Automatic News Feeds

Winchester · 4 Mar 2009, 11:46 (Ref:2408757)

I'm not sure I'm too happy with Crash.net spamming this board with their stories. They certainly don't need individual threads.
And we all know where Crash is should we wish to go on there and read their collection of cut-and-pasted press releases.
Mods can you have a look at this please?

crmalcolm · 4 Mar 2009, 12:03 (Ref:2408762)

Agreed. My view (personal opinion) is that this forum should be for individuals to express their views and thoughts, and to highlight information for others to look at if they wish.

A thread purely dedicated to encouraging someone to visit a sponsor-backed website, while offering nothing to the existing forum here seems to go against the spirit of these public discussions.

stedevil · 4 Mar 2009, 12:28 (Ref:2408774)

Indeed, I can't say I liked this spamming either. At least make it spam only to 1 thread per TCC is you have cut some sponsorship deal or something.

**Peter Mallett** · 4 Mar 2009, 12:33 (Ref:2408779)

Crash is a partner of the forum. Have you commented on any of the stories or just ignored them?

**touringlegend** · 4 Mar 2009, 12:38 (Ref:2408785)

It looks a bit bad right now as this feature was only turned on yesterday - hence quite a few stories popped up at once.

We haven't had another story since that so I would ask that you take this into consideration and give it a few weeks to 'bed in'.

stedevil · 4 Mar 2009, 14:39 (Ref:2408860)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

or just ignored them?

Ignored, but unfortunately this forum doesnt have a "mark all threads as read", which in combination with a spambot is a bit annoying.

crmalcolm · 4 Mar 2009, 14:42 (Ref:2408865)

As suggested, will give it a chance.
However, if the forum begins to feel like an advertising medium as opposed to a discussion facility I'll be off elsewhere.

***MagnetON*** · 4 Mar 2009, 14:51 (Ref:2408871)

Quote:

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

As suggested, will give it a chance.
However, if the forum begins to feel like an advertising medium as opposed to a discussion facility I'll be off elsewhere.

Or you could just click on the profile for Crash.Net and then pick the heading "User Lists" and then "Add to Ignore List".

Quote:

Originally Posted by touringlegend

It looks a bit bad right now as this feature was only turned on yesterday - hence quite a few stories popped up at once.

The feed is set to add a maximum of 5 new stories each time it looks, so the first time it grabbed 5. Now, unless it's a particularly busy news period, should only add 1 or 2, or even NO new items. It's also set to check regularly through the day so there shouldn't be a sudden splurge of threads.

mountainstar · 4 Mar 2009, 15:07 (Ref:2408877)

I don't think it's a big deal. As long as it doesn't flood the forum with stories. A few here and there is fine and might spark discussion.

Winchester · 4 Mar 2009, 15:09 (Ref:2408879)

Agree with Crmalcolm, will give it a chance but if it gets too bad I'll go elsewhere.
I go on websites to read motorsport news and I come on here for discussion and gossip.
And like I said a lot of Crash's stuff is just copied and pasted from other sites and press releases, which annoys me. I like the idea of what is basically a giant database of two and four-wheeled stories, but a bit more originality wouldn't go amiss.
I also see my thread title "spam bot" is now "crash.net news feed bot"

**Tim Falce** · 4 Mar 2009, 15:14 (Ref:2408880)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagnetON

Or you could just click on the profile for Crash.Net and then pick the heading "User Lists" and then "Add to Ignore List".

I've tried that and I can still see them

mattt · 4 Mar 2009, 15:17 (Ref:2408883)

Quote:

Originally Posted by stedevil

Ignored, but unfortunately this forum doesnt have a "mark all threads as read", which in combination with a spambot is a bit annoying.

There is that button though
On the forum tools bit on the top bar

Peter Dunne · 4 Mar 2009, 15:34 (Ref:2408886)

Would it be possible to give crash its own sub forum so all its posts could go in there and not clog the main forum?

**Craig** · 4 Mar 2009, 15:36 (Ref:2408890)

That kinda defeats the whole object tho! The idea is to encourage people to read the article and then comment on it. If you hide it away in a sub forum then no one will read the story and it'll not therefore generate any interest in the forum! As a number of people have said it was only turned on yesterday so give it a few weeks to see how it works out before forming any opinions... better still, why not comment on the story and make the forum a better place?

Peter Dunne · 4 Mar 2009, 15:44 (Ref:2408895)

Agreed. Give it a few weeks and then implement my plan

Seriously though, if you take the Nascar forum as an example, there are 13 crash threads in there. It doesn't seem to have the highest volume of posts on tenths, so how long will it be until the first page is full of crash threads? Would that not turn people off?

***MagnetON*** · 4 Mar 2009, 16:38 (Ref:2408923)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Dunne

...how long will it be until the first page is full of crash threads? Would that not turn people off?

As with all the new features we will evaluate this on an ongoing basis. Moderators can always decide to delete or merge threads if they feel they are counter-productive.

crmalcolm · 4 Mar 2009, 17:18 (Ref:2408953)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagnetON

Or you could just click on the profile for Crash.Net and then pick the heading "User Lists" and then "Add to Ignore List".

If I do that as suggested, will it ignore:

A) Only threads started by Crash.Net,
B) Only posts from Crash.Net, or
C) Any thread that contains a Crash.Net post ?

***MagnetON*** · 4 Mar 2009, 17:29 (Ref:2408959)

Quote:

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

If I do that as suggested, will it ignore:

A) Only threads started by Crash.Net,
B) Only posts from Crash.Net, or
C) Any thread that contains a Crash.Net post ?

Have never used it myself, but allegedly it's B)

Dead-Eye · 4 Mar 2009, 17:42 (Ref:2408966)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagnetON

Have never used it myself, but allegedly it's B)

Exactly. The Threads are still visible, you just can't read the post when you open one. So it's pointless to ignore the User.

I hope it disappears again soon. I come here for the forum and I'm perfectly capable to go to crash.net myself if I want to read their stories.

chunder · 4 Mar 2009, 17:50 (Ref:2408972)

They are pretty up to speed with what can be done,. I cant imagine its an accident!

Jimmy Magnusson · 4 Mar 2009, 18:18 (Ref:2408995)

It adds nothing, and should never have been introduced to begin with.

the sniper · 4 Mar 2009, 18:24 (Ref:2408998)

The NASCAR sub-forum looks ridiculous now!

**Adam43** · 4 Mar 2009, 19:08 (Ref:2409043)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Dunne

Seriously though, if you take the Nascar forum as an example, there are 13 crash threads in there. It doesn't seem to have the highest volume of posts on tenths, so how long will it be until the first page is full of crash threads? Would that not turn people off?

That also shows that there weren't many turned on to it in the first place. Which is why we are trying something new there, to generate discussion points. The busiest forums don't have this at present.

Let's see...

crmalcolm · 4 Mar 2009, 19:29 (Ref:2409073)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamAshmore

That also shows that there weren't many turned on to it in the first place. Which is why we are trying something new there, to generate discussion points. The busiest forums don't have this at present.

Let's see...

Does that mean the WTCC & European is not one of the busiest forums?

duke_toaster · 4 Mar 2009, 19:45 (Ref:2409086)

Any chance of a system that shows those "threads" in a smaller size compared to the normal ones (unless a human posts in them) and excludes them from the newest post thing on the side unless the post was by a human in that thread?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Rallying News Feeds	Rache	Rallying & Rallycross	4	29 Feb 2000 19:07