The quality of ATOT...

[MartyMcFly3]

Is it really as bad as everyone is making it out to be? I agree that there are plenty of useless posts (not going to single out anyone in the first post but they know who they are). My question is what brought this whole change on? I've been here 3 years (which isn't a long time compared to others), and I don't want to stop posting because I do enjoy it here, but I have also noticed the quality of threads aren't what they used to be.

Thats not to say that there weren't really stupid threads back in 2003. Just not as many. I'm also not saying there aren't any good/entertaining/informative threads anymore either, because there still are.

Mods, though I have a feeling this will get locked, it would be really great if we all could have a discussion about this. I think back to that whole "Change of Culture" thread the mods created, and the backlash of some members resulting in their bans. I guess this is more Forum Issues than OT, but maybe we can figure out why things have been the way they've been lately.

Maybe im in the minority, but I feel that it's not good to lose members who have been here for 5 years (such as Goosemaster). Granted, it's their choice and everything, but something must be amiss.

Alright im probably rambling and not making any sense so I will leave it at that. Hopefully some kind of discussion can be generated in this thread.

Cliffs:
ATOT has changed throughout the years.
Not necessarily for the better.
Discuss.

 

[neutralizer]

I honestly cannot say how it changed, but I have to agree that the older days were better.

 

[iamaelephant]

Okay people, it's only a message forum. If your life is this wrapped up in ATOT, it's time to leave.

 

[jagec]

ATOT is random and stupid?

HELLO MCFLY!!! THINK!! THINK MCFLY!!!

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Originally posted by: iamaelephant
Okay people, it's only a message forum. If your life is this wrapped up in ATOT, it's time to leave.

Your life doesnt have to be "wrapped up" in ATOT to notice that its slightly deteriorated in the past few years.

 

[Squisher]

Before P&N was spun off the level of intelligent discussions were much higher. Otherwise, I don't think it's changed much.

 

[spanky]

this is OT after all.

i dont really mind the useless posts. what bugs me more is the number of ppl being pricks.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Originally posted by: spanky
this is OT after all.

i dont really mind the useless posts. what bugs me more is the number of ppl being pricks.

That's definitely a major problem of this progression...

 

[Coquito]

The quality ATOT changed when people started posting about no longer posting.

Posted daily activities make this to be more of a blog spot then anything else.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: spanky
this is OT after all.

i dont really mind the useless posts. what bugs me more is the number of ppl being pricks.

qft. it's pointless.

 

[Coquito]

Originally posted by: MartyMcFly3

Originally posted by: spanky
this is OT after all.

i dont really mind the useless posts. what bugs me more is the number of ppl being pricks.

That's definitely a major problem of this progression...

I disagree. When I joined, it was ruthless. Now certain aggressions are outlawed & again, all these blog kids just irritate everyone. Except now, they can't be scared away so easily. Everyone becomes fustrated by the growing populous, & people feel there opinions are not being heard.

Almost no one reads past the second post in any thread. Today's generation is reaching out for attention from strangers in any way possible, with little regard to anything else.

 

[Shawn]

eh, it has changed but so what? I still find this place entertaining so i'll probably stick around for a while longer. if it starts getting boring i'll stop comming. simple as that. I don't see why everyone has to make a big deal about it.

 

[The Batt?sai]

Originally posted by: jagec
ATOT is random and stupid?

HELLO MCFLY!!! THINK!! THINK MCFLY!!!

his mind is trapped in another time

 

[The Batt?sai]

Originally posted by: iamaelephant
Okay people, it's only a message forum. If your life is this wrapped up in ATOT, it's time to leave.

:thumbsup:

agreed

 

[ForumMaster]

it's because the popularity of the AnandTech forum rose throughout the years. i haven't been here long, but i do notice that people are now starting to just post about things that should be ing their blog. granted that this is ATOT, but still. i don't care about your latest girlfriend woe. it's getting annoying. the other sections have gotten better because the people who come here to discuss matters inteligently, have left ATOT due to this problem. we need to stop it. although ATOT is a message board and people are free to post whatever they want, that doesn't meant that you should. ATOT is a forum. not a personall blog. keep that in mind.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: Coquito
Almost no one reads past the second post in any thread. Today's generation is reaching out for attention from strangers in any way possible, with little regard to anything else.

That's an interesting point. I think a lot of threads with potential get derailed by people who rushed to post something inane (for whatever reason) that added nothing to the topic. And after ten posts like that, there's little hope that the thread can be saved.

