Make it stop... MAKE IT STOP!

[Vegeta897]

Ok. This has been annoying me recently. Finnaly gonna make a thread about it.

Could we PLEASE post some kind of Sticky on all the sub-forums, (Especially HL2 Discussion) telling all these new members to use the SEARCH button?

There are so many threads popping up, atleast 5 an hour, posting the same old crap.

I look at any profile of these new members, and see that about 5 to 20 percent of their posts are new threads.

And its not just that, they post the worst spam in the world.

Things like "LOL, thats great" or "I agree"

Or not bothering to read the thread to see if what they posted has been discussed before.
I am sick of wading through all this spam. I think we should up the char limit or something.. I don't know.

I am just saying something should be done about it.

 

[Chris D]

It's a good thought but if they can't even read the news that's posted on our front page, I doubt they'll use the search button.

 

[CommandoSR]

They need to see "Posting and You".
http://gprime.net/flash/postingandyou.php

 

[Vegeta897]

Then perhaps we should issue some warnings?

I, once again, highly recommend making Shuzer a moderator. He is always online, (AIM) and I could easily refer such posts and threads to him, so he can deal with them.

It's a good idea.

EDIT: Oooh! You could also have a limit on how many threads someone can post! Depending on how many posts they have. Like, a headcrab can start 1, a Zombie, 3, etc.

Wow.. there goes another thread... Woohoo...

 

[Varsity]

Put the message in big yellow letters at the top of each page, and make any new threads by people with <200 posts go through an extra page to post, where their topic is searched for.

 

[Vegeta897]

Put the message in big yellow letters at the top of each page, and make any new threads by people with <200 posts go through an extra page to post, where their topic is searched for.

The big yellow letters would be a bit distracting, and not look that good... heheh.. But I DO like your other idea!

Maybe raise that number to about 800.

 

[The Mullinator]

Make a custom version of "posting and you" for HL2.net and have a separate page displayed after you agree to the sites rules while registering that says something like "It is strongly recommended that you watch this flash animation before you begin posting on HL2.net".

 

[Petabyte]

Maybe raise that number to about 800.

Your only saying that because you have over 1500 posts. Would you have said that 1000 posts ago? Would you really?

Come on, thats just not fair. I don't have as many posts as you, but I use the search button before starting a new thread and generally don't ask retarded questions. Just because you don't have 800 posts doesn't make you an idiot on the forums.

 

[SunshineRecorder]

I agree

 

[The Dark Elf]

More intelligent thread titles that actually have something in common with the thread would help more people find topics already posted than taking on someone to do your dirty work Vegeta.

 

[KNoX]

i agree i'm new but i do notice the amount of repetative threads. an idea would to have a link when people regester to Chris Ds Flash about posting.

people would have to watch it if they want to register.

 

[Sai]

well, vegeta, if your so disgruntled by the way the half-life2 forum is going, then i guess the only real thing you can do would be what most forum vets are doing; don't visit the hl2 forum.

 

[Vegeta897]

Your only saying that because you have over 1500 posts. Would you have said that 1000 posts ago? Would you really?

Come on, thats just not fair. I don't have as many posts as you, but I use the search button before starting a new thread and generally don't ask retarded questions. Just because you don't have 800 posts doesn't make you an idiot on the forums.

Uhh.. Actually I would WANT my thread to be searched for. That would be very helpful, and make me not look like a dumbass. ^^

I was just saying 800 because some of the people I am talking about have a decent number of posts. (Up in the 600-700's.)

Fenric, what "dirty work" are you talking about? If I could do something to help, I gladly would.

?? You people confuse me.

 

[Petabyte]

What makes someone "up in the 600-700's" better, or less likley to post a stupid question than someone in say, the 300's?
You confuse me.

 

[Vegeta897]

What makes someone "up in the 600-700's" better, or less likley to post a stupid question than someone in say, the 300's?
You confuse me.

Perhaps you misunderstood me.. I implied that some of the spammers have 600-700 posts. So I suggested that you raise the number to something higher than that..

But here's my new idea:

Okay, this sounds fool proof.

Everytime ANYONE makes a thread, it does a quick search for similar threads. The user is presented with a list of possible matches. If he finds none, continues and the thread is posted.

However, if the user neglects this, and the thread is found to have been posted before, he is issued a warning. Second time a week ban, etc.

You can work out the details, but I think it is a very good idea.

 

[Shuzer]

I think HL2.net should make it so you are required to have 10,000 posts before you can make a new thread.

 

[Yuri]

I think HL2.net should make it so you are required to have 10,000 posts before you can make a new thread.

