Message 8894 of 22774 in Behind the Bar

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Thanks for the post, Spellbinder, and Chance too. All good observations.

I think there is a difference between the Frequently asked Questions (like 
"what's really strong but doesn't taste like alcohol" or "where can I get 
Absinthe") and frequently arising discussion topics (like "how unfair people 
that don't tip enough are" and "what makes a real martini")

The former can usually be dismissed with one or two sharp words and a 
reference - the latter still has new opinions contributed by new posters. It 
was a fresh topic to everyone once, and it's arrogant to suggest it shouldn't 
be re-hashed by a new crowd. Just keep out of it if you have nothing new to 
say. 
Or (as I do) point folk at what we had to say last time. When I do that, I 
seldom mean to imply that the current thread is a dead duck, but just that 
most of the points have already been made one way or another.


> We are in absolute agreement. When Jill posts to ask, "What can I do 
> to keep the boss from demanding blowj@bs from me"?, she doesn't need 
> to hear why it is wrong, or right in some people's thinking, for the 
> demand to occur. What she wants is specific advice from people who 
> know what they are talking about.

Yeah, there's sometimes a bit of moralizing from posts a bit like that.
Advice like: 

You're not getting enough tips? - You should provide better service!
or
Your boss is unfair? - quit your job!

...Aren't that constructive, but we are pretty unanimous in the:

You want a strong drink that doesn't taste like alcohol? Leave her alone you 
perv!

;-B

> In the forum I moderate, I remove all off topic posts, notify the 
> poster, and repost them under a new thread with a new title.

Well, surprisingly enough we hold together pretty well without true 
moderation. Pal has had to remove stuff a few times a year, and only once did 
we band together to "vote someone off the island" - less said about that the 
better.

Due to the layout of the thread view, I find topic drift absolutely no problem 
in this forum, as the ability to rename the thread as you go (which I 
encourage) is very helpful.
[The Webtender] Some basic posting guidelines

Talking about good tippers and drifting into a discussion of tipping protocol 
is a natural progression to me, and 'enforcing the original topic' is 
pointless when the base discussion can still carry on on its own branches.

On the other hand, I would consider that starting a new thread topic devoted 
only to a rebuttal, and a non-bartending related one at that, with a 
non-descriptive title, is less than constructive. Sorry Chance. In this 
particular forum environment anyway. 
Different boards have different dynamics
[Dan the Melon Man] A brief snippet of Netiquette - chat vs forum
... and different folk use this place differently

> One thing that has helped, 
> is a sub forum where people can talk about anything including their 
> likes and dislikes with a clear understanding that people can rant in 
> the sub forum, but not in the main forum.

I really don't think we need a free-for-all flame pit here - most 
aggrivation actually dies out on its own in only two or three posts. But that 
mechanism IS useful in other places. My favorite was over at straightdope.com 
... but I see they've locked up :(

> People come and choose to stay for different reasons. Frankly, the 
> forums I have been associated with usually keep peoples regular 
> interest for about a year, and then the frequency of visits become 
> less and less until they no longer come at all. A few will stay for 
> years, but there is usually a reason such as self promotion for doing 
> so.

Well, we get a few 'seagull' posters, most of which just do want one question 
answered ("How much alcohol to cater a wedding") and a few short-termers, most 
of whom start off on the "How to get a job/Is Bar school worthwhile" tangent 
but half of whom stick around ... but the core here is astonishingly 
long-term, considering there is absolutely zero ulterior motive.
The first 6 rows in the mugs gallery here
http://www.misscharming.com/webtender.html
probably have posting histories averaging well over three years (+/- a couple 
of exceptions, there's no strict 'seniority' in the list Cheryl pasted 
together, and a couple MIA ) Personally I was here even before 2001, but 
strangely I can't remember what my userid was then!

.dan.