Ending the Testing Page 3 Lock

[Uraniun235]

Sounds like he's operating under the assumption that if it was posted in Testing, it must be spam.


At the same time it sounds like he's operating under the assumption that if he doesn't think it's a good post, it is spam. Or something like that. Frankly, I think there's a question of "what is spam?" that needs to be answered. When I hear the term "spam post", I think of things like "+1", random copy-pastes, that sort of thing; basically, a post which fails to communicate or contribute to a thread at all, but exists purely for the purpose of making a post (or advertising). The great majority of posts in Testing are not like this.

On the other hand, there's some people who think any post which fails to meet whatever criteria they have in their mind is a "spam post", because to them "spam" just means "low quality/low effort".

[Duckie]

There's also a contextuality issue. For instance, posting the The Rock-Xzibit picture in the "SDN: The Movie" thread where the entire purpose is to make amusing images of Dwayne Johnson is good. Posting the exact same picture in "Why Does Science Reject Science Fiction Authors" or similar threads would be spam because it would not fit the topic of the thread and thus be a pointless +1 post.

[RedImperator]

If you have an actual problem with a thread, and the mod in question is MIA, use the report function. It's guaranteed to page all of us, and the problem will get fixed.

End of line, motherfuckers.

Missed this before now, but:

[quote="Rules regarding the "Report" button"]The "Report this post" button is not for:

* Requests for moderators to fix a link, quote tags, a typo, any other mistake, or to delete a double post, or to move, split, merge, or lock a thread. The "Report this post" button is not a call button and the mods are not flight attendants.[/quote]

Has that policy been changed? Might want to rewrite the rules if it has been.

Incidentally, in Announcements, there's still an announcement that registration is closed from January of this year.

[Aaron]

I think at some point the habit of posters to simply swamp the OP or others in a bunch of "Starfleet is da stupid cause they have no trigger guards" etc ought to be examined. Rather like the tendency to pile on conservative posters (Chount Chocula? Axis Kast) until they can't possibly answer everyone then bitch their getting ignored.

In other words Testing is just a symptom of a wider issue, people post there for a bit of fun but also to avoid the dog pile in the main forums.

[Lagmonster]

Missed this before now, but:

[quote="Rules regarding the "Report" button"]The "Report this post" button is not for:

* Requests for moderators to fix a link, quote tags, a typo, any other mistake, or to delete a double post, or to move, split, merge, or lock a thread. The "Report this post" button is not a call button and the mods are not flight attendants.

Has that policy been changed? Might want to rewrite the rules if it has been.[/quote]
Thank you for pointing that out; That rule was made to prevent abuses of the system and reasonable exceptions were not considered. I think that in cases where PMs aren't working and the mods are MIA, it presents a highly effective and reasonable alternative for the membership to use, and I'll see if I can't get it amended immediately.

[Thanas]

Here's the thing with testing discussions. They are for fun. If a serious discussion happens, it is a byproduct, not the aim of the thread. That is why those discussion should stay in testing. If they really are of merit, they can always get uplifted - and indeed, I have PM'd some mods and they have done so in the past.

[Dalton]

I think I speak for the staff when I say that if the rules changed, we would either follow them or quit. If you want to get legal about it, the mods cannot choose not to enforce rules that the administration sets up, because that's not the responsibility we've taken on at Mike's request. What you're asking for is not for the moderators to be nicer to testing, but for the entire setup of testing to be changed, including many of its rules and its purpose. For that, you have to go right to the boss himself, because that's his decision, and I can't think of anyone else on staff save maybe Dalton who would dare change testing policy without his say-so.

I wrote those rules, with input from lots of other people. I (think I) have the authority to change them, but obviously I don't want to step on my boss's toes here.

Is the rule archaic? Yeah, maybe. But people could've just asked me, instead of sniping at me behind my back.

[fgalkin]

Rob, these threads were here for a month, open for all to see. If you have a concern, you could have brought it up at the time, when the policy was still under discussion, rather than wait a month and then accuse everyone of going behind your back.

A thread in the Senate and the HoC is not "behind your back," by any definition of the term.

I understand you are very busy with real life, and I don't blame you for going offline for a bit, but if you missed something important, please don't go around accusing people of sniping at you with you unawares.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Dalton]

Rob, these threads were here for a month, open for all to see. If you have a concern, you could have brought it up at the time, when the policy was still under discussion, rather than wait a month and then accuse everyone of going behind your back.

A thread in the Senate and the HoC is not "behind your back," by any definition of the term.

Yeah, and I haven't been here for a while. I'm just ticked off about it. Obviously I couldn't give a shit what goes on there anymore, but I feel like I've been demonized.

[fgalkin]

Thumbing their nose at the staff and Senate is currently in vogue amongst a certain segment of the board population nowadays, nothing new or surprising there.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Dalton]

Thumbing their nose at the staff and Senate is currently in vogue amongst a certain segment of the board population nowadays, nothing new or surprising there.

Hm, I guess that makes sense.

[Stark]

Thumbing their nose at the staff and Senate is currently in vogue amongst a certain segment of the board population nowadays, nothing new or surprising there.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

I think you mean 'a certain clique'. And not advertising discussions is not 'thumbing [anyone's]nose at the staff'. Highlighting traditionalism is just funny.

[Oni Koneko Damien]

Question: I didn't see anything on my first glance through, but did anyone point the finger at Dalton at all during this entire 'debate'? If I remember correctly, the most that got mentioned about him wasn't even direct, it was that when they were made, the 3-page lock rules made plenty of sense. The only 'demonizing' that went on was the mocking of those who came in here and were vocal about their support for continuing the tradition. Hell, until he came back, I had entirely forgotten that Dalton (possibly) had the authority to revoke the rule at will.

