Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels

Subject: Thread Titles and Labels
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 09:23 PM

Lately I have noticed several requests to Joe and his clones to change a thread label posted on the thread in question. I also noticed that most of these were done within minutes of a thread being posted. When you start a thread, it is important to try to place it in the correct category but if it isn't, it can and will be changed by Joe or his folks.

That said, the correct place to post such a request is not on the thread but in the Help Forum. Additionally, what's the rush? Here's what Joe had to say awhile ago on the subject (speaking of a thread that had been moved):

I wish it had stayed in music for a while until it was clear what direction it was heading. Generally, I think it's a good idea NOT to request to have threads moved from one category to another. Jeff and I and the clones follow threads, and we catch most of the ones that are misplaced. The clones can change the ones that are obvious, and Jeff and I are supposed to make the judgment calls. And it's really not the end of the world if a thread is in the wrong place for half a day - or forever........Joe Offer (Bold mine)

It isn't a big deal at all and one of the clones (or Jesus Christ from the initials) made this comment below as well when they changed a thread placement......which is pretty much the entire point as well:

Dear Guest Q, Do you think you could possibly wait longer than 3 MINUTES before pointing out that a thread may need moved? This is also NOT the place to post your requests which should be in the HELP forum. Try to relax a bit. This is NOT a full time moderated forum and if a thread is labeled incorrectly for a few hours or even a day, the world will not come to an end. -- J.C.

Can we all give these folks a break and not worry too much about the occasional thread titling problem? If and when it gets changed, fine. If it doesn't or it takes awhile (at least more than the three minutes above), so what?

Okay, now Bran Muffins for all and let's go on!!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Labels
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 09:53 PM

Labels = PREFIXES, is what we allus called 'em before.... like BS or not BS and so on.

~S~

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Labels
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 10:07 PM

GoodonyaSpaw..thanks.

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 07:06 AM

Whatever you call them, we now have 11 or so various lablels/tags/prefixes to choose from plus the PermaThread stuff. Goo job Jeff and Joe!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 08:22 AM

Couldn't agree more spaw. I believe strongly that this new system will benifit everyone but patience is needed and it's best to just let Joe and crew to carry on thier management task in the quiet but efficient way they are doing.

Also, I believe there will always be "borderline cases" where some of us may feel a thread belongs in music and others that it belongs in BS. In those instances, I think it best for Joe and crew to be allowed to make thier best judgment. You will never please all the people all the time but I think maybe they can for 99% of the people 99% of the time which ain't bad at all.

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 11:04 AM

Thanks Jon.....Exactly right I think and I appreciate your support.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 11:16 AM

I'd like to request my own PRE-FIX, since I NEVER post anything that doesn't have serious relevence*.


*except this.

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 11:21 AM

This thread belongs in the BS listing. Please move it immediately...it is from Spaw, after all.

tee hee

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 03:52 PM

Well ain't this nice? Here I am trying to do a public service and along comes Sins............On the other hand I was expecting that "move to BS" bit a lot sooner......took 14 hours to get posted in the wrong place which is a helluva' lot longer than that type of complaint usually takes!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: The Pooka
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 03:58 PM

I want my own Pris Fixe.

(Freedom Fries with that?)

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: MudGuard
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 04:00 PM

Thanks for that thread.

As I almost exclusively navigate by the "Messages since last visit" page, I did not notice the change on the "Main Forum Page" before now...

MudGuard (who has too little time for Mudcat anyway...)

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: Tig
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 04:37 PM

The main problem I have come across with prefixes is that if you post as a BS people may not look. Hence when Badger had his heart attack I put it up as a BS as it definately wasn't music - then people said "But we didn't see it" as they don't read non-music.

The same could well happen with Obit threads as they similarly are non-music.

Don't know how to get round this one! Suggestion - a General Info prefix as a subgroup? ( assuming people didn't abuse it)

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 04:49 PM

All depends on who starts the thread. Now if it comes from Spaw, perhaps Hell (the nether regions below the line) is the place to send it, quick, before it starts singing! (still bemember his explanation of the Bobbie Gentry hit)
Don't remember what thread I suggested for the dungeons down below, or why, but undoubtedly it was a praiseworthy service for which I should be decorated by the Clone-in-Chief.

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 05:00 PM

Tig, I think the answer may be to just leave the info like Badger's heart attack in the general category. Far more BS people read the music/general threads at the top than other way round. Perhaps it runs for a day or two in the general column and then goes to BS? I think just leaving it in the general music grouping would reach the greatest number of people.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 06:27 PM

Seems to me that "label" is a better term to use than "prefix".

