topic Re: 'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc. in Community Chat

'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc.

hildyjohnson — Mon, 22 May 2017 22:38:46 GMT

Since some of us spend time on the internet social media boards the practice of 'netiquette' enters into our daily life.

It's been said that society today isn't as interested in being courteous or respectful of other people. I wonder if this is reflected in the way we use chat boards.

Seeing old threads 'bumped' got me thinking about it.

I think the most important netiquette to follow is reading each board terms and standards and posting within them. If we disagree with the rules I think we should try to get them changed or clarified instead of breaking them imho.

What are your thoughts on internet etiquette 'netiquette' and being respectful of board policies and other posters?

Tia! 😀

Re: 'Netiquette' ~ Internet Etiquette & Thread Bumping etc.

happycat — Mon, 22 May 2017 22:45:14 GMT

My thoughts are in real life, more and more, people are rude and inconsiderate. And there are always those who think the rules apply to everyone but them. Internet threads are no different. It would be nice if people followed guidelines, but it probably isn't ever going to happen, IMO.

Re: 'Netiquette' ~ Internet Etiquette & Thread Bumping etc.

chickenbutt — Mon, 22 May 2017 23:02:12 GMT

Ruh roh. On this board, discussing netiquette usually gets you attacked. Here, you can't even ask people not to type in all caps or all bolded (both considered very rude and yelling) without getting the finger.

I do agree that the basic etiquette that many of us, who have been online for quite a while, is no longer popular. It's a shame. IMO, manners are always 'in'.

Poster attacking and misspelling peoples' names seem to be fine here, although both are considered very disrespectful. On normal boards you can have conversations where people take on a POV, not a poster. Everybody is expected to act like a grown-up. Not so much here.

There ARE a lot of nice, kind, and helpful people here, though. That's what one has to keep in mind.

Re: 'Netiquette' ~ Internet Etiquette & Thread Bumping etc.

PurpleBunny — Mon, 22 May 2017 23:11:36 GMT

I tend to pull up old threads, but I don't consider it 'bumping' - I consider it 'catching up' when I haven't been here in a while.

Re: 'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc.

jaxs mom — Mon, 22 May 2017 23:12:10 GMT

Just follow the TOS that you agreed to when you joined. I don't see the point of trying to change the rules. We're all guests here.

As far as bumping, it depends on the website/forum if bumping is an issue. Most places I go to bumping isn't a problem unless you're bumping someones deeply personal thread from 2+ years ago to give them advice on the issue.

Re: 'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc.

dooBdoo — Mon, 22 May 2017 23:35:38 GMT

When we use a forum, we give our word that we will abide by all the published standards and guidelines (not just the ones we think are "good rules"😉). I believe when we give our word, whether using an "anonymous" nickname or not, that's important, it's about ethics and integrity, and possibly something modern society has neglected to emphasize.

There's a standard that "ignorance of the law isn't a good excuse" and I think this applies to posting on social media, including chat sites. I'm surprised at anyone who would use a site without first reading the guidelines. I think our integrity and our true character is on display when we post, in the way we treat others and in the way we do or don't follow the policies to which we agreed when we registered.

Re: 'Netiquette' ~ Internet Etiquette & Thread Bumping etc.

dooBdoo — Mon, 22 May 2017 23:38:19 GMT

PurpleBunny wrote:
I tend to pull up old threads, but I don't consider it 'bumping' - I consider it 'catching up' when I haven't been here in a while.

Hi, @PurpleBunny! Pulling up very old threads is bumping. This site prohibits it, and doesn't list exceptions to the rule. You'll find it's normally not allowed on chat sites... it's considered impolite, and once a thread is old it's more respectful to start a new thread if someone has new information. For the most part, it's inconsiderate toward the OP of the old thread as well as those who posted on it. That's why it tends to be a universal "netiquette" principle on social media, and many sites actually lock older discussions so no one can bump them. Also, specifically, it can be jarring if we see names of posters who have since passed away or we know are no longer posting here for other reasons. That said... if we don't like the policy, rather than ignore it I agree with @hildyjohnson we should, instead, try to have it modified.

Re: 'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc.