[Mr. Coffee]

Wait a fucking second, when did we start demonizing Dalton? About the only mention of Dalton I can remember in thsi entire thread was about him being the guy that instituted the page 3 lock. If that's "demonizing" then you should grow a bit thicker a hide, Rob.

[Hotfoot]

Rob, these threads were here for a month, open for all to see. If you have a concern, you could have brought it up at the time, when the policy was still under discussion, rather than wait a month and then accuse everyone of going behind your back.

A thread in the Senate and the HoC is not "behind your back," by any definition of the term.

Yeah, and I haven't been here for a while. I'm just ticked off about it. Obviously I couldn't give a shit what goes on there anymore, but I feel like I've been demonized.

Yessss, we hates the Dalton! Hates him precious!

No, seriously, I sincerely doubt anyone was thinking of you really. Most of us were directing our ineffectual annoyance at Bean, who was the ruthless dictator of oppressing testingstan.

And all that.

Now, on to the more serious matter of you not having posted since August. Since your posting record has been now brought to light, I move that we ABOLISH DALTON! I mean, seriously, who the FUQ is that guy?

[Dalton]

Wait a fucking second, when did we start demonizing Dalton? About the only mention of Dalton I can remember in thsi entire thread was about him being the guy that instituted the page 3 lock. If that's "demonizing" then you should grow a bit thicker a hide, Rob.

Perhaps I'm being a bit sensitive, but it wasn't just in this thread. I did take it personally - perhaps a little too much - but when I come back from such a long period of inactivity to see that kind of shit, especially after a long, grueling and annoying day, my rationality circuits are a little fried.

[Darth Fanboy]

Dalton's back! Donuts and IP Bans for everyone!

(welcome back buddy)

[Dalton]

Dalton's back! Donuts and IP Bans for everyone!

(welcome back buddy)

IP Bans are for everyone.
Donuts are for me.

[Mr. Coffee]

Wait a fucking second, when did we start demonizing Dalton? About the only mention of Dalton I can remember in thsi entire thread was about him being the guy that instituted the page 3 lock. If that's "demonizing" then you should grow a bit thicker a hide, Rob.

Perhaps I'm being a bit sensitive, but it wasn't just in this thread. I did take it personally - perhaps a little too much - but when I come back from such a long period of inactivity to see that kind of shit, especially after a long, grueling and annoying day, my rationality circuits are a little fried.

No biggie, Rob. Good to have you back, homie.

[Darth Wong]

No, seriously, I sincerely doubt anyone was thinking of you really. Most of us were directing our ineffectual annoyance at Bean, who was the ruthless dictator of oppressing testingstan.

You should not complain about Mr Bean. One of the reasons I let him deal with Testingstan is that it allows me to ignore it.

If I should ever feel like some dispute related to Testingstan is generating so much controversy or heated feelings that it spills out onto the rest of the board, and I'm forced to manage Testingstan myself, you will miss Mr Bean.

[Tiriol]

No, seriously, I sincerely doubt anyone was thinking of you really. Most of us were directing our ineffectual annoyance at Bean, who was the ruthless dictator of oppressing testingstan.

You should not complain about Mr Bean. One of the reasons I let him deal with Testingstan is that it allows me to ignore it.

If I should ever feel like some dispute related to Testingstan is generating so much controversy or heated feelings that it spills out onto the rest of the board, and I'm forced to manage Testingstan myself, you will miss Mr Bean.

Besides, considering how much enjoyment the Testing crowd seems to be getting from their "Testingstan", I'd hazard a guess that Mr Bean isn't that unreasonable authority figure.

[Hotfoot]

No, seriously, I sincerely doubt anyone was thinking of you really. Most of us were directing our ineffectual annoyance at Bean, who was the ruthless dictator of oppressing testingstan.

You should not complain about Mr Bean. One of the reasons I let him deal with Testingstan is that it allows me to ignore it.

If I should ever feel like some dispute related to Testingstan is generating so much controversy or heated feelings that it spills out onto the rest of the board, and I'm forced to manage Testingstan myself, you will miss Mr Bean.

Oh for the love of you.

If anyone was seriously mad about the page 3 lock or anything involving it I'll be surprised. I'm just trying to let Dalton know that not only was he not some sort of intended target for something, that most people weren't even thinking about him as the supposed ruthless dictator since Bean was in charge at the time.

And yes, my tone is farcical. Having met Dalton several times (though admittedly not for a while), I was hoping he'd recognize my sense of humor.

[Mr. Coffee]

As one of "those people" that certain asshatsposter refer to when bring up Testing drama, I know I never was mad about the page three lock. In fact, it's kind of a source of comedy in itself, at best a hold over to point at and laugh about, at worst a minor speedbump in the Testing comedic testing, um.. facility thing... Also, as much as I make fun of Beaner, he's good people and in other part of the board does a good job moderating the place.

But heckling the Senate and the mods is supposedly my thing now, so I'll probably keep doing it to help lighten the place up a bit (some people here are way the fuck to serious, yo). So, um, yeah...

[Shroom Man 777]

Was anyone even talking about Dalton? Most of what we folks were talking about were the just the Senaturd crowd and BAEN and stuff. As far as I know, and I know everything, Dalton was never really a target of anyone's ire or anything since Dalton was, y'know, never really there anyway.

[Mr. Coffee]

Nope. Dalton's name only came up because he's the one that posted the Testing Policy thread in testing I think. No hard feelings or accusations against Uncle Rob were even brought up that I ever heard of.