Community Discussion Info and Rules

vtac

vapor junkie
Staff member
While going through threads for the new forums I noticed a fair number of fc related topics and it occurred to me that it might be nice to have a section for such discussion. We have a great community here so a place to help build and maintain it makes sense.

Before starting though, it's important to establish some ground rules. Over the years we've come up with a comprehensive set of rules to keep the site fun, informative and manageable. If you have a question about the rules that's fine, but public discussions of staff decisions are still not allowed. If you have any concerns or queries relating to a staff decision please take it up in private with a staff member.

We've also heard some common suggestions and complaints over the years which I will address below. While it would be nice to please everyone, these are positions that have been established by our staff after years of running this site so please respect them. Posts regarding issues covered here are not welcome.

Threads are too long
with fc being a vapor enthusiast forum, it's natural for popular vaporizers to generate a lot of interest, which in turn causes the corresponding threads to grow over time. Reading through thousands of posts is an intimidating proposition for a newcomer; however, long threads are the norm for many active forums. The situation can be helped by informative first posts, ideally updated continually with important information from the thread. That, however, is reliant on the thread starter and, while it would be nice to move towards a better system of creating official threads, realistically its not feasible at present.

A more practical solution is to let all our members maintain a single source of information on a given model. A wiki format is ideal for this purpose and although it hasnt been publicized as much as it should have (my fault), we have one at www.vaporpedia.com

A shining example is the MFLB article which does a fantastic job of summarizing the longest thread on fc. Unfortunately, registration to vaporpedia was closed due to spammers and is now by request only. Ideally the member database would be shared with the forum but thats beyond my ability. Going forward we will have a request thread here on fc where members can request access and I will set up an account for them. A big thanks goes out to everyone who has contributed already.

Every vape should have its own section
With hundreds of models, its unfeasible to have a section for each. Even having sections for only the most popular models would result in many redundant and and unhelpful threads. Dealing with these would create a lot of work for staff and you'd still be left with a mess. Again, the solution is www.vaporpedia.com.

A more detailed explanation can be found here.

Thats all for now. We have some cool things works, stay tuned!
 
vtac,
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narrowsparrow

Well-Known Member
I am constantly getting trouble with back-to-back posts. The last time I got thwacked, I simply wanted to edit my post, but about four hours or so had passed before I re-read the post. I could not find an "edit" option, so I just added a sentence to my original post. It was not technically a back-to-back as I only added to an existing post. Does the edit option just disappear after a certain amount of time?
 
narrowsparrow,

narrowsparrow

Well-Known Member
It goes away after six hours. I'm curious as to how you found this thread as it's ancient!

:peace:
It wasn't easy! I was so embarrassed to realize that no one else had posted questions about the rules. Apparently, I'm the only criminal on the board. :D Thanks for letting me know about the six-hour rule. I'll be more careful.
 
narrowsparrow,

Ramahs

Fucking Combustion (mostly) Since February 2017
I love that you're actually inquiring about it. Good show.
 
Ramahs,

ssrrosey

Well-Known Member
You agreed when you signed up that we have the right to determine what's acceptable. What you attempted is not acceptable. You go ahead and inform whoever you want wherever you want—except here. One more thing:
  • Public discussions of staff decisions are not permitted on the site. If you have any concerns or queries relating to a staff decision please take it up in private with a staff member.
I see where FC is coming from but specifically, saying we cannot question a staff member’s decision is absurd and draconian. If he had been repeatedly contesting your decisions that’s a different scenario but why should you have unquestionable authority in a public forum.

And to be clear this is questioning the policy, not your decision itself, and as such should be within the rules
 

pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
I see where FC is coming from but specifically, saying we cannot question a staff member’s decision is absurd and draconian. If he had been repeatedly contesting your decisions that’s a different scenario but why should you have unquestionable authority in a public forum.

And to be clear this is questioning the policy, not your decision itself, and as such should be within the rules

I moved your post here, partly because you can see that we do allow discussion in the right thread.

Next, I'd like you to note that anyone can question a moderator's decision. It says right in the rule how to do that. Please don't twist it to suit your argument.

The rule is hardly absurd. It is essential if you do not want the forum to turn into an endless series of flames whenever someone feels unfairly treated. By the way, using emotionally loaded terms like "absurd" and "draconian" is a classic dishonest debating tactic. ;)
 

Baron23

Well-Known Member
why should you have unquestionable authority in a public forum.

