UPSB v3

Serious Discussion / Serious Discussion - Leave Open or Close Down?

READ BEFORE VOTING

  1. Tialys
    Date: Sat, Oct 31 2009 00:16:54

    In the summer of last year, the Serious Discussion (SD) forum was introduced to facilitate discussion of more meaningful topics by separating them from the clutter and distraction of other off-topic sections. The SD section enjoyed a spate of activity in its infancy, until most of the major subjects had been broached and the frenetic posting pace relaxed. Initially, the rules were strictly enforced to assist members in adjusting to the higher post content standard. Old posting habits die hard, but once a general sense of the forum had been established, the rules were relaxed in order to encourage rather than impede discussion.

    Currently, borderline spam posts are left alone when there are few of them widely scattered amidst a serious discussion. But as soon as these posts accumulate and begin disrupting the discussion, all such posts in the thread are expunged. Another problem is that members periodically create threads in the SD forum that are moved elsewhere, mostly because they fail to satisfy the two main requirements:

    1. Serious. The topic should be serious enough that people are likely to discuss it in earnest. The thread creator should likewise be serious about the subject being discussed.
    2. Discussion. The topic should be one that is likely to elicit back-and-forth discussion. Most of the time, the thread involves a topic that’s too narrow/specific/rare (e.g. “Running Backs in the CFL”), too general (e.g. “Sports”), or is unlikely to generate dialogue (e.g. “What is your favourite ____?” – people give an answer and no further discussion occurs). Of course, there are exceptions. “Sports” is a poor topic, but “Do sports really add anything to society?” might be worth discussing.

    Other times, the topic violates one of the other rules, such as the one regarding religious/political threads. Also, members have occasionally abused SD to promote topics that have no business being in the forum. Either way, I state all this for educational purposes only. If your thread has ever been edited, moved, or removed, it’s probably for one of the above reasons.

    In the meantime, I believe the time to gauge public opinion of the SD forum is long overdue. It seems that now only a handful of members use the forum regularly. It also feels like people are waiting for others to create a thread before responding instead of creating a thread themselves. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with this, but it does make for a very inactive Serious Discussion section. Whether the forum has been successful or disastrous is up to you, and you are more than welcome to leave feedback below in addition to voting above.


    Should the Serious Discussion be kept open or closed down?
    Polling will last until November 30. Poll results are not final: the results will be considered carefully after Nov. 30 and deliberated upon before arriving at a decision. In the meantime, don't let the poll deter you from continuing to use the SD forum. At worst, the section will close down and your topic will be moved to the Off-Topic section.


    I would appreciate your opinions on the following as well:
    1. Advice-seeking threads is something I had not anticipated when opening the SD section. I don’t mind them so long as both advice-seeker and the advice being sought are serious (e.g. trouble with relationships, parents, depression, etc.), but I can see how some members would object to them. Should threads that seek advice be allowed?
    2. I’ve thought about allowing the thread creator to decide the level of moderation of his/her thread in order to appeal to SD “purists”- people who expect quality responses. The two options would be Normal or Strict.
      Normal. A thread moderated under current rules. Opinions don’t necessarily have to be substantiated or contribute significantly to the thread. Borderline spam is left intact unless there is too much of it. Example: Your views on sex
      Strict. Post content is governed under strict rules. Posts must be substantiated and contribute significantly (usually, replying to a point a previous poster has made) to the thread or else they are removed. This form of moderation is conducive to debate. Example: Corporations and the Free Market Structure
      If the thread creator does not specify the type of moderation, then Normal is assumed. The creator cannot retroactively change the moderation type. As soon as the OP makes a spam post in his/her Strict thread, the topic becomes Normal. Should the normal/strict moderation system be used?

  2. Awesome
    Date: Sat, Oct 31 2009 02:30:09

    It is kinda dead unfortunately. I am not sure if that warrants a closure, but I do not see the harm in leaving it open. I don't have a proble, with advice seeking threads as long as they are on a serious subject matter themselves. I think the strict system should be used on every topic, if the thread creator wants less serious responses they can post in the off topic.

  3. Glamouraz
    Date: Sat, Oct 31 2009 02:51:03

    I think advice seeking threads should be allowed.

    If you put some girl advice thing in the off topic, everyone just posts stupid responses. However, over here it shows that there really is something that the OP wants to achieve seriously IRL.

    Having advice seeking threads here allow people to get information and opinions of what they are experiencing from other people who have probably gone through the same thing in a more serious note.

  4. Santa
    Date: Sat, Oct 31 2009 03:08:30

    QUOTE (Awesome @ Oct 30 2009, 09:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    It is kinda dead unfortunately. I am not sure if that warrants a closure, but I do not see the harm in leaving it open.

    rotfl.gif





    No, please don't close it I enjoy reading this section when I get bored.

  5. EssenceOfLife
    Date: Sat, Oct 31 2009 18:55:55

    Don't close it.
    It's a haven of UPSB, where people actually use their intelligence for something and it's a really nice place to go when you're thinking deeply on a subject and want other peoples views.

  6. Dark Angel-REX
    Date: Tue, Nov 3 2009 13:24:53

    I think it should be kept open.


    I know there are some people who just wants to ruin the scene, but I know there are even more people who wants to talk about something serious.

    I mean there isn't anything so disadvantageous about Serious Discussion Section.