Site Feedback Changes
 

Due to the enormous amount of Site Feedback threads being created recently, the staff has realized some inefficiency with the Site Feedback forum.

Effective immediately, are the following policies that exist within the Site Feedback Forum:

• All Off-Topic posts will be deleted – We know sometimes off-topic posts lighten the mood between debating parties, but due to the amount of threads being created the off-topic posts have made it very difficult to find valuable posts that may exist within a thread. From now on, any off-topic posts will be deleted by a moderator. If a member is found continually making off-topic posts after being warned by staff, other consequences will ensue.
• Threads questioning why another Thread was Closed/Deleted will be DELETED - All threads created due to another thread being closed or deleted within the Feedback Forums – WILL BE CLOSED with an official notification that any other similar threads will be DELETED. A thread in the Feedback forum will not be closed until an official response from the staff is given. If the thread is closed and you feel that it shouldn’t, please PM a one of our Admins, and we will evaluate the thread’s closure. This rule applies globally through out vB.org.
• More “TOWNHALL” Threads - The implementation of “Town Hall” type threads will increase, as certain issues arise. These threads will be created by staff when the time comes, and they will be stated specifically that they are "Town Hall" type threads. If you don’t know what a “Town Hall” thread is, please take a look at the Commercial Hack Thread created by Wayne here:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=102471
Town Hall method:
These policies will help the staff answer feedback quickly, and also allow the members to post feedback without their threads going completely off-topic.

More updates to follow when the time comes. :)

So effective immediately the more "townhall" threads policy exists in the site feedback forum. I see great things from the new administration.
That thread you link is from last year and what action has been taken as a result?

Yes, I see great things...

The coding team is already working on the commercial directory. It should be one of the first projects they finish. :)

Good policy change, I esspecially appreciate the no-offtopic part.

I'm all behind every rule except the town-hall topics. That's utter nonsense when feedback is given, people need to argue their case, and possibly for or against others.

Dean... I think the "Town Hall" style threads are for when the site administration wants to propose a change or new policy. Everyone gets a crack at making one good, well thought-out response to that policy, without having to worry about getting flamed or the thread degenerating into a bash-fest. I think that's a very good thing!

However, I see nothing in this policy that says a member cannot start a Site Feedback thread, wherein they and other members can debate an issue to their hearts' content. The policy just says the STAFF won't do that - THEIR threads will be "Town Hall" style.

I know I've griped about the way the staff handles things here, as have others. If this is their response, then critics (such as myself) have to at least give it a chance to succeed before casting judgment. We can't gripe about the old way, and then gripe about the new way...

Stay on subject and keep the chit chat at your personal site.
What a concept. :D

Yes, you are correct on the "Town Hall" type threads.

I'm not quite sure what you mean in your 2nd paragraph, can you clarify that further?

Well, at the risk of speaking for Dean, his objection was that, sometimes an issue needs a complete airing-out, with the ability for members to respond to each other's posts, clarify misunderstandings, and so forth. A "Town Hall" thread doesn't allow that.

So, an "all Site Feedback threads will be Town Hall threads" policy would stifle things a bit too much. It's fine for the Staff to run their threads that way, as such threads would no doubt be one of the last steps in a thorough decision-making process, to give everyone a final say-so/vote on a policy change.

But many times the START of such a decision-making process is a thread where the members are free to debate an issue in full. Such threads cannot productively be managed in "Town Hall" style.

There is nothing in the policy that says ALL site feedback threads will be townhall threads.

Agreed, i read this a few hours ago and told a friend the same thing. I just hope that all threads are not "townhall threads".

Yes, thats correct - this new policy is not stating that all threads starting by staff will be townhall threads, only those discussing issues that a Townhall style thread would work the best.

These "Town Hall" threads will only be started staff. Members can continue creating Site Feedback threads to debate/discuss issues the same way as they did before. The only change is that all off-topic posts will be deleted.

Sorry for the confusion, I have edited the original post to make this more clear.

personaly i hate how you guys keep changing all the stuff around its giving me the hardest of times to get to what i want. okay? so leave it alone and spend more $#@% time on projects!!!!! :angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry:: angry::angry:

Kudos to vB.org for implementing this policy.
Developing and adding modifications to a live site is a serious issue that can positively or adversly affect the security, performance and functionality and ultimately the community that each one of us has worked so hard to create.
For these reasons it's imperative that this site demonstrate a high degree of professionalism.

A suggestion, which I could also use for my site ...
- a Posting Rules link clearly visible in the message posting area ... so that no one say they didn't know.

I'm sorry you feel that way, but any changes that are best for vBulletin.org will be made. I'm not sure what you mean by "to get to what I want", but I don't think this specific policy is harming anyone.

yeah some of the changes around here are getting crazy.... thats really why i stay off of here more and more and im sure alot of others are too... one thing that sucks is the threads being closed.. for example ecdownloads... i mean why not just give others a way to help fix it instead of closing the thread? then westpointer who truely gave most of the support on that mod ask if he could have a chance to fix it and his thread was closed... i know cause it had a explot you closed it but why wasnt it the same policy for vbshout when that had a exploit? all they did there was remove the download until it was fixed.. just things like this where rules following for one thing and not the other get a lil out of hand...

The policy for handling Hacks with exploits in the them was put into place almost a year ago:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=83253

As the announcement says, the thread is closed to prevent people from discussing the exploit publically, as people can take advantage of that and use it on member's forums.

yes i understand that... but i just didnt see why it wasnt handled the same way for that mod is all im saying... that thread was left open the whole time... and in that thread before the fix it had how to exploit it.. i mean you have someone(westpointer) who was willing to fix it and said it publicly in a post and hes told that the staff will fix it and wasnt even able to help.. then they close his thread too... but ill just leave my comments to my self for now on... and stop back here and there and hopefully things change for the better...

Like mods for example i cant seem to find my way around the obsticles