View Full Version : Problems with forum ...


Dean Gibson
10-27-1998, 10:37 AM
1. The cross-linked messages. It is discouraging to try to follow a thread, only to find messages that are cross-linked to conpletely unrelated threads; it is even more discouraging to post a reply, only to have it replaced by a cross-linked message and have to post it again. The problem (in my opinion) is not forum capacity (as was previously suggested), but a bug in the software. More messages on the forum just raise the probability of the problem surfacing in a particular thread.<p>2. Name-calling and intolerance for the views of others. A good debate is OK; the degeneration into proving "I'm smart and you're stupid" is not.<p>3. Silly messages. I won't give any examples, as I'm sure that would offend somebody, but perhaps when we post a message we might ask: "Does this contribute to the USEFUL body of information, or does it just make me feel good (or important, or superior, or whatever)?" The forum (in my opinion) should not be for group therapy.<p>Cutting down on items 2 & 3 above will not only improve the quality of the forum, but reduce the incidence of cross-linked messages.<br>