Moonchilde — Mon, 22 May 2017 23:32:55 GMT

The world at large is full of people who think rules of any kind are for other people and simply don't need to be paid any heed. That's been my experience throughout my 70-in-a-few-years lifetime. I suffered being raised by Someone Special and it is one of my pet life peeves.

However, the issue here, on QVC forums, is a matter of repercussions. If there are rules but no repercussions when they're broken/flaunted/ignored then why pay any attention to them? Post/thread deleted? Big deal. Given a 3-day or 30-day Time Out? You can come back. Banned? You can still come back :-(

Truly moderated forums, with moderators chosen specifically to be moderators and nothing else by experience, temperament, knowledge and diplomacy, lay down the law, give a warning or two, and that's it - boom goes the hammer. They also can see and pay attention to posting patterns, and consult with other moderators for their opinion, and have a group concensus, so that any action taken is fair and applied equally with personality not entering in.

This does not occur here. Most of it is not the moderators' fault - QVC tells them what they can/can't do in their job, they have little autonomy. Some bust their buns to be fair and take their moderating seriously; others, not so much. And they aren't "just" moderators, they are CS and have other duties we rarely hear about; they have to do the best they can with what QVC gives them.

So when you have situations where Person A says something that is clearly rude and offensive per anyone, or breaks an obvious rule, and gets away with it - nothing removed, insult stands, etc. and Person B says something and is deleted because Person A reports it out of spite (after having insulted Person B first) - how would you think Person B feels about "the rules" and their equal application?

Obey all rules always just because everyone online should obey every netiquette rule just because they're there, while others break them right and left with impunity? WHY? I don't think that many of us aspire to be Little Mary Sunshine Just Because.

I don't think netiquette is an issue when the rules are clearly spelled out AND there are repercussions - at least, if a person chooses to socialize like an adult - many people online never give that a consideration.

Re: 'Netiquette' ~ Internet Etiquette & Thread Bumping etc.

PurpleBunny — Mon, 22 May 2017 23:51:59 GMT

@dooBdoo The problem is, where is the line between old and new threads? After ten posts? Twenty? Nothing beyond the first page? I can see not bringing up a thread from page five or one that hasn't had a post in months, but I don't see any problem with answering a thread that has slipped to page two.

Re: 'Netiquette' ~ Internet Etiquette & Thread Bumping etc.

dooBdoo — Mon, 22 May 2017 23:58:28 GMT

PurpleBunny wrote:
@dooBdoo The problem is, where is the line between old and new threads? After ten posts? Twenty? Nothing beyond the first page? I can see not bringing up a thread from page five or one that hasn't had a post in months, but I don't see any problem with answering a thread that has slipped to page two.

@PurpleBunny, Thread bumping isn't about page numbers or post numbers, it's about the date and age of the thread. I don't know the answer to what the cut-off point is... I think it would be helpful if the Q standards were modified to make it clear. It seems to me the moderators permit it if a thread is only maybe 2 or 3 months old, but beyond that they seem to shut them down if someone bumps them. On the forum I helped moderate, threads were automagically locked once they were 3 months old... helped the obsessive bumpers curb their impulses to "necropost" (said jokingly).😉

Re: 'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc.

catwhisperer — Tue, 23 May 2017 01:36:33 GMT

My life does not revolve around these boards or any other social media. That is why I stay away from posting here more and more.

Re: 'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc.

Suziepeach — Thu, 25 May 2017 19:31:47 GMT

A good while back, before the format was changed, I met the sweetest lady on here- lots of you will remember her and I won't mention her nic. She was going to go through radiation treatments and my husband works for the company that made the machine she'd be treated on plus one of guys works on that particular radiation center, she'd ask questions about the facility and equipment she'd be treated on and things were looking good but I don't know if she went into hospice or not before the treatments even got started regularly.

The thread was for her and so many of you posted and I know that meant so, so much to her, Yes I'd bump those threads up for HER- so if she felt like coming on board- she wouldn't have to look for it or I didn't want the chance of that thread being deleted. It made her feel good to be able to see or find that one thread quickly- everyone knew her situation and never once did a single one of you wonderful people complain. And that meant an awful lot to me..

