TO FORUM MODERATOR - How about closing inappropriate topics?

[n2mopac]

I would contend that this "General" forum is not so much a model railroading forum as it is a forum for model railroaders. Some of the posts you mention (screen name meaning, who is a firefighter, etc.) actually gives us a chance to get to know something about other model railroaders, who they are, what motivates them, etc. While I myself have complained, even railed, about the large number of these posts compared to the small amount of responses to substantive modeling topics, I still believe that these topics are relevant and should not be "censored." (Yes, I used the "c" word.)

I have to agree that some topics are beyond my taste and view of what is appropriate. I had a problem with the call of nature thread. But, as stated by someone above, the membership here tends to shut these down pretty quickly. If you look at the voting thread, you will see that no political arguments have broken out there (thankd goodness) but it has turned into something of a joke. Is it model related? No. Does it help us get to know other model railroaders? Maybe. My suggestion is, if you don't like th topic, don't open it.

Ron

[BRAKIE]

Speaking as a moderator on three forums I found you just can't please everybody.Those that get upset and leaves a forum over petty things to my mind needs to grow up and understand they can't always have things their way or perhaps need to learn to weed out want they don't want to read.Of course some is just looking for any excuse to quit a forum instead of just leaving if they are not happy..Of course you have those that want to hear "Please don't leave yada,yada yada." A ego trip perhaps? I don't know the reason.
A forum is for everybody's enjoyment and not just the whiners or complainers.
Now,if it was up to me that one political topic would be locked and then deleted as it has nothing to do with model or real trains or the hobby in general.
As far as the screen names that has shown up on other forums including the old Atlas forum so its no big deal.Stars and post counts? Again no big deal.People will post anyway..
As for this topic it would be locked and then deleted.Reason? It is up to the moderators to decide what is or is not acceptable according to the forum rules of conduct ..And that is the way it should be.

[Anonymous]

Brunton wrote : "How does alienating folks with this stuff foster fellowship?"


Why should you feel alienated? Are you a social outcast?

I say the moderators pull THIS thread.

Jim

[bcammack]

I think appropriateness is entirely subjective. Additionally, inappropriate topics usually fall off the active pages pretty quickly. If they don't then they mustn't have been that inappropriate.

[Jetrock]

Having spent quite a bit of time in hobby shops, while most discussions are about trains, occasionally the topic will shift to anecdotes, jokes, or even politics sometimes. I don't see how the forums here are that much different.

I don't bother participating in threads that don't pique my interests, and generally don't participate in non-train-related threads, but sometimes I find them worthwhile. If the signal-to-noise ratio got so bad that there were very few model railroading related posts I might think it was a real problem, but as it is, it doesn't seem like that big a deal.

The "nature's call" thread, while definitely a silly post, was model railroading related--it related an anecdote that occurred while the poster was working on a model railroad, with inconveniencing results. The post could have easily been offensive or obscene, but the poster didn't use profanity or graphic detail, and maintained a light-hearted tone. The end result was a post that wouldn't be out of place on daytime TV, and I'm sure at least a few of us could relate--it is, after all, something we all do.

And it should also be noted that, since the early days of Usenet, posts complaining about off-topic posts are in fact off-topic posts themselves, and therefore part of the problem, not the solution.

[twhite]

I for one don't mind most of the topics presented, but let's call the police off, okay? For instance, Mark mentioned "Is anyone here a firefighter" as an inappropriate topic, but did you read the posts, Mark? It was basically about incorporating that honorable profession somehow into a model railroad scene. My own post was about incorporating the US Forest Service into a Sierra Nevada-based railroad with a Ranger Station, lookout tower, equipment, etc. This means I have to MODEL it--largely from scratch. This also means I have to experiment with techniques to re-create a small forest fire at one spot on the layout. It's part of my model railroad--so how can that topic be considered "off-topic?" And as far as the younger set posting "peurile" comments--they're just getting INTO the hobby and for the most part, feeling their way around, just like we did at their age. Our job is to encourage them, not put them down because their comments may not seem as mature as ours.
Ease up, Mark. This is a good forum.
Tom