Uhhhhh, maybe because this isn't a public facility, we don't pay for it, its privately owned, and we are guests afforded privileges here by our hosts IAW their rules and, hence, perhaps we should consider whether we are acting like good guests. Maybe??? :hmm:

I do not understand the sense of entitlement or equity people have wrt a privately owned web site.

Now, I'm all for anybody who feels too chaffed to set up there own vape forum....such folks can then do whatever the fuck they want.

But, I can point you to someone who did this and you can ask her about the costs to start it up and maintain it and the labor it takes to keep it on track...and I doubt very many people will take on this challenge.

Its so much easier to complain :wave:
 

ssrrosey

Well-Known Member
Uhhhhh, maybe because this isn't a public facility, we don't pay for it, its privately owned, and we are guests afforded privileges here by our hosts IAW their rules and, hence, perhaps we should consider whether we are acting like good guests. Maybe??? :hmm:

I do not understand the sense of entitlement or equity people have wrt a privately owned web site.

Now, I'm all for anybody who feels too chaffed to set up there own vape forum....such folks can then do whatever the fuck they want.

But, I can point you to someone who did this and you can ask her about the costs to start it up and maintain it and the labor it takes to keep it on track...and I doubt very many people will take on this challenge.

Its so much easier to complain :wave:
Sure public was a poor use of words, publicly available may have been better. Part of the problem with moving posts like these is they are taken out of context. If you read the other messages from the thread I did agree with the mod, I simply expressed a sincere belief that inability to question authority is always a slippery slope.
I don’t agree that expressing disagreement should be forbidden, but you’re also right that if this is a large issue I could start my own forum. Is it reasonable though for every person with a minor disagreement to start their own website as opposed to simply being able to question a decision? We would have an unusable number of forums.
I made my point, replied once, and left the thread at that. What I don’t understand is why you felt the need to come get involved. The situation, at least on my side, was done. I was never rude or disrespectful, just made a point and left it at that. Why do you feel you need to come in and make comments now? Does that not seem like unnecessary “stirring the pot” to you?

*Edited because I mistakenly posted after the first sentence
 
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ssrrosey,
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Baron23

Well-Known Member
If you read the other messages from the thread I did agree with the mod

I did read your post in context in the other thread....otherwise I would never have seen it as I don't generally haunt this sub-forum or thread.

I simply expressed a sincere belief that inability to question authority is always a slippery slope.

You are, of course, free to believe anything you like.....for myself, I'm not terribly interested in your personal philosophies or beliefs. Have at it, es macht nichts to me.

Is it reasonable though for every person with a minor disagreement to start their own website as opposed to simply being able to question a decision? We would have an unusable number of forums.

No, its not reasonable but neither is griping about a set of rules YOU agreed to in order to open your account. As for "simply" questioning mod notes in the open forum.....I bet you have never moderated a forum. Wanna bet? haha As in many places and situations in life, your choice is to accept things or move on. Now do you see what I'm saying?

What I don’t understand is why you felt the need to come get involved.

Ah, because its in an open thread and I'm a member in good standing and I'll post any damn where I wish within the rules. If that doesn't work, please continue to not understand because I'm certainly not going to try to justify to you my posting in this thread.

I was never rude or disrespectful, just made a point and left it at that.

I'm not sure where anybody, and certainly not me, accused you of being rude or disrespectful. It may occur to you, if you consider it a bit, that a post below a quote is not always in its entirety a redirect back to the quoted person and is often just a reference to a subject that was brought up and which the quoter wishes to address...in context. It really isn't all about you.

Why do you feel you need to come in and make comments now? Does that not seem like unnecessary “stirring the pot” to you?

You got to be kidding me...asked and answered already.
 
Baron23,

ssrrosey

Well-Known Member
I did read your post in context in the other thread....otherwise I would never have seen it as I don't generally haunt this sub-forum or thread.



You are, of course, free to believe anything you like.....for myself, I'm not terribly interested in your personal philosophies or beliefs. Have at it, es macht nichts to me.



No, its not reasonable but neither is griping about a set of rules YOU agreed to in order to open your account. As for "simply" questioning mod notes in the open forum.....I bet you have never moderated a forum. Wanna bet? haha As in many places and situations in life, your choice is to accept things or move on. Now do you see what I'm saying?



