The state of Neowin


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Ive been a member for gawd knows how long to the forums and I thought it was just me getting older and grumpier and less tolerant of the non tech posts and was why most topics outwith hardware ones annoyed me (apart from you snyper my man I always get a giggle reading your ramblings.) I gotta admit I find the say something about the person post quite funny at times and a good change.

Id rather read that than say "OMFG post pics of your snitzelgruben" or "post pics of your bedroom" but hey it takes all sorts right?

I come here for the tech news and the technical side of the forums, If i can help someone in my field then I will.

Isnt just easier to not go to the parts that annoy you? Its what I do

I dont care how many posts I "apparantly" have made if one of them helped someone else then cool, I know plenty have helped me on other aspects of technology.

I do take pride in a 0% warn level but thats a personal thing really, I like to think I conduct myself in a polite, decent manner I treat people and posts like I would in a work role or personal role.

either way I still enjoy my visits to neowin and will continue to visit regardless, its one of the non-"elitist" tech forums Ive known.

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One thing i have noticed is that sometimes a mod will delete a thread you have made with out even trying to ask why you ment by the question you asked...they just interprit it their way..and don't care what you really ment when you PM them asking why it was deleted and you got warned.

You would think how long ittakes to knock off a warning that some mods would want to make sure that they are really warning you appropriately. I can name atleast 2 times where I have asked a perfectly legal question and been warned because the mods refused to listen to what I was really asking and interprited what I ment in a totaly different way.

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I think it's good that Neowin is going back to being more tech oriented. I'm not a fan of off topic crap like "spider with two abdomens", "Random Thoughts" "and "Michel Gondry Solves a Rubiks Cube with his Nose".

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It amazes me that people can post just to up their post count. Does it really matter? Is your life truly so empty that you need a post count on a forum to tell you how awesome you are? I really don't get.

Honestly.

Anyways, I think the game threads cause no problems. It's in the Off-Topic section. If you don't like it, don't read it.

But then again, the site is about technology, not Off-topic discussion.

Edited by Cormier6083
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either way I still enjoy my visits to neowin and will continue to visit regardless, its one of the non-"elitist" tech forums Ive known.

I absolutely agree with you. I began frequenting a popular cell phone hacking-related forum within the last 6 months, and the regulars there are extremely derogatory and elitist when it comes to asking questions. While helpful sometimes, it has gotten to the point where I would rather screw up my phone than ask a question and be berated. Also, their moderators like to wave a big stick. If Neowin's members/moderators conducted themselves in the same manner, I would definitely not post/visit at all.

Quick Note to the Moderators: Could a subforum be opened in the cellphone section concerning flashing/modding or would that be outside the bounds of the site's vision?

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"Ubuntu FTW" in a discussion of another distribution is nothing but trolling and flamebaiting, but we've had this discussion before. If you can't see how that contributes absolutely nothing, at all, to the discussion, then it's hopeless.

I was actually highlighting how there is "no obvious measure of acceptability". I don't want to, nor intended to discuss my previous warnings, so please don't bring them up :)

It's important that people know what's acceptable, and what isn't. At the moment it isn't clear at all, causing people like myself to avoid posting in the areas where such ambiguities lie :(

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So what if this is a tech forum site, the admin has given us other threads like gaming, media, general and normal world stuff yet people moan. Tech site i think is abit far fetch now. If you see some thing other then "tech" then don't open that thread but you have to then make stupid anti threads on it. So ure just as worst as them.

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I was actually highlighting how there is "no obvious measure of acceptability". I don't want to, nor intended to discuss my previous warnings, so please don't bring them up :)

It's important that people know what's acceptable, and what isn't. At the moment it isn't clear at all, causing people like myself to avoid posting in the areas where such ambiguities lie :(

It's in the rules.

No spamming, Ever!

Spamming is characterized by the initiation of threads or posts that contribute nothing to a forum, be it off topic or on topic. Examples include: empty bodies, bodies with few words that have no relation to the current thread or discussion and those posts that state they are spam, either to annoy, advertise or increase a member's post count. Resurrecting old forum posts is also not appreciated unless it serves a worthy cause to the forum. This determination is made by the forum Moderator or Administrator and is not up for discussion.

