Thread Locking

[lily.]

I'd like to politely request that all off-topic threads (including, BH, Zeta & Lounge) are left unlocked for the duration of BB.

I see no valid reason for them to be locked.

No other forum locks up off-topic threads during peak times.

We use our off-topic threads to retreat and chat to friends when we don't want to contribute to on-topic threads.

Would it not make sense to leave these THREE threads as they are? It has been claimed that they are clique-ish and off-putting to new members.

Think about it. If you lock/remove these threads, people will still want to have a chat and a laugh with each other, and they'll end up doing it within the on-topic threads, infiltrating them with off-topic banter.

Wouldn't that be more off-putting to a new member who wishes to discuss BB, and not discuss the personal lives of the people here who already know each other?

New members will do one of two things.. they'll either enter one of these THREE threads, and join in with the banter, or they'll ignore these THREE threads and post in the areas relevant to their interests.

You may note I've used capitalisation on the word 'three' rather often in this post. That was for the purpose of drawing attention to the fact that there are only THREE threads in a forum containing thousands. How can this possibly adversely affect anyone?

[MarkWaldorf]

One of the ways in which new members start talking to older members is through threads like these. They'll either watch the banter for a while and and choose to join in later on, or they'll immediately find a common ground with the posters. It's even how some active members today made their mark on TiBB.

I fully agree with everything Linda wrote.

And I'd like to mention that I ended any 'war' The Zeta had with The Brotherhood last night. Our thread is no longer in competition with theirs (I'm not sure if it's the same with theirs) so as far as I'm concerned, it's just a friendly little place for a group of people to chat during Big Brother. New members will tend to stick to the BB10 section at first anyway.

[lily.]

I don't think there was ever any real 'war'. Most of the Zeta and BH posters were having fake wars. Some may have taken it more seriously, but most didn't.

[MarkWaldorf]

Well they certainly acted very petty when their thread was locked lol

[Captain.Remy]

I couldn't agree more.
I don't know who got that idea first but this isn't right and really unfair. We know the forums are Big Brother focussed but in previous years, it didn't cause any harm to have members chatting about different things.

How contradictory that the mods want new members to be accepted and join the forums easily but yet they want to close the threads than can make that possible.
Closing these threads will make people creating new off-topic threads. Mods don't want to deal with a ton of threads which are basically the same, it's a waste of time.

The Brotherhood and the Zetas were basically a joke, just a place to chill out but some members took it a bit too seriously (not giving any names but take a look at the Brotherhood thread and you'll get them) by spoiling and insulting us for no appearant reason. And nothing is being done against that, that's the shame.

About the Lounge, I am still asking proofs for how it is a clique and members who post in there put off new members posting in.

[arista]

I think Mark and James
have every right to Lock threads
during a Intense start of BB10.

[lily.]

Remy: I agree.

Mark: In fairness to them, if Zeta had been locked and BH left open, we'd have went a bit mental at that too lol

arista: You are entitled to your opinion and I respect that. However, I disagree with a dictator-style admin.

To be fair, most of the people who use these threads are only having a laugh, and will gladly add support to this request. I fail to see what good can come of locking these up. They are very tongue-in-cheek, and quite a few members have jumped from one side to the other and even back again during the so-called thread-wars LoL

[Captain.Remy]

Message original : arista
I think Mark and James
have every right to Lock threads
during a Intense start of BB10.

Care to elaborate ?

[lily.]

Mark/James have the right to close this entire site down if they want. It's their site, and their money keeping it running.

However, it doesn't make for good relations with forum users if you dictate rules with no solid reasoning behind them arista.

[Captain.Remy]

Of course they have the right to shut them down but at least they can give us the real reasons of such an action. So far, we didn't have any that proves us wrong.

[lily.]

That's what I'm saying. They reserve the right to do whatever the hell they want at the end of the day.. it's their site..

But, they've never been dictatorial in running TiBB, so why start now?

[arista]

"You are entitled to your opinion and I respect that. However, I disagree with a dictator-style admin."


I prefer this Forum to not Crash
Mark and James
know from before how this site dealt with Intense postings.

A Locked thread for a short time
is Not a major problem.

This is a Great Site
Nothing like it at all
we need to Respect that.

[Captain.Remy]

Message original : arista
"You are entitled to your opinion and I respect that. However, I disagree with a dictator-style admin."


I prefer this Forum to not Crash
Mark and James
know from before how this site dealt with Intense postings.

A Locked thread for a short time
is Not a major problem.

This is a Great Site
Nothing like it at all
we need to Respect that.

And how these 3 threads are going to make TIBB crash when such threads (like the Lounge) never caused any harm in the previous years when BB was on ?
They knew how to deal with it, why not this year ? Because some members took it a bit too seriously by insulting people and this has annoyed the mods, that's why.

