topic Re: Since when do they close threads to comments? in Q Talk

Since when do they close threads to comments?

MalteseMomma — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 22:38:49 GMT

Is this something new?

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

Johnnyeager — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 22:41:46 GMT

It's becoming much more common. Not sure exactly what triggers it though.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

Clover29 — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 23:29:02 GMT

They did a survey a few months ago, and a majority of boardies said they didn't want threads removed. Either just delete offensive posts, or close the whole thread to new comments, but leave it up so people can still read most of the posts that were made.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

stevieb — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 00:13:26 GMT

It's not new, but does appear to be on the increase... And it's annoying. I guess I differ, but if I can no longer respond to others' remarks, especially if they've directed comments at me, then I'd prefer they simply remove the whole thread. Essentially, what it does in some cases is not allow rebuttal...

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

CalminHeart — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 00:38:13 GMT

On 11/5/2014 stevieb said:
It's not new, but does appear to be on the increase... And it's annoying. I guess I differ, but if I can no longer respond to others' remarks, especially if they've directed comments at me, then I'd prefer they simply remove the whole thread. Essentially, what it does in some cases is not allow rebuttal...

i agree, just delete the darned thing if closing comments.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

MalteseMomma — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 21:43:14 GMT

Some threads are really nasty and they stay open and I have seen mild threads cl0ose I just don't understand it

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

Spurt — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:03:19 GMT

On 11/6/2014 MalteseMomma said:
Some threads are really nasty and they stay open and I have seen mild threads cl0ose I just don't understand it

There is no consistency in what threads stay put, or get removed, or get "comments closed".....It's all in the interpretation on what is considered "nasty" or "controversial"....etc etc.....

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

stevieb — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 18:05:07 GMT

On 11/8/2014 SPURT said:
On 11/6/2014 MalteseMomma said:
Some threads are really nasty and they stay open and I have seen mild threads cl0ose I just don't understand it

There is no consistency in what threads stay put, or get removed, or get "comments closed".....It's all in the interpretation on what is considered "nasty" or "controversial"....etc etc.....

And I'd suggest part of it is about who complains and 'reports'. I try to just ignore the inconsistency and get on with it, but every once in a while something goes 'poof' when there was simply no violation of 'standards' and hence no reason for it to have gone 'poof' and then I need to say something... When the 'monitoring' becomes capricious or a game of playing favorites then sorry, it's wrong and needs to be highlighted.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

Moonchilde — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 21:42:00 GMT

There is an existing thread closed to comments where it's very clear where things went off the rails. IMO leaving the thread up lets everyone see who was largely if not solely responsible. I don't think that's a bad thing.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

kittymomNC — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 21:48:38 GMT

A thread just got poofed that was discussing "the weather", to put it in a slightly different context so hopefully my post doesn't go with it. I have no idea why, there were no arguments, it was not politi^cal (other than where it couldn't be separated because of quotes ABOUT the subject), it was not religious, it was simply stating facts for the most part. There was a lot of good information on there, and I have no idea why it couldn't have just been closed to comments instead of going away entirely so people would have had the choice to read it if they wanted to. It was a very informative thread.

I give up... It's just getting to the point where there IS no point in posting.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

Moonchilde — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 22:13:15 GMT

On 11/8/2014 kittymomNC said:
A thread just got poofed that was discussing "the weather", to put it in a slightly different context so hopefully my post doesn't go with it. I have no idea why, there were no arguments, it was not politi^cal (other than where it couldn't be separated because of quotes ABOUT the subject), it was not religious, it was simply stating facts for the most part. There was a lot of good information on there, and I have no idea why it couldn't have just been closed to comments instead of going away entirely so people would have had the choice to read it if they wanted to. It was a very informative thread.

I give up... It's just getting to the point where there IS no point in posting.

