Random Moving Around of Forum Posts Not Logical Without Further Guidance

[gfmucci]

I am confused.* ???* * Last night I post something that is clearly Villages discussion in the Villages Discussion section (Part Time Employment in THE VILLAGES) and it was moved to NON Villages discussion.* This makes me :dontknow: really what is VILLAGES discussion and what is NON VILLAGES discussion. There have been many many instances of this over the weeks.

Without further instructions posted by the web site managers, this appears to be random moving around of messages without any logical rationale.

So, web meisters, could you provide further guidance, because current guidance is inadequate.

[Russ_Boston]

I would agree that this belongs in "Villages" discussion.

I've noticed that the Non V and the V forum's get blurred all the time. "Charlton Heston" died is obvious but "employment in TV" is not V related?

Hmmmm.

[tony]

I read the post again. Slower, closer. I stand by the move.

[Russ_Boston]

Oh good, I'm bored at work today and I want to play some games. Is this like charades? OK my move:

Is it because it mentions Barnes and Nobels? :dontknow:

Over to you Tony. :joke:

[gfmucci]

I read the post again. Slower, closer. I stand by the move.
This response makes it even more obvious that more accurate guidance needs to be given to the folks that are sincerely trying to post in the right location - and for those who are trying to find things in the right places.

How narrowly defined does The Villages topic need to be to remain in The Villages discussion?* Right now, such definition is sorely lacking.* Mine are not the only posts that get moved because of some undisclosed mystery criteria.* * C'mon, share.* What are the standards for where posts go?

[redwitch]

I'm with Russ and gf -- posts about jobs in TV is about TV. But if you're moving posts, why not move ones about a pool company that doesn't deliver as promised? That is not about TV but stays in the TV forum. Is it because one of your admins posted it?

Sorry, but posts are being bounced too much and, sometimes, inappropriately. Others stay where they are although they clearly don't belong in that forum.

[beady]

It is a bit confusing ??? ???

I would have thought "jobs thread" was correctly placed. ???

Guess we need someone to define TV versus non- TV.

[Villages Kahuna]

I posted a message entitled "The Glenlivet Cup", the trophy awarded to the winner of the international polo match held at The Villages Polo Field last weekend. I also added a picture that I took during the first game last Wednesday. My intent was to alert TOTV members to the enjoyment of attending games at the polo field and the fact that last weekend's match between the U.S. and Argentina was a particularly good one.

The "posting police" quickly moved my post about the polo match at The Villages Polo Field to Non-Villages Discussion. I'd sure like to hear their justification for that one. If they reply with the standard, "I re-read it and I was right the first time" response, I'll lose all hope that the randomness won't continue.

[KathieI]

I think the admins do a great job of trying to keep all our posts in an order that requires limited amount of searching to access later. Think about it, "A Newbee" section, An "I need" section, "woman's" section, "Guess the TOTV star" section, I feel, it sure is well thought out for us.

On the other hand, it is confusing to me about whether something is a Village or non-village topic, but if the admins were to move one of my posts, so what? Its their site! What's the big deal?

Maybe we need an additional "I Need" subject.... I need a job.....!

Just my opinion, life's too short.

Kath

[Sidney Lanier]

I would have just assumed that 'Villages Discussion' pertains to us as residents interacting with TV management, services we receive or are eligible for from officialdom, e.g., utilities, rec facilities and offerings, and so forth. People living here who want to work part-time, in my opinion, would belong in 'Non Villages.' I guess it can be a fine line if one is looking for a part-time job working FOR TV....

[Talk Host]

We want to please everybody. We are not in the business of offending our members. Regardless of what we do, we will offend somebody....I guess that comes with the job (JOB?.......hobby........we have not made a penny since the site went on line a year and a half ago.)

