To the Mods regarding post quality here...

[ACAB]

I think the best thing you can do is to open self-moderated threads and only follow them. If you see a spammer you can delete yourself, you don't have to report it to moderator who's also wearing a signature.
More posts bring more money to the forum, banning campaigns can increase post quality but at the same time volume of threads and posts will significantly reduce.

[Xian01]

I can't express my opinion because I have a signature ad?

Oh please fuck off already and quit inflating your post count, sig spammer.

[erre]

I think that we need some subforum (i.e. technical and general discussion) where sig are banned, while in other places (like gambling and services) they could be mantained.

I've discussed this with hilariousandco previously, the verdict is that it would be too difficult to maintain and enforce this sort of thing. That, and the sig spammers would simply more to another subforum. To quote him directly:

Hard/almost impossible to enforce. Besides, many campaigns already don't pay or include those subs but some people can make constructive posts in off topic anyway but it's the ones that don't that should be punished. Also, the people that spam in off topic would just start spamming in other sections where they're not prohibited so it's the shitposters that you need to deal with not where they can post.

But we would "save" at least some subforums.... as said, you can't get totally rid off spam or low quality post, but you can eliminate signatures (and hence " sig spammers" ) from some subforums.  

If you ask to me, I would permit signatures only in off-topic, gambling and services.

[Blazed]

No sig spammers = dead forum end of story.

[Lauda]

No sig spammers = dead forum end of story.

I strongly disagree with this statement. We would definitely lose a huge amount of posts, but the overall quality would significantly improve.

[Blazed]

No sig spammers = dead forum end of story.

I strongly disagree with this statement. We would definitely lose a huge amount of posts, but the overall quality would significantly improve.

I am 110% onboard with that. The problem is the admins are not so it is a moot point. Personally I get a flat rate of .5 per month regardless of posts. I would be happy to give that up for a better forum experience. Our only hope is the campaigns adopt strict poster policies and ditch the paid per post.

[Jet Cash]

I'm a newbie, both to Bitcoin and to the board. I'm here because I believe in Bitcoin as a savings medium, and as an international payment method. I'm surprised by the large number of posters who don't believe in Bitcoin, but use this forum to scratch a few dollars which they either gamble and lose, or convert to their local currency. I don't believe that they contribute to the board or to the expansion of Bitcoin. Would it be possible to concentrate micro-earnings discussions onto a new board?

I'm also shocked by the number of PayPal, Ebay and other accounts that are being offered for sale. It's these types of transaction that the uneducated public are using to discredit Bitcoin. We need to build its reputation as a valid payment medium for legal and reputable transactions.

[Lauda]

I am 110% onboard with that. The problem is the admins are not so it is a moot point. Our only hope is the campaigns adopt strict poster policies and ditch the paid per post.

Seems like theymos does not care enough about this issue even though a lot of users and staff members have complained (or still are) about it. I'm on board with strict regulations. Heck, I would volunteer to make sure that campaigns follow them. I have suggested something similar a few months back but nothing has been done so far.

Personally I get a flat rate of .5 per month regardless of posts. I would be happy to give that up for a better forum experience.

It doesn't really matter to me if it is flat or per post because in either case people could be spamming (flat rate - multiple accounts and such; not implying that you are). I've been in various campaigns and various private deals through the last year. The income is extra and my posting habits have not been altered in comparison to the time that I was not in any campaign (sometimes I post even less). I don't care much about it and am strongly in support of strict regulations or complete removal of signature campaigns.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

I laughed (self-consciously) when I saw my name on that premade ignore list.  I just started a sig campaign this month but I've been posting here since March and I like to think my posts aren't spam.  Others may feel differently, but I've seen some absolutely shit posts from sig campaigners, and especially Yobit ones.   I definitely try to contribute to whatever discussion, but I can't say I don't consider my post count.  Such is the nature of the sig campaign.  It really is a fascinating concept and one I've never seen on any other forum.

[BlindMayorBitcorn]

I laughed (self-consciously) when I saw my name on that premade ignore list.  I just started a sig campaign this month but I've been posting here since March and I like to think my posts aren't spam.  Others may feel differently, but I've seen some absolutely shit posts from sig campaigners, and especially Yobit ones.   I definitely try to contribute to whatever discussion, but I can't say I don't consider my post count.  Such is the nature of the sig campaign.  It really is a fascinating concept and one I've never seen on any other forum.

I think that's called a self-serving bias. No offense. Part of what it is to be human is to think highly of ourselves. Nobody thinks they're below average. You add up the self-reported contribution of team-members anywhere in the world, the sum will always exceed 100%. Studies have found the more sure we are of ourselves the more what we say is taken at face-value and the less prone we are to depression and illness.

