[Oni]

As of late, I've noticed some members are disappointed with the decrease in discussion of _____.
_____ being whatever you enjoyed discussing previously. I recently made this post on another thread:

We've also gone through many phases and changes in focus. We used to be a forum dedicated primarily to hacking. Now, we talk about pretty much anything. Since I'm just an administrator, I only have slight control over what's being discussed most. Some sections fall out of popularity, but posts will almost always be made there later on. The best thing people can do to help this is to intentionally create engaging threads/discussion in sections that receive less attention.

I just wanted to let everyone know where I stand with things. I can't exactly influence activity in a section (unless I advertise towards a specific niche). When it comes to popularity of sections, the user base as a whole has a huge influence. If you see a section that isn't active and you would enjoy discussion in it, do the proactive thing and post there. You might not think of anything to post there initially, but you should at least attempt to.

I made this thread to address the changes in the activity of different sections that I've received complaints about. I would like to see more posts across a wider variety of sections. The Lounge is great, but we have so many other sections. If you have something to teach other people, you should make tutorials as well. Tutorials are one of the best ways to contribute to the forum!

Thanks for reading!

[DarkKnight]

Thanks, I'll take your advice and make a thread somewhere that I like.

[Linuxephus™]

I for one should like to be more active in the Window's and GNU/Linux section. My greatest concern though is no information being pushed via a search for time invested in authoring material or relevant comments made that benefit the Community as a whole.

Hence my inquiry as to the Search Engine Optimization question.

[OversouL]

I suggest that staff should monitor the replies on those threads. Often times flaming happens to those new threads because of something a member disagrees on. Instead of replying politely and suggesting things for the OP he/she reply's impolitely and act as if he or she knows better and often the result is both just becoming aggressive at each other.
Another is because of misleading titles members post. Which I think is easy for staff to handle.
I suggest that we should be mildly strict on posts and give a friendly/verbal warning on both sides when flaming occurs or about to occur, if issues persist give an official warning.
It is unavoidable that members who are punished by staff get pissed of, so staff should be tolerant to those jerky members or more generally around the forums and not argue against them and instead reply with something like ("If you have any issues with me, please let an admin know.") or of some sort and let Oni decide on what will happen next.

I just noticed that most tutorial/guide threads always have some arguing replies in it until it just becomes heated up. Although not all arguing comes from the reply of a member to the OP, there are some members who can't even take a polite suggestion or correction in there thread.

[Oni]

I suggest that staff should monitor the replies on those threads. Often times flaming happens to those new threads because of something a member disagrees on. Instead of replying politely and suggesting things for the OP he/she reply's impolitely and act as if he or she knows better and often the result is both just becoming aggressive at each other.
Another is because of misleading titles members post. Which I think is easy for staff to handle.
I suggest that we should be mildly strict on posts and give a friendly/verbal warning on both sides when flaming occurs or about to occur, if issues persist give an official warning.
It is unavoidable that members who are punished by staff get pissed of, so staff should be tolerant to those jerky members or more generally around the forums and not argue against them and instead reply with something like ("If you have any issues with me, please let an admin know.") or of some sort and let Oni decide on what will happen next.

I just noticed that most tutorial/guide threads always have some arguing replies in it until it just becomes heated up. Although not all arguing comes from the reply of a member to the OP, there are some members who can't even take a polite suggestion or correction in there thread.

We try to delete off-topic/unhelpful responses. Unfortunately, not all break the rules. We can only delete posts that break the rules, unless it's very apparent they go against the forum's best interest.

[Rock]

Fair point, although as administrator you still can do a few things. Sometimes it's just a matter of thinking outside the box. For example if you want to focus discussion on a certain forum/topic you could modify the earnings to increase SP points in that particullar sector (if that's possible). You can also disable post count completely on some sections to might have the potential of creating topics with not much content or nontechnical content. Such as random/lounge.

Maybe also forum contests and certain awards can be introduced, even only for a limited time. For the sole purpose of targeting the focused activity/discussion towards certain topics. Simply create events and things that will either reward good user behaviour, or discourage bad user behaviour. Don't know if you've thought about those already, just dropping my thoughts and suggestions on what you or maybe staff in some cases can do.

But yeah in the end this a forum, one big organism with cells. I wouldn't say the administration can control discussion completely but to a certain extent it could try as best as it can.

[Oni]

Fair point, although as administrator you still can do a few things. Sometimes it's just a matter of thinking outside the box. For example if you want to focus discussion on a certain forum/topic you could modify the earnings to increase SP points in that particullar sector (if that's possible). You can also disable post count completely on some sections to might have the potential of creating topics with not much content or nontechnical content. Such as random/lounge.

Maybe also forum contests and certain awards can be introduced, even only for a limited time. For the sole purpose of targeting the focused activity/discussion towards certain topics. Simply create events and things that will either reward good user behaviour, or discourage bad user behaviour. Don't know if you've thought about those already, just dropping my thoughts and suggestions on what you or maybe staff in some cases can do.

But yeah in the end this a forum, one big organism with cells. I wouldn't say the administration can control discussion completely but to a certain extent it could try as best as it can.

I was just giving an example. There's plenty of things we have done in the past to influence discussion in specific sections. I have, however, gotten complaints about particular sections receiving less posts (ie. Programming, Graphic Design, etc...). One of the best things I can do, is advertise to people that fit the niche of our active sections. The sections need to be active, though. My point here is that if someone wants to see more activity in a particular section, they should definitely be posting in it.

[mothered]

If you see a section that isn't active and you would enjoy discussion in it, do the proactive thing and post there.

Due to the Inactivity of the given section, after posting In It, then comes the question of whether It's considered grave digging.

Provided there's some guidance as to what Is/Is not considered and defined as grave digging, then by all means you're absolutely correct In keeping given sections alive by posting.

[Eclipse]

Due to the Inactivity of the given section, after posting In It, then comes the question of whether It's considered grave digging.

Provided there's some guidance as to what Is/Is not considered and defined as grave digging, then by all means you're absolutely correct In keeping given sections alive by posting.

https://www.sinister.ly/Thread-Defining-Gravedigging

[mothered]

https://www.sinister.ly/Thread-Defining-Gravedigging

If the bump contains some useful/helpful information, it's not gravedigging!

Then the question Is, what Is/Isn't defined and classed as "useful/helpful" Information?

You see where I'm coming from? What you and I believe may well and truly be useful and/or helpful Information, may not be the case with other members. In my views, grave digging needs clear clarification. As It stands, It's simply based on user-discretion.