I think that the members should offer input as to what they consider guidelines for the individual forums.. Everyday we move posts from Villages discussion to items for sale. We move topics from "items for sale" to the Villages discussion. We move topics from the "feminine forum" to political. Yesterday, I moved a topic from The "freeze forum" to the Villages discussion forum. So far this week, I have moved three topics from the "new members" forum to other locations.

Now, Tony, on the other hand, moves them just because he can. Off with his head.

[Villages Kahuna]

The more I thought about the movement of my polo thread to Non-Villlages Discussion, the more I was irritated. I posted the following message under my original Glenlivet Cup posting. Let's see if there's an answer from the "posting police".
-------------------------------------------------------------

I don't have to go any farther than Page 1 of TOTV postings to find several that should be in Contractors & Services.

Why shouldn't the repeated messages about how many posts there are on TOTV be placed under Computer Questions? What does the number of TOTV posts have to do with General Villages Discussion? How about the wi-fi discussion? Is that General Villages Discussion or Computer Questions? Even the Talk Host left his own post regarding pool covers and Florida Spa & Pool in General Villages Discussion rather than Contractors & Services where it clearly should be placed.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not all bent out of shape about the examples cited above being left in General Villages Discussion. If anything, I think there are way too many categories. But I am upset over the clear and repeated inconsistencies of those in charge moving posts around to different categories in what sometimes (not always!) appears to be a willy-nilly fashion.

[Talk Host]

Do we have any volunteers to help with the "posting police" duties. Be mindful that it is a 24/7 job. I did it every day last year while I was on vacation in Europe.

[Villages Kahuna]

1. Substantially reduce the number of posting categories in TOTV. There are several that can be combined and a few others that are infrequently used eliminated. Just the reduction in categories will make it easier for members to understand where their messages should be posted and for the "posting police" to properly move those few that probably should be moved.

2. The policy regarding the movement of a posting should be that posts should not be moved unless they represent an egregious variance from the defined content of the forum where the member posted it. I think that should result in very few postings being moved--less confusion for the members and less work for the talk hosts.

There was a great suggestion made by someone here that if a thread is moved, that the original note be left where it was originally posted with an alert that further discussion in the thread was moved to x-y-z Forum. That way readers/participants/members can easily follow the discussion and even participate if they so choose.

P.S. No one should have to work 24/7. Isn't there a law prohibiting such a thing?

[SteveFromNY]

I belong to another board where if posts move, they are left where they were and closed, with a little note on the closed topic that says "Moved to such-and-such". As long as you can find your post it seems kind of irrelevant to me where it is.

I agree with Kahuna - there are too many categories. For instance, I don't understand why there is a "Freeze" category. Doesn't seem really necessary to me at all. Why isn't it in the "just for fun" category? And certainly between the villages related and non villages, the line is blurry. At one time, that non villages category probably covered the ground all the other categories now cover.

So if the movement is track-able, and the categories reduced, I think it would be easier to navigate around.

[JohnnyM]

Well if I may include my 2 cents which no one has asked for; I feel anything posted in the General Villages Discussion should include the word villages. If gfmucci is looking for a part time job in TV or information thereof, it should be posted in General Villages Discussion as it pertains to the villages. Maybe someone reading the post might have knowledge of part time availability in TV. He is not inquiring about Ocala. Regarding VK and the Polo match information with pix is something that happened in the villages and was about the villages. Again, it wasn't a sporting event at Del Webb. Non-Villages Discussion should be exactly that. Anything that pertains to subjects which do not include or mention TV per se. It is more for personal subjects and bantering. If popular enough the Administrators will create a special folder for us. Some may say it's to chatty, but paleeeeze get a life. We are not all in TV, we mostly are sprinkled around the USA. A little lighthearted laughter and camaraderie is not going to kill a thread. Secondly, I do think this is one albatross of a job for Jan, Tony & Darrel overseeing this forum. There are as you know thousands of posts, these guys have to be alert everyday for our protection. Finally, when I sign on I look on every folder in every category so I don't miss something. It takes little or no effort to poke around and get involved. It is just nice to have TOTV with its flaws and enjoy numerous hours of entertainment, enjoyment and information for all, even if flaws exist. Thank you, JohnnyM

[gfmucci]

My primary point is this -

If there is some unwritten rule that causes administrators to feel the need to move what is obviously a Villages thread to a non-Villages section, please let us know what that rule is.

