Airliners-India

Nimish

Background
Currently the rules of the forum do not have any explicit rule/guideline about when to create a new thread vs. add as a post on an existing "master thread".

The mods are comfortable with the current status, however a few members have requested a re-look at this.

Request
Hence this poll - to ask whether we should maintain status quo around new threads, or should we introduce a rule and then start enforcing it?

My thoughts on - Pros of current approach
* Master threads are not good to hold sub-discussions as the content gets lost in the master thread. The only way to effectively hold a long-lasting discussion on a sub-topic is to create a new thread
* Master threads tend to be huge and ultimately if everything were in a master thread, we'd have only say 30-50 threads in total on the forum, since everything could be related back to an existing master threads
* Threads without traction automatically get pushed "under the radar" as other threads maintain traction
* Forces members to use their judgement, instead of mods using our judgement
* Using the "View posts since last visit" feature - users don't have to worry about new thread vs. existing thread - as all changed posts show up anyway

My thoughts on - Pros of adding a rule and enforcing it:
* A few members have expressed a desire for this
* Reduces the overall number of open threads
* Lower number of threads to browse when you're logging in after a few days
* Keeps discussions all together - e.g. everything Jet Airways related would be in one place.
* Avoids duplicate threads - the same thing posted as a new thread and also added as an update on the master thread.

So - bring it on - what do you prefer? If you vote for "Option 1: Add and enforce rule" - please also suggest how you'd like the rule to be worded

Disclaimers:
1. The poll is open for the next 10 days only
2. This will be used as an input to the mods, but does not bind us in any way
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We miss you Nalini!

patkini · Member Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 313 Location: BOM

I have a suggestion which might seem a bit infeasible plus time consuming but here it goes:

1) Allow new posts to be created only by experienced posters. Experience can be determined based on some general rule like registration date or number of posts. Also, this can probably be done manually (albeit time confusing) on a case to case basis. So, essentially have various tiers of members with different set of Rights (Min 2 Tiers)

2) Once a said new member meets a certain pre decided promotion criteria, they would be allowed to post topics. Or, have a "Running In" type Sub-Forum where the Lowest Tier queries are allowed e.g. As done on irfca.org

3) Also, should a member's thread get locked multiple times within a short time frame, the said member can be demoted 1 level down.

I know these rules seem a bit autocratic & restrictive. But personally, when I come to this forum I would love to see discussions being limited to master threads, but then in the past members like Ameya, Ojas, Devesh, Rishul have posted interesting stats/analytics which might not be related to a given airline/geography & hence, might deserve a thread of its own.

Also, this suggestion might increase the work loads of the moderators many fold & I do not know if it would feasible for you'll to take more time out of your schedules to regulate the above points on a periodic basis.

Rgds,
Pats
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Aseem · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ

One serious drawback of this approach is that members will be in a rush to reach that threshold. An in their rush they'll post something that is less meaningful. We had seen such a race at the very inception of the forum. Avijeet might recall his 100m dash with KCM. IMHO! We should keep the forum as uncomplicated and apolitical as possible.

... those with different opinion are welcomed to come forward.

rgds
VT-ASJ
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Nimish · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:22 pm Post subject:

Nimish · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:28 pm Post subject:

Reminder - for those preferring Option1, a note indicating some suggested guidelines will be useful for us to take into consideration.
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ameya · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 10:43 pm Post subject:

We can create multiple master threads - airline wise / major airport wise / major events wise

Any news / posts / new flights / cancellations to be discussed in the thread of that airline only so there is continuity. Multiple times we all have observed that
EG :
If I post something in the middle of a discussion and thats not relevant enough, it doesnt stop the discussion, my post is just ignored and then the discussion continues as it, and also vice versa, if the post is more important it would take over the discussion. Offcourse, it doesnt limit discussion multiple things at the same time.

My current observation
1. We all tend to open up a new thread if 9W starts something or cancels something
2. The same does not apply for 6E because they have just started cancelling and we did open a thread for that and additions are captured inside the main thread
3. SG always keeps changing but latest new additions get new thread
4. AI does nothing !

So overall, we can have
9W - Dom / Int
6E , SG , AI - same

BIAL
MIAL
DIAL
AAI airports

Other news related to MoCA / new airports and so on

I am more for consolidating than being all over the place

ameya · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 10:45 pm Post subject:

Another thing is I dont think, having posting guidelines will be a good idea.

I am sure, my previous post could then be done in 3 different ones to get more posts on the board thats it !

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:17 pm Post subject:

I voted for option B, and not just because I'm a moderator around here.

From what I keep witnessing, every reasonably lengthy discussion on any Indian carrier breaks down into an Air India - Jet Airways - Fleet Procurement - New Destinations - GoI debate in whatever mixture, so realistically what folks voting for option A are asking for, is the presence of just two threads - a primary one to talk about the above, and another for all the rest, the side dishes if you like - Bhutan's airline beginning flights to BOM, for example.
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Yeah.

Aseem · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ

folks! my take, don't allow us Mods to micromanage the forum. Keep it the way it is. Those that are unpopular, automatically fall down the list.

VT-ASJ
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Jeh · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 7:43 am Post subject:

I don't think we had much need for this discussion before the new member joined a couple of weeks ago. If that's the only problem there is, why not communicate to the member concerned that it would be better if he posted questions/observations in relevant airlines' threads instead of spraying them across the forum index.

I also happen to think the way the forum currently works is quite alright, to be honest. The threads are divided clearly and the idea of running major threads for routine observations and questions about major airlines/airports/entities and smaller new ones for major events (fleet orders, bankruptcy events, new inflight product, major new route etc.) is quite coherent.

As for SpiderGuy's point, I'd be mortified to see threads organised like that. The best part about the current arrangement is it's easy to avoid stuff you're not interested in. I, for one, haven't the slightest interest in discussing which SAARC backwater or hinterland hellhole the likes of SpiceJet, Indigo or GoAir fly their turboprops and narrow-bodies. As a form of travel, I find it so horribly unromantic, trite and unimaginative I'd never have become an enthusiast if these bland blights existed when I was young. So I can avoid the SpiceJet/Indigo threads and stick to the legacy carriers, which interest me. I'm sure there are others who swear by the LCCs and do the opposite. I hope it stays that way.

Nimish · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 5:40 pm Post subject:

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:24 pm Post subject:

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:12 pm Post subject:

Time's up folks. Looks like option B has reigned supreme.
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Yeah.