Omnimaga

General Discussion => Other Discussions => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Happybobjr on February 08, 2011, 10:02:52 pm

Title: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Happybobjr on February 08, 2011, 10:02:52 pm
Just some thoughts.

1.  Swearing- I have noticed that there has been a large increasing in swearing lately.  I feel that it may dissuade younger people from joining/staying in this site.
Solution- Have less swearing or Write part or all of the word in 1337.
Example- @55

2.  We need an FAQ- When I first joined I had so many questions that it was pretty much spam.  I tried googling and searching and failed to find what I was looking for because I didn't know the context.  Over my stay here I have seen many people ask the same questions and that just adds unnecessary topixs.
Solution- Have a FAQ of the things that are general knowledge to Omnimaga but things outsiders wouldn't know.
Example- “I heard you can attach things too your usb port on the calc but when I use the search ‘Usb’ it says search is too short"

3.  Terms- Kind of like FAQ except for terms.  I am talking more about abbreviations than terms.
Solution- just create a nice topic.
Example-   TWHG = The World's Hardest Game or RFG = Removed From the Game; an image uploader.

4.  No name- When asking for help, people allot of times stare at their screens continuously screens until a reply is made.  Sometimes however, people are unable to help in any way, so no replies are made.  I think in a help requesting topic, people should have polls.  "1. I can't help.   2. 'Just left blank'“ This way you have better choices made ;).

5.  Smilies- Having smilies are really great in conveying the way you are trying to come across.  Don't be afraid to use them  :)
Warning- Keep smily usage nice.  Don't use  :evillaugh:  to just laugh at someone.


6. Spoilers-  Spoilers are fun and convenient. they will take a large amount of space and compress it down two about two lines.  There is a problem however.  Internet explore can not open them.  Most of us prefer not to use IE but most school computers do.
solution 1- Do not use a spoiler if you are only using it to compress text.  If you are, try using [code]...[/code]   This is many times bigger, but IE users will be happy.
Solution 2- Quote.  The quote function will allow you to copy a post verbatum.  this will allow you to read the raw text even if inside a spoiler.  (maybe have a topic area to view spoiled posts with the spoiler removed then delete the post when done?)
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: ztrumpet on February 08, 2011, 10:35:17 pm
Nice thoughts!

Here's what I think on them.  (Keep in mind that these are my views and anyone can freely disagree with them. :) )
1.) I don't swear, but I think it's a fundamental right to have freedom of speech, even on a calc forum.  This being said, I think it's general levels could be cut down. :)
2 and 3.) http://ourl.ca/7071/118082  This topic covers a little of what you said.  However, I like the other ideas expressed in these two points.
4.) Cool idea, but it would have to be instituted on a person by person basis - I don't see an easy way to do it.
5.) Yup. ;D
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Deep Toaster on February 08, 2011, 10:44:14 pm
Great ideas :D Some of my own:

1) What ztrumpet said.
2) and 3) Thanks ztrumpet, I forgot about that thread! But an FAQ sounds like a great idea. Anyone want to take it up?
5) They're great, aren't they? ;D
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: alberthrocks on February 08, 2011, 10:49:39 pm
For #1, I think the rule of thumb is to curse ONLY if you really feel the need to, not just out of random or with no reason. ;)
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: willrandship on February 08, 2011, 10:51:51 pm
Hmm, maybe a Wiki-style page would be best for an FAQ, since the facts change all the time ex "Can I play vids on my calc?" just changed to yes :P
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: z80man on February 08, 2011, 10:55:06 pm
Good idea. I was totally lost when I first joined

1) Try to find alternatives to swearing. eg "frickin, shoot, crap, buttocks"  ;)
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Binder News on February 08, 2011, 10:57:36 pm
I'll do an FAQ. I just need some ideas, and BTW, what is 1337?
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Xeda112358 on February 08, 2011, 10:59:35 pm
1337 is a number that has factors 1,7,191, and 1337 :P
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: ztrumpet on February 08, 2011, 11:00:37 pm
Make sure to include a reference to this topic: http://ourl.ca/4330
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Happybobjr on February 08, 2011, 11:14:20 pm
1337  or leet is a numberized language and is short for eleet.  (bad speling :P)
@= A; 1=l  ; \/\/ =W; /\/ = N  and so on.  :)