Must be individual mods with individual ways of going about moderating. As for there being no point in posting - I feel that on the Amazon forums at least, they were quite happy to have posters leave in droves, and I feel that part of the "why was that poofed/closed?" was the *reason* it is moderated as it is - i.e. the more people give up posting altogether in disgust, frustration and confusion, their (Amazon's) theory is that it will get rid of the "bad" posters. That it also loses "good" posters is apparently immaterial to them. Seems to be the same here. I believe they see confusion and frustration as a good thing. Beats the heck out of me WHY.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

happygolfcartrider — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 15:20:41 GMT

On 11/8/2014 moonchilde said:
On 11/8/2014 kittymomNC said:
A thread just got poofed that was discussing "the weather", to put it in a slightly different context so hopefully my post doesn't go with it. I have no idea why, there were no arguments, it was not politi^cal (other than where it couldn't be separated because of quotes ABOUT the subject), it was not religious, it was simply stating facts for the most part. There was a lot of good information on there, and I have no idea why it couldn't have just been closed to comments instead of going away entirely so people would have had the choice to read it if they wanted to. It was a very informative thread.

I give up... It's just getting to the point where there IS no point in posting.

Must be individual mods with individual ways of going about moderating. As for there being no point in posting - I feel that on the Amazon forums at least, they were quite happy to have posters leave in droves, and I feel that part of the "why was that poofed/closed?" was the *reason* it is moderated as it is - i.e. the more people give up posting altogether in disgust, frustration and confusion, their (Amazon's) theory is that it will get rid of the "bad" posters. That it also loses "good" posters is apparently immaterial to them. Seems to be the same here. I believe they see confusion and frustration as a good thing. Beats the heck out of me WHY.

If you will notice, most threads that are about L.R. or S.K. are poofed, even when there is nothing harmful being said. They are protected by the moderators.

Some do stay for awhile but eventually they do go.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

suzyQ3 — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 19:40:14 GMT

I do not believe that anyone -- host, vendor, etc. -- is "protected" by the moderators. That is something I always read here from those who tend to criticize a particular host or hosts quite often and so happen to be more acutely aware when those threads happen to get poofed. What they fail to notice is that a thread about any host or vendor has the potential to be deleted.

Is the moderation consistent? No, of course not. Some heinous remarks remain up way too long, and some innocent ones get poofed. Oh, well. In general, though, I really don't have a major problem with the moderation here.

Tons of my posts have been poofed, either alone or along with a whole thread. It doesn't bother me in the least, and I just move on. My words here are not sacred material; they're just comments on a shopping channel message board. So I refuse to waste any of my increasingly waning energy :-) on something so insignificant, especially understanding the indisputable fact that I am a guest on a website that has the right to do as it pleases with my words.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

kittymomNC — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 21:54:07 GMT

I have a really hard time understanding why the thread I mentioned about the "weather" yesterday, which was very informative, got poofed for no valid reason that I could see, but there is one on Viewpoints right now about a recent news event that has a lot of very ugly comments that are very close, if not outright, to being racist, arguments between posters about each other being bigots, comments deemed to be racism, etc. etc. etc. And it's still there. What is up with this? It's getting very tiresome to try and have a discussion about anything, between posters starting arguments simply to try and "one-up" each other, making ugly insulting comments, and making things seem poli^tical when they shouldn't be.

And yes, the moderators can do anything they want, but good posters have apparently left the boards, and when they don't have anyone here any more that does anything but argue, what good is it going to do QVC to even have "community forums", and I'm beginning to wonder if the "community" part of that is a misnomer.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

happygolfcartrider — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 23:54:53 GMT

On 11/9/2014 kittymomNC said:
I have a really hard time understanding why the thread I mentioned about the "weather" yesterday, which was very informative, got poofed for no valid reason that I could see, but there is one on Viewpoints right now about a recent news event that has a lot of very ugly comments that are very close, if not outright, to being racist, arguments between posters about each other being bigots, comments deemed to be racism, etc. etc. etc. And it's still there. What is up with this? It's getting very tiresome to try and have a discussion about anything, between posters starting arguments simply to try and "one-up" each other, making ugly insulting comments, and making things seem poli^tical when they shouldn't be.

And yes, the moderators can do anything they want, but good posters have apparently left the boards, and when they don't have anyone here any more that does anything but argue, what good is it going to do QVC to even have "community forums", and I'm beginning to wonder if the "community" part of that is a misnomer.

