Forum feature request:
Lately the number of threads in T&T and GCC has been increasing wich makes it hard to see the helprequests in latest posts (they get outnumbered).

To make this more workable for the serious helpers i would very much like the option (preferably in user cp, so we can turn it on by default) to be able to hide T&T and GCC in latest post list.

And to reduce the number of people signing up just for chitchatter, for GCC to be hidden for guests aswell, just like T&T is now.

Cry to helpers:
A few of us have been pointing out to helpers to please post as much info as possible in the first post they make in helpthreads (full info). Looks like that advice gets thrown overboard loads of times or taken the wrong way (critisism).

So a few pointers to the helpers:
- approach things as professional as possible (possibilities within MSNM and Plus! first before advising patches..patches are always last option)
- post full info (as much as you know/can find by searching...there's plenty of stickies)
- if you don't know the answer, don't post
- do not turn helpthreads into chat threads (spam)
Sure everybody has to learn, thats why the good helpers try to advice you..do not look at this at critisism and take it to heart. It's very frustrating for us if our advice gets thrown in the wind or taken wrongly.

Thank you.

Edit: the frustration about the growing number of T&T and GCC posts and the general behaviour of other helpers (not speakin of the good ones) is not only frustrating me but CookieRevised also. There are plenty of times we cba to read through all the threads anymore to see if the correct answer has been given (it can be solved in one post..really it can). As you might have noticed the time CookieRevised is onhere has decreased lots, it is due to above reasons.

Examples:
http://shoutbox.menthix.net/showthread.php?tid=42393
Even though Absorbation tries his very best to make his posts as clear and as complete as possible, that thread wouldn't have been necessary if he would search the forums. Or atleast post in one of the many already existing threads about this, e.g: http://shoutbox.menthix.net/showthread.php?tid=42282

http://shoutbox.menthix.net/showthread.php?tid=42389
There is no link to be found in that thread at all pointing towards http://shoutbox.menthix.net/showthread.php?tid=42282. This thread is the most complete/informative thread on this subject sofar (esp. because of wtbw's post)

(this post is brought to you by CookieRevised and Sunshine)

well t&t is hidden, but i do not think general chat should be..
i see no reason tbh


although i agree with the helping bit

I agree with you sunshine! If users can only see the help threads then people won't join just to spam

I've been helping all the time and constantly been reporting posts throughout the forum for ages .

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Originally posted by Sunshine
To make this more workable for the serious helpers i would very much like the option (preferably in user cp, so we can turn it on by default) to be able to hide T&T and GCC in latest post list.

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Originally posted by Tochjo

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Originally posted by Sunshine
To make this more workable for the serious helpers i would very much like the option (preferably in user cp, so we can turn it on by default) to be able to hide T&T and GCC in latest post list.

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In the left bottom corner, there is a link to Hide T&T. Hiding certain other forums could be a nice addition.

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This is a good idea, and I would like to see it.

I am trying to help out more, and stop spamming, but I can't seem to find the hide T&T option..

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Originally posted by Tasha
This is a good idea, and I would like to see it.

I am trying to help out more, and stop spamming, but I can't seem to find the hide T&T option..

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Ya i agree with sunshine ..... too many gcc threads and i can hardly see any other threads Mabbe its the time i spend on the forum .... the questions mabbe asked at a different time or whatever
A button like "Turn off ...... gcc / t&t / gcc and t&t"
That would be good

And tasha just saw ur post ... click the link which sayz t&t above .... thats the actual link while the other 2 r fake

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Originally posted by John Anderton
Ya i agree with sunshine ..... too many gcc threads and i can hardly see any other threads Mabbe its the time i spend on the forum .... the questions mabbe asked at a different time or whatever

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Originally posted by Sunshine
The problem is the actual helpthreads are forced off the first page of the latest post list pretty fast (because of the numerous T&T and GCC threads), it has nothing to do with the time you are on.