Would be funny having no threads.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

Put the message in big yellow letters at the top of each page, and make any new threads by people with <200 posts go through an extra page to post, where their topic is searched for.

yellow?
no...it would be hard to read yellow lettering.
make it another colour which would catch everyone's eyes but not hurt them.

 

[DoctorGordon]

People, its never gonna happen...search funtion is way to complicated for the average person. Plus nearly everyone is arrogant.

 

[Kadayi]

However, if the user neglects this, and the thread is found to have been posted before, he is issued a warning. Second time a week ban, etc.

You can work out the details, but I think it is a very good idea.

3rd time, we go around to their house and kneecap their parents? :dozey:

In all seriousness I recommend you start your own forum if your unhappy with the spam factor. You can test out your nazi moderation ideas there instead. HL².net is a big community and the forums are the only soapbox where people can express their thoughts, views and opinions (however inane they may be), and increasingly as the game nears release it is going to get busier.

The vast majority of people on this forum are not 24/7 HL².net forum addicts, for them this is probably a stopping point in their internet travels, rather than a favourite haunt. A place to ask questions and hear the news, not a hometown as such, it's unrealistic to expect them to abide by your notions of forum ettiquette, however rightminded they may be in principal.

Once the game is released the forums will probably be on fire for a month or so, but after that things should bed down whilst we wait for the first mods to appear. These issues are temporal to be honest.

 

[Vegeta897]

Don't insult me.

I am just trying to enforce the Forum Rules.
I seem to be the only one who gives a damn.

 

[evil^milk]

it just wouldn't be hl2.net. LOL I agree

there are always going to be nubs. does it really irritate you to see some nub making a new thread? c'mon. if it does, <no comment>.

 

[blahblahblah]

I hate to break it to you, but the search function sucks on all forums.

I routinely try to use the search function in the hardware forum since I sometimes reuse advice (i.e. on how to install SATA drives or what PCI graphics card should I get). Searching does not work very well.

Searching will not prevent duplicate threads. Maybe you should just ask the people to look through the first couple of pages in a forum to see if it has been posted before.

 

[Chris D]

I hate to break it to you, but the search function sucks on all forums.

I routinely try to use the search function in the hardware forum since I sometimes reuse advice (i.e. on how to install SATA drives or what PCI graphics card should I get). Searching does not work very well.

Searching will not prevent duplicate threads. Maybe you should just ask the people to look through the first couple of pages in a forum to see if it has been posted before.

That's in the rules already

 

[blahblahblah]

That's in the rules already

ummmm....welll, then I guess we have come to an agreement then.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

I hate to break it to you, but the search function sucks on all forums.

I routinely try to use the search function in the hardware forum since I sometimes reuse advice (i.e. on how to install SATA drives or what PCI graphics card should I get). Searching does not work very well.

Searching will not prevent duplicate threads. Maybe you should just ask the people to look through the first couple of pages in a forum to see if it has been posted before.

yeah... and then when a user doesn't find a "duplicate" thread using the search function, he gets dumped on anyways :|
somebody really needs to improve the search function on forums.

 

[Maxi]

I think most of the people who complain about people not searching, never search themselfs. Why do I say this?

Well, most of the time i've been looking for a thread via the search, i've come up empty handed, because it says that the word is either to common or too short. But wait! When it puts words as "Half-Life 2" As too common, then just searches for "gold date" I get EVERY THREAD with the words gold date in them. I say, FIX teh search.

 

[The Mullinator]

yeah... and then when a user doesn't find a "duplicate" thread using the search function, he gets dumped on anyways :|
somebody really needs to improve the search function on forums.

Somehow integrate it with google? Aside from using advanced algorithms that would take awhile to implement I can't really see how it could be improved aside from allowing more search options.

I agree though that the search function doesn't really help most of the time. Thats the reason I never go into a thread and say "Use the search function", although sometimes it is blatantly obvious that it has been discussed before but most of the time I have to say they can be forgiven.

 

[Bobcat]

As far as I know, there's nothing wrong with the search function, the problem is people who can't figure out appropiate thread titles "an' tlk all funy", get it?

If I hit "Half-Life install problems" into the search, it won't find Billy-bobs "OMGWTF IT WON WORK"-thread, where the answer lies.

On the other hand, people are generally stupid and can't be bothered to use the search.

If people could speak English and use appropiate thread titles, maybe you could help reduce the number of duplicate threads.

 

[Beazil]

Lol @ Bobcat! That seems to be my prob on almost all forums, not just this one. I have been here since, well, I don't know, for a while, and I don't post useless threads. While I do appreciate the concerns regarding repeat threads, I don't think any sort of draconian or elitist policy regarding posts will help to make the community more accessible for those here or new people looking for info. I don't know if there is much of a way to help improve etiquette, unless you do it by example.

Just my 2 cents on the subject.