There's a group of regulars who really do add nothing except insulting and juvenile posts, and for whatever reason think they are a lot funnier than they are. And another group who has nothing to say, but can't stop from starting new threads anyway.

I hadn't considered that it might be a desire for attention that would cause that behavior, but it makes sense.

 

[puffff]

it comes back to post count. i think we'd be better off without it. if just a handful of people view lifer status as a goal, the board will be peppered with posts that dont contribute anything except postcount++.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Squisher
Before P&N was spun off the level of intelligent discussions were much higher. Otherwise, I don't think it's changed much.

Hehehehehe and most ATOT only folks call P&N a cess pit.

----------------------------------------------------
Each wants to not look in the mirror.

P&N - Bush/Clinton is evil
OT - YAGT / <insert here> is HOT (drool)

Anantech Moderator

 

[ThaGrandCow]

It's not that the quality went down, it's that the human mind has a selective memory for the good and filters out the bad. It's the same reason you look back on past girlfriends and unless they were ABSOLUTELY insane you remember them with good memories, or at least decent memories.

ATOT hasn't changed, you're just seeing the current posts with the good and the bad, and remembering only the decent posts from back then. All you need to remember is the 4000 coke vs bruce lee threads, or all the 'how do you wipe' threads that were going back on those days to see.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: puffff
it comes back to post count. i think we'd be better off without it. if just a handful of people view lifer status as a goal, the board will be peppered with posts that dont contribute anything except postcount++.

that's a very good idea/insight. I think post count does cause a lot of problems (neffing, and... certain users... with very high PPDs...). I know a few boards that don't use postcount and the discussions are generally very intelligent and ordered (despite the board being sort of desolate).

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: ForumMaster
it's because the popularity of the AnandTech forum rose throughout the years. i haven't been here long, but i do notice that people are now starting to just post about things that should be ing their blog. granted that this is ATOT, but still. i don't care about your latest girlfriend woe. it's getting annoying. the other sections have gotten better because the people who come here to discuss matters inteligently, have left ATOT due to this problem. we need to stop it. although ATOT is a message board and people are free to post whatever they want, that doesn't meant that you should. ATOT is a forum. not a personall blog. keep that in mind.

so what are some typical posts that belong in a blog and not in ATOT? girlfriend/boyfriend troubles? car troubles? car buying decisions? what about pictures from one's vacation? those belong in a blog, but i enjoy reading them in ATOT. i for one enjoy ATOT for what it is. If i dont like a thread topic, i just move on to the next thread

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I think the quality of threads is what has caused the problems. Four years ago most of the threads were serious. Sure, there were always a few more neffish threads that were allowed, but most were actually useful. In fact, if you read most of them you might actually learn something (home improvement, wtf is this spider, etc). Now it is the total opposite. I lay this on the mods as we have no control over locking/deleting threads.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: ForumMaster
it's because the popularity of the AnandTech forum rose throughout the years. i haven't been here long, but i do notice that people are now starting to just post about things that should be ing their blog. granted that this is ATOT, but still. i don't care about your latest girlfriend woe. it's getting annoying. the other sections have gotten better because the people who come here to discuss matters inteligently, have left ATOT due to this problem. we need to stop it. although ATOT is a message board and people are free to post whatever they want, that doesn't meant that you should. ATOT is a forum. not a personall blog. keep that in mind.

so what are some typical posts that belong in a blog and not in ATOT? girlfriend/boyfriend troubles? car troubles? car buying decisions? what about pictures from one's vacation? those belong in a blog, but i enjoy reading them in ATOT. i for one enjoy ATOT for what it is. If i dont like a thread topic, i just move on to the next thread

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1879694&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1865252&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1879709&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1879736&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1879387&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1879319&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1879605&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1879686&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1859663&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1869990&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1879729&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1879657&enterthread=y

etc

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's summertime. This place always deteriorates during the summer high school break.

 

[HBalzer]

I'd say part of the problem is often when someone posts something remotely interesting everyone jumps in with their stupid REPOST crap.
1. It makes me think twice about posting because someone may have posted that topic 3 years ago and I missed it.
2. It?s anoying

That said you should check at least the first 3 pages or so.

If it is a repost why and you don?t want to post anything more on the topic don?t click on it, that way if no one is interested it will drop off the 1st page sooner and those that want to post don?t have to waste our time scrolling over all your crap.