Merging Topics

[CorvusCorax]

I understand why you merge threads as some duplicate. However, I think by merging too many threads, you're losing the effectiveness of the thread.

For Example:

Merged Coaching Complaints thread.

Whynot have a thread specifically for certain coaches such as Mattisson, Cameron, Harbaugh, etc.? I think this way the thread stays more on topic. Maybe lock them out after the end of the week or so.

Please remember that we are part of the voice. I feel that part of that voice gets pushed aside with merging too many threads. Please do not merge too many topics together.

Thanks.

[theFRANCHISE]

Generally, consolidation happens when posters steer the conversation another direction that becomes identical to one central topic; for instance, two separate threads about the Suggs incident were made, one about the allegations themselves and another about how questionable players might be good for the team as a result of the incident. They were kept separate because they addressed entirely different aspects revolving around one person. However, had the thread about questionable players veered back into territory about the allegations and a discussion about the details, then it would've been merged into the original thread discussing the case itself.

Makes sense?

In other words, we generally wait and see what happens, but when things are posted [i]emotionally[/i] immediately after a game, we have to make a snap judgment so as to avoid clutter the next morning. It's up to the OP to make their thread original and different enough from the existing conversations to stand alone, as well as the subsequent posters to keep the conversation on-topic. Though we're here to moderate (i.e. monitor) the conversation, we can't always steer them the way that people want.

[CorvusCorax]

Oh I agree. And I know Sundays and Mondays are pretty bad for you all. Emotions go crazy and people start going off topic and ranting pretty easily.

[Moderator 2]

We have had a TON of have a thought start a thread, and legitimate stuff does get lost, but the sheer volume of threads being started right now is pretty impressive.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='CorvusCorax' date='08 December 2009 - 11:11 AM' timestamp='1260288680' post='306863']
Oh I agree. And I know Sundays and Mondays are pretty bad for you all. Emotions go crazy and people start going off topic and ranting pretty easily.
[/quote]
The thing we're most careful of is how we handle merging, as we've had people get defensive and angry when they see their threads merged because they thought their opinion was important enough or different enough to warrant a separate thread. The key, however, is that the thread itself is dictated by the flow of conversation, which is determined by subsequent posters. Though it is no fault of the OP that other posters steer the conversation in a different direction, if the conversation flows naturally into another conversation, that is where the merging usually begins.

This may be seen as penalizing the OP, but it shouldn't be taken as such. Rather, an OP starts a thread to start a new conversation, and if the conversation doesn't go the way they intended, perhaps they could consider having been more concise and specific in their opening post. There is almost no way for a conversation to be steered wrong (outside of thread hi-jacking -- different matter entirely) if the OP is as specific as possible in addressing the topic at hand.