I believe "Ubuntu FTW" would fall into this category.

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we do have a desire to remove the useless crap

There is nothing wrong with that at all :)

HOWEVER, the problem at the moment is that "useless crap" is subjective. One person's "crap" is another person's joke/banter.

Since warnings are being handed out based on such undefinable terms, surely you can see the problem that some of us have with the atmosphere of Off Topic discussions in particular? :)

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There is nothing wrong with that at all :)

HOWEVER, the problem at the moment is that "useless crap" is subjective. One person's "crap" is another person's joke/banter.

Since warnings are being handed out based on such undefinable terms, surely you can see the problem that some of us have with the atmosphere of Off Topic discussions in particular? :)

Lots of the rules are subjective. That's why there's a "judicial branch" on this website.

I don't understand why it is so hard to figure out if whether or not you're following the rules.

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I disagree... Neowin used to be a place where we had many experts and a ton of tech content... questions were answered in minutes and they were always right... once we started adding the off topic forums... kids came in... a lot knowing nothing but the basics with tech... and posted junk. Since then the real good tech people (and we still have a few) left. They were drawn away from the site due to the immature postings and increasing trolls.

Back in the day we had no real fanboy problems and the like... people were able to discuss tech with out the immaturity. The addition of the off topic forums have been one of the on going problems of this site. When issues such as flames and trolling occured... it was a major event as it never really happened.

It's time we start cleaning/filtering some of the junk out... and focus more on what they site used to be truly about. Tech.

I agree that a lot more kids found their way here but I don't think its because of the new off topic forums, if you go and read a little you'll notice that there is a lot of mature talk where you can learn lots of stuff and those kids rarely post anything

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I don't have any complains and I think the mods are doing an excellent job (Y)

However, there are two issues:

  • Members rarely use search function especially in Hardware and Windows Help forums - but hey, it's their choice if they want to start a new thread about something that had already been discussed; I'm ok with that.

  • However, when somebody actually uses the search function and posts in the old thread, some members will bully that person for resurrecting it. And that's just ridiculous.

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HOWEVER, the problem at the moment is that "useless crap" is subjective. One person's "crap" is another person's joke/banter.

Let's get this straight. Product A is updated. Someone comments saying "Product B FTW!"

This is unacceptable

Product A is updated. Someone comments saying "I feel that Product B is better than Product A because of [reason]"

This is acceptable

A supervisor may correct me if I'm wrong on this one.

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Another digital hot potato. Many good points raised. for example, hiding the post count. Its almost like XP points with threads started for 2000'th post, 10000'th or even 100. And then you have people who just post things like :blink: and nothing else, or a common one quoting then +1, or my pet hate, quoting and then NOTHING!! :angry:

I disagree about getting rid of the non tech related threads. I myself have passed the time at work looking at tech threads then laughing at a video/joke/picture that's been posted. And if I have one to share, Neowin is my first port of call. Why curb that?

As snyper said, we have those sections for jokes and other non tech related areas, remove them? Put up or shut up.

some tweaking needs to be done but stopping us posting non tech related stuff is insane.

Although I do agree about the post your workstation/how tall are you/vista sucks threads.

Bring back Pink Panther. He will sort the lot of you out! :shifty:

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I read a vast majority of the postings in the windows section yet hardly do I ever post, mostly because someone else has already provided an adequate answer.

The thing I enjoy about Neowin has been that when I need tech info I can get it, but if I want to goof off I can do that too. I agree there is a time and a place for everything but I just don't agree with some of the restrictions.

I do agree that Neowin is infinitely better than the other forums around and most of that is due to the restriction on the techinical content.

Thats pretty much what I do as well, If an adequate answer is provided is it really necessary to go "+1", unless it something along the lines of "Whats the Best of", "What do you use for" type posts where someones trying to see what software others are using or recommend, but then post something like "I prefer to use (x) because of (z)." Not just +1.

