The Future of Stormtrack

[Mikel Shively]

Well I see that one/some of the moderating team has now suspended one of the veterans on this board. When is this all going to end? When I first came to StormTrack, I wanted to come because I wanted to learn from the more experienced on the board. Now... This board is loaded up with non-chasers, a very high newbie to vet ratio and some people that don't even know how to navigate a car. This begs me to bring up the obvious... What direction is this board heading? From my standpoint, at least, it does not look good for chasers. Is there anything that can be done? Or is this just the way things will be from now on?

[Jeff Snyder]

We are certainly welcome to comments and suggestions that users have. As is the policy, we will not discuss specific moderating actions on other members, other than to say the rules are applied equally to all members of this forum. To keep this in all ways positive and beneficial, everyone is certainly welcome to suggest changes, additions, or subtractions if you don't think things are quite right. The moderators are working on a couple of things right now (e.g. the refinement of the registration policy, the cracking down on rules violations, particularly those involving snarks, insults, or personal attacks), but we're always open to comments! If you'd like to see certain aspects of this forum improved, feel free to leave your suggestions!

For what it's worth, the late winter is almost always the most volatile time for this forum. Once storm chase season picks up, people tend to be a little more kind to each other, and almost everyone ceases to participate in unhealthy discussions that are in violation of the forum rules and other such things that tend to create problems and sour attitudes on this forum. It should be noted that some "vets" have left the forum solely because of the noise (bickerings, insults, etc) that we are trying to reduce. We tend to see this almost every year around this time, and sometimes the only cure is the same cure for SDS -- storms! This is NOT meant to trivialize the OPs comments.

[Jason Boggs]

As Jeff mentioned, we apply the rules equally to all the members on this forum. We treat members equally no matter what their "status" is, whether it be a veteran, or a new chaser.

I don't think the newbie to vet ratio has anything to do with the structure of the forum. We apply rules for the benefit of Stormtrack, and they are expected to be followed, period. This begs me to ask this question...Where would this forum be heading right now without the hard work of Tim, David and the rest of the moderating team? Stop and think about that for a minute...

[Mikel Shively]

It does not have anything to do with the STRUCTURE, Jason, that's not the point. It is the QUALITY that I am having issue with. Again, Im not trying to sound elitist. That has no business in chasing, IMO. I guess I mean simply, that the quality of posts over the last few months has rapidly declined. It just seems as though the members responsible for it are rather new.

[Darin Brunin]

Oh it's pretty easy to see the direction ST is going. I would consider it to be more of a weather enthusiast forum rather than something that suites the needs of chasers these days.

I could see why Tim would want that from a perspective of wanting to cover bandwidth costs and such, not that I think it's right. But I guess you gotta do what ya gotta do.

Jason, don't get your panties in a bunch. Mike wasn't attacking anyone, especially you or the other mods, he is just expressing concern. A guilt trip is not needed.

[Robert Dewey]

No more Hollingshead?

Bah, I guess we all take turns getting suspended and infractions lol

[Dan Cook]

He'll be back next week; he did something that clearly violated all the rules and got suspended for it.

[nickgrillo]

Actually, I would have a hard time believing the "vets" left because of the insults and bickering, but rather a slew of new users and even some established users pervasively posting non-nonsensical crap throughout the board, particularly in the TA (and all around the board, for a few members). I understand the moderators may have a hard time deleting posts that are generally un-informative (i.e. giving no real insightful information) to prevent hearing complaints from the users, but it sucks that any worthwhile post that I or someone else may make in the TA will get buried under a slew of one-liner, NOAA-product or junk posts.

[Jeff Snyder]

I understand the moderators may have a hard time deleting posts that are generally un-informative (i.e. giving no real insightful information) to prevent hearing complaints from the users, but it sucks that any worthwhile post that I or someone else may make in the TA will get buried under a slew of one-liner, NOAA-product or junk posts.

The moderators can really use the help of the general membership sometimes, particularly during busy weather days (such as today). If you don't think a particular post compliance with the rules (particularly those for FCST, NOW, DISC, and REPORTS threads), please use the "Report Post" feature to notify the moderators. Even though we have several mods, there are always times when no moderators happen to be viewing a particular thread at any given time. In addition, there are always some "borderline" posts that fall into a grey area -- if we see a couple of complaints from members about such a post, it may well lead us to take action against that post (deletion, etc). Again, this is where self-policing can help improve the forum.

[Mikel Shively]

The moderators can really use the help of the general membership sometimes, particularly during busy weather days (such as today). If you don't think a particular post compliance with the rules (particularly those for FCST, NOW, DISC, and REPORTS threads), please use the "Report Post" feature to notify the moderators. Even though we have several mods, there are always times when no moderators happen to be viewing a particular thread at any given time. In addition, there are always some "borderline" posts that fall into a grey area -- if we see a couple of complaints from members about such a post, it may well lead us to take action against that post (deletion, etc). Again, this is where self-policing can help improve the forum.

I fully appreciate the fact that you guys (moderating team) are trying to do something about the quality, especially in the TA, where it is, IMO, the worst. Thank You!

[nickgrillo]

The moderators can really use the help of the general membership sometimes, particularly during busy weather days (such as today). If you don't think a particular post compliance with the rules (particularly those for FCST, NOW, DISC, and REPORTS threads), please use the "Report Post" feature to notify the moderators. Even though we have several mods, there are always times when no moderators happen to be viewing a particular thread at any given time. In addition, there are always some "borderline" posts that fall into a grey area -- if we see a couple of complaints from members about such a post, it may well lead us to take action against that post (deletion, etc). Again, this is where self-policing can help improve the forum.

