Exactly.
So is there any reason then to have a "prices are high" thread in the ADSL section, the MTN section, the Vodacom section, the DSTV section, etc., etc.?
-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: Did you buy your last car with cash or on a finance plan?
Why do mods close threads about high mobile data prices?
- Thread starter Shred
- Start date
So is there any reason then to have a "prices are high" thread in the ADSL section, the MTN section, the Vodacom section, the DSTV section, etc., etc.?
IMO yes.
+1
lol is that a trick question?
You yourself just said you agree that MyBB is only here because RPM was agitated by Broadband Costs.
Zewp
Banned
Well, it's not secret that RPM has sided with sponsors before, even when that sponsor is clearly in the wrong on an issue. I'm not going to go digging to find a bunch of threads again, but there's one about @lantic a while back which I believe illustrated this point, if I remember correctly.
Just a question, because many threads have been closed recently.
What is the harm of having people voicing their opinions about high data prices for the network provider they use, that they are locked into a 24 month contract with? Yes, to a certain extent you can vote with your wallet but last time I checked you cannot have a voice plan with one of these super duper 10GB bundle things. And isn't it odd that MTN have not changed their data bundle prices in 6 years???
And mods, if there are so many of these ranting threads about data bundle prices, don't the members of this forum deserve to rant on what they like? Sure, some people might find the threads irritating, pointless, etc. But then is it aim of MyBB mods to seek out ALL irritating and pointless threads and close them? What about the completely pointless Thread Killer rubbish that people use to get billions of posts so that they can look cool?
Rant finished, back to work
So you've come up with 2 threads one which was around for a year before it was closed and one recent one for MTN which was probably going into the exact same off topic spiral the Vodacom one went.
Hardly many threads and hardly proof of anything.
Case in point as to why all these "cheaper prices now!" threads are never taken seriously. There's no researched information for a basis of a debate, just wild speculation followed by imagery of buggery being enacted on the unsuspecting consumer.
Yes, keeper believe what you want. Countless times I have tried to explain to people here that it's not about protecting vendor X, but rather getting people to think and have meaningful debates. If all a person can do is insult the vendor and resort to profanity then all they do is undermine whatever legitimate problem/concern/idea they had.
See above. I've issued a number of infractions for people due to insults against the rep or other members and people who are plain out to troll. A typical example is this:
From about page 3 of the polite-request-to-recosider-your-data-rollover-policy thread, Jannie and other members actually start with an engaging conversation with both sides presenting their view on how roll-over should work for them. Then at about the point where things start getting interesting someone posts:
How on earth is that adding anything valuable to the conversation? It's trolling plain and simple which earned the appropriate infraction and was sent to the bit bucket.
Yes and why not? Can we not have a civil conversation online without having to resort to expletives?
Last edited:
I can't speak for rpm and what his intentions where when he started the site, nor what he currently feels the role is MBB plays in the ICT space. For me personally the forums (in particular the provider and technology specific ones) is a place for getting help with technical problems and exchanging knowledge. It's not here for idle rants and expletives. There are also a number of sites the likes of hellopeter and getclosure which are all specifically geared around customer complaints and resolutions, something which wasn't around when MBB started. How much time would you spend in any given forum if all there was to read was 20 new threads about topics like: why prices should drop, what the #$!%@^#$ is up with MY connection?, Provider X you suck! etc.
You asked for a price drop and Vodacom did eventually drop their prices by which time the thread had long since derailed. While not being the stellar discount you were expecting, it was a price drop none the less so I decided the thread had exceeded its usefulness, besides which people were already discussing the discounts in the associated news articles.
Last edited:
He said vodacom should forget about rollover and concentrate on lowering their data costs, improve speed & signal ?
hmmm... sounds pretty reasonable to me?
So my question is, Why the Infraction?
- is it because he used "bad words" like "screw" or "crap"? (lol isn't this supposedly an over 18 forum?)
- or is it a conflict of interest against vodacom as an advertiser?
Thanks for answering my questions, much appreciated.
Perhaps, but it was conveyed in a completely unreasonable tone.
Primary reason for the infraction was because, given the current direction of the thread, it was a juvenile comment with no substance, which added no value to the thread as it currently stood.
And after all that all you could take from it it was to ask why a pointless rant in the midst of a solid debate deserves an infraction?
So are you saying that in a thread called "We are adding new features to Advanced Bundles", we can't say "Screw advanced bundles rather work on X" ?
Edit: it also sounded like you just said we can get infractions based on "tone" is this correct?
Edit: it also sounded like you just said we can get infractions based on "tone" is this correct?
I don't believe it's about whether a thread is closed or shredded to hell & gone. It's about being consistent. There are many threads that are contentious, some even having a go at the reps, but they aren't closed as swiftly. I've even reported some myself that were clearly getting personal and insulting, only to have the situation completely ignored after days. Some are still there with someone calling me a name of some sort.
Maybe I should just rename this to the "Ask a mod anything thread"
When I look a thread and the posts in it, I consider a number of factors.
1) The OP - What's the actual question.
2) Is this person actually looking for help or just blowing off steam
3) Then comes the subsequent replies, which invariably invites the "!@#$ em!", "sue them", "CPA their !@#$" replies.
4) I also get people of offer help or relay similar experiences and how they resolved the problem.
5) I then have to consider if any of those replies are actually helping the OP solve his problem or if they are just unnecessary trolling.
6) Some comments I'll let slide, but some posts tick enough of the "this doesn't add value boxes" and will get deleted. Not all deleted posts get infractions, again I consider the thread as a whole.
So in short, there is no black and white reason for deleting posts and issuing infractions, but as a mod my job is to keep the discussions civil and on topic (as much as any thread can stay on topic - look where we are now). What is the poor OP going to think when all he has to read is a page of insults before getting to a useful answer? It devalues the forum as a whole and drives away technical savvy people who have better things to do than read juvenile rants.
What I personally would rather see people post is:
Provider X, while you are working on Product Y would you not consider that attention should rather be focused on Product Z because of reason A, B and C. This is a much more constructive approach and actually means some thought has gone into the suggestion. This then opens the door for people to consider the reasoning and add their own ideas. You'll probably find that people will be much more willing to engage in debate if you treat them in a civil manner.
Fair enough, I think my statement of "many threads have been closed recently" is an exaggeration. And yes, looks like I can only find two. My apologies.
I just came across the MTN thread which was doing trying to do the same sort of thing as the Vodacom one that was closed and to me it seemed odd. We have chatted via PM about this and I don't don't really want to try and change your mind because I don't believe I can.
Why close a topic when it will "probably" follow another another thread? Probably?
Last time I checked the Vodacom one was not off topic; and if there was one or two posts that were off topic, what's the problem with that?
MickeyD
RIP
/reports morkhans for trolling
I also find it frustrating when a totally OT comment is posted in the middle of a "decent", value-adding thread. It becomes easy to side track and attack the OT comment instead of remaining focussed on the OP.
I also find it frustrating when a totally OT comment is posted in the middle of a "decent", value-adding thread. It becomes easy to side track and attack the OT comment instead of remaining focussed on the OP.
MickeyD
RIP
True, there is absolutely nothing wrong with venting... but then vent in the correct thread.
mercurial
MyBB Legend
MickeyD
RIP
All over MyBB !!!Which is where...?
I'm very sure that if you searched properly you'd find a relevant thread...
mercurial
MyBB Legend
All over MyBB !!!
Until that gets closed