| Dec 12, 2007 @ 11:19 AM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads
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Martin666
Posts: 2,142
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Has MD ever investigated the possibility of allowing "invitation Only" threads on the forums? The OP has the ability to allow people into the discussion, or not, and then issue "warning points" for off-topic or aggressive behavior: collect so many points, and you're shut out of the thread.
It just seems that this would take the weight off the mods, who simply can't monitor all of this stuff.
The technology for this exists, I've seen it on several other sites.
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 1:19 PM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads |
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kattsmeow
Posts: 21,233
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That is a nice concept.
I have other boards that we tend to do that on.
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 2:44 PM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads
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drs297
Posts: 4,061
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as long as I get like 8,000,000,000 points
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 2:49 PM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads |
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pamdemonium
Posts: 14,484
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 What if you don't get an invitation, but you wanna come?
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 3:11 PM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads
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drs297
Posts: 4,061
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what I do now.. take care of it myself. Umm, you were talking about, oh no you weren't.. 
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 3:20 PM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads |
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pamdemonium
Posts: 14,484
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 yeah...mmmm..OH KAYYY..... 
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 7:42 PM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads
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_CQ_
Posts: 85
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I say get rid of the forums. Too many redundant threads, too much off topic chat.
Terminate the blogs. I see so many blogs that are not blogs at all. http://www.matchdoctor.com/blog_76200/the_female_shape.html is an example.
Focusing on the dating aspect of this site and increasing new member sign ups would be more beneficial.
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 8:12 PM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads |
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BandTMom
Posts: 28,181
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If M got rid of the blogs and forums, there would be little left.
Yes, this is a dating site, but it is small compared to others. There have been many matches here, but a lot of people would go away if not for the interaction. Besides, I feel blogs and forums are a way to get to know the true character of a person.
I like Martin's idea.....invitation only forums. It wouldn't include all forums, just some where people could actually discuss a topic. 
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 8:15 PM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads
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robodad
Posts: 5,811
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A private room, perhaps? (like in chat)
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 8:29 PM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads |
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_CQ_
Posts: 85
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There would be nothing left for those who only come here for the forums and blogs.
The blogs and forums are populated by a small fraction of actual members, though I am sure there are those who read them, but never post. Being limited to meeting a potential friend or date to the forums undermines the real potential of a site like this.
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 10:56 PM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 7,726
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Has MD ever investigated the possibility of allowing "invitation Only" threads on the forums? The OP has the ability to allow people into the discussion, or not, and then issue "warning points" for off-topic or aggressive behavior: collect so many points, and you're shut out of the thread.
Martin..if every poster was like you..this would indeed work..but unfortunately, there are posters who would turn their thread into a cliquefest, and then the mod's would still have to moderate..
Also..one persons off topic is another persons topic.. and some posters are agressive..others are timid.. A thread belongs to the comunity at large not to the thread starter
I feel that the mods have a good understanding of what is going on in the forums.. and it is not broken.. they do intercede when they should..and ban people when they need to be banned..
Just think about the blogs where only certain people can comment..and the blogger deletes anything that they disagree with. How would your concept be any different?
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 10:59 PM |
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SweetNapaGuy
Posts: 4,505
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In addition, I don't think MD is running that admin-friendly a version of bulletin boards. There are a LOT of features I've come to associate with bulletin boards that just aren't available with this version.
So I don't think that the software could support it.
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 11:08 PM |
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Martin666
Posts: 2,142
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It wouldn't necessarily be "invitation only"---anyone could join. But the OP would retain the ability to warn people and remove posts, and block offensive posters from posting again...the same idea as with the blogs comments. I think this would cut out 80% of the crap that goes on in the forums now.
Mods?
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 11:13 PM |
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Martin666
Posts: 2,142
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"
Martin.... there are posters who would turn their thread into a cliquefest, and then the mod's would still have to moderate.."
No, the mods wouldn't have to moderate, and who cares--really--if it's a cliquefest? If some of the neocons on here want to sit down and have a conversation amongst themselves, fine. It's more like the real world: I can chose who I have a conversation with, and I can exclude people who I don't want there. The problem with the forums now is that they set up an artifical environment where you can't get rid of the trolls like you could in real life.