[redwitch]

Jan, an easy solution to not working this board 24/7 is to get moderators for each forum (a truly busy forum might have 3 or 4 moderators so the work is spread around). They "police" the forums -- pming people when they cross a line, moving posts as appropriate, making sure newbies are greeted, locking a thread if a subject has been beaten to death, etc. If they have a question, they talk to each other through a private forum for moderators only. Saves a lot of grief and passes around some of the work.

Administrators have the final say-so on anything that happens, post as they feel appropriate but basically let the moderators handle the day-to-day operations. Saves a lot of grief. I have a parenting board with over 5,000 members, 13,000 threads and 144,000 posts. Barring when I do a post or a server crashes, I spend about 15-30 minutes a day on the board. The moderators do the rest. Makes life a lot easier. My bridge group takes a lot more work because it is a Yahoo Group and the people are so dang touchy that more than one cook definitely spoils their broth.

Just a suggestion.

[barb1191]

Suggestion:

If the Member is looking for his/her posts and can't find it/them, scroll to the top of the page next to your "Welcome Back....." click on User CP which takes you to your profile page.

At the bottom of this page there's a link Show the last posts of this person. and click on that and it will take you to ALL of your posts you have written. Then, you can click on the subject one of interest to see other posts pertaining to that subject, as well.

Hope I haven't confused the issue. That's how I find my posts, no matter where they may be.

barb1191

PS: How about a separate forum strictly for "Frequently asked Questions (FAQ) and answers? This may shed some light on various issues in administration of the site.

[barb1191]

My bridge group takes a lot more work because it is a Yahoo Group and the people are so dang touchy that more than one cook definitely spoils their broth.

Just a suggestion.

Interesting you say that about Yahoo Group RW. I own/moderate a large Yahoo group and find it to be very user-friendly and little time-consuming.

The Villages Computer Club also uses Yahoo Groups and if they choose it, guess they are as pleased as I am with the user-friendly software. .....barb1191

[JohnnyM]

Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth......AMEN. I know I should stick to my own advice, but.... I don't think I recall any of the Administrators asking for our advice or assistance. This forum has been ongoing for quite a number of years unabashed. In all due respect, I think forum members have every right to question the mechanics of the forum but no right to demand how rules were established and or carried out. I have not contributed one penny to this forum therefore I don't think I have the right to ask or demand anything from its originators. If a thread is moved, so be it; a thread was moved. It wasn't deleted just moved. Maybe a few posters have a point and feel their respective thread's should not have been moved and I am sure the Administrators are discussing their grievances and may act accordingly in the future. No reason to call anyone on the carpet. We have the ability to PM any one of the Administrators with what we might perceive as being a problem, potential problem or a personal aside.

[chelsea24]

:yikes:http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/panicsmiley.gif (http://www.millan.net) WHAT POST AM I ON??? http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/panicsmiley2.gif (http://www.millan.net) OMG! AM I IN THE WRONG FORUM????? ???http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/nutssmiley.gif (http://www.millan.net) SHOULD I SAY THE WORD VILLAGES!http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/weirdsmiley1.gif (http://www.millan.net)I GIVE UP! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/gaah.gif (http://www.millan.net)

Sorry peeps, couldn't resist it! Just kidding. :joke:

[chelsea24]

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Just a quick follow-up and round of applause to the administrators. That is a thankless job and I know how hard it is to oversee a website. Thanks for putting up with all of us. Especially me! :-*

[Muncle]

Do we have any volunteers to help with the "posting police" duties. Be mindful that it is a 24/7 job. I did it every day last year while I was on vacation in Europe.

