So, the low post content rule...

[Irony's Acolyte]

It's to keep people from getting away with extrememly short posts like "lol", "nope", "yes", and the like. Also so that you don't get just a picture or video with no explanation as to why it was posted(yes a picture is worth a 1000 words, but it isn't always obvious what those words are).

There are times when a one word post is useful. Like if the thread is based around low content posts (The "Each Post must contain a Picture" Thread comes to mind). Hopefully the mods take that into account when they are reviewing a post to see if it should receive some sort of warning.

The only real problems I have with it is that sometimes a short post words much better than a long-winded one and that people will also add something like "random stuff so this post isn't low content" after they post something like "lol". These aren't that bad though and are better than the forum being filled with "lol"s and "no"s everywhere. Sure the Escapist isn't the bastion of Internet Intellect that some people make it out to be, but at least it's a bit more polite and well-kept than other sites out there. That counts for something.

Edit: Course I've never run afoul of this rule because if I'm going to make a post, I'm at least going to make sure that it's worth the effort and thus has more meaning than a simple one word response. It's one of the easiest rules to abide by, so long as you try.

 

[similar.squirrel]

Because it contributes nothing to discussions. If you agree or disagree with something, keep it to yourself unless you have something to say that hasn't been said before. Or elaborate on a previous point.
Forums are a place of discussion. If you simply want to express [dis]approval, just use the 'Like' button on Facebook [or don't], or thumbs-up [or down] a video on YouTube.

 

[Lancer873]

Agreed. *awesomeface*

OT: Yeah, makes sense. A lot of people try to pad their post count that way and it just ends up cluttering the forums.

 

[OptimisticPessimist]

Oh look. Even in this situation the mods can't take a joke. I should say I'm surprised but I'm not.

Unfortunately, running this forum has little to do with one's personal sense of humor. There are rules and we all have to follow them. Moderators are subject to the same rules as users.

 

[LuckyClover95]

I got a low content post telling off just for quoting someone and saying "For teh lulz" it was relevant

 

[TimeLord]

Lol <--- It is to eliminate useless posts like that, they add nothing to the forum

This.
I'm so tempted to only post that, but I'd rather not be a hypocrite.

And I'm sooo tempted to give you a warning
What's your policy on mods moderating admins? I knew Spin's, but what's yours?

It's a damn good rule, it keeps the forum civilised. And as for pictures, we realise that your opinion could be expressed with just a picture, and the problem is not about that. It's that we want your personal opinion using your own words, we don't want a standard file used specifically to help people state simple, common opinions as quickly as possible. They're more than welcome to be used to enhance your point, but not to be the entirety of it.

Do you have mods to mod the mods. Who then mod the other mods who have all the cake?

 

[RanD00M]

It's to make people think more before just posting "yes" to a certain topic. Giving it a bit of depth, and making it a more interesting read for the rest of us.

 

[Starke]

Oh look. Even in this situation the mods can't take a joke. I should say I'm surprised but I'm not.

Unfortunately, running this forum has little to do with one's personal sense of humor. There are rules and we all have to follow them. Moderators are subject to the same rules as users.

Something I'm rather thankful for. As someone who used to work on a board were the staff weren't kept in line with the rules, the professionalism (or at least lack of hypocrisy) is very reassuring.

 

[JochemDude]

Lol <--- It is to eliminate useless posts like that, they add nothing to the forum

This.
I'm so tempted to only post that, but I'd rather not be a hypocrite.

And I'm sooo tempted to give you a warning
What's your policy on mods moderating admins? I knew Spin's, but what's yours?

It's a damn good rule, it keeps the forum civilised. And as for pictures, we realise that your opinion could be expressed with just a picture, and the problem is not about that. It's that we want your personal opinion using your own words, we don't want a standard file used specifically to help people state simple, common opinions as quickly as possible. They're more than welcome to be used to enhance your point, but not to be the entirety of it.

Do you have mods to mod the mods. Who then mod the other mods who have all the cake?

Don't you remember there is no cake, with other words they are moderators because they have proven they don't need cake.

 

[TimeLord]

Lol <--- It is to eliminate useless posts like that, they add nothing to the forum

This.
I'm so tempted to only post that, but I'd rather not be a hypocrite.

And I'm sooo tempted to give you a warning
What's your policy on mods moderating admins? I knew Spin's, but what's yours?

