Forum:Enforcing Wiki Forum Rules

Forums: Yew Grove > Enforcing Wiki Forum Rules

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This thread was archived on 16 November 2011 by Urbancowgurl777.

I'm honestly making this thread only to help. Nothing less, nothing more.

Recently, we've had an influx of newbies on our wiki forums who have been breaking our rules. While this may seem minor (and yes, we have good forum mods like UrbanCowgirl), it's been getting out of hand. Of particular note, I would like to draw your attention to three threads in particular; all of them are the user "opening" up a Wiki Facebook account. Now, not only do we already have an account, but both users have refused to take their versions down (though one of them eventually relented and made it non-wiki-related; however, the other one has continuously refused). This is not only a violation of our forum rules, they were made with ZERO community consensus. As WolfieMario put it on one of the topics:

That's not much of an excuse. You couldn't just search "Facebook" on the wiki itself? Besides, it's "RuneScape Wiki", not "RuneScape Wikia". You can't just leave it because "it's already a huge hit". That's like making a Facebook page in the name of some famous YouTuber, and getting loads of views and requests on it from people who think it's the real person's Facebook. You haven't done anything special, just created a Facebook page in the name of a site that never gave you permission to. Of course it'll get hits, because people are looking for the real Facebook and think yours is it.

Any major decision about the wiki is made by consensus - people have to agree on it. You didn't even ask about it, you just went straight ahead and did it. Editing an article doesn't require consensus, making a new article doesn't require consensus, etc., but doing stuff like changing the wiki's logo, removing hundreds of articles, or making accounts to represent us on other websites does. No consensus was ever reached that said you could make a Facebook page claiming to be us...

You even said you would delete it if this wasn't allowed. It's not allowed; why are you going back on your word like that? This is only going to make the *real* Facebook page lose views, so I fail to see why you think it's a good thing.

Other than these, people have been linking to rule-breaking websites, their vanity videos on YouTube, or bumping topics that have been dead for a while, sometimes years. Now, I honestly have no proposal in mind, but I do know one thing: we need to make sure our forum users read the rules.

I would now like to hear any ideas out there to help our forums out. https://i.imgur.com/7kyt1iT.gif --WINE OF GOOD HEALTH _{(Actually Stinko)} 16:47, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

EDIT: This is now about either revamping the forums and making sure people read the rules, or outright removing them. I, for one, am supporting removing them. https://i.imgur.com/7kyt1iT.gif --WINE OF GOOD HEALTH _{(Actually Stinko)} 18:03, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Also, the topics are here (orignal Facebook "creation" topic), here (user who refused to take his version down), and here (user who made the first topic and took his "wiki account" down, but advertised his fan-made account).

Discussion

We should take forums... And put them over there. /me points to a car compactor. Smuff ^{[citation provided]} 16:59, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Actually, since you, Fergie, and Bull all agree that we should flat-out get rid of the forums, I must say...I agree! No one of any importance really goes through them. No one reads the rules. I'm sorry, but even if they're not going to be made by Wikia again (at least, not like that), I still agree that it's time to throw them out. https://i.imgur.com/7kyt1iT.gif --WINE OF GOOD HEALTH _{(Actually Stinko)} 17:02, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Strong support closure - It's time to be done with them. They're old and outdated, and serve no further purpose. They may have been somewhat useful years ago, but now they're nothing but dead weight, a place for vandals and twits to congregate and hinder. Ronan^Talk 17:07, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Comment - Honestly, I'm afraid making people read the rules won't help. While we law-abiding citizens do not understand it, thugs like the one you mentioned will not obey the rules. Why? There are no consequences. I mean, we can't arrest him, can we? We can ban him from the forums. Big deal. Does he care? If they do something bad, a rule really isn't going to stop such people. At least, not this one. Fsw e1 17:10, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Comment - Last proposal here. I think we should either completely overhaul and make use of the forums, or delete them. There is no community there, and the "there is no reason to remove them" argument is fail. THERE IS A REASON, as stated above. 97% of the new posts there each day require someone to remove the post and block/warn the user. Either fix them up completely, or remove them. User:Urbancowgurl777/Signature 17:12, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Yep, I think the consensus on the last one was stupid. --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 23:30, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Comment You do realize that by removing the Forums, it won't stop people from making Runescape Wikia on Facebook? Infact because of the Forums we have actually convinced a user to close their Runescape Wikia Group. No one uses the Forums anymore though so I do see where you are coming from. I see nothing wrong with blocking/warning the people who break the rules there though. Ancient Fofo 17:55, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

It's all very well for you to say that, but you aren't the one that has to spend an inordinate length of time patrolling and monitoring them. Ronan^Talk 18:05, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Comment I think we should mention the rules more often to people and tell them to read the rules stickied at the top rather than tell them to do something. Give them a reason as to why, it might seem like common sense but still let them know. In the last example he kept asking why and no one mentioned the rules at all. Also at Flaysian, isn't that whole point of having Forum Mods? Normal users can use the report button to help out. Ancient Fofo 18:16, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

FYI: I believe our ONLY active Forum Mod is Fergie. That tell you anything? https://i.imgur.com/7kyt1iT.gif --WINE OF GOOD HEALTH _{(Actually Stinko)} 18:19, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Only that we need more Forum Mods?