[Lauren]

Lili has been fair in her discussion of the topic, so I think it'd pay admin to take note of her points.

She acknowledged a very important point - the "wars" were all jokey. If mods/admins are locking the cult threads cos of jokey insults, they're going to have a job on their hands to standardise that rule - cos everyone on this forum always "jokey insults" the other.

And to Mark: Lili is also right in that if Zeta had been locked but no BH, you'd react the same. Standardisation is important on the forum, either lock both threads or lock neither. I'd prefer the latter, of course.

And to arista: The admin have never stated the closure of these threads is due to bandwidth, that's not the issue.

[arista]

Originally posted by Captain.Remy
Message original : arista
"You are entitled to your opinion and I respect that. However, I disagree with a dictator-style admin."


I prefer this Forum to not Crash
Mark and James
know from before how this site dealt with Intense postings.

A Locked thread for a short time
is Not a major problem.

This is a Great Site
Nothing like it at all
we need to Respect that.

And how these 3 threads are going to make TIBB crash when such threads (like the Lounge) never caused any harm in the previous years when BB was on ?
They knew how to deal with it, why not this year ? Because some members took it a bit too seriously by insulting people and this has annoyed the mods, that's why.




That is your view
Seems you have Solved the reason behind this Capt. Remy.

[Captain.Remy]

Message original : arista

That is your view
Seems you have Solved the reason behind this Capt. Remy.

Of course I did solve it and I know I'm right along with Lili, Mark and Lauren. The mods have no excuse for doing it, completely random decisions.

[arista]

Locking a thread for a short time
is not a Major Problem.


Respect this Site.

[lily.]

We do respect the site.

Are they going to lock the entire off-topic area?

That would be more acceptable to be honest.

Locking THREE threads is basically singling out the people who use them.

[Lauren]

Originally posted by arista
Locking a thread for a short time
is not a Major Problem.


Respect this Site.

Surely it is, if you use those threads?
It's like saying... Deleting TiBB, temporarily, is not a major problem.
No, it may not be a problem to someone who doesn't use the site, but it obviously is to us.

[arista]

Of Course Lauren
but you will be OK.
Your Aura is Strong.

[Matt08]

If the admins are not prepared to open all three threads, then they should compromise and at least open the Lounge so members can have a place to chat about off topic things?

The next things the admins will be complaining about will be off topic discussion spilling into the Big Brother sections. The Lounge hasn't been locked for any other series, so why now?

[lily.]

That's correct Matt. Off-topic discussion will happen, regardless. So why not leave it confined to these threads.

[Annie]

I agree fully with the OP.

When I joined TiBB, I was discussing BB and BB only. I didnt know there was other sections of TiBB like C&G etc. Until I found some threads and thought they were hilarious and joined in and look at me now, a member of TiBB who has enjoyed my time here.

New members might enjoy our playful banter in BH and Zeta and the Lounge.

Does this mean that you are going to close all the music threads? All the BGT threads? None of these are BB related - why not close them too then?

I didnt see any of this happening last year so why now?

[MrGaryy]

also, it's hard to label either thread 'clique-y' considering the majority of the forum is in one of them.

[Annie]

I would also like it if a mod/admin could post their full reasons for doing this.

[Captain.Remy]

I'm so glad people agree with us. It shows that Linda and I aren't that crazy for complaining lol

[Lauren]

In part, I do understand the mods decisions.

I mean, the BH and Zeta thread did prime some arguments, some jokey - some where people took things seriously.

However, I'd like to raise an important point here - I'm sure as hell that BB-topics induce even more arguments, none of them jokey, and often more vicious and full of vitriol.

Despite being a member of the BH, I often went into the Zeta thread and talked with them, and vice versa (lili was often in BH). They're not actually headstrong strict cliques where no one is allowed in or out! It's basically just an offtopic discussion confined to two threads - allowing us to jokingly take sides. When reading the threads, it's all just off-topic banter.

I realise this isn't an issue with the mods, they're cornered to respond to reported posts. I also know the admins aren't doing this to "punish" members, and they're doing it out of what they think is in the best interest of the forum, however, I'd like to just gently encourage a re-think.

[lily.]

Annie/Gary.. good posts.. :D

My definition of a clique is a group of people who exclude others.

Neither of our groups exclude anyone. We 'fight' with each other, but if you look seriously at the people who've come and gone to either side, it's hardly exclusive is it?

It's basically killing time. That's my reason for being a part of it. It's a bit of light-hearted banter with people. Because of these threads I now talk to some of the members who I never really talked to before, and I have a laugh with them, regardless of what 'side' they are on.

It's all fake! Please don't misunderstand it and take it all seriously. It's really not.

[Annie]

Exactly, I have actually started talking to more people from it:
Lili
Brad
Markus
Shaun
etc
I have really enjoyed it and so have others so why take away the fun side of TiBB?