IMMHO :)
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 11:23 PM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads
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SweetNapaGuy
Posts: 4,505
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The blogs are another story. I favor rendering the comments in the blogs invisible to all but the blogger...
That aside, nope, the idea of an "invitation only" thread is not only technically unfeasible (the software to make it work would be expensive...), in short order it would result in nearly every thread being "invitation only." In that case, might as well expand the Bulletins. Maybe give people the option of belonging to three distinct Bulletins, with Gold members having an extra ten or so (and being able to host a certain number of Bulletins, so they can moderate, invite, and dismiss).
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 11:29 PM |
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Jankia
Posts: 9,053
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Its a good idea martin666 but if they cant do it maybe the people that hail the garbage the trolls spill out on here would quit doing it? I dont have any other idea why we see such people so hypocritical of themselves when that happens then maybe they are so hard up for a date its like the trolls use themselves,an attention getter.
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| Dec 12, 2007 @ 11:54 PM |
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SunBabe
Posts: 12,215
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From what I know of the history of this site, I belive it's all custom (not a "template" like a lot of other sites are). Years ago, when they first started out, I believe they used a version for "Matt's Script". That wasn't able to be moderated at all except by the two owners when they had time to yank something. When things got too out of hand, they simply yanked the message boards (forums) for a few years and the site nearly disappeared completely
Check back through some of the posts in this section. I think that there was an explaination of why changes can't be made easily...one change in the database (?? or format??) affects all the other areas sometimes with unforseen results. I remember when they made modifications to the style and it took months to iron out some of the kinks.
From my experience with Invision Board, it was possible to create "sub-moderators", which is how an "Invitation Only" forum/thread would have to work -- making every single person a moderator, in effect. Just like blogs are.
I think the crux of the matter is that a lot of people are simply rude and purposly disruptive (especially in serious topics).
Somewhere in the mission statement or forum rules or TOS, there's a blurb about the forums being open to EVERYBODY for discussions (no "exclusion"). I don't see that there should be a problem if someone is reminded by the other participants to please stay on topic -- just like any normal adult face-to-face discussion in "real life". When someone doesn't p*** me off TOO much, I try to ignore the "class clown"/"class troublemaker".
Too bad there's so little respect for other people and their ideas and opinions anywhere you look on the internet these days. Whatever happened to the concept of "sharing"? Everything seems to be a competition, even if it's a competition for negative attention. 
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| Dec 13, 2007 @ 12:07 AM |
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madamegeek
Posts: 1,447
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You could call it "The Caligula and Drusilla Hour" - never have to leave home! Ah, the comforts of inbreeding!
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| Dec 13, 2007 @ 3:02 AM |
Invitation Only Forum Threads
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Solitaire
Posts: 1,138
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So, if you don't like what I have to say, or how I say it...zap, I'm out of your club?
Hmmmm...sure I can see how that would facilitate a discussion of opinions. Ok, maybe not my opinions, but hey, a closed society is a calmer society, right?
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| Dec 13, 2007 @ 8:53 AM |
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Martin666
Posts: 2,142
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The forums are problemtic re: trolls, people hiding behind multiple profiles,etc, because they create an artificial environment where we can't exercise the same basic freedom of choice we experience elsewhere everyday: the ability to say NO to someone's participation in our life. If I'm having a dinner party and one of my guests goes 'troll,' I can ask them to leave. Nor am I obligated to reply to every email I receive here, to date every woman who expresses an interest in me, or to take phone calls from people I don't want to associate with. If my next door neighbors a jerk, I don't have to invite him over for tea and crumpets. But in the forum I'm obligated to accept everything and everybody, no matter what.
Believe me, if a lot of the troublemakers knew that there was local level control over the thread, they would get plenty of manners real quick...just like in real life.
And it's not a freedom of speech thing. I don't have the right to go into a crowded church service and hijack the sermon by yelling "f*** god' repeatedly at the top of my lungs. That's what we're talking about here. And for those amongst you who frequent the "hot" forums (politics and religion) you know what I mean.
And there's no reason why the OP would have to exclude trolls--it's their option.
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