Ah, because its in an open thread and I'm a member in good standing and I'll post any damn where I wish within the rules. If that doesn't work, please continue to not understand because I'm certainly not going to try to justify to you my posting in this thread.



I'm not sure where anybody, and certainly not me, accused you of being rude or disrespectful. It may occur to you, if you consider it a bit, that a post below a quote is not always in its entirety a redirect back to the quoted person and is often just a reference to a subject that was brought up and which the quoter wishes to address...in context. It really isn't all about you.



You got to be kidding me...asked and answered already.
I’m just generally curious, are you 50 or older?
 
ssrrosey,

ssrrosey

Well-Known Member
hahahaha...yes I am.

I'm curious, you a U of WI student?
If I had to guess I’d say roughly 65. And yes that is correct, although I think I’ve posted that in a comment here before, for you I’m just going off speech and opinions!
 
ssrrosey,

pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
Personal background is not the topic so please stop discussing it. This is about the rule and why it exists. Anyone who registers agrees to the rule whether they realize it or not. As the rules also state, if you don't like the rules then feel free not to visit.

As for losing context when the post was moved, I don't agree that anything was lost that would have further informed the discussion.
 

arb

Semi shaved ape
How exactly does one"take it up with the staff member in pm" when we have no idea which moderator is removing ones posts.
Do we send a general pm to everyone or just pick on one in particular?
 
arb,

Stu

Maconheiro
Staff member
How exactly does one"take it up with the staff member in pm" when we have no idea which moderator is removing ones posts.
Do we send a general pm to everyone or just pick on one in particular?
First off, I was the one that removed your post(s). I explained the reason the post(s) were removed but if you need further clarification feel free to PM me. I told you to "take it up via PM" meaning to PM the person you were replying to in the thread, not me. I'm not sure why you re-asked the same off-topic question after it had already been removed from the thread (with explanation).

:peace:
 
Stu,
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arb

Semi shaved ape
I didn't ask about any of that Stu.
I asked how one discusses a mods actions with the mod when you guys choose to make yourselves anonomous?
😋
 
arb,

FlyingLow

Team NO SLEEP!
Stu wears his badge openly... it says "Staff Member" right below his name and profile picture.


:wave: Stu!
 
FlyingLow,

Kins

Well-Known Member
I'm guessing a lot of you haven't been to a lot of other forums. This one is particularly overly moderated. You shouldn't have to walk on eggshells while posting, but that's the advice I've give any forum member here. That being said it's a ok forum and enjoyable as long as no one gets his or hers feelings hurt- that'd be a tragedy.
 
Kins,

arb

Semi shaved ape
Stu wears his badge openly... it says "Staff Member" right below his name and profile picture.


:wave: Stu!
Not sure where you fall into staff?
So one logs in and sees A red notification icon.Click on said icon and you get something along the lines of post removed from a thread and a two word reason why.
No mention of who removed the post.......hence me asking this question.
Thanks for being there for stu though.
😝
 
arb,

pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
Not sure where you fall into staff?
So one logs in and sees A red notification icon.Click on said icon and you get something along the lines of post removed from a thread and a two word reason why.
No mention of who removed the post.......hence me asking this question.
Thanks for being there for stu though.
😝

Your sarcasm isn't helpful.

How exactly does one"take it up with the staff member in pm" when we have no idea which moderator is removing ones posts.
Do we send a general pm to everyone or just pick on one in particular?

You can PM any moderator if you need clarification and we'll sort out who should respond. We do not "choose" to be anonymous. That is how this software works.
 

justcametomind

Well-Known Member
I would like to have a stream of the activity of the people “I like” in the forum. Years ago, after getting accustomed with this boards I “followed” some users and they are still visible under the settings sub menus. But lots of them don’t post anymore and I don’t think that way you can access to anything like that.
Nothing big deal, cheers everyone.
New Year Love GIF by leart
 
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justcametomind,
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pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
I would like to have a stream of the activity of the people “I like” in the forum. Years ago, after getting accustomed with this boards I “followed” some users and they are still visible under the settings sub menus. But lots of them don’t post anymore and I don’t think that way you can access to anything like that.
Nothing big deal, cheers everyone.
New Year Love GIF by leart

Doesn't clicking "Follow" on a member's profile do what you want? It should populate your news feed with their activity.
 
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