TH ----
If you will send me on vacation to Europe (though someone says they might spit on me there), I'll be glad to volunteer. And is that 24/7 eastern daylight time or pacific time?

[tony]

Decisions about where posts belong are entirely judgement. Nobody can write rules that could be applied consistently to an operation like this.

Posts belong where Jan, Darrel and I deem proper. We are trying to craft a place that is easy to navigate so that you don't have to wade through dozens and dozens of posts that you consider drivel. Others, by the way, don't consider them drivel at all. We have to decide where they fit.

At the top of the screen is a selectionto jump directly to new replies to your posts. You are free to use that.

Sidney Lanier has one of the clearest views of this. Residents interacting with TV management, official services and such, nuts and bolts stuff, that's what he sees as fitting into General.

JohnnyM also has a very clear view. Read his two posts here and you can detect a change in his viewpoint from one to the next, and each just as firm as reasonable as the other. That's the way decisions on these go. And the view changes of where threads belong. A thread that starts out at as a simple question suddenly turns quite commercial. Its moved. Its judgement.

Inconsistencies? Maybe in your mind. Willy nilly. Get serious. We're doing our best to make sense of all this and make it comfortable to use. That includes reading for content, gentility, and obvious untruths. We can't catch them all, but we have caught some, and we have banned people for egregious postings.

As for leaving the "breadcrumb post" behind telling of a moved post. Jan, Darrel and I have talked about it and feel it is detrimental to the flow of a forum. Some forums do it, and some don't.

What rules can we possibly write? There will always, always be threads that fit between the topics. We have to make judgements every day.

[graciegirl]

We seniors sure know how to pick a little talk a little.

We seniors have wisdom.

We seniors seem to be graduates of various and sundry debate clubs.

We seniors are funny, bright, articulate, wordy and grouchy at times.

We Seniors sure know how to argue.

Hmmmm.

I can see both sides. I wouldn't want the job of deciding which goes where. I am grateful someone else does.

A closed mouth gathers no feet. Say Goodnight Gracie.

[mcelheny]

A hugh- Thank You -to the adminstrators of TOTV !!!
If I was you, I would resign and let the biggest complainers run this forum for awhile. I know they would never put in the work and time you do...I also know people would start complaining about their decisions and you could sit back and laugh!
There are doers and there are talkers. Talk is easy. So once again--Thank you--for all your time and efforts. It is an excellent forum.

[samhass]

:agree: :agree: :beer2: I enjoy this site so much and deeply appreciate all your efforts.







:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Just a quick follow-up and round of applause to the administrators. That is a thankless job and I know how hard it is to oversee a website. Thanks for putting up with all of us. Especially me! :-*

[gfmucci]

If trying to make something better, more functional, and more accurately depict where things are located is called "complaining", no enterprise would make any progress.

Here are the directions for the users of this forum...

General Villages Discussion (Click Here)
Feel free to talk about anything relating to life in the Villages.

and

Non Villages Discussion
All topics not related to Villages life

These seem clear, but there are obviously some other background rules that we are not being told.

I would provide additional unsolicited suggestions, but I am not a mind reader.* It is not clear what other criteria admin. has in mind that causes them to relocate posts from "life in the Villages" forum when the posts clearly conform with the written heading instruction for that forum.

It certainly takes more administrator time and effort to move stuff around than to leave it where it originated.* I appreciate all the hard work of the admin..* But I don't understand why they make more work for themselves by moving things around unless there is some good reason for doing so that is not expressed in the forum headings.* Several topics I and others posted in the past several months that were clearly related to "life in the Villages" as the instuctions call for were moved.* Why can't admin. just stick with the simple guidelines they established? :dontknow: :dontknow: :dontknow: It sure would involve less work.* I can't get too excited about folks who make more work for themselves than necessary - especially when that extra work goes contrary to their own guidelines.*

Granted.* This is not a big deal.* Just a user observation and suggestion to have the instructions more closely match policy (or vice versa) than is currently the case.