I mainly come here for Tech related items, but I enjoy a good chuckle reading the jokes and news articles posted by HUM.

Edited by CrashGordon
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Ive been a member for gawd knows how long to the forums and I thought it was just me getting older and grumpier and less tolerant of the non tech posts and was why most topics outwith hardware ones annoyed me (apart from you snyper my man I always get a giggle reading your ramblings.) I gotta admit I find the say something about the person post quite funny at times and a good change.

Id rather read that than say "OMFG post pics of your snitzelgruben" or "post pics of your bedroom" but hey it takes all sorts right?

I come here for the tech news and the technical side of the forums, If i can help someone in my field then I will.

Isnt just easier to not go to the parts that annoy you? Its what I do

I dont care how many posts I "apparantly" have made if one of them helped someone else then cool, I know plenty have helped me on other aspects of technology.

I do take pride in a 0% warn level but thats a personal thing really, I like to think I conduct myself in a polite, decent manner I treat people and posts like I would in a work role or personal role.

either way I still enjoy my visits to neowin and will continue to visit regardless, its one of the non-"elitist" tech forums Ive known.

Couldn't agree with you more Mando! Since I joined in '02, I spend as much time in the off topic area as in the Tech related ones. The amazing thing with Neowin is it's diversity, and overall quality of posts in general.

Compared to many many other forums I've frequented throughout the years, this one beats the lot!

Oh, and 0% varning level FTW! :p

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Im getting a little more agitated reading some of the comments in this thread as it continues.

Ive a simple question for those of you that seem to be void of a sense of humor..

Do i comment on how stupid and immature i think gamers sections are? Do i go there and troll these forums?

Do i go into a forum where someone is looking for help on their hard drive and post "id hit it" or "hahah noob"?

Do i go into car threads and post how pathetic i may feel some ppl are when talking about cars?

I hang around the Jokes sections. 20% of my posts are there. I feel comfortable there, its the jokes section its for laughs, if you dont find my posts funny, perhaps someone elses are of more your flavour..

My basic point is this.. If you dont like some of the "spide has 2 abdomen threads" Dont visit them

If you dont like Jokes, or jokes id post Dont read them

I come across members everday with 5k posts or more but never seen them before, why? Because we hang around different areas of the forum!

I think what the staff are trying to do if im correct in thinking is to try and keep everyone happy while promoting a lean back towards the tec end of Neowin, while keeping the "non tec" discussion out of the n00bs direct view, which i fully agree with.

Please dont complain about Certain forum areas of neowin, when they are particularly and generally very active in Neowin, if you dont like them keep awayfrom those areas! and yes.. if there are trolls and asshats making threads or comments inappropriate in your section report that and let the staff deal with it, if they deem it warranted.

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Im getting a little more agitated reading some of the comments in this thread as it continues.

Ive a simple question for those of you that seem to be void of a sense of humor..

Do i comment on how stupid and immature i think gamers sections are? Do i go there and troll these forums?

Do i go into a forum where someone is looking for help on their hard drive and post "id hit it" or "hahah noob"?

Do i go into car threads and post how pathetic i may feel some ppl are when talking about cars?

I hang around the Jokes sections. 20% of my posts are there. I feel comfortable there, its the jokes section its for laughs, if you dont find my posts funny, perhaps someone elses are of more your flavour..

My basic point is this.. If you dont like some of the "spide has 2 abdomen threads" Dont visit them

If you dont like Jokes, or jokes id post Dont read them

I come across members everday with 5k posts or more but never seen them before, why? Because we hang around different areas of the forum!

I think what the staff are trying to do if im correct in thinking is to try and keep everyone happy while promoting a lean back towards the tec end of Neowin, while keeping the "non tec" discussion out of the n00bs direct view, which i fully agree with.

Please dont complain about Certain forum areas of neowin, when they are particularly and generally very active in Neowin, if you dont like them keep awayfrom those areas! and yes.. if there are trolls and asshats making threads or comments inappropriate in your section report that and let the staff deal with it, if they deem it warranted.

