MASSIVE newbie welcomes???

[s219]

I don't think the problem is with the welcome posts, or people responding to the welcome posts. The problem is when someone robotically replies to 20-25 of them all in a short time, and these replies clog up the "Today's Posts" list. It defeats the purpose of the Today's Posts list when it's dominated by one person's robotic replies.

I think it's great to welcome new members, and that should not stop. But if I could make a suggestion to the website admins, it would be to only include the original "new member introduction" post in the "Today's Post" list, but not any replies from the threads. That would preserve the purpose of both of those things without breaking the functionality of either one. I have no idea if the forum software allows that level of control.

And in terms of relevance, the admins already move posts from new member introductions that are supposed to be elsewhere -- for instance, when someone posts an actual problem or question in their introduction. Those would continue to show up on the Today's Posts list.

I hope people don't jump on LD1's back -- he's not really criticizing the new member introductions or the replies to them, but rather, the fact that robotic replies (whether done to boost post count or maybe just to be nice) clog up and break the Today's Posts list. I have noticed the same thing myself, and found it a bit annoying. It really defeats much of the functionality of the Today's Posts list.

 

[RoyJackson]

I welcome most newbies, then unsubscribe from the threads.

I do think it's good manners to welcome these folks...just MHO.

 

[k0ua]

I don't think the problem is with the welcome posts, or people responding to the welcome posts. The problem is when someone robotically replies to 20-25 of them all in a short time, and these replies clog up the "Today's Posts" list. It defeats the purpose of the Today's Posts list when it's dominated by one person's robotic replies.

I think it's great to welcome new members, and that should not stop. But if I could make a suggestion to the website admins, it would be to only include the original "new member introduction" post in the "Today's Post" list, but not any replies from the threads. That would preserve the purpose of both of those things without breaking the functionality of either one. I have no idea if the forum software allows that level of control.

And in terms of relevance, the admins already move posts from new member introductions that are supposed to be elsewhere -- for instance, when someone posts an actual problem or question in their introduction. Those would continue to show up on the Today's Posts list.

I hope people don't jump on LD1's back -- he's not really criticizing the new member introductions or the replies to them, but rather, the fact that robotic replies (whether done to boost post count or maybe just to be nice) clog up and break the Today's Posts list. I have noticed the same thing myself, and found it a bit annoying. It really defeats much of the functionality of the Today's Posts list.

Wow a thoughtful measured response to the question. And on top of that a suggestion on how to make it better..:thumbsup:

James K0UA

 

[LD1]

I don't think the problem is with the welcome posts, or people responding to the welcome posts. The problem is when someone robotically replies to 20-25 of them all in a short time, and these replies clog up the "Today's Posts" list. It defeats the purpose of the Today's Posts list when it's dominated by one person's robotic replies.

"SNIP"

I hope people don't jump on LD1's back -- he's not really criticizing the new member introductions or the replies to them, but rather, the fact that robotic replies (whether done to boost post count or maybe just to be nice) clog up and break the Today's Posts list. I have noticed the same thing myself, and found it a bit annoying. It really defeats much of the functionality of the Today's Posts list.

Exactally:thumbsup:

 

[Artisan]

Mean spirited, hateful old curmudgeon


James K0UA

I actualy L'dOL...

No, the real story is the lack of "welcomes" for some noobs, it is the luck
of the draw as to if a guy gets a warm welcome or just passed over.
Some guys say hello for the first time and no one says squat. Then not a
word , what are they to think, I bet ya those guys grow up to be be bad
tractor people, haters, you know the ones, they are usually mean
spirited, hateful old curmudgeon types, oh the the torment!