Uncle - I will just consider the current situation as one of lifes' mysteries since there remains no useful explanation.

Yes, I love this forum* :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:* Just offering a way for this forum to be more predictable and better.

[captain1202]

I recently posted a poll about lawn maintenance people in the general forum. After a day or so it disappeared and I later found it in "contractors & services". Frankly, I never thought to look there because there was another thread discussing grass (that also disappeared somewhere). I thought all of this was a General Discussion, I certainly wasn't promoting any particular service, just looking for info.

I love the forum but I haven't got the time to "flit" from category to category. I get on, check the general discussion and either comment or sign off.

I agree with earlier posts about too many "categories". I don't consider my post about lawn companies any more egregious that then admin's post about Florida Pool.

What I would like to see are fewer "me toos" and personal posts. The idea here is to provide meaningful input not chat with inside comments to one another which would be more appropriately handled through a PM. No offense intended to anyone here.

Perhaps good subcategory would "Personal Chat".

Admins are doing a great job, but by and large I haven't seen many "offending" posts in "general", and I check a couple of times a day.

Keep in mind much of the value of the blog is for newbies who are looking for info and probably aren't going to be scouting each and thread to get their questions answered.

Let's keep it simple guys!

[Donna]

:yikes:http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/panicsmiley.gif (http://www.millan.net) WHAT POST AM I ON??? http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/panicsmiley2.gif (http://www.millan.net) OMG! AM I IN THE WRONG FORUM????? ???http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/nutssmiley.gif (http://www.millan.net) SHOULD I SAY THE WORD VILLAGES!http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/weirdsmiley1.gif (http://www.millan.net)I GIVE UP! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/gaah.gif (http://www.millan.net)

Sorry peeps, couldn't resist it! Just kidding. :joke:


Chel...Take a http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/chillpillsmile.gif (http://www.millan.net)...Panic no more...http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/chillpillsmile.gif (http://www.millan.net)

[Russ_Boston]

First I'll reiterate the feelings of most (probably all) members of this forum who applaud the work of the admins. Without them we wouldn't have this great information exchange.

But...

If the admins want less work then i agree with the suggestion that maybe they are making too much work for themselves by trying to split hairs on whether something belongs in forum A or forum X. If it is obvious and makes no sense for something to be in a certain place then and only then move it. I think that most of us know to put political talk in the political forum etc. but the questions always seem to arise when it comes to the two 'main' forums.

I don't think many of us have any trouble finding anything, at least i don't.

[Boomer]

Suggestion:

If the Member is looking for his/her posts and can't find it/them, scroll to the top of the page next to your "Welcome Back....." click on User CP which takes you to your profile page.

At the bottom of this page there's a link Show the last posts of this person. and click on that and it will take you to ALL of your posts you have written. Then, you can click on the subject one of interest to see other posts pertaining to that subject, as well.

Hope I haven't confused the issue. That's how I find my posts, no matter where they may be.

barb1191...



What Barb said.

That's how I find myself sometimes.

And if you are not in the thread but remember the name of someone who was, you can just click on the underline for that person's name and it takes you to their posts and you can be reunited.

And...

AdminMen, Thank you. :bow:

Boomer

[SteveFromNY]

I would like to add my voice to those thanking the admins for doing a terrific job. And I hope none of my criticism is interpreted as anything but constructive.

Ultimately, where posts get moved, if posts get moved, whether or not I can find posts, well, these things are one of my life's smallest little annoyances, right up there with, let's see, maybe the tiniest pebble in my shoe, or a fly in the distance, a pea under a mattress. Really small stuff.

So thanks again administrators. :bigthumbsup:

[Sidney Lanier]

Could I suggest, IMHO, that by this point in this thread we are 'beating a dead horse'? 'Nuff already?

