Explain why threads are closed

InLikeFlynn

Sometimes people are discussing relevant subjects on the forum and the post gets deleted for no apparent reason. I understand that posts need to be closed sometimes, but couldn't we get an explanation as to why?

For example I was following a couple of threads regarding GS users who were approached by publishers and I'm pretty sure they were just deleted.

This information could be useful to other users, and I didn't see anything offensive in the threads.

So my suggestion is that if you have to close a thread, instead of deleting it, explain why it was closed. This will make users less likely to repeatedly infringe on whatever rules they broke and users who want to search for those threads later can find them.

dmilinovichiii

RKS said:
A little annoying and ironic but, I am willing to place bets that this thread will be closed...

Agreed.

JohnPapiomitis

I agree when a thread is closed there should be an explanation why. Everytime i close one i state why.

tenrdrmer

Yes,it would be nice to have an explanation. I normally give one. I am guilty of closing some though without. I have noticed a lot of them lately being closed without explaining. Only GS can see who closed it and they wont say. only talk to the mod that did if they was a reason it should not have been closed.

I think I remember the threads you are talking about. Theres no reason they would have been deleted. That is normally reserved for spam or really bad things we don't want here. If they were closed it is most likely because Publishers like Chilingo Require things that cannot be done with GS. Therefore it is not really useful to this community. If you are using an SDK that can do the Requirements of Chilingo that SDK's forum would be the best place to talk about it.

Dizko

Deleting threads like that is counter productive.

Removing them removes them from search results, therefore if someone comes along wanting to do a search related to GameSalad and Chillingo, they won't find that thread and find out that it's not possible.

jonmulcahy

I always give an explanation why i close a thread.
in my opinion, nothing should ever be deleted, just closed and spam links removed.

tenrdrmer

Dizko, No one deleted anything. one search using the google method Brought both of the threads i'm pretty sure Geoff is talking about. as well as many other Chillingo threads from a year ago. no explanation is given but It was probably for the reasons I said. I didn't close them so I cant speak for the person who did. Believe it or not GameSalad closes some of the threads so its even possible it was one of them who closed it. But no one deleted these.

http://gamesalad.com/forums/topic.php?id=30648
http://gamesalad.com/forums/topic.php?id=30618

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=Chillingo+site:gamesalad.com

calvin9403

I think spam threads should get there link remove

and some threads that is too old and people bump it should get close, not delete(because there might be useful information )

tenrdrmer

tshirtbooth said:
A lot of the times i just reopen them

Completely disagree with that. If you disagree with something another mod did you need to contact GameSalad and voice your concern. They didn't make any of us mods to undo what other mods do. They did so cause they feel we have the judgement to moderate the forum based on their guidelines. So if someone thinks it needs to be closed, they had a reason in their head and therefore it should stay closed unless GameSalad disagrees with the moderator.

Anyways back to the main topic here. Threads generally are not deleted they are just closed and most of us give a reason for closing. the reason it may appear like they where deleted is due to GameSalads search function never works well. I recommend if you want to search the forum use the google method.

InLikeFlynn

I should add that in general I think the mods do an awesome job both in helping people and keeping the peace. All I meant was that every so often I don't get why a thread was closed, when the reason was probably obvious to GS staff or a mod.

tenrdrmer, I'm sure that there's been a few times I've been following a thread that was no longer available when I refreshed. Has that never happened to you? Is it possibly a technical problem?

butterbean

@Tshirt: Amen!

tenrdrmer

Geoff, That definitely sounds weird the only thing close I can say I have run into is hitting post only to find the topic was closed seconds before I got a post in.

quantumsheep

I delete LOADS of threads! I love it!

MUAHAHAHAHA!!!

But let me be clear, these are just Spam threads - you know the ones - with lists of random words and links to russian donkey porn.

That kind of thing.

I always ban the user and IP first of course.

Otherwise the place gets really cluttered. A few weeks ago I went through the conferences section and there were about 10 of these threads there, just closed.

I deleted them

QS

tenrdrmer

You devil QS. Those are the ones I delete too. Of course right after banning the user and IP.

quantumsheep

tenrdrmer said:
You devil QS. Those are the ones I delete too. Of course right after banning the user and IP.

Because I sleep odd hours, and I'm on here quite a bit, I can sometimes shut down a thread and ban a user within a minute of them posting Spam.

My God I love doing that!

QS

tenrdrmer

haha yeah I had one I happened to see it within like 15 seconds of posting. That was awesome. I haven't had it happen a bunch. but I can only imagine the persons thoughts when they hit refresh to see if it posted right or something and its not only gone but they are banned. LOL

azimpact

I run into this alot after searching and thinking I found the answer to what I was looking for only to click and have the thread gone.

jonmulcahy

There are two problems

1. Too many threads being closed
2. Mods undermining each other

Both problems need to be addressed by the GS team, because both are huge problems for the community.

edit: I've asked a few times for a mod's only forum a few times over the past year which could help solve both problems. We could talk about what and why we did things if problems arise. but like most things, things move VERY slowly around here.

tenrdrmer

Well Said Jon. hopefully with the new forum that can happen.

I dont think anyone here is arguing there are threads closed that prob should not be closed so some better guidelines would be nice. For those so unsure of there actions they don't leave a comment why they close.

And then yeah GameSalad needs to set some guidelines to avoid mods from undermining mods

LeonardDeveloper

jonmulcahy said:
There are two problems

1. Too many threads being closed
2. Mods undermining each other

Both problems need to be addressed by the GS team, because both are huge problems for the community.

edit: I've asked a few times for a mod's only forum a few times over the past year which could help solve both problems. We could talk about what and why we did things if problems arise. but like most things, things move VERY slowly around here.

+1
I agree;
I have had threads closed for no reason at all and its very annoying they should state why

JohnPapiomitis

tshirtbooth said:
tenrdrmer, Thank you but i have had conversations with the guys at GS and they have agreed that to many threads are being closed for no good reason. I think it may even be talked about in the next chef call.

cheers

thats besides the fact. No mod should be undoing what another mod does. You or any other sous chef dont have more special previelages then the other sous chefs.. Were all even. If gs agrees a thread should be reopened that a thread closed it should be up to them to do so, not any other sous.