If a noob says hi and all of a sudden there are a bazillion new posts he
can be pushed clear off the charts, then there are the well intention'd
noobs who say things like " wokeup and cat was eat my dog bowl food
but because it was yesterday I could not get tractor in drive and
tryed both ways. Any one know how to fix it fer me? " usually w/o a
question mark at the end as well... Sooooooo

Maybe we should Nominate LD1 to drive the official Welcome Wagon Tractor of love? :laughing:

 

[MasseyWV]

I don't think the problem is with the welcome posts, or people responding to the welcome posts. The problem is when someone robotically replies to 20-25 of them all in a short time, and these replies clog up the "Today's Posts" list. It defeats the purpose of the Today's Posts list when it's dominated by one person's robotic replies.

I think it's great to welcome new members, and that should not stop. But if I could make a suggestion to the website admins, it would be to only include the original "new member introduction" post in the "Today's Post" list, but not any replies from the threads. That would preserve the purpose of both of those things without breaking the functionality of either one. I have no idea if the forum software allows that level of control.

And in terms of relevance, the admins already move posts from new member introductions that are supposed to be elsewhere -- for instance, when someone posts an actual problem or question in their introduction. Those would continue to show up on the Today's Posts list.

I hope people don't jump on LD1's back -- he's not really criticizing the new member introductions or the replies to them, but rather, the fact that robotic replies (whether done to boost post count or maybe just to be nice) clog up and break the Today's Posts list. I have noticed the same thing myself, and found it a bit annoying. It really defeats much of the functionality of the Today's Posts list.

Is it to late to change my post to this? It's exactly what I was trying to convey, only not quite so eloquently. :thumbsup:

 

[ColdSteel]

I just joined...no welcome asked for...no welcome required...a waste of server storage space if you ask me.

 

[LD1]

I don't think the problem is with the welcome posts, or people responding to the welcome posts. The problem is when someone robotically replies to 20-25 of them all in a short time, and these replies clog up the "Today's Posts" list. It defeats the purpose of the Today's Posts list when it's dominated by one person's robotic replies.

I think it's great to welcome new members, and that should not stop. But if I could make a suggestion to the website admins, it would be to only include the original "new member introduction" post in the "Today's Post" list, but not any replies from the threads. That would preserve the purpose of both of those things without breaking the functionality of either one. I have no idea if the forum software allows that level of control.

And in terms of relevance, the admins already move posts from new member introductions that are supposed to be elsewhere -- for instance, when someone posts an actual problem or question in their introduction. Those would continue to show up on the Today's Posts list.

I hope people don't jump on LD1's back -- he's not really criticizing the new member introductions or the replies to them, but rather, the fact that robotic replies (whether done to boost post count or maybe just to be nice) clog up and break the Today's Posts list. I have noticed the same thing myself, and found it a bit annoying. It really defeats much of the functionality of the Today's Posts list.

What is really interesting is if you go to some of those who "robotically" post, look at their profile and click on "find all post by ****" That tells the whole story right there.

One I looked at, (Not naming names) but this persons last 700 posts :EEK: we ALL just "welcome" posts:confused2: After going back 7 pages and seeing nothing but that, I quit looking.:confused2:

I dont have a problem welcoming newbies, but lets be realistic, and lets try to contribute MORE than just being a welcome machine.:thumbsup:

 

[SPYDERLK]

What is really interesting is if you go to some of those who "robotically" post, look at their profile and click on "find all post by ****" That tells the whole story right there.

One I looked at, (Not naming names) but this persons last 700 posts :EEK: we ALL just "welcome" posts:confused2: After going back 7 pages and seeing nothing but that, I quit looking.:confused2:

I dont have a problem welcoming newbies, but lets be realistic, and lets try to contribute MORE than just being a welcome machine.:thumbsup:

:laughing::laughing: I did that!! I seriously considered a "Welcome to TBN from Virginia" for him. But I found that a few of the posts incorporated advice or info.
larry

 

[Depmandog]

I recall Bird and others speaking of the early days of TBN. Back when you could easily read EVERY post made on TBN. Now I am not sure of this, obviously I wasn't around back then, BUT I suspect that back then when a new member found the forum he/she was WARMLY welcomed.

