Why were all the dating threads deleted?

[Drathnoxis]

Just *poof* all gone, overnight. I looked over the code of conduct again and I can't figure that they break any rules.

So what about all the other rampant thread topics in the past, why weren't they deleted? Sexism, Anita Sarkeesian, ponies, Zoey Quinn, Skyrim, Gamergate, sexism, Mass Effect 3 -- those are all okay topics to be posted ad nauseam, but dating threads are taking it too far and need to be nuked from orbit?

 

[Sleepy Sol]

When 6+ topics of the same gimmick are clogging up the first page, it's probably not a surprise they got deleted.

I found a lot of them hilarious, but they were kinda stopping a lot of other threads with legitimate discussions from getting the attention they deserved.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Because everybody was spamming the same stupid joke over and over?

 

[Armadox]

I'm kinda glad, it was getting rather silly wading through what is essentially multiples of the same thread with a gimmick. Though perhaps they could have left a few of the down to earth ones active...

*shrugs*

Now for something completely different...

 

[DoPo]

Well, what actually happened was that the dating threads and common decency were drowning in a whirpool, and the mods could save only one of them...

 

[Frezzato]

Well, what actually happened was that the dating threads and common decency were drowning in a whirpool, and the mods could save only one of them...

You monster. That was very well played.

 

[Zombie_Fish]

Where have all the dating threads gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the dating threads gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the dating threads gone?
Mods have banned them, every one.
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

[hr]

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Anyway, as Solaire said, the theme was really starting to grow old and it was clogging up the place.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Name me another topic that end up spawning six related threads that were ALL on the first page other than the recent deleted ones?

Sure you got your gamergate, ME ending and etc but none of them have ever achieve that!

Beside, rise your hand if you actually missed it? I mean come on seriously? I for one is ok that they took that action!

 

[DoPo]

Name me another topic that end up spawning six related threads that were ALL on the first page other than the recent deleted ones?

Sure you got your gamergate, ME ending and etc but none of them have ever achieve that!

Yes, here is ME3

[http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/6500x1000q90/651/meeeb.png]

I hope you excuse the poor quality but Imageshack decided to be twats. There were also the whirlpool threads.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Name me another topic that end up spawning six related threads that were ALL on the first page other than the recent deleted ones?

Sure you got your gamergate, ME ending and etc but none of them have ever achieve that!

Yes, here is ME3

I hope you excuse the poor quality but Imageshack decided to be twats. There were also the whirlpool threads.

Ah yeah, the memories are now flowing back into me. Well ok name me a third topic that achieve the same level to ME3 ending and the recent dating one!

 

[Sleepy Sol]

Yes, here is ME3

[http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/6500x1000q90/651/meeeb.png]

I hope you excuse the poor quality but Imageshack decided to be twats. There were also the whirlpool threads.

Spoiler: Hmmmm...

I kid, I kid. But I couldn't resist the opportunity.

[sub]please don't kill me[/sub]

 

[DoPo]

Name me another topic that end up spawning six related threads that were ALL on the first page other than the recent deleted ones?

Sure you got your gamergate, ME ending and etc but none of them have ever achieve that!

Yes, here is ME3

I hope you excuse the poor quality but Imageshack decided to be twats. There were also the whirlpool threads.

Ah yeah, the memories are now flowing back into me. Well ok name me a third topic that achieve the same level to ME3 ending and the recent dating one!

Video games: the topic is overdone - sometimes I feel practically the full first page of GD is full of them topics.



More realistically, GG was coming close, I think it could have breached six on the front page, however, mods did control their flow and redirect them to the giant one. Anita Sarkeesian also did get a few, although they might have been split between GD and Offtopic. The mods do have a policy now to merge all the Anita threads that come up after a new episode of hers comes out.

Spoiler: Hmmmm...

But of course - we now have so much more experience with these kinds of threads. This is good, right?

[sub]please don't kill me[/sub]

Well, I wouldn't. I'll leave that job to my squadron of rabid laser squirrels.

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

Just *poof* all gone, overnight. I looked over the code of conduct again and I can't figure that they break any rules.

There's nothing specifically in the Code of Conduct that forbids threads like these, nor really should there be, but there is some logic behind culling the threads if they get too out of hand.

[T]hey were kinda stopping a lot of other threads with legitimate discussions from getting ... attention ...

This really covers the most of it. In short, the more a string of specific topic threads appear in short order, the more likely it is any other topic of discussion is going to get pushed out of public awareness and be denied the readership it could have thrived under.

The longer answer is more complex, but effectively boils down to the same thing. Not only does that sort of monolithic mentality do a lot of foster only a specific sort of discussion, but there are studies to suggest that it will also do a lot to foster only a specific audience. The longer people are exposed to like-minded individuals or topics, the more likely they are to either stop trying to post or outright leave the community entirely. It's that same logic that informs things like Megathreads, to prevent certain discussions or topics from single-handedly taking over the entirety of the forum population.

In short, fewer threads on a single topic will foster a wider, better, more participatory audience.