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Originally posted by Cool Rik
I agree but you could do a new topic like :
"other problems"

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Originally posted by Cool Rik

I agree but you could do a new topic like :
"other problems"

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id like to think i help people, well i try....but im gonna research things before answering.....take that tip

id like to see the hide gcc aswell

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Originally posted by Sunshine
1. If GCC would be hidden for guests they won't sign up just to chit chat.
2. If we can hide it from latest posts we can act "blind" towards it.
3. If the helpers would clean up their act, less threads will be put in T&T in the first place. Also the dedicated helpers won't be so frustrated anymore..it's not fun having to report numerous posts and reading through tons of posts to see if a problem is solved or not.

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Originally posted by johny
With wich porpuse?

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Originally posted by Sunshine
1. If GCC would be hidden for guests they won't sign up just to chit chat.
2. If we can hide it from latest posts we can act "blind" towards it.
3. If the helpers would clean up their act, less threads will be put in T&T in the first place. Also the dedicated helpers won't be so frustrated anymore..it's not fun having to report numerous posts and reading through tons of posts to see if a problem is solved or not.

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so bacially the answer should be stop spamming and makin stupid thraeds ¬¬. There shouldn't need to be a change to things like been able to hide GCC or hide T&T, its alot easier if people just stopped with the stupid thraeds and remember that this is actually a help forum for messenger plus! if your gonna make stupid thraeds at least do it in T&T or go make they somewhere else messbe forums its good place to go, its always full of crap


and i know wot u mean, i always use to look thro all the threads to see where i could add any useful advice or information. but no i just think i can't be arsed, to much crap to look through ¬¬

Sometimes the problem is, and ive faced it a lot of times, when i reach the post there is already someone that helped.

Ive ben trying to reduce my posting to the minimal if you guys have realized.. hope ive been doing good..

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Originally posted by toddler
so bacially the answer should be stop spamming and makin stupid thraeds ¬¬. There shouldn't need to be a change to things like been able to hide GCC or hide T&T, its alot easier if people just stopped with the stupid thraeds and remember that this is actually a help forum for messenger plus! if your gonna make stupid thraeds at least do it in T&T or go make they somewhere else messbe forums its good place to go, its always full of crap


and i know wot u mean, i always use to look thro all the threads to see where i could add any useful advice or information. but no i just think i can't be arsed, to much crap to look through ¬¬

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To be honest, I can't see any problems with having General Chit Chat visible to only guests, sometimes we get good members that may join maybe even to join in a quick chat, but after this, they may prove to be a great asset to the forum.

If we have this invisible to guests, then there may be a problem and the amount of helpers may decrease as us lot get older and leave to have a proper life (lol), there won't be any left because they didn't join because of General Chit Chat.

General Chit Chat isn't full of spam, and when it is, it is cleaned or something, people might want to have a positive input to a general chit chat thread, maybe even have more news about a subject, be able to help somebody with a general problem that doesn't fit into msn messenger/msgplus talk/tech talk whatever, so they put it in general chit chat about a band request or something. They could be an amazing guitarist, and because it is invisible they won't join purely because... Maybe that's a stupid example of what I mean but still...

If we make General Chit Chat invisible I believe that a major aspect of one thing we all share in this forum will be lost... Friendship... In general chit chat, we just have general discussions and can make some decent friends and sort out each others troubles... why cloud this from the general public. I mean, if the general public see some of the threads and see how nice we are etc. maybe they stop flaming at us, or get to know us for who we really are other than just some "geeks..."

Well yea... so there's my say...

I'm just going to help and join in as usual... I don't think I spam that bad anyway so... .

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Originally posted by Sunshine
The problem is the actual helpthreads are forced off the first page of the latest post list pretty fast (because of the numerous T&T and GCC threads), it has nothing to do with the time you are on.

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I myself don't use the latest posts page, but I can easily get 20 tabs at a time, one thread in each, often half in GCC and T&T. I can just stop going into those boards but then I lose out on a large portion of the community spirit. On Mess.be and MSNFanatic forums, I only view a handful of the boards, and I'm largely inactive as a result. In fact, I use those forums so little I'm not sure why I joined them.

