META: Threshold to start an OP

Submitted by MGoGrendel on

We saw another knucklehead start an OP this morning, only to have his post quickly negged so his points are well below 0.  This happens all too often, IMHO. 

I’ve seen a new user get to 100 points after 24 hours and then start a stupid or inflammatory OP.  This is typically a troll who quickly creates another new “creative” username, gets to 100 points by the next day, and starts another worthless OP.  When new users and their “this is my first post, be gentle” ask some feelingsball question, it’s just nails on this chalkboard.

It’s too easy for trolls and inexperienced users to start an OP.  We have a great culture here and it takes a bit to understand the banter, adjust to the rhythm, and follow the insides jokes. As such, I would like to request that the Mods raise the level to start an OP.  I suggest the following thresholds:

  • Users must be registered for 6 months 90 days (?) 
  • Users must have 500 points

Justification: After this much time and comment participation, we can weed out the trolls and integrate the newbies.  Newbies can always “Thread jack, someone please post this (topic)”.  Trolls will be trolls, but we can at least hide their comments on the web.

So, let’s use this as a petition.  In the comments below, let the Mods know how your thoughts about this request.

 

edit: updated the time as 6 months appears harsh and could be bad for business.

WestBrew

January 3rd, 2017 at 10:27 AM ^

There should be some interest on old points (I realize more work for the moms than is worthwhile but hey in a perfect world). Like if you got them in 2009 there has to be some inflation by now right?  Those babies should be raking in like %7 compound.

Kermits Blue Key

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:42 AM ^

I think any Michigan fan worth their salt is or has already been a member of this site. Any new people looking to join now are either trolls, people who tweet at recruits, or communists. Make it a 2-year wait to start a topic, 1 year to comment at all, and 6 months to pass a background check.

Magnus

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:43 AM ^

What about people who just got accepted to Michigan and now want to involve themselves more in sports? What about a kid who's 16 years old and is getting more and more interested in Michigan/football? There are always new people interested in this team and this sport. I wasn't born ready to participate in an online message board about Michigan football.

Magnus

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:41 AM ^

Six months is way too long. Like someone else said, it wouldn't be cool to sign up and realize that I can't start a conversation until half a year later.

I also think 500 points is too much. It takes a long time to get to 500 points, especially if you're not littering the board with posts.

I say leave it how it is. Negbomb the people who deserve to be negbombed. And the mods/Brian/Ace/Seth should just shut down the bad posts if they're deserving.

Personally, I think the crappy long-time posters (people who start trouble, cuss everyone out after a loss, make multiple accounts after getting banned, etc.) are more of an annoyance than the newbies who make mistakes.

Mr Miggle

January 3rd, 2017 at 10:09 AM ^

the crux of the problem. It's those banned posters that keep making new accounts that the higher limits will affect the most. Most newbies aren't anxious to make OPs. Those that make bad ones are probably run off faster by the negs than by having to wait to post a topic. Six months does seem like too long though.

crg

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:42 AM ^

I'm ok with both changing the threshold or leaving as-is; I would only suggest a better way of having new users post questions than by thread-jack

I Like Burgers

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:43 AM ^

As long as we're asking for things, I'd love if Brian could somehow implement collapsible message board threads. Or the ability to rank the posts by votes.

Basically make it more like Reddit.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

I Like Burgers

January 3rd, 2017 at 10:39 AM ^

While I do like the old school charm of MGoBlog, I feel like the site has really started to show its age in the last year or two.  From the constant crashes, broken features like an inability to go past the first page of MGoBoard posts (this has been broken FOREVER), and the outdated message board style...its time for an overhaul.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if they did a Kickstarter for the site to upgrade things, I'd definitely chip in for that.  I know they have the beveled guilt thing, but a kickstarter towards a specific goal would be much more effective, IMHO.

I mean, they raised almost $80k for HTTV.  Surely they could raise the $100k or whatever it would cost to fully overhaul the site.

Winchester Wolverine

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:43 AM ^

It doesn't bother me too much. I'll rip into the occasional shit post, but sometimes they're funny. I think the most affected by this issue are the mods. *vision of LSA headbutting his computer monitor*

BuckNekked

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:46 AM ^

Fucking snowflakes. Nut up bitches wtf

The mechanisms in place will take care of that guys shitty op

Tuebor

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:46 AM ^

Isn't the point of moderation to weed out troll posts? 

 

If a troll posts something dumb the mods, who are very active and respond quickly, remove it and life goes on. 

 

 

Lakeyale13

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:45 AM ^

A bad OP can happen to anyone.  Granted, the more points and longer time on the site greatly diminishes the chances of that.

 

I actually didn't think the "Willie Gay" thread was that aggregious of a thread topic to warrant mob negging, but a mob mentality / mob rule is what is gonna happen on a college football blog.  Lord of the flies on the internet.  LOL

Mr. Elbel

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^

I think the fact that there was a troll post this morning that I didn't see in the 3 hours it's been since I've checked the board is a testament to how good our mods are. I'm OK with the current threshold.

Frieze Memorial

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:51 AM ^

It seems like raising the point threshold too much will lead to mgopointinflation.  It will probably just encourange more worthless replies by new users to get to 500 points.  I think the system is self correcting since the knucklehead poster in question got his just desserts and is no longer able to make new threads. 

Let's not manipulate our currency. 

KennyHiggins

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:49 AM ^

or else they just waste the board's time and create negative energy.  Love the blog, and have visited it most days for the last 4 years - my one nitpick would be the periodic jackass posts, mostly by newbies.  One year and 1000 points seems reasonable.