Forum feature: Thanks But Off Topic button

[Pen N Popper]

Semi-serious suggestion.  :-)

We've all seen (and probably participated) in derailing threads; it's a natural part of conversation.  However, there are times I'd welcome the ability to collapse away all the off topic banter.  Here's how...

A new button is added labeled "New Topic" that lets mark a post in a thread as a new topic.  (New topic seems nicer sounding then a "Get this off topic dribble out of my way" button.)  Users then have a new Thread Tools entry that lets them collapse "New Topic" posts.  They'd still be shown inline in the thread but with just the subject and poster listed perhaps.  A threshold of votes could be set before a reply was actually considered truly a new topic to limit what I'll call in good nature the Zuckerman Spam-a-Thanks.  It would take more than one person calling the posting off topic before it was collapsed.

[jan]

i got a simpler solution.

People just need to stop spamming others posts with off-topic chatter

It'll take a bit off restraining oneself , but it would be the best solution .

P.S. : Sorry to those that see it as a good " filling of spare time " ....
        Please don't hurt me for this !!!!

[Script Wrecked]

Unfortunately, its not as simple as that.

People mention points to illustrate the point they're trying to get across, other people then answer those points and use other points to illustrate their point, and sooner or later, these points have nothing to do with the original point, and we just end up with whole lot of pointing.



Regards,

Script Wrecked.

[Blackguy]

I just want a "No thanks" button sometimes. Or a "This is a waste of time" button. But that aint gonna happen either.

[Dorganath]

Having been on a forum where negative feedback was possible through a reputation system, I tend to disagree with the ideas expressed above (except for jan's), simply because it gets used as a tool for "revenge" or whatever, and it gets out-of-hand and silly.

Personally, I think the positive feedback "Thanks" is just fine, and further, I think it's best if the task of deciding what is and is not on-topic and/or appropriate for a given thread is left to the moderators.

That and...at this time, we have no time for things like this.

[LightlyFrosted]

Hey, by all means, let things get off topic.  It can lead to illuminating notions being expressed that might otherwise have gone undeclared!

Seriously though, if something is worth thanking, does it really matter whether or not it pertains to the topic at hand?  The 'thanks' implies that the post was insightful, interesting, or at the very least fun to read.  If you feel that its off-topicness detracts significantly from any of these points, don't thank someone.

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

I often forgo posting, and simply highlight posts I feel are worthwhile with the Thanks button. It's easier and cleaner than "Yeah, what he said!"

With that said, however...

Yeah! What Dorg said!

[lonnarin]

But Dorg IS the "this post is off-topic" function, as are the other moderators.  Don't replace them until they finally snap!

I totally agree that negative feedback would just wind up bringing more trouble than its worth.  Just look at Yahoo Answers where people reflexively "thumbs-down" every answer that isn't theirs, looking for points.  People get ticked and circle the wagons, egos get smashed and flamewars rise.  It's just not worth being negative over a chat forum for a game.

Besides, a couple of times (usually when somebody walks out angry and other start raising a ruckus in their 'honor') there have even been spats over people thanking posts that other didn't like.  That's the lowest point of forum history, I think.  Thoughtpolicing other people's thanksgivings.  If you don't like what you read, move on.  If you totally hate somebody, just set them to ignore.  But if there was an unthanking option, I almost guaruntee it will be abused and removed within 2 months of implimentation.

[Weeblie]

I've been on another forum where a "positive/negative"-points system has been quite successfully used, with point-anonymity option and some clever google-page-ranking-style balancing (someone who has a lot of points himself will make much bigger difference) in place. Being a computer-stuff oriented forum, it actually makes sense as a way to (generally speaking) show who's more reliable and who's less. On layo...? It would quite not. :p