I agree with Snyper on this.

I rarely visit the tech forums, only if I need help or if a seemingly interesting topic comes on the front page. If I can help in the thread I will try, if not I don't post. Most of my posts are in GD/MM.

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Excellent points (Y)

There's a name I haven't heard in a while :laugh:

Oh look, derailing a thread. warn :rolleyes:

My point being, comment made.. yes.. lol funny, the thread can resume..

Its only when it gets out of hand that moderators should step in... imo

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Im getting a little more agitated reading some of the comments in this thread as it continues.

Ive a simple question for those of you that seem to be void of a sense of humor..

Do i comment on how stupid and immature i think gamers sections are? Do i go there and troll these forums?

Do i go into a forum where someone is looking for help on their hard drive and post "id hit it" or "hahah noob"?

Do i go into car threads and post how pathetic i may feel some ppl are when talking about cars?

I hang around the Jokes sections. 20% of my posts are there. I feel comfortable there, its the jokes section its for laughs, if you dont find my posts funny, perhaps someone elses are of more your flavour..

My basic point is this.. If you dont like some of the "spide has 2 abdomen threads" Dont visit them

If you dont like Jokes, or jokes id post Dont read them

I come across members everday with 5k posts or more but never seen them before, why? Because we hang around different areas of the forum!

I think what the staff are trying to do if im correct in thinking is to try and keep everyone happy while promoting a lean back towards the tec end of Neowin, while keeping the "non tec" discussion out of the n00bs direct view, which i fully agree with.

Please dont complain about Certain forum areas of neowin, when they are particularly and generally very active in Neowin, if you dont like them keep awayfrom those areas! and yes.. if there are trolls and asshats making threads or comments inappropriate in your section report that and let the staff deal with it, if they deem it warranted.

I agree with you on this too. There are several sections here I've NEVER looked at, like the Mac forums (not that there's anything wrong with it) I just have little/no intrest in it. If I have nothing meaningful to contribute to that area, I'm not going to rush in and spout off about something I know little to nothing about.

Kinda like TV, 100s of channels, most I could care less about, so guess what? I don't watch them. Samething applies here.

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I agree with you on this too. There are several sections here I've NEVER looked at, like the Mac forums (not that there's anything wrong with it) I just have little/no intrest in it. If I have nothing meaningful to contribute to that area, I'm not going to rush in and spout off about something I know little to nothing about.

Kinda like TV, 100s of channels, most I could care less about, so guess what? I don't watch them. Samething applies here.

Well, that is exactly my point.

Now this of course doesnt address the issue of Neowin losing it "Tec" credibility. However i do feel that the steps that the staff made last week will help, but i feel more is needed. I dont see a reason to kill off the less serious areas of neowin, i think that if arranged and moderated, that both can work fine..

I know this sounds a tad drastic, but what about a subforum of neowin.net effectively a separate forum where there is only one link from here to there and back, the tec and non tec stuff wouldnt mix, yet it would remain neowin.

This is only a suggestion i thought of..

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This is the same forum topic seen and read in many forums - How do we get back the old days when it used to be tech tech tech instead of now where it's mostly blah blah blah?

Neowin is an excellent site. It has both brilliant topics on discussion, great interesting forums and alternative 'free' thinking, off topic discussions. Yes, these may at times get out of hand but that's when the mods give their job descriptions a testing.

Do not close off certain forums because they offend. If you don't like them don't read them. Don't let this place become some sort of Mary Whitehouse experience!

Do away with post counts, hide them or even don't have them counted in 'non tech' related forums if you want but do not close off forums that bring a smile and a laugh.

There will always be trolls and flaming butthe mods can deal with this. Experienced forum posters don't swallow such tripe and learn to ignore it and that's why Neowin is great as it is. The mods do do a great job at sorting out the 'crap' from the relevant, and I'm sure they dish out warnings when needed.

Neowin doesn't need to be changed.

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