She hasn't posted in a long time- I miss seeing her and wish I knew more.

Re: 'Netiquette' ~ Internet Etiquette & Thread Bumping etc.

OceanDreamer — Tue, 23 May 2017 01:33:46 GMT

@happycat wrote:

My thoughts are in real life, more and more, people are rude and inconsiderate.

And there are always those who think the rules apply to everyone but them.

Internet threads are no different. It would be nice if people followed guidelines, but it probably isn't ever going to happen, IMO.

Amen to your post @happycat.

Especially this. Some people think they're "special".

"And there are always those who think the rules apply to everyone but them."

Re: 'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc.

catwhisperer — Tue, 23 May 2017 01:56:31 GMT

@Suziepeach....you, along with @dooBdoo, @Bird mama, and several other posters, are truly kind and caring. You all have had nothing but kind and caring thoughts for others. Unfortunately, many others on these boards are not. You guys are the real deal and have proven it over time with your sincere posts.

Edited to add @JaneMarple and @chickenbutt to my list of favorites. I love how you gals tell it like it is.

Re: 'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc.

Suziepeach — Tue, 23 May 2017 01:55:22 GMT

@catwhisperer wrote:
@Suziepeach....you, along with @dooBdoo, @Bird mama, and several other posters, are truly kind and caring. You all have had nothing but kind and caring thoughts for others. Unfortunately, many others on these boards are not. You guys are the real deal and have proven it over time with your sincere posts.

@catwhisperer, you are too kind, and I appreciate your kindness. You too are truly kind and caring.. thank you..

I remember one time she started a thread looking for me and that was my catalyst to keep her birthday thread going, it made her happy. Breaks my heart her posting just stopped, 😔.

Again, thank you, it means a lot to me.

Re: 'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc.

catwhisperer — Tue, 23 May 2017 02:10:42 GMT

@Suziepeach...I just feel it is right to give credit where credit is due to certain posters on these boards. I am not perfect and can get snarky at times, but it irks me how some posters dupe others by trying to come across as so kind and caring when they really are not in real life, not to mention the truly nasty ones one these boards who are continually allowed to post.

Re: 'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc.

Bird mama — Tue, 23 May 2017 02:21:31 GMT

Lurve you too @catwhisperer

hahahaha

Re: 'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc.

chrystaltree — Tue, 23 May 2017 02:33:39 GMT

I think people should be polite and respectful just as they are in face to face communications. I also accept that online, we don't see facial expressions and that sometimes leads to the false perception that someone is being rude or condescending or mean. The reality is that people often do say things anonymously that they would never say to somone's face. That's just the nature of this form of communication. Yes, obey board rules, which is given. But I don't think anyone wants to part of a board where no real communication or sharing of ideas occurs.

Re: 'Netiquette'~Internet Etiquette, Thread Bumping etc.

Suziepeach — Tue, 23 May 2017 02:44:16 GMT

@catwhisperer wrote:
@Suziepeach...I just feel it is right to give credit where credit is due to certain posters on these boards. I am not perfect and can get snarky at times, but it irks me how some posters dupe others by trying to come across as so kind and caring when they really are not in real life, not to mention the truly nasty ones one these boards who are continually allowed to post.

@catwhisperer, I certainly understand exactly what you're saying. I've been known to be snarky too but only to a couple people. All the other's I considered the source and stay far, far away, even on threads that have been bumped. I will say, tho, even if they wouldn't give me the time of day, they were very kind to my friend.

Re: 'Netiquette' ~ Internet Etiquette & Thread Bumping etc.

jaxs mom — Tue, 23 May 2017 12:48:37 GMT

@PurpleBunny wrote:
@dooBdoo The problem is, where is the line between old and new threads? After ten posts? Twenty? Nothing beyond the first page? I can see not bringing up a thread from page five or one that hasn't had a post in months, but I don't see any problem with answering a thread that has slipped to page two.

The date of the last post is the line. It has nothing to do with how many posts their were. If it's been a year since the last post it's bumping. If the thread has been active for 5 years it's not bumping if the last post was recent.