Ancient Fofo

18:22, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Our forum mods are our admins, and most of our admins don't frequent the forums because of the forum's inactivity. User:TyA/sig 19:21, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Suggestion - All Rollbacks+ will become a forum mod. --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 23:30, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Rollback is too easy a position to get. How about they pass an RfA for forum adminship? ɳex undique 23:33, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Then our wiki forum will be ruined. Congrats. Why? Because RfA's are so uncommon these days, and UBCG777 can't keep it up at this pace. --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 23:36, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

There's requests for adminship and requests for forum adminship. One isn't as hard to pass as the other. ɳex undique 23:39, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

I'll nominate you. --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 23:42, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Thank you Jeff! But I already am. ɳex undique 23:44, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

My fault. I'd like to be, but of course I am too stupid. --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 23:51, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

You said it, not us. User:TyA/sig 23:56, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

What would be your response to my RfFA? --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 00:01, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Oppose - User doesn't use the forums, and has been inactive for the last several months. He has also shown a lack of knowledge of common policies and isn't the easiest to talk to, which is important if something comes up and they need to explain their actions. User:TyA/sig 00:04, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

See my point? --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 00:56, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Focus on the task at hand. Take it to your talk pages if you want to continue here. https://i.imgur.com/7kyt1iT.gif --WINE OF GOOD HEALTH _{(Actually Stinko)} 00:59, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Obvious, strongest support of shutting down the forums - Per the last forum I started up. --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 23:30, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Comment - The forum is nothing but an everyday forum for people who like RS and like talking about other stuff. Isn't that nice? --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 23:30, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

So why must it be closed then? ɳex undique 23:33, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Forum policy is being violated, besides what good does it do? --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 23:36, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Forum policy will always get violated. People vandalize the wiki all the time, should be protect every page? No, because some people will edit/use them Just like people use the forums. Show that it harms the wiki, and I'll agree with you. ɳex undique 23:39, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Think whatever you want, I want to think my way. --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 23:42, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

The point of this thread is to persuade the opposers (like me) to see your point. ɳex undique 23:44, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Comment - What would the pros of closing it be? I don't see how it's negatively affecting the wiki. ɳex undique 23:33, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

See my post above. --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 23:36, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

I responded. ɳex undique 23:39, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Responded in Suggestion and Comment areas. --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 23:42, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

It's a cess pool with no one taking care of it. We get maybe 1 legit thread a week, and it's something that can easily be asked in chat or on an article talk page. How can you not see how it's negatively affecting us? It's an open, un-modded (until I get on everyday) place for people to post their crap. User:Urbancowgurl777/Signature 02:04, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

::We only get so little from it because nobody knows about it. The only link we have to it is a small link named "Forums" on MediaWiki:Recentchangestext (which no inexperienced editors would know about. I didn't start using the RC until much after I started editing). Maybe with the new navigation bar we could get it some more publicity, and breathe some life into it. It's worth a try to me. ɳex undique 13:36, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

As I said on the other thread, it's in the nav bar right next to Wiki Events/Community Discussions. User:Urbancowgurl777/Signature 16:35, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Strong Support Closure - Per Fergie and Stinko.

REDIRECT User:N7 Elite/Signature 02:23, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Support closure - Per all. And please keep this on-topic. Also, perhaps we could consider moving the social conversations on-site to a "Watercooler" like some other wikis. Thoughts? 222 ^talk 02:55, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

I support his suggestion. User:TyA/sig 04:02, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Support closure - per all. I've spent some time around the forums (mainly The Tavern), and can say the rise of inactivity has lead to the decline in quality of topics. I admit I never bother really viewing other sections of the forum (though I can see they are about as inactive as the Tavern, if not more), but the Tavern consists almost purely of spam at this point. I've seen countless phishing attempts, adbots, bumps, and people hungering for YouTube subscribers. The value of the forum is almost negligible at this point - the only valid thread recently was somebody asking for help training skills (which would have better been placed under Help Desk rather than Tavern, and was answered by searching for "Skill training" on the wiki itself). I don't personally see too much being lost at this point if the forums were scrapped altogether.

