I have a suggestion. It seems that several people are annoyed with the lack of swimming content in many of the threads (darn those thread hijackers). What if we created a section for Off Topic Questions and threads. It seems that would be an easy solution and make everyone happy.
How about just putting "NSR" (not swimming related) in the subject heading of these kinds of threads? Personally I don't mind them here. It's usually pretty obvious which ones aren't going to be about swimming much. The NSR will just make it that much easier for those who aren't interested to stay away.
General discussion is sort of an 'off topic' place, but one where most people wind up discussing just about everything, including swimming techniques.
If I recall correctly, one of main concerns with the group that moderates this forum is that it is all volunteer based, and typically very shorthanded to watch it all.
I think adding to the volume or the complexity of the bulletin board would be met with more enthusiasam if it came along with offers of additional manpower (volunteering) to monitor and moderate it all.
Personally, on my teams bulletin board, which I end up administering, we have a section called 'gutter chat' which is open for everyone, and intended for not so swimming related chatter. It was pretty lively foir a while, then some inside jokes end up looking pretty crude, even though people that went back and forth didn't mind at all, they forget that there's a larger audience reading it, the audience that is not privy to the inside meaning of what they're saying. Then we'd get complaints or comments how some of it comes across as very discouraging to other teammates.... After you delete a few posts, or ask people to tone it down, they sort of lose interest, or get litle bit mifed, and things die off, people stop posting.
So it's tricky...
When you're in the comfort bubble of being in front of your computer, sometimes it's hard to remember that what you're posting is in a public place, which is almost as conspicuous as standing in front of a large group of people and voicing your opinion. Lot of us tend to get lulled into thinking that having a new section or a new thread gives us some sort of seclusion or privacy. It doesn't. people weill find it, and they will read it, even if it's labeled off topic or spoilered for certain content. For some people, a spoiler like that onky serves as a big red "PICK ME" flashing neon sign, even though it may be spoilered for the type of the content they may find objectionable.
It can be like a car wreck, people don't want to see it, but can't seem to help looking.
What happens ultimately, the administrators or moderators just get more complaints that have to be dealt with, and when you're short handed to begin with, then you start questioning the value of it's existance all together.
Let's all remember that postinghere is a privilege, not a right or entitlement, and it's a priviledge that comes at cost of of several people who volunteer pretty large amounts of time to sift through all of the postings here for appropriate and acceptable comment, people whom also have full time jobs and families, and a few other responsibilities within USMS.
Anyway, to clarify, that's just my personal opinion based on seeing both sides of the coin. Not to be seen as any sort of an official USMS position or feedback.
Thanks for the insight Connie. Personally, I'd rather keep it like it is, because it seems to be a fun forum.
I've been swimming for a while ( and took a long time off ), so I'm not sure what people are looking for. I don't know if the people that are complaining are those that have been at it awhile or if they are just starting out.
Any time I've posted a question or been looking for information, I've always been overwhelmed with the response or stuff that I found that people posted, so I don't know why people would complain. There are a lot of knowledgeable people with some great sites that are really helpful.
To me, it's like tv. If you don't like the programming, don't tune in. Maybe that seems harsh, but I'd hate for a few people to ruin it for everybody.
I would be very much in favor of a "gutter chat" section. Some days I am in the mood to read silly stuff and funny banter, but some days when I don't have a lot of time, I just want to read about swimming-related things. On those days it can be frustrating to wade through tons of chit-chat, sort of like what Lindsay is saying. If swimming-related threads start to go off-topic, one could say, "let's continue this discussion in the Gutter," and then the thread would remain more on-topic.
And it's hard to tell by the names of some posts whether they are actually swimming-related or not...(Paris Hilton, anyone? ;) )
Again, I love the happy and relaxed atmosphere that the camaraderie on this board brings, but I have noticed lately that it is getting more difficult to wade through everything.
Or: Free Speech vs Controlled Content
Yep, this is a tricky issue.
Yep, messages boards are like TV.
Internet message boards and chat rooms are a relatively new and bizarre social event. I equate it to going to a shopping mall, stepping into a crowd of people, and just start yacking away. The difference here is that you are heavily insulated from anyone being able to see or touch you. Sometimes I find the resulting behavior (even my own) to be an interesting social study. Sometimes it bores me to tears.
For this message board, since it is what interests me most, what I'd like to see is a forum for Swimming Technique (as they do for Workouts, Coaching, and OW Swimming). I can certainly understand the issue of more work for volunteers vs less work, so I can see why there would be a lack of enthusiasm for new forums. I like the "Gutter Chat" forum idea, which I think is pretty clever.
I've been involved in some message board management, and one experience shocked me into realizing that any moderator involvement can lead to ignition of major censorship issues which can quickly landslide into a major quarry (vs can) of worms. Being a message board moderator can be a very un-fun, thankless job.
On the other hand, as a user, it is a bummer to have to wade through a lot of muck and mire when you want to be fed just quality (on topic) content. But this IS the "General Discussions" forum, which is defined as "Any swimming-related topics not covered in one of the other top level topics". Um, well, how do you determine what is swimming related then? Trying to answer that one will almost certainly heat up some censorship issues.
I think this is a fun board too... sometimes. There are some very sharp, witty folks here and I've gotten quite a few good laughs from those seemingly OT posts for the threads they are attached to. But it is a casual place, and even if you created new forum topics the threads would inevitably become littered with chaff. I think it is just the nature of the beast.
I'd still like to see a forum dedicated to Swimming Technique though.
Boy, some really good points. I take back my previous comment of leaving it the way it is. I like it the way it is, but there have been some really good suggestions.
How do we go about suggesting things to the moderator? Is it by doing posts like this with moderator in the title?
How about setting up a poll for those things listed?
gutter chat, swimming technique, NSR, etc.
Gutter chat and swimming technique would get my vote for new forums.
If there is an Off Topic site, it will not solve the main problem that is currently plaguing this DF, idle chatter. In fact, an Off Topic site will inevitably create Flame Wars and damage the whole DF. There will be "I Love Spike Heels vs. I Loathe Spike Heels" and armies of posters and hackers who think it is great sport to crash the entire website. This is not speculation. It has happened many, many times, and is almost formulaic. If you love your sport, do not post or respond to the off topic threads. Let them die or go elsewhere.
We are far better off policing ourselves (which has not been too effective lately) and keeping the DF focused on swimming related topics EXCLUSIVELY, no matter how boring it becomes to the current batch of trolls and hijackers. They know who they are. The internet is a great big place with something for everyone. This website and DF is not the place to discuss Soap operas, American Idol, Car wrecks or Spike Heels, unless they all have entered LC Nationals in Mission Viejo, CA this August.
Originally posted by SwiminONandON
I have a suggestion. It seems that several people are annoyed with the lack of swimming content in many of the threads (darn those thread hijackers). What if we created a section for Off Topic Questions and threads. It seems that would be an easy solution and make everyone happy.
Personally I don't have a problem with the off topic threads, they are easy to ignore, but I do hate to see swimming threads hijacked.
I find it wierd that some people who aren't interested in the topic discussed in a thread seem to feel a need to stop other people from discussing something that is of interest to those people.