So would it be bad if I decided to report a LARGE quantity frivolous posts BY a moderator ONGOING in the NOW thread? Hmmm... :rolleyes:

[Jeff Snyder]

So would it be bad if I decided to report a LARGE quantity frivolous posts BY a moderator ONGOING in the NOW thread? Hmmm... :rolleyes:

Report any post that you feel is not fitting for the rules, yes.

[APritchard]

Funny how the snarks and questionable remarks are pretty much caught instantly, infractions are issued and members suspended, while the frivolous posts often are never removed.

I'll give you that moderators can't always be around, I'm not wishing to get into that.

However, answer me this...

Why does EVERY SINGLE forecast/now thread with pointless and frivolous posts get a repost of the rules for posting, while infractions dealing with snarks, insults or what have you get instant infractions? If someone starts picking on another member or lets a swear word go, or anything like why don't we just see a rule reminder. What's the difference, both are breaking the rules but it seems the most annoying IMO is let go while others get instant action.

[Jeff Snyder]

Funny how the snarks and questionable remarks are pretty much caught instantly, infractions are issued and members suspended, while the frivolous posts often are never removed.

I'll give you that moderators can't always be around, I'm not wishing to get into that.

However, answer me this...

Why does EVERY SINGLE forecast/now thread with pointless and frivolous posts get a repost of the rules for posting, while infractions dealing with snarks, insults or what have you get instant infractions? If someone starts picking on another member or lets a swear word go, or anything like why don't we just see a rule reminder. What's the difference, both are breaking the rules but it seems the most annoying IMO is let go while others get instant action.

How do you know frivolous posts don't receive infractions? Oftentimes, I will repeat the rules for relatively minor rules violations, and the poster of the deleted post may or may not be served an infraction depending upon the circumstances. Early in the season, why try to be a bit more lenient of the Target Area rules they can be a little confusing for new chasers or those who haven't participated in a FCST/NOW/REPORTS/DISC thread type for months. In addition, there tend to be many more members who violate the Target Area special rules before the heart of chase season, so we try to guide the discussion on topic rather than start dishing out a dozen infractions. As we've stated before, though, the time of leniency is coming to an end since we've had a couple of Target Area threads in the past week. Regardless, I have a feeling that there are many more warnings and infractions than you think there are.

There typically isn't a need to repeat rules for snarks or insults since they tend to be more obvious. The moderators treat the personal conduct rule (no insults, personal attacks, etc) very seriously, and it is one that most often results in more strict repercussions.

[Robert Dewey]

The moderators treat the personal conduct rule (no insults, personal attacks, etc) very seriously, and it is one that most often results in more strict repercussions.

I wouldn't say that's true all of the time, though. There's a lot of little snark comments that go on against specific members that seem to slip through. Look at all the crap Forrest had to put up with before a mod did him a favor and banned him.

Flat out bashing? Not really... But when 50% of his threads turn into "PLZ FLUSH NO MOAR" kitty images, some of which are posted by mods, I find it hard to believe that ST takes personal conduct all that seriously.

Has anyone stopped to think that not everyone is as computer literate as others? Why not help the guy?

[nickgrillo]

As a chaser on the road, I would rather have a post calling me a ####%$$, d***!!# idiot then sift through 20 pages of garbage (shoot, posted by a moderator or two themselves) on 1-bar wi-fi connection. Hey, that's just me though!

[Mikel Shively]

As a chaser on the road, I would rather have a post calling me a ####%$$, d***!!# idiot then sift through 20 pages of garbage (shoot, posted by a moderator or two themselves) on 1-bar wi-fi connection. Hey, that's just me though!

I know I share those sentiments exactly. However, alot of the people on this forum do not chase, therefore, it wouldn't matter to them.

[Robert Dewey]

Just out of curiosity, are we not allowed to mention Bill Braski - or is that a "bad word" around these parts?

[Jason Foster]

If veterans are leaving it's likely due to their evolution of their needs and desires of the chasing hobby. As I to get older and more busy with my schedule I find less and less time to do things. I never posted anything here. I re-registered everytime I needed to when the forum changed, but not until I was stuck at home recovering from surgery did I have the time to spend on here.

There is a little bit of "been there, done that" when it comes to chat rooms, and forum boards such as this one. It's kind of like the Chaser conference. Don't seem many of the old-timers there anymore. Because the content is fairly the same, and it's in the same location. I'm going back after a two year absence mostly as a reward for getting past my kidney issues, and getting the "chasing bug" back.

Yes, some leave because they get tired of seeing some of the uninformed members posting lots of questions or opinions that are mislead. But this board is a good place for those misinformed to get better informed. And the board needs experienced (and patient) chasers to help the newbies out. I especially like the Education Group for this reason.

Lastly, as I tell anyone who's been a member of a group that I was leader for. If you don't like something, feel free to venture out and start something on your own. It may in fact satisfy a need that is currently being met. Perhaps join a more exclusive group that is closed to open membership and is "invite only". There's always a lot of talk, but not much in the way of action.

I for one enjoy the forum and think it's run fairly well. I don't like everything, but then again, I'm not going to say much because I'm only spending a little bit of time here unlike the owners and moderators.

I will mention that I think the main page (stormtrack.org) could use some updating....but I'm not complaining about it.....in fact I've been meaning to ask if there's something I can do to help.