, that kind of thing.

Anyway, we passed the inspection yesterday, which has left me with more free time. Some of that extra time will go to shooting my new air rifle, some will go to the long overdue LRC.

If I could get myself into it, I'm relatively sure it's wouldn't turn out to be as much work as I fear it might be... so I shall try that.

I'd like to note that threads are always going to have "off-topic" components and people repeating things, it's just the way a conversation works. I am not going to be that strict.

However there can be too much off-topic chat and it started to get worse and worse, so a crackdown had to happen. No one should be "afraid" to post, just please think out posts and don't post what randomly comes to your head like your talking on AIM! Many of you already do this, but newer members have to learn.

"We're all mad here"

Personally, I've always tried to offer a unique perspective in my comments, encouragment to newcomers and reasonable critique or assistance where I feel qualified....and of course take an occasional humor trail. I don't knowingly "parrot" but then I don't necessarily read the fine print of every post ahead of me either, so some obvious blunder or miraculous state of the art improvement may get some well deserved light shown on it by me.

I believe issues go both ways....mods sometimes need to take-a-pill so to speak before bearing down on someone for "parroting" for instance. If you want to make something like that a hard and fast rule....well fine, but a parrot or 2 in between legitimate discussion points about a subject will go ignored as they well should. I'm not sure it's worthy of a feather fluffing pronouncement from on high. My suggestion would be a discrete PM to that member and let it go at that.

On the other hand, members should thoughtfully prepare their comments, check grammer and spelling and not say anything that they might regret later. They should also respect other members by offering honest critique and suggestions without insults or personal attacks.

I will offer up one thing that bothers me a tad....Spudfiles "veterans" complaining about the "noobs" gumming up the works....kind of rubs me the wrong way, somewhat elitist and condescending sounding. A truly mature veteran shouldn't mind doing the hard work of helping bring these guys along. If that's not your thing, saying nothing would go a long way....IMHO of course.