At what point should we report a megathread for closure?

[BTCforJoe]

I'm always nervous when it comes to reporting threads that I find to be a megathread that no longer serves any purpose other than to pump post counts by shitposters. Some threads, you can instantly tell are BS, but then some just drag on and on. At what point should I consider it safe to report to a moderator to suggest its closure?

Can a mod enlighten me on what would be a proper suggestion? 10 pages of shit posts? 20 pages (this thread keeps getting replies, even though the OP's gripe about high tx fees is no longer valid)?

Thanks in advance!

[Don Pedro Dinero]

I think there shouldn’t be a general rule for all the threads, otherwise this one, should be locked as well.

It depends more on the content, I guess.

[Harlot]

Its hard to put an exact number for it as megathreads still vary from each other. Although I find some megethreads worth more bad in others. For instance if low ranking members are the only ones posting shit as well as repetitive answers I think its time to report that megathread. But if some members are giving some healthy conversation going I don't think that megathread even if it has 20 or more pages is worth reporting with an exception for threads that have general questions which are not really helpful at all for the forum.

[eternalgloom]

I've often wondered the same thing, so I'd be very curious to hear the answer to this.
It's pretty weird that there are still 50+ page threads that only have 1 single low-quality question in the OP.

I report them sometimes and I've seen them removed. Can't check my report history (yet?), so I can't be 100% sure that all my reported mega-threads are removed, but some have.

I would rather report too many than too little, even if you're not 100% sure, just report it anyway.

Do not worry about your accuracy too much; one accurate report is worth many inaccurate reports.

[TheBeardedBaby]

I think there shouldn’t be a general rule for all the threads, otherwise this one, should be locked as well.
~

It is already locked.
The problem is even if you have some healthy discussions, comes a time when nothing more can be added to the subject and things start to repeat again and again.
If you look into the Bitcoin Discussion section, 90% of the threads are just to farm activity. If you gonna wipe clean the megadeaths there we gonna feel the great disturbance in the Force for sure.

[Parodium]

I think megathreads should be closed once one or more of the following conditions are met:

1. Original concern is no longer valid, and yet the post continues to be bumped by bounty signature spammers regurgitating the same shit.
2. Additional posts will not bring additional value to the forum, e.g. once the original question has been fully and thoroughly resolved, the thread should be closed
3. Once the thread reaches 100+ pages, unless it's a continually updated discussion (e.g. Wall street observer), few threads need 2,000 replies.
4. When the content of the thread could be misleading to new or inexperienced crypto users, e.g. threads calling for investment due to X event that has already passed.

I've often wondered the same thing, so I'd be very curious to hear the answer to this.
It's pretty weird that there are still 50+ page threads that only have 1 single low-quality question in the OP.

That's true, I think threads that are quite clearly being dragged on for no benefit should be closed down. It's extremely annoying to see threads from a broken English, newbie being bumped for 50 pages, even after said newbie hasn't logged in since he first created the thread. It's got to stop.

[yahoo62278]

Some of you are being way too generous in your replies. By the time a thread reaches page 2 there are already 5 duplicate answers if not more. If it's just my opinion, I think once page 3 is reached for most threads mods/OP should lock them. Of course there should be some exceptions to this maybe depending on the section the thread is in.

If a thread is a duplicate thread it should auto lock. So many users are lazy as hell and fail to use the search feature to find the answers to a load of questions already asked. 

[hilariousandco]

You can report a spammy thread at any point, even moments after they've been created if you want. I trash some shit threads on site if they're just really generic or have been asked half a dozen times before. I locked the one in the op. Thread is from last year, no longer relevant, and the op of it hasn't been online in months. It also seems to be trying to promote byteball.

Bitcoin Discussion should have its own dedicated mod patrolling it though so these threads can be trashed on site. Far too much crap getting posted in there.

[Karisma Black]

I didn't even know you could report a megathread and ask for it to be closed.
Why isn't it done more often?
That would definitely help with the spamming issue.

[Lafu]

I'm always nervous when it comes to reporting threads that I find to be a megathread that no longer serves any purpose other than to pump post counts by shitposters. Some threads, you can instantly tell are BS, but then some just drag on and on. At what point should I consider it safe to report to a moderator to suggest its closure?

Can a mod enlighten me on what would be a proper suggestion? 10 pages of shit posts? 20 pages (this thread keeps getting replies, even though the OP's gripe about high tx fees is no longer valid)?

