This is to determine the question raised in This topic of whether we should have a rule concerning double posting, ie, two posts made one after another by a person at the end of a topic with no interveening reply.
This does not affect the number of posts by someone in one topic, if another member has replied the second post by the first person is absolutely fine.
If such a rule comes into force, people can only add to their last post if there is no reply by using the "edit post" link under their previous post, and not by posting an extra post after it.
Those who do double post under such a rule will receive a warning, and if they double post persistantly after that warning a short suspention from the forum.
such a rule was suggested in 2009 after many members started posting short, one word messages one after the other, which caused a great deal of untidiness and confusion on the forum. However equally there are situation where legitimately double posting, such as detailing game developement or some other successive process needs to be undertaken.
Sinse this is an issue with two sides, a vote will now take place. If you agree we should have the rule, please hit the "I agree" button. If you believe we should not have such a rule and double posting should be allowed, please hit the "I disagree" button.
The vote will end on Saturday, march 4th, and the majority decision will be the one whic moderators and admins will act upon.
Before voting, please read the below summarization of pros and cons for and against double posting, and considder them carefully and (as far as possible), without bias. Sinse ultimately what is decided here will be the action undertaken.
Double posting:
Pros:
1. We add the ability to see if someone has posted something new.
2. We add a level of organization to those who are trying to post something
that needs to be organized in a double posting manner.
3. We add a quick and convenient way for people who suddenly had a
brainwave and have already finished writing their post, or had an idea they
wished to add to the topic some hours later and did not feel like editing their
previous post, etc.
Cons:
1. People take advantage of the fact that they can double post and use it to
post in a malicious manner that brings in no progress for the forum and its
members.
2. We end up with an unnecessary clutter of headers on the forum as every
new post in a topic creates one of these.
3. We end up with a fair amount of one line posts that are not necessarily
posted out of malice, but which do not truly contribute to the quality of the
forum or forum growth and progress, for instance:
Post 1
"I can't get shades of doom to work"
post 2
"Or Gma tank commander"
post 3
"it's really irritating"
post 4
"can someone help"
4. It creates extra work for the moderators, firstly to read yet another post
and to contest its legitimacy, then to carry out the penalty if necessary and
explain why said person was suspended or banned. I have seen my fair share
of topics out here where people received a penalty and, even after a fair explanation
was given, still did not truly understand it for what it was. While I
myself would not mind the task, I would never claim that is should be a
moderator's responsibility to have to question the validity of double, tripple
posting streaks, etc. IN a fast moving thread like that of the game Swamp,
such a thing would be more cumbersome than not.
5. it might get someone who feels they are legitimately double posting suspended. Moderators would have to act bassed on opinion and opinion
alone. What is a bad double post? A one liner? If a line only contains a word
of thanks, is it bad? If I post a question and manage to figure out the answer
before I get it on the forum, then decide to post a "Please disregard my last
post" double post at the end of it, should that then be considered
unreasonable or not? the mods are only human, and as such, all of our
opinions will differ. One person might get banned because one mod
considered his or her double post unreasonable, and another might get away
with it because while it was seen by yet another mod, that mod did not
consider it worth thinking about. This would in turn create confusion on the
board as to what is and what is not acceptable.
(thanks to nocturnus for the very concise summary of points).
So, double posting allows legitimately progressive or threaded replies but opens the possibility to short, pointless messages which the moderators will need to address simply on grounds of "unreasonable behaviour"
Please think carefully and contribute your vote:
Our souls with high music ringing; O men! It must ever be
That we dwell in our dreaming and singing, A little apart from ye. (Arthur O'Shaughnessy 1873.)