Has anyone entered a room full of people, knowing absolutely nobody? What do you do? Drift from group to group hoping to find a conversation that you can contribute to? Stand in the corner hoping to find someone you know so you didn't look so obviously alone? Go find a seat and hope that someone will come and say hi? Or are you a bold center of attention kind of person with the magnetic personality and within ten minutes you own the room? I probably have missed some personality types.

So let's assume you have been in this room for a while, and you know several people. Perhaps you are heading across the room to "get a drink" and notice someone setting alone or standing int the corner looking miserable - what would you do. Me - I would probably stop and shake their hand and welcome them. Ash them a question or two and then continue on my way.

Many many of the new members make the statement of lurking for the last year. They have been that person in the corner of the room. Now we didn't (obviously couldn't) see them, but they have been "here" for a while. They have finally got bold enough to say Hi. I think it only a common courtesy to reply - and will continue to do so as I see fit.

I don't welcome everybody - heck I ain't running for office. But if I am "crossing the room to refresh my glass" and see that "lonely person in the corner" I will stop and say hello.

 

[LD1]

:laughing::laughing: I did that!! I seriously considered a "Welcome to TBN from Virginia" for him. But I found that a few of the posts incorporated advice or info.
larry

About the only advice I seen in said posts were just generic by nature. Like "Welcome from *******. Might try the ****** section." Or "Might try checking here"

Other than that, nothing useful at all IMO. There seems to be about 4 or 5 on here that do that "robotic thing". But instead of keeping up with it a few at a time, it seems about once a week when they get bored or something, they go to the "new member" section and just start going down the list pasting-and-replying:confused2: It gets old. But like I said I can see it both ways

 

[Willl]

Hold on a minute, you mean a high post count 'doesn't' mean your knowledgeable ?

I agree, the robotic posts are ridiculous.

 

[chad22]

The other day I needed some oil so I went to the local automotive store to get some! Upon entering the store there were shelves and shelves of all this junk! I didn't want any of this junk! One row had car wax, shine cloths, window cleaner, another row had wipers, car mats, and seat covers, another row had electrical wire, connectors, and such. And behind the counter they had shelf's of starters, gaskets sets, fuel pumps, tools kits, alternators, and some things that I had no idea what it was! Now why on earth did they have all that junk in there when all I wanted was some OIL?

A lot of people go to that store to just get what they want and we all had to go by other stuff to get ours! This forum is like that store, we all come to get something from it and all we can do is to scroll past that which we don't want! A store doesn't survive on me just getting oil, it survives by supplying the community all of their needs. Most of the time (99 times out of 100) TBN does very well at doing that but then there is that one that just wants OIL! His way!

Great post. :thumbsup:

Chad

 

[Depmandog]

Does the OP have issues with the long running threads such as the Cyril Chronicles, Obeds, Good Morning, HF Tools, etc? I don't think you post on them. Some are just conversational threads, some perhaps didn't start that way but are now. Do those type of hi post threads gripe you also?

Not being confrontational, just curious. I don't get nothing out of the chronicles, but I don't mind it all. Just a group of guys getting to know one another. It's another way some people use forums - socially.

Your main gripe if I understand it, it messes with how you interact with forum. Perhaps if we had the ability to subscribe to individual forum(s), and the today's posts would only pull from your personalized settings. Sounds like this solution would solve the problem.

 

[LD1]

Does the OP have issues with the long running threads such as the Cyril Chronicles, Obeds, Good Morning, HF Tools, etc? I don't think you post on them. Some are just conversational threads, some perhaps didn't start that way but are now. Do those type of hi post threads gripe you also?

Not being confrontational, just curious. I don't get nothing out of the chronicles, but I don't mind it all. Just a group of guys getting to know one another. It's another way some people use forums - socially.

Your main gripe if I understand it, it messes with how you interact with forum. Perhaps if we had the ability to subscribe to individual forum(s), and the today's posts would only pull from your personalized settings. Sounds like this solution would solve the problem.

