Legitimate Discussion Only - One Word Threads/Replies Unwelcome

[Signus]

It's becoming increasingly difficult to moderate this section because I can't really classify what's spam and what's not. Thread owners don't always specify whether members are allowed to respond with short or detailed replies.

If an OP doesn't specify, I can't go deleting one-word replies, because that might be what the OP intended - for example -

"How many of you use Firefox?"

could either mean -

"Post here, so we know how many..."

OR

"Post why you use it, so we know."




And that distinction is one that I can't make, if the OP doesn't specify.

If you made a thread that you specified should have detailed responses, but it's getting spammed, PM me and report it.

So, could OPs be more specific on what should be posted in their threads?

[JustJenna]

Threads that require word replies are not allowed. If they want to gather statistical information, they may make a poll. Additionally, threads that only require a yes or no question are not allowed. Threads that ask as question MUST contain "and why" - anything else is spam.

Spam thread:
"What is your favorite browser"

Good thread:
"What is your favorite browser, and why?"

Any posts that contain one or two word answers are not allowed. Same with one sentence answers. All posts should be meaningful and add to the conversation. Use your best judgment.

[ThePope]

SunSpyda: I have a quick suggestion. Could you perhaps edit the title of this sticky thread and maybe even edit its contents a little?

Because new users who are simply gung-ho on getting more posts under their belt will simply read the title of this sticky on the main page of this forum and assume that perhaps if the OP doesn't specifically specify "detailed" replies, they can go ahead with one-word or one-sentence posts. That could be a reason why the spam level on this forum might have been elevated.

I'm very much still green here, so if this comment shouldn't have been a post but a PM, please let me know and I'll fix this post. I am still a little overly cautious as to when it is appropriate for PMing mods.

[Rellik]

I hope Signus does not mind, but I have changed this thread's title since it gave an unintended suggestion that topics that call for one word replies and one word replies themselves are acceptable in the General Discussion forum. They are not.

We have plenty of freedom here to discuss topics that are entirely unrelated to BT and invites. Still, as a discussion forum, just because a topic is not related to our general mission does not mean it is an invitation to create spam threads that call for one word replies or to post one word replies themselves (and by one word replies I include thinly veiled attempts to lengthen a reply such as "Utorrent FTW" or "Deluge is the best for me".) All threads should ideally implicitly or explicitly call for a reasoned response and not just a listing of preferences with no support (we have polls for the latter topics).

As Jenna noted above, all posts should be meaningful and add to the conversation. Use your best judgment. And if you have something to say on any topic, by all means please feel free to add to the conversation!

Thank you.