I know that there is no strict requirement for the length of PF post, but can we have a guideline like the following? If PF member makes, let's say, 5 or 10 one-liners or near one-liners consecutively, can we report this to PF abuse assuming that the member will get the first penalty/penalty credit/whatever penalty you call?

One member did this in my forum recently, and I PM-ed the member. Another member did this twice essentially; the second time was today. I was going to report this to PF, but I just PM-ed this member this time hoping that she'll correct the behavior.

I try to resolve these issues on my end initially, and that is what I have been doing, but I wonder if some members actually get it. The member that I briefly mentioned about in this post ... does not seem to be making meaningful posts, and ... two blatant near forum spam attempts makes me wonder if she has any intention of ... making contribution at some point. I kind of feel that something like no excessive one-liners rule would be beneficial to PF ... It'll clarify what we're supposed to be doing ...

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ohc

ohc
From my experience I follow the following steps.

1. PM offender and ask them to stop
2. Delete all offending posts.
3. If they continue report them in the abuse thread.

If many users have a similar issue the mods will take an action I am sure.

However I have found that normally after step one the offending poster will either clean up their act or simply leave altogether.

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One of reasons I brought this up is this.

PF has abuse report system, but we shouldn't be reporting every single incident; it's not very productive. We also don't want to report smaller incidents because we can get checked for not handling incidents on our sides and making PF staffs so busy. Understandable; however, I find that number of one-liners posted by some members are really excessive, and I often feel that it would be nice if there is a clear guideline suggesting that making 10 (or 5 or 15 or 20) one-liners consecutively is an abuse and needs to be reported. If there is this kind of guideline, ...

1. Reporting becomes easier
2. PF staffs can decide how to respond to these reports with ease

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ohc

Doesn't seem like a bad idea, however what is excessive? Also I think that it may be best simply to ban the offending member if they make excessive one liners and refuse to change.

What would you do if the member was not in PF?

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Hmmm ... I may want to count number of one-liners, but 10 seems a bit excessive. In some cases, one-liners are perfectly ok. They actually fit and make sense. But if you see 10 one-liners consecutively, you kind of have to suspect that the member who does that is doing it for the sake of bringing up PF balance, don't you?
I think that I would just let him/her post that way for a while at least. However, it's a bit sad to say this, but I'm not so sure if there was any non-PF member who made 10+ one-liners consecutively (in any of my forums). Also what's so difficult about writing two complete sentences in each post? How about making 10 posts and just writing three sentences in one of 10 posts? Is it that difficult?

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ohc

Yeah I completely understand where you are coming from. I have gotten a lot of one liners in my Arcade forum, however they usually fit so there is no problem with it.

I always try to make a couple of sentences when I post and the only oneliners are a thanks to a question answered or to answer a question in the thead, never a "I agree", well unless it is follwed with my own point.

I still don't think that there is a lot that can be done on a "rule" side of the PF because like you said some one liners are acceptable. And would the rule say consequtive one liners? Simply report them and let the admins decide, but ensure that you ask for what was done and if you are not happy say so.

The powers-that-be here seem to be reasonable, at least when I had to report someone.

PS, If you help me get my balance down I will be sure to make some GOOD posts on your sites

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Here's my take.

The quality of posts that you expect from PF should be the same quality that you expect, and receive, from non-PF members. You can't expect more from PF members. The fact of the matter is that they are going to look around at the quality of the current posts in your forums and will more than likely mimic this in their own posts. If you allow spam and one liners from regular members, why can't you allow it from PF members as well?

As far as setting a universal rule, that is such a touchy subject...because who is to decide what is spam and what is not? We all have our own beliefs. One thing that we have thought about doing in the future is allowing the owner to set forum-specific rules for PF...things like "no posts less than 10 words, no mentioning of PF, no links in your signature", etc...but that is very low on our priority list.

As far as the current system...we strongly encourage, in fact, require, that you take care of things on your side first. If it comes to the point of you banning a member or deleting posts, then you should report them to us. If you have deleted posts, please keep a record of them before doing so - either that, or report it to us and let us acknowledge/record them before you remove them. We actually do not receive many of these reports, so it doesnt seem to me like it could be an overwhelming task for the reporter.

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Excellent point.

My forum is lifestyle-oriented. It's a subject everyone can talk on and on about. Usually when a non-PF member is compelled to register for the forum, they have quite a lot to say. Nobody - not even me - is going to sign up on a forum to make meaningless one-liners, anywhere. You sign up on a message board to make your opinion count. Otherwise, there's no point in signing up.

That said, if someone makes too many "Yeah I agree!" posts, I will delete them as soon as possible. A lot of forum owners tend to have the philosophy that quantity > quality. That's far from the case. If I visit a forum and the majority of the posters are making intelligent posts, it'll inspire me to elevate my post quality as well. On the other hand, if I go to a forum with a bunch of rascals running the place, I'd feel little incentive to make a sophisticated post. And heck, that's if I post. I'm sure a lot of other people follow the same rule as forum posters.

This is why as an admin, I try to keep my forums anti-generic posts. When folks come to my forums, I want them to think that this is a friendly hangout worthy of their genuine thoughts and comical opinion, not a bridge for trolls to live under.

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That's the thing. If anyone registers with a forum, does he/she just post 30, 40 posts like

"Yeah, I agree."
"Rubbish."
"I've never watched this movie."
"Thanks for the link."
"Welcome."
"Good."
"Great."

I sincerely doubt. I'm not saying that no one does this, but it's pretty unusual. Also are these kind of posts that PF member should be posting? Well, ... no in my opinion. How about one-liners? If anyone registers with a forum, does he/she just post 30, 40 one-liners because that's what he/she wants to do? ??? I'd say unusual. Now are these kind of posts that PF member should be posting? well, ... I personally don't think so.

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ohc

I do think that every admin has some responsibility. He/she should probably monitor posts and set some rules, guidelines.or both. I started doing this (though I don't write them in capital letters) because some posts are ... really bad. So, I'm thinking that some rules and guidelines should be defined. I'm a bit exaggerating here, but isn't it pitiful if many of us need to spend more time deleting meaningless posts than we did before we joined in PF?

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ohc