zag said:
Came to this forum recently to learn more about digital photography from fellow local hobbyists...
while great info can be sought and exchanged however more than often meaningful info/thread are polluted by non value added exchanges by some "usual suspects" almost all over the place in any thread started.
Maybe it is me being over critical... coming from other enthusiast forums of different field this is definitely area to work on if the moderators care.
Well i can probably just surf away and forget about it.. but i just wonder of this otherwise greatly forum...
Hi zag,
Welcome to Clubsnap and great that you find this forum informative and useful.
Before I start to address on your issue about non value added information been posted on thread started, I must clarify that I do not know most of the good people here except a handful that I met during some B&S and collection for MO session (feel really guilty about this). So as to speak, I am stating my view as a neutral party.
As to your point, I must first apologise as I too is guilty of posting non value added information in some threads at times. However, internet has given people their free speaking voices to post their views or to rant (politely) about some issues, but all these must be in line with the guidelines laid down by the administrators and moderators.
So far, my view of Clubsnap forum had been warm, cozy, informative and friendly. I believe this is so because of the well-balanced guidelines laid down by the administrators and moderators. Just imagine if the guidelines laid down are too strict or with rules that only value added information can be posted, this place will feel so tight and regimental. Users and newbie will fear to post anything or to air their views because it may not add value hence have their posts will be removed. In the long run, not many people will be motivated to post their views.
I have been to other forums before which I will not name them. Some of which are too strict will put newbie under moderation and every thread that you post will not appear immediately and have to wait for the moderators to approve it. Some others have the rules and regulations laid down there that are too lax and I see the problems of clones (multiple nicks), trolls and far worse non value added information and nonsensical comments posted in every thread. As compared to those in posted in Clubsnap, I believe that administrators and moderators are already trying their best to weed out all those that are totally un-tolerated one.
Looking at this issue from another point, if the administrators and moderators are to monitor every post as to see if the content is related to the title, this will be an enormous amount of job. For your info, the administrators and moderators of Clubsnap are running this website on a voluntarily basis which I think is unfair if we want them to scan through every post or threads and filter/remove those not relevant to the topic discussed.
I totally understand your point you are coming from, but I believe that in anything, it must strike a balance so as to achieve good users experience by giving user the free channel to air their view yet with guidelines to ensure that they are not over the board.
To me, if those post that really adds no value, I treat it as some coffeeshop talk that can be used to lighten up the atmosphere and mood here or to laugh about at times or even tag along the Off Topic (OT) talks. So try to take those posts that are non useful with a pinch of salt and take it lightly/joking coz you never know that the information you are looking for might be in those coffeeshop talk if you ask the right question to those usual suspects. On the other hand, you can simply choose to ignore them.