[Lewis.]

Don't take them away :O

[lily.]

I was going to say that Annie.. before all this, I barely spoke to you, and now we talk quite a lot..

Others I'd barely spoken to before are:
(from the BH)
.Andy.
David

(from the Zeta)
Noel


I talk to all of the above regularly now..

[MrGaryy]

I think the threads have been instrumental in integrating members Twilight and Bradley (noel) more so than they had been before.

[lily.]

I agree.

Twilight is a relatively new member, and it's probably helped her make new friends here.

[Stu]

I am off both minds. Which, really, is a good, fair way to be for me personaly. I dont really like either thread, because I think they strip away a lot of the forum variety, but why the hell close them? Just leave them open and stop treating the place like a prison. Their always seems to be this huge gulf of zero communication between the great members who make this forum what it is and the all knowing ''TiBB Towers''. Talk to us. Leave threads open. Dont just send down orders from the great above we are not allowed to question. It is childish and makes the forum backlash and cause trouble more in the long run. It has happened countless times over the years.

[lily.]

You speak sense. More trouble will come of locking these threads than of leaving them open, as people will feel their forum liberties have been infringed.. (a tad dramatic, but you get the gist).

[Mrluvaluva]

Originally posted by arista

Locking a thread for a short time
is not a Major Problem.


Respect this Site.

Easy to say.
You don't use The Lounge.
Your choice.
Makes no odds to you.
What about the people who do?
Selfish reaction.

[arista]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva
Originally posted by arista

Locking a thread for a short time
is not a Major Problem.


Respect this Site.

Easy to say.
You don't use The Lounge.
Your choice.
Makes no odds to you.
What about the people who do?
Selfish reaction.


I look at it.
Not Easy for me to say at all.
I am not Selfish
How Very Dare You!

[Mark]

I don't know who mentioned locking The Lounge, I just planned to lock Zeta and Brotherhood for BB. Lounge is staying :thumbs:

[Mrluvaluva]

:hello:

[DamonJ]

What's Zeta & Brotherhood? Where have I been?

[Mrluvaluva]

Originally posted by DamonJ

What's Zeta & Brotherhood? Where have I been?

You have been in a coma. One step at a time Damon.

[Stu]

Oh, super. Only some of the threads members love are going to be locked.

Lounge > All anyway. Still, at least the threat of it being locked brought some right spanners out into the open who genuinly believe it is a cult.

[Mrluvaluva]

I don't understand why they have to be locked tbh. Maybe Mark could explain?

[DamonJ]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva
Originally posted by DamonJ

What's Zeta & Brotherhood? Where have I been?

You have been in a coma. One step at a time Damon.

Oh, everything's a blur. :bawling:

[arista]

Originally posted by Mark
I don't know who mentioned locking The Lounge, I just planned to lock Zeta and Brotherhood for BB. Lounge is staying :thumbs:



Bang On
Good.

[Stu]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva
I don't understand why they have to be locked tbh. Maybe Mark could explain?
I think it is because all those BigBrotherMad4Life1997 members who are going to sign up and make ten posts with get scared. Shows how much faith we have in their mental stability.

[Mark]

A few reasons.

Firstly they are an absolute nightmare to moderate. Every other post in them someone is being called a **** or told to **** off. Too much moderating has to go into it, and I'd rather the mods didn't have to check those 2 threads every few mins especially while the BB forum is going to be overloaded.

I also feel threads like that turn away new members when they see them, especially with some of the lanuage and insults being used. I know you might only mean it as a joke or whatever, but to someone who doesn't know that it gives the wrong impression of the forum.

Lastly large threads that are being refreshed every 3-4 seconds like the Zeta and BH are, are a strain on the server. I'd rather during BB (at least the beginning week) to make sure the server is going to cope with the traffic OK. Maybe after week 1 is out the way we can see about re-opening them, but people will have to quit the insults and rudeness :conf2:

Mark

[Stu]

Originally posted by Mark
Firstly they are an absolute nightmare to moderate. Every other post in them someone is being called a **** or told to **** off. Too much moderating has to go into it, and I'd rather the mods didn't have to check those 2 threads every few mins especially while the BB forum is going to be overloaded.

Fair enough, that I get. Even if a certain member was a bit annoying towards the brotherhood, I saw six of them jump on said member like a pack of wolves.

It is very easy win a slagging match when you have an entire club backing you up. Thats why I never joined one of them. Theirs so many members in either the brotherhood or zeta house at this stage that it is more unique and, well, cool, to just not bother with the whole thing :laugh:.

[Captain.Remy]

Message original : Mark
A few reasons.

Firstly they are an absolute nightmare to moderate. Every other post in them someone is being called a **** or told to **** off. Too much moderating has to go into it, and I'd rather the mods didn't have to check those 2 threads every few mins especially while the BB forum is going to be overloaded.