...And bear in mind I've checked the Tavern pretty much at least once a day for several months, and can confidently say I won't be missing it. Missing what it used to be? Perhaps. But missing what's become of it? No. http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/5050/staffofthemoonrunewiki.gif WolfieMario _TALK http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/7283/lunaramulet3runewiki.gif 05:17, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Support closure - Firstly, was it so necessary to use so much bolded text? Secondly, the forum needs to go, I've only been there once a while ago and was dismayed by how...horrendous... it was. It's not worth the effort of a revamp, it should just be deleted. Hofmic Talk 06:22, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Oppose I see no harm in keeping them. The main point that started this threads solution is just add more people with the ability to actively mod the forums. My opinion. Ancient Fofo 06:38, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

It's a waistland, a marsh, basically, ruining our reputation. Isn't that nice? --中亚人/中亞人 (Chinasian/Jeffwang16) • 跟我谈话 14:12, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

That's what we said in the last thread Fofo, and nobody decided to come to the forums then either. If no one will use them, it does do us harm in keeping them. User:TyA/sig 15:03, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Support closure - This is starting to become similar to the RSWP threads, with a small number of "dedicated" users thinking they can somehow revive the feature being closed. I was initially on the opposing side for both the RSWP closure and the wiki forum closure, and trust me, it isn't easy to get people to become interested in something if it's already dead. Shut down the forum and get it over with. There's always the official forums and the wiki's clan chat if you need answers or just want to talk. Ti en 16:35, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Support closure - Per everyone. Ancient Fofo 17:58, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Support - There forums are dead, and nothing positive really comes from them now, so there is no real point in them. Would have been good if it was active again, but there is no way that would happen, so it will just be easier to remove them. Also the fact that they have been glitched for a while, and nothing has been done to fix them, also doesn't look good. Sentra246 05:47, October 3, 2011 (UTC)

Meh. Wikia is developing new forums for all wikis to use, maybe when those come out we should try to get them active.

REDIRECT User:C886553/sig 13:48, October 3, 2011 (UTC)

Kill it with fire - The fora are dead and they've been dead. It's high time we close them. --Liquid^Talk 13:50, October 3, 2011 (UTC)

Shouldn't it be singular? If not, when would it be? --Henneyj 01:22, October 4, 2011 (UTC)

Panda with a flamethrower to kill it with fire, as requested. http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/JimtehMage/Pandakillingwikiforums.jpg

Archmage Elune ^Talk_HS

fetus is my son and I love him. 19:24, October 10, 2011 (UTC)

Close them - They make the community look more inactive than it actually is. Most of the genuine threads asking for help, etc don't get a reply soon enough to make the response helpful. --Henneyj 01:22, October 4, 2011 (UTC)

Lock 'em - I have seen the light Brains's idea sounds good ɳex undique 01:25, October 4, 2011 (UTC)

Close them - Not often used sensibly by what I've been reading, so maybe it'd be best to lay them to rest Template:Signatures/Ciphrius Kane 15:41, October 8, 2011 (UTC)

Close - Per Hennyj. Archmage Elune ^Talk_HS fetus is my son and I love him. 19:24, October 10, 2011 (UTC)

Closed - The forums shall be closed. User:TyA/sig 06:43, October 14, 2011 (UTC)

Comment - It's been nearly a month and the forums haven't actually been closed. If Wikia is not going to remove them, then I believe the link should be readded to the sidebar. Dtm142 00:15, November 12, 2011 (UTC)

There is consensus to close them. If Wikia hasn't physically disabled them yet, I still don't see why the link should be re-added.

REDIRECT User:C886553/sig 00:18, November 12, 2011 (UTC)

I had sent in the message for them to be closed with Wikia right after I closed this thread. However, people didn't realize closing them meant not being able to access them, and send messages to Wikia telling them not to, and here we are. User:TyA/sig 00:34, November 12, 2011 (UTC)

..Send them another message.. 76.31.28.85 01:20, November 12, 2011 (UTC)

We don't really have to have it officially destroyed into a million pieces. I think just remove the links anywhere on the wiki, and see if we can lock all the boards, etc. That way, people can't find it. And if they do, people can't use it. And if they do, 99.9% chance no one will see it, so who cares. I think it's better to keep it so if we do magically become active again one day, we can reopen them and everyone still has their accounts as normal. Is there any way to "lock" the main boards? (Tavern, Off-topic, etc) Chicken7 ^>talk 02:21, November 12, 2011 (UTC)

I can't find any way to lock the boards, so how about we just lock all the most recent posts and put up one forum notice that says "Forums are now closed. Please do not use them." And as I said, if people do use it for advertising, it doesn't really matter as no one should be able to find it. Chicken7 ^>talk 02:31, November 12, 2011 (UTC)

It's still part of the RuneScape Wiki domain, therefore still needs to be moderated as long as people can post new threads. Doing so is considerably more difficult without the links in the sidebar. Go all the way or not at all. Dtm142 04:06, November 13, 2011 (UTC)

We already decided by consensus to get rid of them. We just need Wikia to play its part. Hofmic Talk 06:36, November 13, 2011 (UTC)

Re-closed - There is no longer discussion here, this is an archive. I'll send another message to Wikia to request the forums be closed, as that was the consensus. User:Urbancowgurl777/Signature 21:31, November 16, 2011 (UTC)

Wikia will definitely remove the forums, it's just taking longer than they originally thought. User:Urbancowgurl777/Signature 23:15, November 16, 2011 (UTC)