Is Vapor Joe taking shots....

[supermarket]

Yeah, this forum has clearly lost it's way...

We all have our opinions...personally, I'm excited to register on Vapor Joe's forum once it goes online, and I signed up for the newsletter.

I obviously like the high volume of traffic here at ECF, which is my main reason for posting here daily....but I also prefer if the boards here were more relaxed, and allowed more content to be posted.

For instance, I see threads banned all the time, or closed, for harmless humor, or things I don't entirely agree with.

There is heavy moderation here, and the admin here has a very CLEAR idea of what he/she wants, and has made that well known to the members here.


Again, I like ECF, but I'm just being honest....I would love to see a forum with less moderation.

 

[supermarket]

I hope stating my own views doesn't offend anyone Afterall, if we can't be honest, what is even the point? ECF is great for what it is, and the mods here do a great job.....but the views I expressed above are not only my own, but a HUGE, HUGE amount of the vaping community.

This is nothing against ECF at all - but everyone has their own tastes....and many people in the community want a forum with a large member base, like ECF, without the heavy moderation.

 

[supermarket]

anyone remember BBS-ing back before the days of "free" AOL disks bombarding your mailbox?

yep! I'm not even that old either....I'm in my mid/late 20s. Although I used to use BBS systems AFTER they were the main "forums". Back around AOL 2.something, hehe, I think around 1996, I used to play around on various bulletin board systems.

After that, was mIRC, a client which used internet relay chat (which is still used, but nowhere near as popular as it once was). IRC was actually WAY ahead of its time...and it you could write scripts to your hearts desire for your client, within the client. There were literally thousands of add-ons, and scripts for it. Hundreds of networks, millions of users.

 

[DC2]

Again, I like ECF, but I'm just being honest....I would love to see a forum with less moderation.

My point was that ECF has not lost it's way, as they have done and continue to do, exactly what they set out to do.

This is nothing against ECF at all - but everyone has their own tastes....and many people in the community want a forum with a large member base, like ECF, without the heavy moderation.

Yeah, those people started Vaper's Forum, which after going strong for awhile now appears to be about dead.
Probably because so many people were enjoying their freedom to act like jerks.

 

[patkin]

When we're kids, we usually don't agree with our parents when they don't let us do or have what we want. When we mature (if we ever do) we usually find out they were right. Some "adults" would still like to act like brats on a forum. While I don't always agree, I enjoy the mature environment accomplished with parental controls here. I'm done raising kids and appreciate not having to deal with them here thanks to the mods whose expertise and patience I admire.

Edit: the usual... typo

 

[AndriaD]

When we're kids, we usually don't agree with our parents when they don't let us do or have what we want. When we mature (if we ever do) we usually find out they were right. Some "adults" would still like to act like brats on a forum. While I don't always agree, I enjoy the mature environment accomplished with parental controls here. I'm done raising kids and appreciate not having to deal with them here thanks to the mods whose expertise and patience I admire.

This forum is "heavily" moderated? Really? That surprises me, considering some of the troll posts I've seen here.

I'm with you, patkin; I like not having raucous kids around. I've liked my own son more and more, the older he's gotten.

The only moderation here that I sometimes find chafing is the insistence on being always on-topic, whatever a given thread's topic is. I guess it makes sense, keeps the place from descending into anarchy, but it's a bit restrictive at times when you just wanna shoot the breeze. Sometimes conversations erupt spontaneously, and it feels like grammar school with someone always going "shhh, no talking!" Feel like I've outgrown the need for that, and it bugs me when some stickler hall-monitor is always shushing conversation.

Andria

 

[rolygate]

...but the views I expressed above are not only my own, but a HUGE, HUGE amount of the vaping community.

This is nothing against ECF at all - but everyone has their own tastes....and many people in the community want a forum with a large member base, like ECF, without the heavy moderation.

Good, there is plenty of space for all, let other forums flourish. Soon there will be 10 million US vapers, and 50 million worldwide. That is plenty enough for a large number of forums each with their own flavour.

It's not entirely clear why other forums haven't done very well compared to ECF, especially if you are right about many people not liking the strict moderation here. True, ECF had the 'first in' advantage having started in 2007, but even so others should have caught up by now - if you are correct that people prefer more freedom to say or do whatever they like than is allowed here.

There are probably several factors involved, but at the end of the day, ECF is growing massively and other forums are stagnating. Perhaps it's just unfair - the giant has the advantage in many ways - or perhaps you are underestimating the attraction that a 'clean zone' has for many people. Who knows.

