Match Threads - what is it you want?

[Archibald&Crooks]

Recently, well, over the past few weeks anyway, we've had a LOT of people closing down their accounts because, they just don't enjoy SC any more and have gotten tired of the atmosphere or the OTT way people react both during and after games, the ritual ****ings off and vitriolic nature of some , far too many, posts.

We've also seen a lot of people complaining about it across a few threads. We've tried to improve at least the match thread with a limited success because quite a bit of that thread is taken up with people either moaning about the same player every week, moaning about the pundits, moaning, moaning and more moaning. During a game there's usually more of that than there is talk about the actual game. Anyway, those are some of the things we've noticed people saying they are unhappy about.

Which all means, there's a LOT of people who have either stopped using or posting in the match thread. Actually, it's not just the match thread, after games in ratings/player threads is part of it too.

So, what ideas, if any, have you got as to how we can make at least the match thread, a bit "better"?

 

[Deleted member 29446]

The only match thread I have enjoyed recently, was the one where @chrissivad & you reminded all of us to behave multiply times before the game.

After that game it went back to normal sadly.

 

[Tottenham_God]

Recently, well, over the past few weeks anyway, we've had a LOT of people closing down their accounts because, they just don't enjoy SC any more and have gotten tired of the atmosphere or the OTT way people react both during and after games, the ritual ****ings off and vitriolic nature of some , far too many, posts.

We've also seen a lot of people complaining about it across a few threads. We've tried to improve at least the match thread with a limited success because quite a bit of that thread is taken up with people either moaning about the same player every week, moaning about the pundits, moaning, moaning and more moaning. During a game there's usually more of that than there is talk about the actual game. Anyway, those are some of the things we've noticed people saying they are unhappy about.

Which all means, there's a LOT of people who have either stopped using or posting in the match thread. Actually, it's not just the match thread, after games in ratings/player threads is part of it too.

So, what ideas, if any, have you got as to how we can make at least the match thread, a bit "better"?

Unfortunately, I believe this is an unstoppable wave that our culture and society is riding in regards to our negativity bias. Will be very difficult to have a place where people can post their horrible opinions and slaggings off anonymously online and have them not do it.

Football illicits strong emotions and people vent on here it seems. Perhaps a type of AI that picks up swear words or repeated posts by individuals?

 

[WhiteStripe]

Have 2 threads. One for the ****s and one for the people who actually want to discuss football. If you’re in the latter and you act like a **** you get a ban or sinbin from future threads.

Problem with trying to eradicate the whiners and whingers is that half our fan base can be hot headed and negative at times and actually this negativity (On a forum) is a release of years of pent up frustration and channelling it through a keyboard onto a forum can actually be a good thing rather than channeling it elsewhere.

I appreciate policing 2 threads is an administrative problem, but maybe assign a chief **** to do that and if there are people who go full **** even in the **** thread then they get a ban forever.

 

[absolute bobbins]

Rate limit posts from overly negative posters.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Take away ratings on the match threads. Or at least the negative ones and red ones, it winds people up more

 

[Gilzeanking]

Surprised to hear people are closing their accounts and citing the match thread . Hasn't the match thread always been a bit..er..boisterous , like when people go to matches ? It doesn't look worse to me

EG there's an audible sigh of disappointment at matches when a pass is misplaced...same in match thread imo .

Are you completely sure its the negativity here that is turning people off ? Some other factors not involved ?....like the team being frustrating atm .

 

[wadewill]

People getting offended by ratings on the internet are part of the problem

As someone said above, unfortunately we have become a society where acting all negative and vitriolic on the internet is somewhat of a release for people. The majority of people wouldn’t dare say half the things they do in the real world, to peoples faces. But it’s a safe haven to argue anonymously on the internet.

Its a problem in society and not just here, but football brings out emotions more than almost anything else, which makes it worse.

The only thing I can think of is something like a reporting button, it’s more work for you guys but check through reported posts and have a 3 strikes and you’re out thing. Not just the thread but the site

The major problem is the idiot posters, but I do also think people need to learn to ignore stuff a little more than they do. Easier said than done at times I know and I’ve bitten myself

 

[Rob]

How about a “toxic” rating that hides a post if it gets enough of them?

My problem with that is that is that TFC had something similar with red cards and all the knobs coordinated in secret to try and use it to be knobs.