Basically, hiding GCC from guests would allow us all to benefit those who need help more, no matter how you search for new threads.

Another example:
http://shoutbox.menthix.net/showthread.php?tid=42306

Read that one and see what it is we get so frustrated about (i did not report the spammies so you can see)...*sighs*

I'm off to bed...goodnight

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Originally posted by Sunshine
http://shoutbox.menthix.net/showthread.php?tid=42306

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very good idea .. hide it . DZ

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Originally posted by raceprouk

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Originally posted by Sunshine
http://shoutbox.menthix.net/showthread.php?tid=42306

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I made a rant post as a result of that. And it's now locked. For me it wasn't pointless: it got some steam released. True, after a while, it did what all threads like that do: degenerated into a big argument, so yeah, leave it locked.
Anyway, as for the thread you linked to, the suggestion to reinstall Plus didn't really fit the problem (though from the board, I can see why it was thought of), and my information just went out the window. I try to help, but I don't feel I have to set everything out step by step: things like using a program's menus should be simple to get. In fact, familiarising oneself with a program and it's configuration will allow even the most computer illiterate user to solve many simple problems like 'sounds don't play when busy' or 'contact list shows e-mail addresses'.

Actually, that should be 'OMG WTF msn sh0wz teh em@ails', as most of those tend to be.

EDIT: </rant>

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Originally posted by Sunshine
First helper (you in this case but you are not the only one doing this) didn't post detailed how and what to check exactly.

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Yes indeed raceprouk, but we may not assume they have this knowledge (post full instructions to be sure they know). And everyone should explore, but you might have noticed already there are people outthere that just don't. Stay calm about it all and explain things so even a total compalit can understand (if possible).

To everybody:
I didn't make this thread to offend people..it is to advice and express our feelings about how things are going now, as a last desperate cry hoping people will understand what we are on about. We can make or break these forums together...follow the advice given, be a pro..and reputation of these forums will stay high. If the good helpers can't be bothered anymore then there is something seriously wrong isn't there? Where will these forums end if we give up?

Im just going to agree with everything thats been said, i read through it all and i dont think i need to say more.

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Originally posted by Sunshine
If the good helpers can't be bothered anymore then there is something seriously wrong isn't there? Where will these forums end if we give up?

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i didn't sign up to spam.. its just an extra..

i just don't see anything i can help at, im more the techsupprt for hardware and windows based issues.. not msg plus... haven't come across such a  problem yet.. maybe one day

I agree with SunShine.  People should come to this forum for help with Plus! (main reason), not because they see there's a place to chit chat and spam. 

The main reason why I don't help out on these forums as much as before is because when I do go around looking for those in need, I usually encounter a problem that's been solved..or solved incorrectly (which REALLY frustrates me. It's so much more harder to fix the problems caused by incomplete or incorrect help being given, than a problem that there's a known fix for). Most people don't view this as an issue, but when you come to these forums and there are a large number of helpthreads posted and you search through each post only to find spam, incorrect information or incomplete support, you just feel like giving up your search. It not only hinders the supporters but the people that actually SEARCH before posting (as you guys shout the new members to do).

Excuse my language, but searching these forums for support for a problem is truly hell. It takes hours on end just to find the right post with the right information. And if you are a new member, searching for help, you often come across mutliple threads that either same the same thing, something similar or something completely different. Now, when you encounter said threads, what do you do? Do you follow the first posts advice or the second? How do you know which is right? It's a huge issue, searching these forums. It truly is.

It's not the staff's fault, as some of you seem to think but the community's fault. The staff are doing their best to keep these forums clean and it doesn't help when the members are constantly posting off-topic posts, stupid replies or cross-posting (as you guys do). Spam is easy to fight if the community helps each other, but you guys dont' seem to understand the importance of limiting the amount of spam and the amount of incorrect posts and threads being made. The reason the top helpers are top helpers is because they HARDLY EVER post incorrect information. Personally, I never post anything unless I've checked it myself or someone I trust has. I don't just post because it increases my post count (cool!) but because I love to help. Ranks mean little if they haven't been earned legitimately.