I don't think that other forums take the correct route to beat the giant, but that's another story.

Anyway, there is enough space out there for all, and enough forums that everyone has somewhere that suits.

 

[supermarket]

Good, there is plenty of space for all, let other forums flourish. Soon there will be 10 million US vapers, and 50 million worldwide. That is plenty enough for a large number of forums each with their own flavour.

It's not entirely clear why other forums haven't done very well compared to ECF, especially if you are right about many people not liking the strict moderation here. True, ECF had the 'first in' advantage having started in 2007, but even so others should have caught up by now - if you are correct that people prefer more freedom to say or do whatever they like than is allowed here.

There are probably several factors involved, but at the end of the day, ECF is growing massively and other forums are stagnating. Perhaps it's just unfair - the giant has the advantage in many ways - or perhaps you are underestimating the attraction that a 'clean zone' has for many people. Who knows.

I don't think that other forums take the correct route to beat the giant, but that's another story.

Anyway, there is enough space out there for all, and enough forums that everyone has somewhere that suits.

You guys do a great job..... and there is no doubt that ECF has such a huge member base because of the way you guys run things. I was just stating the obvious, that different people prefer different environments

 

[John_]

I just saw on Vapor Joes website that he is starting a forum. This is part of his statement below.

"The whole idea of the "The Forum" has sadly lost its way in the vaping community. Power hungry moderators, ridiculous rules, and arduous red tape have soured many."

You wanna bet that every page in this forum will be painted with bling ads from vendors, and tracking cookies galore, besides his un-moderated mayhem!

Truthfully i haven't found a deal on his site that was worthwhile since i have been vaping so I am not holding my breath that his forum will be much to talk about.

Sorry Joe, no referral tips from me!

His "deals" are just a summary of the FastTech New Arrivals pages and a couple links to vendors that he's in bed with.

 

[Caridwen]

We all have our opinions...personally, I'm excited to register on Vapor Joe's forum once it goes online, and I signed up for the newsletter.

I obviously like the high volume of traffic here at ECF, which is my main reason for posting here daily....but I also prefer if the boards here were more relaxed, and allowed more content to be posted.

For instance, I see threads banned all the time, or closed, for harmless humor, or things I don't entirely agree with.

There is heavy moderation here, and the admin here has a very CLEAR idea of what he/she wants, and has made that well known to the members here.


Again, I like ECF, but I'm just being honest....I would love to see a forum with less moderation.

The majority of moderation here is a direct result of members reporting posts- usually numerous reports on a single thread/post. And many reports not acted on at all. So I'd say a large majority of members may not agree with you.

But there is a lid for every pot as my grandmother used to say. Tons of forums out there.

 

[FourWinds]

We all have our opinions...personally, I'm excited to register on Vapor Joe's forum once it goes online, and I signed up for the newsletter.

I obviously like the high volume of traffic here at ECF, which is my main reason for posting here daily....but I also prefer if the boards here were more relaxed, and allowed more content to be posted.

For instance, I see threads banned all the time, or closed, for harmless humor, or things I don't entirely agree with.

There is heavy moderation here, and the admin here has a very CLEAR idea of what he/she wants, and has made that well known to the members here.


Again, I like ECF, but I'm just being honest....I would love to see a forum with less moderation.

I have no idea who Joe may be, and I'm not sure about 'heavy' moderation, but at least one of my posts was moved for being 'silly.'

Being English, and having gone to uni' when young, I used to read a comic called Viz. There was a section called 'Top Tips' in it, and it made me laugh back in the day. Viz is 30: Our 50 all-time best Top Tips - Mirror Online

My Top Tip was moved from the 'tips and tricks' section on the forum here for being 'silly.' It was silly of course, that was the whole point. No big deal, but it seemed an odd and sterile decision to me.

I think the main danger with moderation is the Steam effect. On Steam, moderators get invited to be moderators by the existing moderators. The trouble is that then all you get is a clique of people who all think alike, and approve of each other. I think that if these homogeneous cliquey groups of mods develop it can kill the life of a forum.

Like supermarket, I like it here, and being new I haven't seen any over heavy moderation, but reading posts like this it makes me wonder how ECF moderators might be chosen.

 

[rolygate]

Viz was so funny... I passed an old guy a copy once when I was younger, he probably hadn't see a comic since the Beano and had no idea they'd been modernised a bit. He nearly broke a rib laughing, his favourite was The Fat S..... something or other, the name escapes me now. And the best artist of all time was Paul Sample.

