Chris- Forum Admin
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Oct 2009
- Posts: 357
Hi all,
As I'm sure you've noticed the forum has changed a lot over the past few years, and not necessarily for the better. The number of members is decreasing and the general atmosphere has become a lot less friendly than earlier Dover Forum days.
This isn't what I planned when I took over - PaulB did a great job and unfortunately I'm not able to cover local events and contribute in the same way, but while I take care of the technical side of things I'd hoped the friendly local forum would continue with healthy discussion between members.
Given that it's not currently working and it doesn't paint Dover in a good light (yes, lots of potential visitors read what you write) I'm hoping we can make some changes - there are some very good members and I appreciate the time and thought you put into your contributions, but a number of others are also posting negative, inaccurate, and sometimes offensive or libellous comments.
I'm adding a few guidelines that should be considered before posting on the forum:
1. Take a look at the topic title - is your post related to this discussion? If not, perhaps it's better to start another thread.
2. Does your post contribute something to the discussion?
3. Have you considered the positives as well as the negatives?
4. This is a community - be respectful of other people's opinions. It's okay to disagree but present your case in a tactful way.
Now for the part where some people will grab their pitchforks and start chanting 'censorship' - I'm going to start deleting posts that don't contribute to discussions in a constructive way. It wont have anything to do with whether I agree with your post, but it may be removed if it doesn't look like you've thought about the points above, especially number 4.
I know some of you are also unhappy about the use of pseudonyms. I don't currently plan to change this - the majority of recent problems have been caused by people using their real (or at least believable) names, and there have been some great posts by people who have chosen to use an alias.
I don't want to pull the plug on the forums, but they need to change back into a healthy and preferably friendly online community, and I'm hoping everyone might be able to help me with that.
Guest 1735, Alec Sheldon, TheThinWhiteDuke and
8 more like this
Guest 1735, Alec Sheldon, TheThinWhiteDuke, Jan Higgins, PatrickS, Brian Dixon, Judith Roberts, Guest 1842, Reginald Barrington, Guest 1599 and Guest 649 like this
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Well said I hope it works
Guest 1842 likes this
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Having chewed over what Chris has said the only thing I am doubtful of is thread drift. Most of us are guilty of going off at a tangent and I hope posts don't get deleted because of that - insulting posts are of course different and give a bad impression of our town.
We are not a members club anymore but the spirit of that should carry the forum forward, too many social media sites are full of the baying mob hunting down someone who disagrees with them.
Paul M likes this
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
I like what Chris has posted.
Rudeness and sarcasm in the form of so called clever wit are the worse as they just irritate and make things worse.
Howard, insulting posts do not reflect on the town only the person who makes them.
Guest 1767, howard mcsweeney1 and Guest 1842 like this
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest 1862- Registered: 23 Sep 2016
- Posts: 163
Nice to see rules in place. Will freely admit that I sidetracked a few times, being new to the forum . In my defense I reacted to comments, presumed to be of assistance. Unfortunately having done research I have been pointed in 2 directions I wish I had not travelled. However the suggestions were made by a regular participant to this public forum. I myself posted that it is open to outsiders. I am quite frankly amazed at the audacity of 3 participants on here. So I have had my say, lesson learned. If this gets deleted, so be it. Que sea, sea and Honi soit qui male y pense
Guest 1735 likes this
Guest 1862- Registered: 23 Sep 2016
- Posts: 163
# 5. Spell check going silly. Que sera, sera.
Guest 1849- Registered: 12 Sep 2016
- Posts: 440
Chris is a very decent young man from a lovely family, out of respect I'll abide by his request. The internet has brought out the worst in people who previously had no platform, it can't be an easy task policing keyboard warriors.
I'm against deleting posts, lets all see and therefore judge what people are thinking, I certainly don't regret anything I've posted on here.
Well done Chris.
Guest 1767, Paul M and Guest 1862 like this
Guest 1735- Registered: 26 Apr 2016
- Posts: 90
I will be as polite & considerate as others are to me ,Cant say fairer than that
Guest 1767 and Guest 1862 like this
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
I agree with most of what Chris is proposing. In the past I have been tempted to respond to some of the erroneous and blatant lies that have been written but decided to "bite my tongue" or rather fingers! Getting into dialogue with idiots is not productive. It is perhaps why I do not contribute very often these days.