[Anonymous]

Posts that are innappropriate are virtually always policed by the members. The voting post, if you read the replies, has been roundly rebuked as something not wanted here by the vast majority of members, so there's no need for the moderator to do what the membership is already doing. If profanity or offensive material is posted, then the moderator usually deals with it, as he should. I don't care for some stuff that posted, but I'd rather deal with it through a reply than getting a third party involved. If that doesn't work then yes, it's time to bring the moderator in. Until then, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Pruitt]

"Puerile," in its most common usage, implies childishness or immaturity, while NOT particularly referring to young people.

The "brain cops doing the weeding...." would be the forum moderator, of course! And I believe that person has on occasion posted requesting that people stop posting non-model railroad topics.

As far as "fosters the fellowship...." and "common good..." - Folks have posted here that they were leaving the forum permanently because of the non-model railroading posts, the sometimes childish banter, and the obvious count-enhancement posts are out of control. How does alienating folks with this stuff foster fellowship? I doubt seriously that putting a political poll on this site foster's anyone's fellowship regarding model railroading, in the long run.

Sounds like some folks have more need of a general chat room than a model railroading forum.

[Junctionfan]

Some of the off topic stuff is very informative because than I know how people think and respect them more for it. I like to get to know people; that's how we make friends.

The forum would be a boring and unsuccessful place if we all talked formal and purely stuck to the topics. We would run out of things to say and in time end up just doing something else.

I like the forum and for the most part, what people have to say.

Andrew Little

[Fergmiester]

The question I would pose to you is: Where do we draw the line? This has come up on several occasions, as you probably already know. And the answer that comes back is that this is a general discussion forum for Model Railroader related stuff. If the moderators come down hard then it would be seen as a form of censorship. Yes they are well within there right but at the same time this forum is attempting to foster camaraderie and a sense of fellowship within the hobby. This to many of us is our virtual club as most of us are either too busy or too distant to be part of a real club.

Yes some topics are not directly MR related but if they bring us together for the common good of the hobby then have they not earned a right to be part of this forum? And maybe this is where the answer lies. Those topics, which could erode the fellowship, should be deemed inappropriate and dropped.

For instance The Coffee Shop though not always MR related has given me the opportunity to meet people I wouldn't have other wise met. I've met two to date, one from the area and the other from Texas. This to me has earned the merits of being appropriate as it "fosters the fellowship within the hobby".

Hopefully a compromise can be reached so that we can all partake in "The Worlds Greatest Hobby".

Regards
Fergus Francey

[Anonymous]

This is not the first time this topic has come up. Although I somewhat agree, I wonder whom would be the brain-cops doing the weeding!?! Some of the posts are "puerile" as some of the posters are young folks! I find it fairly easy to avoid these posts by reading the SUBJECT and passing by those which appear "puerile"!

Thanks for giving me the word "PUERILE"! Now, if I could only figure out how to pronounce it?

[Pruitt]

Isn't there some sort of rule against posting non-model railroading topics on the forum?

If not, let me suggest that you create one, and then immediately close all threads that violate that rule.

More and more, it seems I have to wade through a bunch of silly, useless topics that are at best only marginally related to model railroading.

A prime example of what I would consider an inappropriate topic is "Who are you voting for?" That's this one: http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22791

Another example of an inappropriate topic is "Call of Nature" - http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22562

There are many others that could be classified as inapproriate as well, such as "Who here is a firefighter?" and "Screen name meaning?."

If this is a forum about model railroading, how about keeping to that subject? PLEASE??

And while I'm whining, here's one more: Are the post counts and stars with each post really necessary? All they do is encourage pointless posts, and contribute even more to the already somewhat puerile feel of this board.

Thanks,