How do we choose Moderators? Basically we try to pick clones of ourselves, and it helps if they had a convent education and want to be a bank clerk when they grow up. That way we know our great traditions will be carried forward. We never pick anyone who can think for themselves, or ex-sergeants, or anyone dangerously intelligent of course, because they might make their own decisions. Hope that answers your question.

 

[HoseGarden]

joe's already got a captive audience. i dont get why this community is so quick to bash him.

i'm not a fan of moderation...to each their own. i wish him the best of luck

there is PLENTY of room on the web for multiple forums to thrive. i wish this forum had an unmoderated "chit chat" section or something. i hate being censored doing the same things i do on every other forum i use on the web. No, im not complaining! Yes, im pointing out that this forum is different than the rest.

to those who think vaporjoes is spammy: lolol welcome to the blogosphere and furthermore THE INTERNET

 

[Vermonster13]

All things in moderation, unless you can get more.

 

[Glen Snyder]

I've moderated on and administered multiple local forums. In my experience unmoderated forums fade fast. Users quickly tire of personal attacks and language used in mixed company that would embarrass Satan himself. A certain amount of moderation is necessary for a forum intended to reach a wide audience to thrive.

Not sure I get those that whine about moderation here. There are some simple rules that are really just common courtesy to fellow members. There are always civil ways to express your opinion. Name calling and ridicule aren't among them.

 

[HoseGarden]

I've moderated on and administered multiple local forums. In my experience unmoderated forums fade fast. Users quickly tire of personal attacks and language used in mixed company that would embarrass Satan himself. A certain amount of moderation is necessary for a forum intended to reach a wide audience to thrive.

Not sure I get those that whine about moderation here. There are some simple rules that are really just common courtesy to fellow members. There are always civil ways to express your opinion. Name calling and ridicule aren't among them.

trolling and foul language are part of any forum dynamic. they're two things i find quite enjoyable

 

[Bigflyrodder]

You guys do a great job..... and there is no doubt that ECF has such a huge member base because of the way you guys run things. I was just stating the obvious, that different people prefer different environments

Too late...you're already banned! HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA

 

[Glen Snyder]

trolling and foul language are part of any forum dynamic. they're two things i find quite enjoyable

I also enjoy the lighthearted troll and sarcastic responses. If you want an example of what I'm talking about being 'unmoderated' check out Joe's Mod Envy group on FB where as recently as Wednesday one male poster called a female poster the "C" word repeatedly in 1/2 a dozen separate posts simply to prop up his opinion. Now, I will say that some people will enjoy that kind of 'freedom of speech'. But that's not going to reach a wide audience like ECF and other moderated forums do. JMO

Regarding your previous post, there is a chit chat forum here at ECF. Enjoy --> http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/lounge/

 

[Bigflyrodder]

It was meant with the utmost lightheartedness, my apologies.

Maybe I've gotten the wrong impression but I have been using the board for a little over a month now and find it the perfect destination to share ideas, gather information to further educate myself on all things vaping, and to share a sort of bond with other vapers. Humor plays a big role in my life, if I want to be uberserious I'll stay at work. I'm a situational comic, I can't help myself. It's part of my personality, part of who I am.

Back on topic: It is my opinion that the moderators play a vital role with a message board such as ECF in that they help manage content in as logical a fashion as possible while keeping everyone civil. I think we all want to surround ourselves with others that can carry a good conversation, state a viewpoint, share information and even entertain. Let's face it, if folks don't get some level of entertainment on this site they would most likely only be here if and when a google search directed them here for the answer they seek. A moderators job is only to sensor when actions or statements are deemed to be offensive or destructive, not when unworthy. Tone is a very hard thing to determine in written text but blatent degredation, slander, or simply demeaning or demoralizing attacks cannot be permitted.

If an individual or group feel the need for an environment where they are free to say whatever is on their mind regardless of impact on others, regardless of language used, regardless of defamy, so bit it. I say let them go quietly as that is not a forum I wish to engage.

 

[Bigflyrodder]

I've moderated on and administered multiple local forums. In my experience unmoderated forums fade fast. Users quickly tire of personal attacks and language used in mixed company that would embarrass Satan himself. A certain amount of moderation is necessary for a forum intended to reach a wide audience to thrive.

Not sure I get those that whine about moderation here. There are some simple rules that are really just common courtesy to fellow members. There are always civil ways to express your opinion. Name calling and ridicule aren't among them.

Well said, I should have just said "ditto"...lol