[mcelheny]

Reread my post! Talk doesn't improve a situation...Doing something like volunteering to keep posts in right forum does.... Action, hard work, volunteering time, etc. improves websites.!!!!!
I bet most have no idea how hard it is to run a website.
Everyone can talk but I repect those who DO.

[chelsea24]

Donna, thank you for the chill pill. I'm better now. http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/moonsmiley2.gif (http://www.millan.net)

. . . I know my post is in the right forum . . . I know my post is in the right forum . .zzzzzzz

:joke:

[mcelheny]

I am going to chill for a week or so....so be nice to the Administrators while I am gone!!!No- I don't know them personally.

[patfinn]

I had a post entitled "Snowbird Question" which asked suggestions on what to do to close up my Villages home for 4 months and also about "house sitting" services in the villages. It is now sitting in "non villages discussion" getting no responsesI thought that I posted it in NVD in error, but now I know that it was moved and I don't understand why.

[gfmucci]

I thought that I posted it in NVD in error, but now I know that it was moved and I don't understand why.

It remains... a mystery.* ???:dontknow: :joke: :dontknow: :joke: :dontknow: ::)

And as far as* dead horses lovehorse are concerned, all rumors of the horses' demise have been greatly exaggerated.

[Sidney Lanier]

Evidently.... That's what Mark Twain said about his death--that reports of it were greatly exaggerated!

[JohnnyM]

Let it go GF.....

[gfmucci]

Let it go GF.....
You got to be kidding. This is one of the more popular threads in days. The advertisers love it! :bigthumbsup:

[samhass]

Please Jan, no posting police. Be careful of what you ask for...you may get it!!! ;D






Do we have any volunteers to help with the "posting police" duties. Be mindful that it is a 24/7 job. I did it every day last year while I was on vacation in Europe.

[tony]

Jan's delirious about posting police. I would not wish this on anybody.
;D

[Talk Host]

Jan's delirious about posting police. I would not wish this on anybody.
;D




Ya, so much fun, I'm gonna move this thread to "Just for Fun."

[chelsea24]

Has the dead horse been resurrected yet? :yikes:

[JohnnyM]

Chelsea the horsie died and went to horsie heaven. The reason the horsie died is because we all jumped on him and beat him to death. We are all responsible so let's do the horsie a solid and pay tribute to him by closing down this one beaten horsie thread. I know it won't be easy but we must try. We do not need more horsie's to get beaten and killed just because of our stupidity. God bless the horsie who gave his life for gfmucci's thread. http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/engel/angel-smiley-001.gif

[chelsea24]

LOL Johnny! OK, goodbye horsie!http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/crysmiley1.gif (http://www.millan.net)

[renielarson]

But before we say our adieus....let me reiterate something once said to me 20 years ago. Something I never forgot and continue to live by to this day:

"If you consider this the worst thing that can ever happen to you, then deal with it head on. If not...let it go."

Are moving posts the worst?

Forget the dead horsies...just "let it go".

[graciegirl]

Trying to find something to wear to the horses funeral. I will be there on Monday. Yippee.


Whoops, Not proper attitude for funeral.

[gfmucci]

Joan suggested "a top hat and a flower...nothing else!"

BTW, this thread is second only to "golf carts disappearing" on the front page. Fantastic!!

[travelstiles]

http://www.royrogers.com/images/rdtcom.gif

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.

Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.

[Talk Host]

Sure, let's keep this going forever. I know it makes me feel good. I've talked to the other administrators and they love it too. Why wouldn't we want to keep this going and going and going and going. We have thick skin.

[chelsea24]

lovehorse I'm baaaaacccckkkkk!

[JohnnyM]

I n s t i g a t o r

But what would we do without you ;)

[chelsea24]

Annoying, but cute as a button! http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/cowboysmile.gif (http://www.millan.net) 1rnfl