It's a damn good rule, it keeps the forum civilised. And as for pictures, we realise that your opinion could be expressed with just a picture, and the problem is not about that. It's that we want your personal opinion using your own words, we don't want a standard file used specifically to help people state simple, common opinions as quickly as possible. They're more than welcome to be used to enhance your point, but not to be the entirety of it.

Do you have mods to mod the mods. Who then mod the other mods who have all the cake?

Don't you remember there is no cake, with other words they are admins because they have proven they don't need cake.

Even the most robotic, soul crushing entity from the depths of space and the beginning of time needs cake at one point in his/her/it's existence! Or at least a pie shaped like a cake.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

That stuff he said.

This...


...


...post is to express my agreement with Sassafrass in a more long winded manner than is necessary.

[small]OT: It's a necessary evil but I do feel it could be more lenient in instances where a non-meme image has been used to provide wit or insight. Also, small text is probably more likely to save my butt than Sass's white text, hehe.[/small]

 

[martin's a madman]

Because, if you're literally going to respond with one word, you're better off not replying at all.

 

[GeorgW]

Lol <--- It is to eliminate useless posts like that, they add nothing to the forum

This.
I'm so tempted to only post that, but I'd rather not be a hypocrite.

And I'm sooo tempted to give you a warning
What's your policy on mods moderating admins? I knew Spin's, but what's yours?

It's a damn good rule, it keeps the forum civilised. And as for pictures, we realise that your opinion could be expressed with just a picture, and the problem is not about that. It's that we want your personal opinion using your own words, we don't want a standard file used specifically to help people state simple, common opinions as quickly as possible. They're more than welcome to be used to enhance your point, but not to be the entirety of it.

While I understand the point on pictures, I think it should reconsidered, or at least be lessened, because I have seen often times where a single picture as a reply is far funnier than a picture and a comment. I mean, sure, it may not add to the discussion value, but if we start sacrificing comedic edge for discussion, well, I might get bored with this place. I do enjoy a good discussion, but what keeps me here is the sense of humor this place has, and if it loses that... well, then the discussion might become too trivial for me to care.

I agree with you, but it depends entirely on the thread. For example I don't usually hand out warnings for low content in joke threads, but instantly in R&P. It's all about context.

 

[MikeTheElf]

Marking something as 'low content' is not just to make people tack on nonsense to the end of 'lol' in order to make it appear constructive to the discussion; the theory is that you will actually contribute, not change 'lol' to 'lol I was laughing etc. etc.' or 'I quite enjoyed a hearty chuckle from the hilarity of this situation,' but to change 'lol' to something more meaningful--to something which ACTUALLY adds value to the discussion.

An unfortunate side effect of this low-content-pruning is verbatim reiteration, in many cases; just in reading these first two pages of this thread, you can see that many people wrote a few sentences, all of which state (but do not explicate) 'the low content limit is there so you don't just write one-word responses.' I feel that this can be attributed to the declining attention spans of internet users, as discussed in 'Is Google Making Us Stupid' by Nicholas Carr [http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/6868/], wherein the author describes how the Internet has had the unfortunate malediction to weaken attention spans. Judging by the deluge of similar responses to this thread, I would suggest that many of those replying did not read what others had to say, and simply contributed their own thoughts. While I believe everyone has a right to his opinion, a discussion gets nowhere if people constantly retread old ground. In a discussion, everything submitted should be relevant and grow upon what exists.

Further, to discuss the 'A picture is worth a thousand words' argument, I submit to you the above example, albeit using a link in lieu of a picture or video. When implemented properly as part of an argument, a picture, video, article, etc. can bolster the argument. When a meme or otherwise simple picture has nothing constructive to add to the argument, it wastes space, proliferating the waning attention span, because people are drawn to the picture before the text, and if everyone just posts pictures, why bother reading the text at all (especially if it contributes nothing to the argument)?

 

[GeorgW]

Lol <--- It is to eliminate useless posts like that, they add nothing to the forum

This.
I'm so tempted to only post that, but I'd rather not be a hypocrite.

And I'm sooo tempted to give you a warning
What's your policy on mods moderating admins? I knew Spin's, but what's yours?

It's a damn good rule, it keeps the forum civilised. And as for pictures, we realise that your opinion could be expressed with just a picture, and the problem is not about that. It's that we want your personal opinion using your own words, we don't want a standard file used specifically to help people state simple, common opinions as quickly as possible. They're more than welcome to be used to enhance your point, but not to be the entirety of it.

