[7-4-2015] Ruling Against Low-Effort Posting

[Nero]

Effective immediately, the moderation staff will be implementing a rule that forbids low-effort posting within discussion threads.

 

1). Definitions and Examples

 

A low-effort post is to be defined as a post within a discussion thread that contains memes, macro images, videos, minimal text content or direct links, but is either not relevant to the subject being discussed and/or does not add anything to the topic at hand.

 

Examples of low-effort posts[/b]]

 

User A posts an opinion thread about RP practices

 

 

User B's post does not contain any content that addresses or is relevant to the topic of User A's thread, and does not in any way add to the discussion being broached by User A. User B's posted would be removed.

 

User C posts a discussion thread about lore

 

Oh yeah, you're totally right. Definitely. Your mastery on this subject is incredible. Bravo.

 

User D's post contains nothing but sarcastic and condescending comments, does not address any of the content of User C, and does not add to the topic in any relevant fashion. User D's post would be removed.

 

User E makes a thread or post asking about lore

 

OH NO THIS WILL GO WELL

 

User F's post would be removed for the same above reasons: failing to be relevant, failing to address any content presented by User I, failing to add to the topic in any meaningful fashion

 

User G makes a post refuting the content of another poster

 

 

User G's post would be removed for the same above reasons: failing to be relevant, failing to address any content presented by User I, failing to add to the topic in any meaningful fashion

 

User I makes a thread about a controversial topic

 

Here's how you do it: don't.

 

User J's post would be removed for the same above reasons: failing to be relevant, failing to address any content presented by User I, failing to add to the topic in any meaningful fashion.

 

User K posts a thread titled "How would an RP character become the Azure Dragoon/Warrior of Light". The content of User K's thread makes it clear that User K wishes to have serious answers to their question.

 

Oh, you know. Jump through a million hoops, defeat all the primals, save Ishgard from aliens and eat a lot of pie. That kind of thing.

 

User L's post is condescending, does not address any content within User K's post, does not add to any discussion, is not constructive in any fashion, and otherwise does not add to the topic at all. User L's post would be removed.

 

User M makes a discussion thread

 

 

This! What they said.

 

User N's post of concurrence or agreement is not relevant and adds nothing to the discussion topic. Users should use the reputation system found at the bottom left of every post instead.

 

 

Examples of contexts in which low-effort posts are permitted, or in which certain posts will not be interpreted as low-effort[/b]]

 

User A posts a recap thread of an RP party event within the "RP Discussion" board.

 

I was there. It was a huge mess. But a fun mess.

 

In the above context, User A's thread is unambiguously intended to be a "fun" thread, and thus posts that normally are defined as "low-effort" will be permitted. At most, the thread would be moved to the Roleplay Events thread, but no action against User B would be taken.

 

User C posts a thread asking for opinions about the 51 Xaela tribes

 

The Goro are pretty weird, though. My character would totally be a Goro.

 

In the above context, User C posted a discussion thread, and User D responded with a post that contained minimal text content. However, User D's post, despite containing little substantial content, was relevant to the topic at hand and to the subject User C was asking about, and User D's post comprised of at least one full sentence. Therefore, no action would be taken against User D's post.

 

User E posts a thread asking about a highly controversial topic

 

 

Here's my two cents. I think that...

 

User F posted a .gif that is not relevant and does not add to the topic, however the content of User F's post was still relevant to User E's thread and addressed the content of User E's post.

 

 

 

 

The purpose of pruning low-effort posts is to allow actual discussion posts to have precedence within threads and boards that are specifically intended for discussion. In addition, such low-effort posts as defined above are also frequently used in a condescending, belittling, or otherwise negatively provocative manner and thus do not have any place on the RPC as per Section 1 - Posting and Topics, and Section 4 - Tone and Attitude.

 

Banning "low-effort posting" does not mean the RPC is banning all .gifs, memes, macros, video links, and other similar content. Gifs, memes, macros, video links, and other similar content will be permitted within discussion forums and discussion threads so long as there is one sentence in the post that is relevant to the topic of the thread, addresses content that is within the thread (whether it's the original post or another user's post about the same subject), and/or at least adds to the discussion of the topic at hand.

 

2). Moderator Actions and Infractions

 

The moderation staff of the RPC reserves the right to archive or otherwise remove any post that can be interpreted as a low-effort post, and to freely edit the criteria or contexts in which this ruling shall or shall not apply. Appeals against post archival can be made by sending a private message to any member of the moderation staff, or to the administrator of the boards. In addition, we encourage users to report posts that violate this ruling to the moderation staff.

 

No warning points will be given for the first five violations of this rule. The offending post will be removed, and a private message will be sent to the user reminding them of this ruling against low-effort posting.

 

Subsequent violations, however, will be considered "Excessive off-topic posting" under Section 1 - Posting and Topics, and will cause the violating user to accrue a minor warning.

[Melkire]

For those curious about why: recent toxicity stems from a freedom to bait, troll, insinuate, be passive-aggressive, post non-constructively, derail, etc. We're tired of having to lock perfectly good threads, and aggravated that perpetrators can cower behind technicalities.

 

That ends today.

 

Be Excellent to Each Other.

 

If You Have Nothing Nice (and Constructive) to Say, Don't Say Anything at All.

 

That goes for everyone... even those aforementioned loophole abusers. ESPECIALLY those persons.

 

We're going to get called heavy-handed for this, I'm sure. But you know what? This isn't 4chan or SA or Tumblr. We're not here for sniping. We're here to enjoy FFXIV, RP, and FFXIV RP.

 

Concerns or questions? PM me.