We have a limited number of upvotes. Should we have a limited number of discussions?

2015-04-24T06:43:13-04:00

I enjoy RallyPoint. I love mentoring young Soldiers, learning from other leaders, and joking around on occasion. Lately there have been some discussions started that just make me SMDH. The discussions are one thing but then there are the members that just fire random ones off in rapid succession.

Do you think RallyPoint should limit the number of discussions a member can post? Should it be daily, weekly, monthly?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Apr 24 at 2015 6:55 AM

2015-04-24T06:55:43-04:00

The last choice is an intriguing one CSM, LMAO! But no, I don't think we should be limited to the number of discussions we start or participate in. That's what makes RP great!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 24 at 2015 7:23 AM

2015-04-24T07:23:28-04:00

Gut reaction says maybe. However, I cannot think of a good way to truly implement it, which pushes me over into the No category (with a vote for Go Home CSM... to denote other).

The idea of throttling back "spam" discussions is intriguing, but it's a question of how. I think why is reasonably answered. Would it be 1/day? 7/week? A number predetermined by influence points? Start at unlimited and get throttled back as your discussions get merged? (aka for cause)

Content development is so very subjective, especially in a community as large as this one. I think the larger issue is going to be "proper tagging" of discussions, as opposed to quantity. Filtering how we see things is also a piece of that. We want to see as much as we can, but that also means we see a lot of things that aren't as interesting to "us."

Requires more thought.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 7:34 AM

2015-04-24T07:34:32-04:00

it's good to know what everyone thinks, and maybe CSM could be drunk too lol

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Apr 24 at 2015 7:47 AM

2015-04-24T07:47:44-04:00

As long as they build the community posting responses and thread should be unlimited. If you want to do something, maybe stop awarding "points" after X number of posts per day.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 8:23 AM

2015-04-24T08:23:50-04:00

Let me tell you about thing called Rankism.

Rankism. Is there such a thing in the military? | RallyPoint

Rankism-discrimination against people on the grounds of rank. There has always been grudges held at the various levels but for what reason. Countless times a new 2LT walks into a situation where he is instantly disliked for merely showing up. How many times have we thought of a new Private as automatically going to make mistakes so you have to treat as such. Or, the CSM that everyone thinks they only care about Uniform violations and walking...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 8:26 AM

2015-04-24T08:26:02-04:00

But in all seriousness I don't think it would help. I have wrote various ones and held off so they were not back to back. It really depends on the person. I do think there has to be some quality control. That is why the Admins are around.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 24 at 2015 9:01 AM

2015-04-24T09:01:26-04:00

I like Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS's idea for throttling. But before that I want the RP engineering team to develop flagging of individual posts for member-admins to review, and the points-harvesting homepage for member admins showing things that have been reported and need maintaining.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 9:46 AM

2015-04-24T09:46:04-04:00

Yeah, threads like "Should a jr. enlisted stand at parade rest for an NCO's spouse" don't need to happen....waste of space.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Apr 24 at 2015 10:02 AM

2015-04-24T10:02:29-04:00

But the whole soap box thing, Should a Lt salute a Lt, are getting out of hand! Who has a parking spot and I don't, Why is the Generals wife using his spot at the PX? stupid stuff. Piss that Generals wife off and see where your ass is tomorrow if not that day and whose carpet your feet are on then pal. I have seen it happen. Had it happen. There is a right of passage, in the military it parking spots. Civilian side it happens also. There are corporate CEO's getting high 6 figure salaries, and PARKING spots, and cars, and houses, and plane tickets, and credit cards, blah, blah , on and on of perks because they sit in the chair that they sit in. GET OVER IT! We are the pee on and always will be so do YOUR best and worry about YOURSELF and the things that you are in control of and we all will be in a better place!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 24 at 2015 10:49 AM

2015-04-24T10:49:31-04:00

I am going to get whiney. I dislike spending a lot of time and effort responding to a post, only to get thumbs up. It kind of feels like a waste of time and effort.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 10:56 AM

2015-04-24T10:56:59-04:00

I think it would be beneficial to have limited posting abilities until you have reached a certain level within the discussion forums, it would allow those with quality posts and answers to keep a strong presence and the random less quality post to a semi presence

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 11:20 AM

2015-04-24T11:20:21-04:00

The scroll button is adequate control.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 11:23 AM

2015-04-24T11:23:35-04:00

That wouldn't be any fun though

Response by SGT John Wesley made Apr 24 at 2015 12:10 PM

2015-04-24T12:10:16-04:00

CSM Private RallyPoint Member I'm probably one of the ones that posts things you would "SMDH" at, but in all fairness, what interests you may not interest me.

I just scroll thru and pick what I consider to be interesting.

Have a great weekend!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Apr 24 at 2015 3:02 PM

2015-04-24T15:02:10-04:00

I believe members like that show me how well my meds are working. I don't have that many thoughts racing in my head. Maybe I should make a discussion about that? I like the old school RallyPoint that was military related or it got taken down. Keep it professional and post till your heart's content. If you want to share your thoughts on your favorite color, take a pill.