I suppose the fellas who leap in screaming that a thread should be down below the salt might be scared lest someone turn it in a musical direction, and so blur the distinction.

Of course, once it's down there, however musical it turns, it never seems to make the trip upstairs.

The interesting thing is how the divude demonstrates the truth of what has been said by so many people all along - there are, and always have been, far more musical threads than non-musical ones. The more signifucant distinction is surely between the real gems and the dross, and, inevitably, the former are pretty scarce, both upstairs and downstairs..,.

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 06:31 AM

I don't want to get involved in a long argument on this but McGrath, I don't think that paints a true picture. My observations were that the proportion of BS threads has been a variable. I haven't been back to check but from memory, I've counted music as high as 75% and as low as 55% of total threads but I think the low was after 9/11, exceptional circumtances.

Another observation of mine was that at times we had an abundance of one type of thread, I'll pick on healing threads, then a row over too many then a drop. In a sense I think I would suggest that the rows while not desirable did have the effect of a "population control" on BS:

The biggest reason for people's awarness of BS was the number of posts and popularity of certain BS threads rather than the percentage of BS threads. I've just done a count and the figures may surprise you, they did me. We can plainly see that there are rather more music threads than BS threads but my count of posts using the current 1 day listing yeilds:

Music: 1730
BS: 2145

Jon

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 08:21 AM

That really isn't so surprising Jon when you consider that BS threads are pretty much a lot of "2 cents worth" opinions and back and forth arguing/discussion on popular topics.   Music rheads are often far less discussion with more factual type info. Some music threads call up more discussion when talking about something with a more general interest (what guitar, etc) but mostly are limited in many cases to simpler responses.

Interesting stats Jon and thanks!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 11:09 AM

Jon,
You have entirely too much time on your hands. Counting threads and posts? Geez!

It was interesting to see the breakdown though. Thanks.
Mary

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 11:28 AM

I thought what you said had more or less the same import as what I said, Jon. It depends what is meant by "far more", as against just "more" I suppose.

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 12:01 PM

Actually it's not that hard to count them if you copy and paste into Excel. Probably took Jon about 30 seconds.

I read using the "New Messages Since Last Visit" option, and there are loads (highly technical statistical jargon) more posts to BS: threads, so it gives a sort of skewed impression.

The thing with the prefixes is that sometimes it seems people try to select ANY label. "Folklore" for instance, is driving me nuts, and "Origins" is a close second. Things about music history, performers, jokes, yada, yada, ends up in "Folklore," and it ain't.
At least that's my opinion. And "Obit: My Sex Life" stopped being funny a long time ago, possibly before the first person used "Obit:" for something silly. That said, I don't change prefixes just because they bug me. Many times, threads (especially the BS/music ones) may wind up being about something we don't expect and it makes sense to wait and see what happens.

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 12:40 PM

I realize things like Badger's heart attack are serious, but they're still of a personal nature rather than general music interest. If you're reluctant to put a "BS" label on something like that, that's OK - but we'll probably still change the tag and put move the thread down to the bottom of the menu (changing location, but not adding "BS" to the thread title). I think most people are beginning to look on the bottom of the menu as the place for social interaction, and the top for music. I hope nobody gets offended by a thread being moved to one side or the other.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 12:52 PM

Joe! This is Mudcat. Of course someone is going to be offended. And I don't believe for a minute that you care about the idiot who does.
Love,
Mary

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 01:10 PM

Joe, I still think that in a situation like badger's that it would be best to start it untagged in the general/music level and then move it after a day or two. There are still some who simply never look "down below."

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 06:37 PM

It might be less confusing for newcomers if, instead of saying "BS/Non-music threads are listed below", it said "BS/Non-music threads are listed below the music threads".

Not that I've got anything particularly against confusing newcomers from time to time - learning to find your way through and past confusion is one of the ways you get to feel at home in any place, virtual or "real".

Subject: RE: Thread Titles and Prefixes/Labels
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 11:49 AM

I thought I'd refresh this for Uncle Dave O. Just this morning, Uncle Dave was able to go 37 ENTIRE MINUTES before he asked....in the thread.....for the thread to be moved to BS!!!!

Way to go!! What patience!! Gawd forbid that a BS thread might contaminate the sanctity at the top!!!

Once again, give Joe and the Clones a break and understand that if a BS thread winds up spending a few hours or even a day in the general Music listing, the world will not end! And if you want to alert them to it, the best place to do so is the HELP FORUM.

Spaw