The only concern that I have is regarding deletions. It does get confusing whether it's by the originator or the editor. If a post disappears it puts the numbering out of sequence and refering to, for example "post #15", can make the reference a nonsense.
Could it be perhaps that the posting be left in sequence but carry the text "post deleted"?
Terry
Alec Sheldon, Guest 1767, Guest 744 and
1 more like this
Alec Sheldon, Guest 1767, Guest 744 and Reginald Barrington like this
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 1266- Registered: 8 May 2014
- Posts: 381
Point 1) If you are not able to cover local events and contribute then how will you find the time to monitor every post.
Point 2) A forum is a place used for debates in which anyone can participate. Perhaps the general atmosphere is a refelection of changing times since the heyday of Dover Forum posting.
Paul M likes this
Jack of Hearts
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
Terry Nunn wrote:
Could it be perhaps that the posting be left in sequence but carry the text "post deleted"?
Terry
What a good idea.
If this is possible maybe the reason could be added so we know why it was deleted.
Guest 1862 likes this
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris- Forum Admin
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Oct 2009
- Posts: 357
Thanks for all your feedback.
If a thread drifts a long way from the original subject then it wont be deleted, I might just suggest a new topic is started.
The deletions will be more for unconstructive comments - it's perfectly easy to debate something without being insulting or confrontational to each other.
Terry/Jan - good ideas about deleted posts, I'll see what I can do
Jan Higgins likes this
Chris- Forum Admin
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Oct 2009
- Posts: 357
Jack Heart wrote:Point 1) If you are not able to cover local events and contribute then how will you find the time to monitor every post.
I sit in front of a computer all day for work, so it's easy enough to check the forum from time to time. There's also the 'report this post' feature that hopefully people will use if I miss anything.
Guest 744- Registered: 20 Mar 2012
- Posts: 412
I agree with Terry and made a comment about deletions which he raised in September 2013 (and with which several members agreed) but, sadly, it was in one of the posts which was recently deleted.
Chris- Forum Admin
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Oct 2009
- Posts: 357
Carole Barber wrote:I agree with Terry and made a comment about deletions which he raised in September 2013 (and with which several members agreed) but, sadly, it was in one of the posts which was recently deleted.
It's been a long time since I've deleted anything, so not sure when that was...but I remember it's been mentioned before. This time I'll definitely do it!
Guest 744- Registered: 20 Mar 2012
- Posts: 412
Chris I made the comment on the "Clarendon and Westbury Community Association/Kelly Turner". I could not find the thread but it has now reappeared. Maybe my laptop is having a tantrum
Jan Higgins likes this
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Chris
Sorry for my late view but work heavy at mo, as well as council constituency work.
With regard to comments on here, some have become more personal which doesn't reflect well on the forum, and it depends on whether or not you wish the forum to survive.
I don't believe in deletions(apart from if they become personal abusive as I can see no role for those on this forum)
Constructive disagreements fine.
disagreements even
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 1862- Registered: 23 Sep 2016
- Posts: 163
Keith Sansum1 wrote:Chris
Sorry for my late view but work heavy at mo, as well as council constituency work.
With regard to comments on here, some have become more personal which doesn't reflect well on the forum, and it depends on whether or not you wish the forum to survive.
I don't believe in deletions(apart from if they become personal abusive as I can see no role for those on this forum)
Constructive disagreements fine.
disagreements even
Do you see room for personally abusive posts anywhere or is that courtesy purely afforded to this forum? The wording is ambiguous .
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
I don't agree with personal abuse
but this posting relates to this forum
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 1862- Registered: 23 Sep 2016
- Posts: 163
Keith Sansum1 wrote:I don't agree with personal abuse
but this posting relates to this forum
Hence my comment of ambiguity. So you don't use personal abuse to a person's face, however do you think personal abuse is acceptable on any public platform, be it this forum or another?