The point of posting an article is to foster some kind of debate about the article. I see no reason why a thread should be locked for this reason, but not locked if the person simply adds a manufactured addendum of sorts.

How about this instead...

If someone posts an article, and doesn't reply to any responses to the article in a certain period of time, the post is deleted?

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Shibby The point of posting an article is to foster some kind of debate about the article. I see no reason why a thread should be locked for this reason, but not locked if the person simply adds a manufactured addendum of sorts. How about this instead... If someone posts an article, and doesn't reply to any responses to the article in a certain period of time, the post is deleted?

You have a good point

Depends what you consider "empty". I'm with Krypton. I'll post an article with a one line statement or one paragraph statement that will establish my view. Then I'll simply wait to see if other people are willing to debate the topic. Why waste the time to back up your thesis statement if no one is willing to argue with you? However, posts that simply post an article with no establishment of views are worthless in my opinion. Why would I even want to read a thread that you post when you have absolutely no opinion about it? If you're conflicted than voice your confliction and explain why you're conflicted. At least I might get something out of the conversation. Simply gathering information about what others think about a topic is selfish. If that's your goal, create a news subforum of the pdd where poeple know not to respond to posts.

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A thread about what some would consider interesting articles can be a good solution to this problem. Users can go into that specific thread, maybe stickied, to post an article, forcibly posting a sentence or two about it to prove that it was read.

Then again, forcing not-so-interesting articles into one thread would just leave space for those other threads that don't ever seem to go to the 2nd page.

Anyway, because thread starters should post something about what they're citing to, as I said earlier, prove they actually read the given material, the thread with nothing but an article should be locked. Deletion is also an option, isn't it?

I don't think that will meaningfully improve the situation because, frankly, I don't think that the people who routinely post "just an article" have any original thoughts to contribute at all. Even if they were to add some words of their own into the post, I doubt they would be anything more than the regurgitation of some foolish "talking points" or similar rubbish.

It's also important to consider that some articles lend themselves to discussion better than others, or even in different ways than others. An immediate response to the article by the author of the post does not necessarily improve the quality of the discussion; those responding to the thread may tailor their response more to the poster's ideas than the ideas in the article, which may result in alternative analyses of the article not being as well-developed as they might have been, and thus lead to a narrower discussion.

If some individual in particular is getting out of hand with posting articles that aren't generating any discussion, or that are highly redundant, then that's the sort of thing I think needs to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The proposed solution is administratively convenient (not that I'm suggesting that's its motivation) but I'm not sure it will really improve the quality of discussion, and in some rare cases may actually detract from it.

i agree with occ & krypton. first thing i do in a new thread is check out whether someone has put forward any opinion. hell, even i give my space threads a little one liner like "black holes are cool!" so people understand the context you are talking in.

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Aye! I can't stand it when people just post an article and just an article!

Every new thread started should contain the OP's opinion, and that should be the start of the debate. I don't even like it when entire articles are posted at all - they take up space (and bandwidth which I assume TA has to pay for). I say just post a link, quote the main paragraph then add your opinion to it and let the fun begin (or if you're Lillith, just, erm, begin! )

this thread is a waste of bandwith

For the first time in all the forums that ive been a member of, and plenty, i have encounter this nonsense. I mean i dont mean to offend anyone, but people really dont create any threads worth discussing on. there are some exceptions ofcourse, i understand this section is not a news feed section. but come on, most of the times a story gets discussion from its members. so this is what i see, it is acceptable to create a thread denying the 9/11 attacks or any other conspiracy and propaganda, but its not acceptable to post a real story, atleast most of the times

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quote:

Originally posted by Krypton College tuition should be free, so should healthcare.

oh and lira if they keep bitching and crying like little babies to you about a thread retrieved from a real story just tell them to ignore it, its not like the creator of that thread is going to force them to take part on it. if you dont like the headline of the thread move on to another one

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quote:

Originally posted by Krypton College tuition should be free, so should healthcare.

quote:

Originally posted by LatinLover this thread is a waste of bandwith For the first time in all the forums that ive been a member of, and plenty, i have encounter this nonsense. I mean i dont mean to offend anyone, but people really dont create any threads worth discussing on. there are some exceptions ofcourse, i understand this section is not a news feed section. but come on, most of the times a story gets discussion from its members. so this is what i see, it is acceptable to create a thread denying the 9/11 attacks or any other conspiracy and propaganda, but its not acceptable to post a real story, atleast most of the times

What on Earth are you talking about? This has got nothing to do with 9/11, I posted this poll after reading this thread and receiving a couple of pm's that had nothing to do with 9/11.

quote:

Originally posted by LatinLover oh and lira if they keep bitching and crying like little babies to you about a thread retrieved from a real story just tell them to ignore it, its not like the creator of that thread is going to force them to take part on it. if you dont like the headline of the thread move on to another one

First of all, I am the moderator of this forum (along with Wicked Neo), and I'm here to help the users, not to judge them because of their opinions. If you haven't noticed, the majority voted for this, so this is not a complaint from one particular user or anything.

Also, no one came to me because of a thread (whatever thread it is that you're talking about), but because of a recent trend here. I actually tolerated this because I don't like to intervene that much, but such threads are really disrespectful, in a way that you can't even bother to state your opinion about a topic you're raising yourself.

Long story short, this is not about you: can you please give us a reason why such threads shouldn't be closed?

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Last edited by Lira on Oct-11-2007 at 21:58

quote:

Originally posted by LatinLover this thread is a waste of bandwith

Then why read and post here?

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For the first time in all the forums that ive been a member of, and plenty,

With your incredible popularity and enlightening voice of reason, I can surely see why you're involved with so many.....

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i have encounter this nonsense.

Speaking of nonsense, could you at least try to make a coherent statement every now and then, please?

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I mean i dont mean to offend anyone,

That's a first.

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but people really dont create any threads worth discussing on.

Gosh, that "you're not worthy of my time" theme of yours is getting quite old, don't you think?

Why the fuck are you even posting then? You just love living in contradiction, I suppose.

quote:

there are some exceptions ofcourse, i understand this section is not a news feed section.

Then why post all the fucking newsfeeds like you do, nitwit?

quote:

but come on, most of the times a story gets discussion from its members. so this is what i see, it is acceptable to create a thread denying the 9/11 attacks or any other conspiracy and propaganda, but its not acceptable to post a real story, atleast most of the times

Remind me to wash my brain out with soap for even trying to step in your shoes and see what you see..........

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Whence September dusk grows crisper still,
with leaves all crimson conquered,
I yearn to shout,
and dance about,
and stick pickles in my honker...