Wow, I go out of town for the weekend and I miss all the fun... Seriously, I don't think a paid section to the forums is the answer (mainly because I wouldn't be able to join right now
). However, I do think that this situation is going to get worse and that this may be the time to search for a solution.
I think the problem will get worse because more people are getting into poker every day and while we all like the less then intelligent sitting at the table, I agree that when I'm looking for advice, these are not the people I want chiming in. As more people get into poker more people are going to be looking for a "place to belong" online to vent their frustration (usually brought on by themselves), cuss the establishment (for their own folly) or jst bad mouth people who take the time to study (for beating them).
I think A possible solution may be more moderators. There are more then enough well respected posters who've been around long enough to show that they're not fly by night people. Deputize them and let them start patrolling. If this site is like others (Non-poker forums) I've been on, then their is a "core group" about which the others revolve. Give a badge to more of the core group and let the banning begin.
Having said that I may need to qualify some of the previous statement. I don't think people need to be banned for a single dumb post or even a couple. I think it's safe to say that we all do one liners every now and again to attempt comic relief or to chime in to an interesting situation. However once it becomes a style of post (Like my style tends to be long winded). Then a warning is needed. If it doesn't improve, out the door.
Other forums I've been to have around 5-7 mods per main group with them being broken up into 1-3 per sub-group. This distributes the workload of warnings around so that a few guys aren't tasked with policing the entire site. Once several warnings have been given (via PM) and it continues, a PM to the big guy listing # of warnings, responses from the condemned, and actions since last warning should warrent a boot up the behind.
I personally think there are enough good people out there that this forum should stay free to the public, but just like any public place, you need a sizeable police force to keep the locals happy and the tourists from destroying the enviroment.
Jst my two cents worth.
Trons
I don't care what everyone says, I'm keeping my beta tapes. I think they'll make a comeback.
Linear Mode