Sure, General Chat and Testing and Trashing are fun forums to post in but this forum is more viewed as a support source than a chit chat area. Please consider the feature requested, it would help the helpers a lot.

Honestly guys, if CookieRevised is angry and Sunshine is angry there MUST be something wrong. Please guys, let's work together to fix this problem now and forever. Every community has it's ups and downs and some communities fall because of them. This community will NOT be one of those. The forums are dying as a reliable support source. We need to work hand in hand to bring it to it's peak once again. Instead of shouting the members that do wrong, educate them on what is right and dont' be an ass about it. Please. I'm hoping to bring CookieRevised back but I need your help. The community needs your help. Sunshine warned us and we didn't listen. Everyone gets a second chance, let's not waste ours.

Please, think about it. For the Messenger Plus! community!

I agree with EvilSeph and his comments. While the community has grown, so has the level of useless posts. Being able to turn off T&T in the latest posts page only goes so far. Often topics are full of useless comments. What annoys me most is when people, some of them with hundreds of posts to their name, getting angry and solving nothing, except to get people all the more annoyed in turn. This leads to incomplete support.

When people start posting on this forum, some of them are quite young. Also for some people, its probably the first forum they have posted to, so its all very new for them. As a community we should help them to understand how things work. Sadly, people with hundreds of posts who should know better, don't set a very good example at times. Surely by the time you reach a certain level of posts, you should understand how you should post.

However, there is a lot of spam about. One thing I have seen on other forums, and that may work here, is a cooling off period after signing up. A lot of the time, people do sign up without searching and post straight away (for now, let's just put EvilSeph's comments about searching to one side). How it works is that you sign up, and you are told that there is a 3 day cooling off period where you can sign in, but can't post, and you are recommended to search the forums as many problems can be solved that way. People are often persuaded to search first as they wait for their posting privaleges to be enabled.

This apparently works quite well. I am not suggesting its ideal, but if we are to improve the forums, we need to come up with some ideas. In theory this will cut down on the spam, and hopefully make searching more successful, which is one thing I'd love to see

Let's hope things improve, because even I have been tempted to leave after reading thread after thread of basically, just crap

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Originally posted by Jeronimo
I've seen on other forums, and that may work here, is a cooling off period after signing up. A lot of the time, people do sign up without searching and post straight away. How it works is that you sign up, and you are told that there is a 3 day cooling off period where you can sign in, but can't post, and you are recommended to search the forums as many problems can be solved that way. People are often persuaded to search first as they wait for their posting privaleges to be enabled

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Originally posted by *Saint*
i dont like that idea at all and i dont think it should be put here.

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That may work Jeronimo, but you have to take the fact that not everyone is patient into account. Most people - and I'm speaking from experience - just give up if faced with an email validation system or a probation system. I've personally done so myself a couple times when I just can't be bothered to wait. I mean, just how important is it for me to be able to post or be a part of a community when there are others, just like the one I want to join, elsewhere - freely available on the internet?

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Originally posted by EvilSeph
Most people - and I'm speaking from experience - just give up if faced with an email validation system or a probation system. I've personally done so myself a couple times when I just can't be bothered to wait.

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Originally posted by Sunshine
preferably in user cp, so we can turn it on by default

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Adding this option in  user cp would be even better because then you won't have to click the hide this and that every time

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Originally posted by WDZ
As for the feature request: I think I'll add the ability to hide any forums you want from the Latest Posts page. I'll work on it in a few days...

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Originally posted by Sunshine
preferably in user cp, so we can turn it on by default

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But I want the options to be easily accessible. Who wants to go through the whole user cp process to un-hide T&T? Not me.

Since when do you have to click it every time? It's supposed to remember the setting with a cookie.

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Update: I wanted to let you know that I haven't forgotten or abandoned the feature request. I've got a plan for making it, and I have some of the coding done.