We could maybe make it work though. But is it a good idea? Can you guys self-moderate each other?

 

[cider spurs]

Maybe have two threads running side by side.

The current one, for those that feel they need to repeatedly rant about the same players/things week on week.

And another for those who wish to actually focus their attentions as to what is actually happening in the match. Constructive criticism included, but not allowing for the usual toxic repeatedness witnessed all too often in the original thread. But more dare I say adult discussion.

 

[Real_madyidd]

How about a “toxic” rating that hides a post of it gets enough of them?

My problem with that is that is that TFC had something similar with red cards and all the knobs coordinated in secret to try and use it to be knobs.

We could maybe make it work though. But I’d it a good idea? Can you guys self-moderate each other?

Great idea. Certainly worth a shot.

 

[JimmyG2]

I never post on the match thread during the game.
People's instant reactions often prove completely wrong.
Dip into it after the game for fun.

No posting during the game
watch and enjoy if you can
90 minute vow of silence
only post before, at half-time and after.
Rename it the 'Non-match' thread.
Give people time to reflect.
With some it won't make any difference
but it might help
if it doesn't make their pent up emotions
even worse.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Can you guys self-moderate each other?

Did you say that with a straight face?

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Maybe have two threads running side by side.

The current one, for those that feel they need to repeatedly rant about the same players/things week on week.

And another for those who wish to actually focus their attentions as to what is actually happening in the match. Constructive criticism included, but not allowing for the usual toxic repeatedness witnessed all too often in the original thread. But more dare I say adult discussion.

To be honest i've been pondering this for quite a while. It's probably the easiest thing to try before we start looking at more some of my more favoured and slightly medieval solutions

 

[The Doc]

How about a tweak to the site functionality so that this pops up if someone posts a torrent of bollocks? Maybe mandate users to provide a residential address too so they get it through the post also as a constant material reminder?

 

[Trotter]

Just don’t have a match thread.
Have a pre match and a post match thread, but shut it down for the 90 minutes

 

[sausage]

How about a “toxic” rating that hides a post if it gets enough of them?

My problem with that is that is that TFC had something similar with red cards and all the knobs coordinated in secret to try and use it to be knobs.

We could maybe make it work though. But is it a good idea? Can you guys self-moderate each other?

It'll work about as well as the "off topic" or "spam" rating has in the past, which is that it will just become an "uber-disagree" feature, rather than relevant. Kind of like a creationist deity saying "ok - I'll give animals genitals too; just promise not to try and... you know" - there's always some that will let everyone down.

It's just the way it is. Reddit is fun for about 5 minutes of the first time you try it, until you realise that the downvote button is anything but what it is supposed to be. Democratic moderation just doesn't work, so I can only imagine that post throttling is the only effective method of self-restraint.

 

[Yid-ol]

To be honest i've been pondering this for quite a while. It's probably the easiest thing to try before we start looking at more some of my more favoured and slightly medieval solutions

It will end up as both being the same in both I fear. If you follow or had posted in both you will get confused as to which you are in and then it will snowball with other replies.

Even if the match thread is shut down i could see the players threads getting used to slate anyone not performing as someone expects. It's a hard balance to find with how up and down the mood of people can be in the match thread.

 

[Rob]

I think self-moderation works if there are consequences.

If you get x amount of people rating your posts badly, it removes your ability to post in match thread for example.

I guess the first step is identifying the problem and I don't think we've done that yet.

Is it a small number of idiots who we just need to find a mechanism to identify and remove?
Is it a majority of people? We can't ban everyone... (A&C, this one's for your benefit )
Is it less the people and more the situation? If the match thread wasn't so "live" and raw would that change how people post in it?
Is it only an issue when we play poorly or are the same people doing similar even without a good reason?

I think the first step is figuring out the problem.

 

[wadewill]

Just don’t have a match thread.
Have a pre match and a post match thread, but shut it down for the 90 minutes

It would just all go in the Post match, I don't normally go in there before games but pop in after.

Its literally after defeats that it goes a bit stupid, there are hardly any pages in there after we've won

With having two threads, worth a go but can it'll just give 2 places for dickheads to go dickhead. The main problem is, people who are making it a bit unbearable probably don't know its them that's doing it.... so they will just head to the "normal" match thread thinking the World is all nice and rosey.