Response by CSM Michael Lynch made Apr 24 at 2015 3:19 PM

2015-04-24T15:19:38-04:00

Dang I hit the wrong one it should have been Go home CSM you're drunk CALL LOL

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 4:09 PM

2015-04-24T16:09:36-04:00

I agree, but I kinda wanted to select the third one so I can say I told a CSM off just leave out the anonymity of the polls lol.
But yes I agree, when I post a question I normally think about it for a week before I post to make sure it is meaningful. Some people just seem to blast questions out there.

Response by SrA Kelly Richard made Apr 24 at 2015 11:32 PM

2015-04-24T23:32:59-04:00

I had no idea there was a limit to up votes!!! I guess that means I've been stingy!

So I have yet to start a discussion so it shouldn't make much difference to me. However, if you want to limit the numbers of discussions because people post ridiculous topics, well those same people don't care about the real topics. They will still post the exact same things in just a limited capacity. So while it's a good theory, I don't see it being an effective solution...

But... what about "flagging" the discussion if it's inappropriate? So you have your "up vote," your "down vote," and a "flag." the flag could then alert the admins to review for appropriateness. Reach 3 flags in X number of time, and you get banned from posting discussions for... Idk 30 days or so?

I have no idea the practicality of that idea as I said, I haven't figured out how to post discussions, but just an idea, perhaps?

And this way your down votes have a separate meaning, and you can still disagree, without flagging and banning, though perhaps it should be up to the admin if the flag stands or is invalid to keep things fair.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 3:01 AM

2015-04-25T03:01:33-04:00

I know you probably have a billion things already in queue but there are some pretty good idea fairies on this thread.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 3:25 AM

2015-04-25T03:25:41-04:00

While I can go days shaking my head at why X is s a topic or laughing at the idiotic responses (in my opinion), I hope the site can continue to police itself. As CSM Private RallyPoint Member and Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS have mentioned here and elsewhere, we have our roles as we see ourselves trying to contribute; many others consistently have their roles as well.

I personally would like to see less about politics, religion (not military specific or chaplain related, which I think have been interesting) and other curious threads (which military value was served by "showing our rack",especially on the heels of threads that makes one believe that we want awards based on our actions, not for superficial value...really?). But some of those threads have the most responses and as long as we are communicating, we are better off then being alone on our personal islands.

Truthfully, I didn't know there was a limit. And I don't think I could sincerely post that often if I wanted. The whole points thing is curious to me, but only because I feel I could always do more for the community, especially when I go silent for a few days -- I feel like I am not filling my role.

As Lt Col Fred Marheine asked, what can I get with points? If nothing, then I'll just contribute when I think I can be helpful to the community. I trust the rest of the team will keep each other in check...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 1:19 PM

2015-04-25T13:19:33-04:00

Yes, but just because one individual is posting multiple topics does not necessarily mean that the topics are devalued... So it would be hard to regulate it and determine who is firing off good knowledge at a fast pace and who is just spewing garbage to get attention- not to mention who decides which is which.

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Apr 27 at 2015 9:15 PM

2015-04-27T21:15:26-04:00

Actually, we can't post profanity, no racist or sexist remarks and likely, a few other taboo topics but we can post as much as we like and receive feedback from our fellow military acquaintances. If you post BS, you'll hear about it.

I have only been a member for 2 months and wasn't even aware there is a limit on upvotes. What is the magic number?

Given the high quality of our moderators and admins I think they should address the INDIVIDUALS with a first, maybe second warning about rapid submissions of random topics. If they don't get squared away maybe they should be banned for some time frame and repeat offenders get banned forever. We all suffer from the "spam", it would be a good thing if it was stopped, even slowed drastically.

I am not in favor of limiting new discussion topics. Not daily, weekly or monthly. Like I said, I have only been here 2 months but off the top of my head I can name 10 members that always start discussions that are topical, are interesting to the majority of members and have subjects that even 3 year enlistment members have experienced for themselves.

So, why limit a good thing? My guideline for starting new discussions is this. If I have to sit here and "struggle" for a topic to start a new discussion then I have nothing of value to say at this time. That simple.

Thanks,

Rick

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 11:29 AM

2015-05-04T11:29:22-04:00

I voted yes, but I also wanted to vote that you were drunk.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 2:16 PM

2015-05-04T14:16:16-04:00

I don't think limiting the posts would be helpful. As service members, the ones that care anyways, we have to limit what we put on social media. I feel like this is an outlet for that, and for the times that crap gets out of hand, the admins, and those of us that are Senior in the services are pretty good about policing things up. By the way, I voted Go home CSM, you're drunk. Why? Because it was there.

Response by CW4 John Beebe, BS, DML made May 11 at 2015 9:20 AM

2015-05-11T09:20:42-04:00

COL and SGM, I must concur with both of you. Contrary to the educational mantra that there is no stupid question, Yes, there are many stupid or pointless questions. Much space on Rally Point has been wasted due to ridiculousness becoming the fodder of the day. I am a firm believer that there are those on Rally Point that are looking more for recognition than mentorship and camaraderie.