message junkyard/"spam" forum/advertising restrictions?

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Amount of ads vs. discussion isn't very alarming yet. But I'm considering options already.

Should there be some sort of "junk-yard" of old useless messages? I'm talking about things, like old ads about releases that are possibly sold out by now, which never spawned any discussion. Since this is primarily discussion forum, maybe after certain period of time, ads could be moved into storage folder. Still to be found, but so browsing old DISCUSSIONS for information is perhaps easier and not hidden under pages and pages of news of sold out releases?

It's tempting to start whole "new releases" section, but at the same time, I don't want to splinter forum into too many categories which even I don't bother to follow. Neither I don't want discussion forum to turn another SPAM forum. Which seems to be function of almost any forum, mailinglist etc.

Would there need to be just one sticky topic for announcements of new releases? Would there be need for some policy what dictates who can use forum for what purpose? As far as I know, there are forums with regulations that you aren't allowed to advertize until certain amount of relevant messages are posted. Therefore option of advertizing is for USERS and not for outsider spammers. Anyone could still post news/release info by themselves or behalf of someone to topic where it belongs.

Where users could use discussion forums, and spammers only classifieds.

Thoughts?

[MT]

I am all for one sticky topic with all the news concerning new/upcoming releases. The Deathkey/Bu topic created good discussion, but I reckon that is very rare. If it is all under one topic it is clear and not so much empty topics in the main discussion because how can you comment such a topic like "new release coming out" and most of the posts are like COOL etc. That same can be done in that one topic where all new album news etc is posted...

[ConcreteMascara]

I thought the new releases sticky on Iheartnosie wasn't so great, so personally I'd rather see an old ads section for the older ads thread as you first suggested. Once the new release sticky gets too big its less useful I think. And it'd probably get there quick.

[Human Larvae]

I thought the new releases sticky on Iheartnosie wasn't so great, so personally I'd rather see an old ads section for the older ads thread as you first suggested. Once the new release sticky gets too big its less useful I think. And it'd probably get there quick.

second that. When the sticky has grown 10+ pages while absent from the forum, I don't bother with ploughing through all I've missed, so I'd go with the junkyard .

[mystikum]

junk-yard sounds like a good idea.  If there is a way to auto-move a topic once there hasn't been any posts on it in x amount of days, it would work pretty smoothly

[FiEND]

I only use the "Show unread posts" button, unless I'm looking for a specific old topic. If no one comments on a new release, I never see it again. simple as that. I don't see a need to "kill" the old topics because they seem to die on their own. Just keep classified's in that section.

[Andrew McIntosh]

1 - A dedicated "sticky" section for new releases, news, etc., and a bit of restriction on it's content, ie no "cool", "got this, it's cool", "Paypal'd", etc. stupid posts. Should a particular release begin to generate actual quality discussion, breaking it off into it's own thread should be a good idea and not too unrealistic to moderate since it is, as mentioned, not a usual occurrence.

So far, such discussion as there is on new releases seems pretty contained, by comparison to other forums I know where a thread can go for pages with useless, trivial, few-words posts. That's down to common sense on most of the users here, I think, so harsh moderation has been kept to a fortunate minimum. Still, having new releases in their own section not only makes such moderation even easier but it makes it easier for users to post their release news in a section that will generate interest and keep the forum a bit cleaner, for discussion.

2 - Either the "graveyard" section for redundant posts about out-of-print issues, etc., or simply delete those posts where the release has become forgotten/sold-out. Personally, I wouldn't be very interested in such a section but I can see why it would have some value.

[ARKHE]

I suppose the easiest way would be a pinned thread for all new releases, with little to no discussion whatsoever (except: questions useful for all buyers). though such a thread might easily grow out of hand and become hard to survey - weightier releases (LP's, boxes) lost in a flurry of immediately sold out c20's in 50 copies. whereas the 50xc20 would soon be transferred to a thread cemetary, and the high level box set will stay "active".

I don't however see any problem with label/artist-specific threads, like Filth & Violence - every new release is added there, including surrounding discussion. rather than one thread per batch of tapes. depends on of course whether the label or the band is most active (F&V=many singular projects f ex).

but anyway. is choise is between obsolete thread graveyard (open for exhumation & necrophilia) or big fat "new release"-thread, I'd go with the latter. such a gravejunkyard might also include obsolete threads from live gig section and maybe even the market-section (all stuff sold etc).