Thanks in advance!

I has got 4  Threads  with a large  Spam   after 100 Reports on every thread , i report the whole thread for trash them  about the reason: Bot Spam and report counts !

mprep trashed  all  4 then !

[The Sceptical Chymist]

If you look into the Bitcoin Discussion section, 90% of the threads are just to farm activity.

I agree with this, and Altcoin Discussion and many threads in Economics are the same thing.  I've seen threads running many pages that are still useful, but that's the exception rather than the rule.  There comes a point in a thread's life where people stop reading anything, though I can't say for sure where that point is.  However, it's just like pornography.  It's hard to define precisely, but you know it when you see it.

OP, I'd say just report threads and let the mods decide whether a thread should die.  I'd say most of the time you'd be correct, but I don't think mods like locking threads, and I've heard the argument that the shitposters will just open up another thread with the same topic.  That's absolutely true.  They shouldn't be allowed to, but they will.

[seoincorporation]

OP, I'd say just report threads and let the mods decide whether a thread should die.  I'd say most of the time you'd be correct, but I don't think mods like locking threads, and I've heard the argument that the shitposters will just open up another thread with the same topic.  That's absolutely true.  They shouldn't be allowed to, but they will.

That`s precisely the big issue here. What is better? To have a lot of megathreads full of shitty answers? Or to have a few with thousands of pages and pages, so the shitposters and activity hunters can appease their cravings by posting whatever nonsense they feel they need to post?

I think the second one is the best answer, and, also, those shitty enormous crappy-threads can be useful for reporting spammers purposes...

[BTCforJoe]

I think megathreads should be closed once one or more of the following conditions are met:

1. Original concern is no longer valid, and yet the post continues to be bumped by bounty signature spammers regurgitating the same shit.
2. Additional posts will not bring additional value to the forum, e.g. once the original question has been fully and thoroughly resolved, the thread should be closed
3. Once the thread reaches 100+ pages, unless it's a continually updated discussion (e.g. Wall street observer), few threads need 2,000 replies.
4. When the content of the thread could be misleading to new or inexperienced crypto users, e.g. threads calling for investment due to X event that has already passed.

I like this criteria. While I agree that shitposters will just continue creating threads for the sake of bumping their post count, I also believe that the more that these types of threads are closed on a more frequent basis, the less that they'll post shit posts moving forward.

I, myself, am going to start patrolling Bitcoin Discussion and reporting threads that I believe meet the criteria above where the existence of the thread has absolutely no more bearing to the health of the forums.

Cheers, thanks for the answers! I'll leave this discussion open for another day or two to see if any other mods have any direction to provide.

That`s precisely the big issue here. What is better? To have a lot of megathreads full of shitty answers? Or to have a few with thousands of pages and pages, so the shitposters and activity hunters can appease their cravings by posting whatever nonsense they feel they need to post?

I think the second one is the best answer, and, also, those shitty enormous crappy-threads can be useful for reporting spammers purposes...

I tend to agree with you.. Double edged sword. But if we have more users patrolling the Bitcoin Discussion board more frequently, we can do our part in helping to eliminate spam. I, myself, will also start tracking the last several pages of megathreads to report who I believe to be shitposters (after reviewing their post history, as well). Hopefully that will help, as well.

[TheBeardedBaby]

I've just started an experiment. Created a self-moderated thread in the Bitcoin Discussion, and said that I will delete the post that are only sig. spam.

No one has replied yet for over a 3 hours now, as expected, and only 4 views /two are mine/

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4838689.msg43653513#msg43653513

[r1s2g3]

I've just started an experiment. Created a self-moderated thread in the Bitcoin Discussion, and said that I will delete the post that are only sig. spam.

No one has replied yet for over a 3 hours now, as expected, and only 4 views /two are mine/

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4838689.msg43653513#msg43653513

This has nothing to do with your warning of deleting post in "Self moderated thread" as you already said it yourself it has 4 views in 3 hours, so most of people did not even bothered to click that link.

The board "Bitcoin Discussion" is now become purely speculative one or some kind of News room.  If you really need the discussion on your thread "[Discussion]How to decentralize the price of the bitcoin? Self-moderated." or some bitcoin related topic then you should use  "Bitcoin Forum > Bitcoin > Development & Technical Discussion  " Board.


