What actions can we promote that will bring back the old AO?

[Automaggot68]

I don't think an invite only forum, or a karma system is the answer. I think we as AO'ers have to police ourselves more. There has been a lot of challenging the mods authority lately, whining about the swear filter, and things like that. The rules are in place. The mods are there to enforce them. If you have a problem with a mods decision, contact them privately. If you do it publically, then everyone jumps on the bandwagon.

I have seen a newbie post, only to have someone flame him and his question. It would have been just as easy to calmly answer the question, or to remind him there is a search engine. And I don't mean an animated .gif pointing to the search button.

If everyone conducts themselves like mature people its easier to point the mods towards the ones who are messing things up.

If the mods hand down a 3 day ban to someone, they can either learn from it or come back and get the permaban. If it gets around that AO does not tolerate people being stupid, the stupid people don't bother to stay.

I know there are some posters on PbN that used to do nothing but cause problems here. They were either banned or left because they found it was not worth their trouble to try to prove how e-tough they were.

You post whores (and you know who you are) maybe think twice before posting something flippant. If it doesn't really add to the thread, let it slide.

I think a quick refresher on the rules and the mods cracking down on them would probably work.

Just my opinion.

Best post so far. (Sorry I donthave anything else to add but uh....KARMA POINTS FOR YOU!)

[Major Ho]

What about the people who lurk? I know there are plenty out there who just come to read. Most of the time I try to be like that. And I know several others who also come to just to read and catch up. Are they denied access to the more privledged forums where the GOOD information is posted?

[Miscue]

What about the people who lurk? I know there are plenty out there who just come to read. Most of the time I try to be like that. And I know several others who also come to just to read and catch up. Are they denied access to the more privledged forums where the GOOD information is posted?

If it can be done... it would make sense to limit the ability to post... not to read.

[REDRT]

Karma sounds stupid to me. I think access to the different forums by everyone is essential in promoting this site. Mags lets face it are not too popular in the paintball world and if someone new isn't allowed to be here or access all of the great infomation here they may go elsewhere to find out, only the be misinformed or forget mags all together. Also to the rest of us already here this could lead to fighting. Karma stinks...

[spantol]

I share this concern. I contribute when I can, but lately it's been hard enough just finding the time to check in and catch up.

It cuts both ways, I suppose; on the one hand, the lack of participation means that I don't add much, but on the other, I tend to keep my yap shut when I know I'm out of my element, a virtue far too rare these days. As a result, I think that I, and those in similar situations, have decent signal to noise ratios going, and a limited-access forum would unduly penalize us by cutting us off from the community.

What about the people who lurk? I know there are plenty out there who just come to read. Most of the time I try to be like that. And I know several others who also come to just to read and catch up. Are they denied access to the more privledged forums where the GOOD information is posted?

[chairman_mao]

I think those are strong rules. Too many threads are just recycled threads. It seems that every other day there is a question comparing a DM4/5 to a timmy or similar. I think gun comparisons could have there own small forum would work out nicely. Just a thread where people can ask those questions like "which one is the better deal and what not" Too much of the paintball talk is taken up by these threads that noone else seems to care about it. I think things would be a lot nicer if the forum was constructed much differenly. This site used to be more helpful than it seems to be now.

I agree with this post whole heartedly. Also there seems to be a HUGE increase in the "I got a new Gun look at it" Posts. I can ubderstand being happy/proud about your new wonderful marker but there are already several picture threads, EVERYONE doesn't need their own. Between these and the "what should I buy", "Is this a good deal" threads the Paintball talk tforum is clogged with posts. That's just my opinion

[Evil Bob]

Even the best rules in the world are nothing if they're not being actively enforced. The bottom line is it comes down to the enforcement delay and how long it takes a mod to respond when an infraction is identified.

I would suggest adding another 3-4 mods from different time zones to help even out the coverage, 24/7 enforcement is a must.

-Evil Bob

[cphilip]

I just want the voices in my head to stop saying "ban them all"....

[Thordic]

Over on my forums theres an option I don't personally use really but it could work.

Each user has a "warning" meter. Mods can raise or lower the warning meter for acts of stupidity / intelligence. If someone makes a useless / dumb / flame post that doesn't quite warrant a ban, they get warned.

If someone with a warning level posts a particularly good post and the mods notice, they can bring that users warning level down a notch.

Warnings decrease over time.

At a certain point (5, 10 warnings, whatever) the user gets a 3-day ban.

This way mods wouldn't have to pay attention to each person who is being a retard. You see a retard, you warn him. If he acts like a retard enough and enough mods see it, he'll get banned.

It has enormous potential to curb idiocy all over AO. Only mods can see warning levels (and users can see their own).

Also, when you warn someone, you have to type a reason why. So there will be a record of why the person got their warnings.

[FSU_Paintball]

Karma system determining your forum access is a good idea. When the change happens though, we should have current members set near the borderline so they can access the forums they've been able to see before.

(not that it would be a great help for me... I find myself being short with more people than usual on this forum for some reason. My karma would probably drop through the floor.)

[gibby]

Not reading through all that but I've also posted on another forum that uses the Karma system. Believe me, as much as it sounds like a good idea it always turns out that people will start to abuse the system and start handing out negative karma every time they disagree with a person. Next thing you know, people are too concerned with their Karma and start a fuss over it. If it isn't post counts, it'll be Karma points that will start all the commotion.

[-=Squid=-]

Thordics warning idea seems to be pretty solid, assuming AO supports a feature like that.

A few extra mods in each forum would help a lot, too.

[shartley]

Not reading through all that but I've also posted on another forum that uses the Karma system. Believe me, as much as it sounds like a good idea it always turns out that people will start to abuse the system and start handing out negative karma every time they disagree with a person. Next thing you know, people are too concerned with their Karma and start a fuss over it. If it isn't post counts, it'll be Karma points that will start all the commotion.

[joez]

I dont really like the idea. Its seems like a good idea at first, but all it is going to do is mask a deeper problem. Like putting a butterfly bandaid on an amputated leg. Having special forums is only going to make it worse. Those that say you can limit karma ratings, so are you going to make it so new people cant give Karma to make up for the handfull that will abuse the system? What about those of us that dont frequent the boards as much as they used to? Im not arround anymore because of the atmosphere now, its getting lame. I pop in only to check on AO IL events, and on what i have for sale anymore. The post whoring is out of control, people just plain need to be banned. To me its slowly turning the way of PBN.

Novel concept, but it will not solve the problem. The mods need to tighten up even more IMHO.

[shartley]

first off i want to say that i'm i a newb, that being said i apologize for the fact that i have done some of the things that cause the complaints (mostly reposts). and will no longer do such things. with that out of the way...



i'm sure that Thoric meant this but i think that each user should be able to see they're own warning level, and also be able to know why they recieved it. instead of just banning the newbs try to turn them into better AOer's!