/sound Ode to WDZ

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Originally posted by Sunshine
putting that many links under latest post page could be a bit too much

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Originally posted by WDZ
Update: I wanted to let you know that I haven't forgotten or abandoned the feature request. I've got a plan for making it, and I have some of the coding done.

/sound Ode to WDZ

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Originally posted by Sunshine
putting that many links under latest post page could be a bit too much

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I'm not gonna add links for every forum, of course. There will be a little pop-up page listing all the forums, with checkboxes.

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Dz i tht that u were originally gonna put this in the user cp
But ya the sunshine way is better .... easily accessable

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Originally posted by Sunshine
[Show threads you posted in | Show unanswered threads | Hide T&T | Hide GCC | Hide other Forums]

And on clicking "Hide other Forums" a box comes up, yes?

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Originally posted by Sunshine
[Show threads you posted in | Show unanswered threads | Hide T&T | Hide GCC | Hide other Forums]

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Originally posted by John Anderton
Dz i tht that u were originally gonna put this in the user cp

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Originally posted by John Anderton
Dz i tht that u were originally gonna put this in the user cp

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Originally posted by WDZ
Well, I was planning...

[Show threads you posted in | Show unanswered threads | Hide Forums]

I don't want there to be 2 different ways to hide forums (the quick links and the form)... I'd need separate code for each one... I want to get rid of the "Hide T&T" link anyway, because hard-coding forum names is dodgy.

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Originally posted by Sunshine
I totally forgot about possibilities like dropdown boxes etc.

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Originally posted by Sunshine
Nah j/k WDZ, whatever you think is best goes..you are the coder, not me. Its just a suggestion from my side.

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Originally posted by WDZ
A drop-down box might be cool... probably quicker to use, as well. I'll look into that later, but for now I'll just go with the pop-up window because that's what I have experience coding.

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Well, if you think the way I want to do it isn't good enough, I'll consider changing it. Making this feature would be kind of a waste of time if you're not happy with it.

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Originally posted by Sunshine

Lol WDZ, you know i'd be happy with any way to hide what i (and others) might want hidden

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Originally posted by Chaotic_Shield
Would that be all the pr0n he uploads to temporary storage on the server so he can share it with the world?

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Originally posted by Chaotic_Shield
Anyways, a suggestion would honestly be to have local mods inside the more active forums (GCC, etc.) to help the smods deal with the amount of BS threads that usually are in there (threads like PSP > DS).

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its worth it WDZ, if we have some local mods that can close stupid threads like that or at least monitor the comments so its constructive and doesn't turn into spam

I do try to help as much as i can but my knowlage of things is not so great.I will try to help as much as i can but i appologise in advance if my information is false


and also i thing the gcc hiding is a good idea

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Originally posted by WDZ

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Originally posted by Chaotic_Shield
Would that be all the pr0n he uploads to temporary storage on the server so he can share it with the world?

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What? You can't prove that...

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Originally posted by Chaotic_Shield
Anyways, a suggestion would honestly be to have local mods inside the more active forums (GCC, etc.) to help the smods deal with the amount of BS threads that usually are in there (threads like PSP > DS).

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There are some technical reasons that make it difficult for one-forum mods to work on this board. I'd have to do some modifications and testing...

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Originally posted by Chaotic_Shield
I'll help you test it if there are no better candidates.

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And I thought that MyBB already has local mods?

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Local mods are useless on this board (and others boards as well), they are too restrictive. Often you can't move threads to other forums, you can't track a (spamming) user, etc, etc... To decently mod you need access to many (if not all) subforums and be able to do things which are often not possible with local mod modusses...

Even on massive big boards I often can't see the use of the restrictive local mod system. It is an whole other issue if you make some "rules" between the mods like mod 1 mainly mods a subforum and someone else mods another subforum, but to programmatically restrict this, is something I often find too instrusive and narrow.

Afterall, the point of mods is you can trust them, they don't need restrictions between stuff. So using a local mod system just for the sake of splitting things up is a bad call towards modding...