 I am telling you from my own experience (that thread is not even self moderated ) but still did not get any views/replies while other threads created afterwards got in excess of 10+ replies and I need to move thread to Development and Technical discussion Board.


@OP.  I suggest to autolock the thread if there is no activity by OP in that thread for period of 7 days. Unlocking of thread (that are autolocked) can be done by Mods on case by case basis if required/requested by members or by OP.

[bitart]

You can check these threads, it's about the same thing:

Auto-lock of topics after a week or 100 posts to solve spammer problem?
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3462180.0

please, Please, PLEASE, can the mods start locking old threads.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3952738.0

Mods please lock a thread from 2014
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4384832.0

[Suggestion] Locking thread after receiving specific/straightforward answers
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4445430.0

About auto-locking old topics / spam megathreads (again)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4467305.0

It was mentioned several times ago, but nothing happened so far...

My proposal is really simple, auto lock threads after a week despite of the number of the posts and if it's really needed, mods can unlock them...

Also, I would propose not to lock the reported spam megathreads but delete it, that would cause a real pain in the neck for spammers if they lose their posts... (as iasenko has mentioned also)

[Theb]

Remembered a similar topic I have read a few months ago where the OP asked a question that might help you :

I've noticed that mods have recently started locking such threads, or even threads with the potential of becoming one. It'd be interesting to see if there are any guidelines mods follow for locking such threads nevertheless.

And I think (he never really quoted the OP) this is what hilarious replied :

Probably depends on the mod, but I usually trash utter shit threads with little to no value, whereas ones that have just degenerated into spam that may have some half decent posts I usually lock. Sometimes a thread can start of decent but shitposters don't actually read the op and just the title and it quickly turns into a spam mega thread which will never recover.

It will still be subjective per mod who is viewing the megathread and it will always boil down to their own opinion as there are no guidelines for megathreads that are worth locking/reporting based on how I understand hilarious' reply. So you are basically alway putting some risk that your report gets denied when you are reporting a megathread.

[Acoje]

If a thread is created to share information and knowledge then it doesn't have to be deleted, since the main purpose of the thread is to share info... but there are people who just love to debate and spam using replies over the thread they should be the one reported and their post should be reported....

As for thread that obviously useless or let's just say duplicated by other person then the thread should be lock away...

There is nothing wrong with reporting , since in your line of standards that thread is useless and nonsense then feel free to report , now it's up to the moderator.and other staff to double check and evaluate if the thread is subjected for locking...

[bitart]

I just want to modify a bit:

As for thread that obviously useless or let's just say duplicated by other person then the thread should be lock away...

There is nothing wrong with reporting , since in your line of standards that thread is useless and nonsense then feel free to report , now it's up to the moderator.and other staff to double check and evaluate if the thread is subjected for locking...

Just use the word: 'delete' instead of 'lock' and spammers would care about reporting.
If you just lock a spam megathread, spammers would just lay back and enjoy their work (the spam posts, safely locked in a thread), because they won't lose activity...
If you delete a post (or delete a full spam megathread) spammers lose meaningful amount of posts, so they will care about reporting...

[BTCforJoe]

You can check these threads, it's about the same thing:

Auto-lock of topics after a week or 100 posts to solve spammer problem?
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3462180.0

please, Please, PLEASE, can the mods start locking old threads.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3952738.0

Mods please lock a thread from 2014
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4384832.0

[Suggestion] Locking thread after receiving specific/straightforward answers
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4445430.0

About auto-locking old topics / spam megathreads (again)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4467305.0

It was mentioned several times ago, but nothing happened so far...

Here's the thing; I wasn't asking to auto-lock anything. I don't care about auto-locking a thread because I know that it won't happen here, given that there's no way to formulate the integrity of a thread without actual human interaction/review of that thread. Auto-locking anything would just become a logistical nightmare to implement, thus it won't happen.

My point was more as a post/thread reporter; doing my active part to start reporting posts and topics that I believe to be a useless megathread. I was asking what the appropriate time to report the thread would be in order to successfully have it deleted, archived, or locked.

I don't want this to become a discussion about auto-locking anything, as that's an entirely different subject, so I'm locking this thread now.

Thanks, everyone, for your replies! I have a better understanding of what types of threads that I'll be reporting as megathreads that I feel would be best closed.