 

[The Sceptical Chymist]

I laughed (self-consciously) when I saw my name on that premade ignore list.  I just started a sig campaign this month but I've been posting here since March and I like to think my posts aren't spam.  Others may feel differently, but I've seen some absolutely shit posts from sig campaigners, and especially Yobit ones.   I definitely try to contribute to whatever discussion, but I can't say I don't consider my post count.  Such is the nature of the sig campaign.  It really is a fascinating concept and one I've never seen on any other forum.

I think that's called a self-serving bias. No offense. Part of what it is to be human is to think highly of ourselves. Nobody thinks they're below average. You add up the self-reported contribution of team-members anywhere in the world, the sum will always exceed 100%. Studies have found the more sure we are of ourselves the more what we say is taken at face-value and the less prone we are to depression and illness.

 

Point well-taken, sir. I have no doubt that some of that is in play--it always is, even if we're aware of it if I'm not mistaken.  I remember learning about that long ago in some psychology class.  Alas I am disappointed to be on a default ignore list!  Oh well, I'll get over it.   

[BlindMayorBitcorn]

I laughed (self-consciously) when I saw my name on that premade ignore list.  I just started a sig campaign this month but I've been posting here since March and I like to think my posts aren't spam.  Others may feel differently, but I've seen some absolutely shit posts from sig campaigners, and especially Yobit ones.   I definitely try to contribute to whatever discussion, but I can't say I don't consider my post count.  Such is the nature of the sig campaign.  It really is a fascinating concept and one I've never seen on any other forum.

I think that's called a self-serving bias. No offense. Part of what it is to be human is to think highly of ourselves. Nobody thinks they're below average. You add up the self-reported contribution of team-members anywhere in the world, the sum will always exceed 100%. Studies have found the more sure we are of ourselves the more what we say is taken at face-value and the less prone we are to depression and illness.

 

Point well-taken, sir. I have no doubt that some of that is in play--it always is, even if we're aware of it if I'm not mistaken.  I remember learning about that long ago in some psychology class.  Alas I am disappointed to be on a default ignore list!  Oh well, I'll get over it.   

I found myself on a list once. I attributed it entirely to someone else's poor judgment.

[BitcoinEXpress]

Have a read.

I started a thread 4 1/2 years ago about sig spamming.

It was a problem way back then.


https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=32780.msg409441#msg409441




~BCX~

[Amph]

I am 110% onboard with that. The problem is the admins are not so it is a moot point. Our only hope is the campaigns adopt strict poster policies and ditch the paid per post.

Seems like theymos does not care enough about this issue even though a lot of users and staff members have complained (or still are) about it. I'm on board with strict regulations. Heck, I would volunteer to make sure that campaigns follow them. I have suggested something similar a few months back but nothing has been done so far.

it's not that he don't care, he simply does not want to see his forum die, and this is a valid concern for him, since you know he is the admin

does it look alright to have a forum with 10 people talking to each other , regardless of the post quality? no

[BittBurger]

The post quality may be shitty, but that's because the admins are lenient.

Totally disagree.  The post content is shitty because the people posting aren't here to have a discussion.  They're here to get their signatures seen.  As a result, they type 1 sentence responses that say basically nothing, over, and over and over.

Even Theymos should care about this.  Surely he has pride in his site and its usefulness. 

Like I said - if he's getting paid then I totally understand why he allows it.  Its a source of income, and he's decided that its a fair tradeoff.  But if nobody is getting paid here, then Theymos is getting taken-advantage-of, and his own site is suffering content-wise too. 

I just dont understand the thinking there I guess.

-B-

[helloeverybody]

Its hard for me to post in here without looking like im just trying to boost my post count but anyway ,to be fair the whole signature campaign probably brings in a whole lot of traffic and keeps the traffic coming back. Obviously the more traffic bitcointalk is getting im sure the more they make of their own paid adverts.

Sure without the sig campaign we might have some more intelligent posts but theres still going to be some shitty ones, just on a whole the forums would probably be a lot quieter. Less activity on bitcointalk doesnt do bitcoin any favours.

[botany]

Its hard for me to post in here without looking like im just trying to boost my post count but anyway ,to be fair the whole signature campaign probably brings in a whole lot of traffic and keeps the traffic coming back. Obviously the more traffic bitcointalk is getting im sure the more they make of their own paid adverts.

That definitely isn't the core objective of this forum.
Does this forum need a mission statement? What exactly are we trying to achieve?

[rebuilder]

to be fair the whole signature campaign probably brings in a whole lot of traffic and keeps the traffic coming back.

And if I paid street drunks to spend their time in front of the grocery store down the street, the storeowner should be happy about the increased traffic, right?

My sig sums up what I think about this.

[mexxer-2]

And if I paid street drunks to spend their time in front of the grocery store down the street, the storeowner should be happy about the increased traffic, right?

You forgot to add a (not so) teeny-tiny factor there, ad revenues.

[rebuilder]

And if I paid street drunks to spend their time in front of the grocery store down the street, the storeowner should be happy about the increased traffic, right?

You forgot to add a (not so) teeny-tiny factor there, ad revenues.

True. Doesn't do much for me as a "customer", though.