The moderators do have the last laugh and are so inconsistent with the deleting. I probably do criticize a good bit but it is my right to not like a host and say so. I would not say that comments are insignificant either, I think there is value in what everyone says on this forum. When people constantly complain about every little thing and get people poofed I think it is time for the moderators to take a good look at who is doing the reporting and complaining.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

dooBdoo — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 00:42:08 GMT

On 11/9/2014 kittymomNC said:
I have a really hard time understanding why the thread I mentioned about the "weather" yesterday, which was very informative, got poofed for no valid reason that I could see, but there is one on Viewpoints right now about a recent news event that has a lot of very ugly comments that are very close, if not outright, to being racist, arguments between posters about each other being bigots, comments deemed to be racism, etc. etc. etc. And it's still there. What is up with this? It's getting very tiresome to try and have a discussion about anything, between posters starting arguments simply to try and "one-up" each other, making ugly insulting comments, and making things seem poli^tical when they shouldn't be.

And yes, the moderators can do anything they want, but good posters have apparently left the boards, and when they don't have anyone here any more that does anything but argue, what good is it going to do QVC to even have "community forums", and I'm beginning to wonder if the "community" part of that is a misnomer.

I know exactly what you're referencing, kittymom. I posted on yesterday's thread. It was allowed to stay up all day the prior day, all night, and most of the next day, with all sorts of information, misinformation, and opinions. Then, a few posters offered some additional substantive, reasonable (referenced and sourced) facts, were continuing to discuss the issue civilly and respectfully . . . and all at once the moderator deemed it so unsatisfactory that the entire thread was deleted. No posts removed, no editing, no closing for comments, just zap and the entire, interesting discussion was gone.

Although I try, it's hard to avoid seeing a pattern in what they decide to allow or disallow. It's hard to avoid seeing a pattern in their lack of concern about disrespectful posters, those who excessively report threads or posts only when their particular view has been challenged, those who brag about having been banned multiple times and returning each time with a new account, or those who repeatedly start inflammatory threads and constantly show up in other threads to derail them.

I miss so many of the decent, respectful, perceptive posters who aren't here anymore. Many of them stated they were leaving because of abusive treatment by other posters and/or because of the poor moderation. Even if we didn't always agree with one another, we could have good conversations without walking on eggshells or dodging nasty jabs, sarcastic remarks, eye-rolls, and the like. I admit, I post less now because I'm weary of having to brace myself for attack on even the most innocuous topics.

There's no improvement in moderation in the forums. None whatsoever. To all of those who devoted time, effort, and thought in offering suggestions for positive change, I thank you and commend you. But at this point I think nothing will change, so we can tolerate it as it is or find someplace else to read and post.

jmo,ymmv

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

suzyQ3 — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 01:06:35 GMT

I've heard the exact same complaints about moderation -- and every variation thereof -- on a regular basis since the day I signed up in 2007.

So IMO, a person who is upset or disturbed by this has a few choices: You can continue to post your frustration about it on a regular basis; you can express your feelings to QVC; you can decide that you no longer want to participate here; or you can decide that you're not going to let it even faze you.

Based on my seven years' experience here, I view the first two choices as akin to banging your head against a wall. The rational choice for me, considering that I very much enjoy the two or three forums in which I tend to participate, is the last one.

YMMV.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

Kachina624 — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 01:57:28 GMT

I see the ""period for comments closed"" on some very inoffensive threads. I've decided the monitor is sick of or bored with the subject and doesn't want to have to read anymore about it.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

happygolfcartrider — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 04:10:51 GMT

On 11/9/2014 kachina624 said: I see the ""period for comments closed"" on some very inoffensive threads. I've decided the monitor is sick of or bored with the subject and doesn't want to have to read anymore about it.

Or it could be that the people that love to report found some little something that they did not like and poof it is closed. I would rather see closed for comment over deleted. To me it says that the moderator thinks the thread is OK but because of the ""reporters"" they have to do something so they close commenting.

Re: Since when do they close threads to comments?

Bird — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 13:23:56 GMT

I was initially supportive of threads attacking hosts being poofed, but now the censorship (and I think closing threads is a facet of censorship) is going too far.

The last thread that caught my attention was the one where the OP was IMO overly criticized for commenting on the poor diction of hosts of the word "important." I happened to agree with OP and wanted to support her comment, but the thread was closed? What? BTW, I taught diction to immigrants learning English, and Spanish. Diction can make such a wonderfully good, more positive impression. Diction is a beautiful thing! - Bird