I also feel threads like that turn away new members when they see them, especially with some of the lanuage and insults being used. I know you might only mean it as a joke or whatever, but to someone who doesn't know that it gives the wrong impression of the forum.

Lastly large threads that are being refreshed every 3-4 seconds like the Zeta and BH are, are a strain on the server. I'd rather during BB (at least the beginning week) to make sure the server is going to cope with the traffic OK. Maybe after week 1 is out the way we can see about re-opening them, but people will have to quit the insults and rudeness :conf2:

Mark

Thank you, that's all we needed to know and thank you for the Lounge anyway.
It sucks but at the end of the day, it's your forums and you gave us a valid reason (I'm talking about the server one).

[Locke.]

Ok, we will promise not to use any isults in the thread, and if you or any other mods see them, you can lock it?

Most new members don't leave the Big Brother section anyway, so the threads shouldn't really effect them in any way.

TiBB can't live without protection from The Brotherhood.

[lily.]

Originally posted by Mark
A few reasons.

Firstly they are an absolute nightmare to moderate. Every other post in them someone is being called a **** or told to **** off. Too much moderating has to go into it, and I'd rather the mods didn't have to check those 2 threads every few mins especially while the BB forum is going to be overloaded.

I also feel threads like that turn away new members when they see them, especially with some of the lanuage and insults being used. I know you might only mean it as a joke or whatever, but to someone who doesn't know that it gives the wrong impression of the forum.

Lastly large threads that are being refreshed every 3-4 seconds like the Zeta and BH are, are a strain on the server. I'd rather during BB (at least the beginning week) to make sure the server is going to cope with the traffic OK. Maybe after week 1 is out the way we can see about re-opening them, but people will have to quit the insults and rudeness :conf2:

Mark

I appreciate the explanation.

[Mark]

Originally posted by David

TiBB can't live without protection from The Brotherhood.

Not to worry, I've called in some backup

http://tylerbrenner.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/alpert-locke_l.jpg

[arista]

Originally posted by David


TiBB can't live without protection from The Brotherhood.



TIBB can and Will
live without the BrotherSlobs




Sign Of The Times.

[MarkWaldorf]

If I see one more LOST picture. :mad:

[Wildcat!]

Originally posted by Mark
A few reasons.

Firstly they are an absolute nightmare to moderate. Every other post in them someone is being called a **** or told to **** off. Too much moderating has to go into it, and I'd rather the mods didn't have to check those 2 threads every few mins especially while the BB forum is going to be overloaded.

I also feel threads like that turn away new members when they see them, especially with some of the lanuage and insults being used. I know you might only mean it as a joke or whatever, but to someone who doesn't know that it gives the wrong impression of the forum.

Lastly large threads that are being refreshed every 3-4 seconds like the Zeta and BH are, are a strain on the server. I'd rather during BB (at least the beginning week) to make sure the server is going to cope with the traffic OK. Maybe after week 1 is out the way we can see about re-opening them, but people will have to quit the insults and rudeness :conf2:

Mark

What else is there to add??














Nothing!

[MarkWaldorf]

Wait, is the lounge being locked too?

[Annie]

Originally posted by Mark
A few reasons.

Firstly they are an absolute nightmare to moderate. Every other post in them someone is being called a **** or told to **** off. Too much moderating has to go into it, and I'd rather the mods didn't have to check those 2 threads every few mins especially while the BB forum is going to be overloaded.

I also feel threads like that turn away new members when they see them, especially with some of the lanuage and insults being used. I know you might only mean it as a joke or whatever, but to someone who doesn't know that it gives the wrong impression of the forum.

Lastly large threads that are being refreshed every 3-4 seconds like the Zeta and BH are, are a strain on the server. I'd rather during BB (at least the beginning week) to make sure the server is going to cope with the traffic OK. Maybe after week 1 is out the way we can see about re-opening them, but people will have to quit the insults and rudeness :conf2:

Mark

Thank you for your explanation Mark.
I do understand where you are coming from about the server etc because they are massive threads and I have noticed some problems with them recently already.
I do hope that they get unlocked after a week or so when TiBB isn't all crazy.
And I get the insults too. Even know I am one of them, I think it should stop (to a certain degree :wink:)

[Mrluvaluva]

Originally posted by MarkWaldorf

Wait, is the lounge being locked too?

No.

[Axiom]

I don't see why people bother with the "brotherhood" and all that utter shite. Just use this place to have a laugh if you're bored! Also, locking threads is extremely annoying, e.g. when I made that "TiBB has changed" thread a few weeks ago, in which I did nothing but voice my own opinion, and where everybody was respectfully replying to each other on it, got closed for no apparent reason. It's little things like this which turn me away from this forum.