No I dont have a problem with them threads. And if I do post in a thread like the HF thread, and it is highly active, I usually un-subscribe from it. But those are only a few threads. And people are interacting and actually being conversational. Not just using "copy and past" a generic welcome to 30 or 40 some newbies at a time. I dont really even consider that a "warm" welcome. I cant help but wonder if the newbies post is actually being read??

I guess I consider it kinda like a form letter that tries to make you feel special. Like the ones that start " to whom it may concern, you have been one of a lucky few to be chosen to....." And they send it out to millions:confused2:

 

[ctlguy]

I dont really want to call them "meaningless" posts, but for lack of a better word......

:

Like this one :laughing:

(why isn't there a sarcasm smily, and what would it look like)

 

[boggen]

i forget how to use the "exclude" command for certain forums

example...
TODAY'S POSTS =
http://www. tractorbynet.com/forums/search .php?do=getdaily
TODAY's ACTIVE THREADS =
http://www. tractorbynet.com/forums/search .php?do=getdaily&exclude=

i think you need the database index number, for a forum. vs forums title name to exclude a forum or forums. from the search results that come back.

www.vbulletin.com and go through help pages. should give some info of how to use the exclude command.

 

[LD1]

i forget how to use the "exclude" command for certain forums

example...
TODAY'S POSTS =
http://www. tractorbynet.com/forums/search .php?do=getdaily
TODAY's ACTIVE THREADS =
http://www. tractorbynet.com/forums/search .php?do=getdaily&exclude=

i think you need the database index number, for a forum. vs forums title name to exclude a forum or forums. from the search results that come back.

www.vbulletin.com and go through help pages. should give some info of how to use the exclude command.

I really dont want to exclude the new members forum. Sometimes they ask questions I can answer before brin or whoever moves it to a different forum.

I could just do with less of the "30 posts in a row robotic approach" on the first page.

 

[boggen]

i am going to assume TBN like any other forum out there. is setup so any new member under X amount of posts. requires "approval" of there reply to a thread or new thread created. i am going to assume someone is manually viewing these "new posts / threads" so spammers and like do not cause problems for everyone else, to keep the forum good. and when they manually go through things, they are just clicking a button and moving on. end result they end up approving a bunch of threads or posts all at one time. result for everyone else, is they end up seeing massive new forum introduction threads.

i am also going to assume the software TBN runs on vbulletin. is setup to give initial PM and/or email and/or possibly "welcome" message to initial first posters created thread. and that this script only runs every few minutes or every so many hours, possibly creating a bunch of sudden new member introduction threads to be listed at the top of page all of a sudden.

i am also going to assume, a few folks, randomly some time of the day, goes through the "new members introduction" forum. and opens a few threads at a time, and just copy paste there "welcome message" and hit submit button. causing a sudden update of a bunch of new member introduction threads to appear at the top of "todays posts" search.

===================
welcome messages are good! they do help give a feeling someone is saying HI and welcome TBN and helps set the mood for the forum. for those that do state a "welcome message" manually, my hats off to you, it takes a good amount of effort and time!

===================
as far as the first 30 posts, i tend to goto the "control panel" then *forgets what to click on the left* to change amount of "posts" show up per page, along with "threads that show up on a search" raising it to a higher number may make it easier for you, quickly scroll past things.

====================
as far as the "exclude" create a "short cut" and use it when you want to. you do not have to always use it.

====================
beyond what is noted above, i honestly have no idea around the solution, beyond dealing with it, as others noted going into a store and having to walk by isles of stuff you could care less about. and i doubt the higher ups will change anything. due to it is working like it is suppose to. *shrugs*

 

[Soundguy]

hadn't noticed.

If I stumble across a newby welcome post.. If I have somehting to add or have the time or they have a old tractor i usually say hi.. i don't set and wait for new posts to go send out a welcome packet or anything..