Do you have mods to mod the mods. Who then mod the other mods who have all the cake?

The admins mods us. If you have a problem with a specific mod, take it up with Nasrin.

 

[GeorgW]

To stop people from posting 1-2 word replies and to encourage discussion. Its not really that hard to grasp and its actually really difficult to break the rule.

That stuff he said.
But yeah, it's there to stop the one word answers that would otherwise fill this forum. It could also have a secondary purpose of stopping people spamming one or two word posts to boost their post counts. And now, I really hope that the Mods notice I've written this in white text as if not, I'm getting a warning. XD

Great joke, and I'll keep an eye out on the mod queue and clear you. Keep in mind that there are several mods, so you still might get warned. In that case, just appeal it. But you must know that this is risky, so beware.

 

[TimeLord]

Lol <--- It is to eliminate useless posts like that, they add nothing to the forum

This.
I'm so tempted to only post that, but I'd rather not be a hypocrite.

And I'm sooo tempted to give you a warning
What's your policy on mods moderating admins? I knew Spin's, but what's yours?

It's a damn good rule, it keeps the forum civilised. And as for pictures, we realise that your opinion could be expressed with just a picture, and the problem is not about that. It's that we want your personal opinion using your own words, we don't want a standard file used specifically to help people state simple, common opinions as quickly as possible. They're more than welcome to be used to enhance your point, but not to be the entirety of it.

Do you have mods to mod the mods. Who then mod the other mods who have all the cake?

The admins mods us. If you have a problem with a specific mod, take it up with Nasrin.

No, no. I have no problems. Just making a joke :/

 

[bobmus]

In my opinion the highest content post in this thread was the first one that earned Mod Wrath, because it made a statement and made me laugh. I call it the 'Quality Over Quantity' rule. However, the Low Content Rule is good in theory, just requires some situational thought by the mods as to where a post of a few words might actually be appropriate (eg. Name Suggestion Threads) or where just a video is needed (eg. Song Suggestion Threads).
But in practice, some mods might well be more zealous or uptight than others, so it could well just be down to luck?

 

[Snowalker]

Marking something as 'low content' is not just to make people tack on nonsense to the end of 'lol' in order to make it appear constructive to the discussion; the theory is that you will actually contribute, not change 'lol' to 'lol I was laughing etc. etc.' or 'I quite enjoyed a hearty chuckle from the hilarity of this situation,' but to change 'lol' to something more meaningful--to something which ACTUALLY adds value to the discussion.

An unfortunate side effect of this low-content-pruning is verbatim reiteration, in many cases; just in reading these first two pages of this thread, you can see that many people wrote a few sentences, all of which state (but do not explicate) 'the low content limit is there so you don't just write one-word responses.' I feel that this can be attributed to the declining attention spans of internet users, as discussed in 'Is Google Making Us Stupid' by Nicholas Carr [http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/6868/], wherein the author describes how the Internet has had the unfortunate malediction to weaken attention spans. Judging by the deluge of similar responses to this thread, I would suggest that many of those replying did not read what others had to say, and simply contributed their own thoughts. While I believe everyone has a right to his opinion, a discussion gets nowhere if people constantly retread old ground. In a discussion, everything submitted should be relevant and grow upon what exists.

Further, to discuss the 'A picture is worth a thousand words' argument, I submit to you the above example, albeit using a link in lieu of a picture or video. When implemented properly as part of an argument, a picture, video, article, etc. can bolster the argument. When a meme or otherwise simple picture has nothing constructive to add to the argument, it wastes space, proliferating the waning attention span, because people are drawn to the picture before the text, and if everyone just posts pictures, why bother reading the text at all (especially if it contributes nothing to the argument)?

What world do you live in? No, I'm not trying to be mean, but while you're dead on accurate, you're not thinking realistically. Who has the time to read every single post in a thread before posting? The only reason I've had the time to do that for this thread is because I'm off of work today, and I don't frequent this site nearly as much as I like. And yet, just skimming threads seem to take up far too much of my time. Its much simpler to read the OP then post, and honestly, that what most people expect. Sure, it might make our attention spans smaller, but honestly, its all we have time to do in this day and age.

 

[Eri]

Oh look. Even in this situation the mods can't take a joke. I should say I'm surprised but I'm not.

Unfortunately, running this forum has little to do with one's personal sense of humor. There are rules and we all have to follow them. Moderators are subject to the same rules as users.

Except ever seen a mods status bar in their profile? Nope.