6. Spoilers-  Spoilers are fun and convenient. they will take a large amount of space and compress it down two about two lines.  There is a problem however.  Internet explore can not open them.  Most of us prefer not to use IE but most school computers do.
solution 1- Do not use a spoiler if you are only using it to compress text.  If you are, try using [code]...[/code]   This is many times bigger, but IE users will be happy.
Solution 2- Quote.  The quote function will allow you to copy a post verbatum.  this will allow you to read the raw text even if inside a spoiler.  (maybe have a topic area to view spoiled posts with the spoiler removed then delete the post when done?)
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Deep Toaster on February 08, 2011, 11:17:03 pm
1337  or leet is a numberized language and is short for eleet.  (bad speling :P)
@= A; 1=l  ; \/\/ =W; /\/ = N  and so on.  :)


6. Spoilers-  Spoilers are fun and convenient. they will take a large amount of space and compress it down two about two lines.  There is a problem however.  Internet explore can not open them.  Most of us prefer not to use IE but most school computers do.
solution 1- Do not use a spoiler if you are only using it to compress text.  If you are, try using [code]...[/code]   This is many times bigger, but IE users will be happy.
Solution 2- Quote.  The quote function will allow you to copy a post verbatum.  this will allow you to read the raw text even if inside a spoiler.  (maybe have a topic area to view spoiled posts with the spoiler removed then delete the post when done?)

Solution 3- Use a pastebin (http://pastebin.com/).

Another thing to mention would be that Chrome hates code tags in spoilers. It gets compressed to one line, even if the code block is >9000 lines long. So you gotta scroll through it one line at a time. So never, ever put code blocks in spoilers.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Happybobjr on February 08, 2011, 11:18:19 pm
tomorrow DT, now its my bed time.  good night.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: ztrumpet on February 08, 2011, 11:20:06 pm
6. Spoilers-  ... Internet explore can not open them.  Most of us prefer not to use IE but most school computers do.
I just tested on IE, and I was able to open a spoiler fine. :)
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Deep Toaster on February 08, 2011, 11:59:18 pm
6. Spoilers-  ... Internet explore can not open them.  Most of us prefer not to use IE but most school computers do.
I just tested on IE, and I was able to open a spoiler fine. :)

Maybe it depends on the version? IE 6, 7, and 8 all differ by a lot.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on February 09, 2011, 12:12:05 am
I didn't actually notice much of an increase in swearing, but I am generally fine with swearing as long as someone's sentences aren't like 30% made of bad words. Most of the time, swearing can be replaced by alternatives if you're not ranting, anyay.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Michael_Lee on February 09, 2011, 12:19:14 am
About the FAQ -- I can try making one.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: TsukasaZX on February 09, 2011, 04:33:35 am
Personally, I don't think swearing is much of a problem. People swear and start swearing from earlier and earlier ages so it seems. If anything, cutting back on the swearing might dissuade newbies.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Binder News on February 09, 2011, 06:36:31 am
I disagree. I really dislike swearing. My friend actually cut off his friendship with another kid because the other guy swore too much. There are a lot of people who are REALLY opposed to swearing. I think PUBLICLY saying NO SWEARING would be a turnoff, however a more private, "please try to keep the swearing down" (via PM for example) would work. It doesn't hurt to not swear. It is just bad to try to LIMIT peoples' freedoms.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Happybobjr on February 09, 2011, 07:04:53 am
There are a lot of people who are REALLY opposed to swearing. I think PUBLICLY saying NO SWEARING would be a turnoff, however a more private, "please try to keep the swearing down" (via PM for example) would work. It doesn't hurt to not swear. It is just bad to try to LIMIT peoples' freedoms.
that is what i was trying to convey. Thank you.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on February 10, 2011, 05:35:33 pm
I disagree. I really dislike swearing. My friend actually cut off his friendship with another kid because the other guy swore too much. There are a lot of people who are REALLY opposed to swearing. I think PUBLICLY saying NO SWEARING would be a turnoff, however a more private, "please try to keep the swearing down" (via PM for example) would work. It doesn't hurt to not swear. It is just bad to try to LIMIT peoples' freedoms.
Well to be fair I do not want people on Omni to yell at others or complain everytime someone says the F word when it rarely even happens at all. We don't want to make people scared of posting. I myself despise when in a massive convo, after 100 lines of text, I say the F word out of habit, instead of friggin/fudge, and the person jumps on me so i stop swearing.

Personally swearing is not a big issue on Omni. I do not notice a signifiant increase, even though we do not have swearing rules, and I do not plan to add swearing rules. The only think I ask is that members don't go overboard, such as filling their sentences with 1 swear every 3 word.

I try to let people the freedom to express themselves how they want, although I ask that they stay within the rules, still, so there isn't really free speech around here, although it's slightly more present with the rating system and the fact we do not delete posts.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: holmes221b on February 10, 2011, 05:43:53 pm
Considering swearing, I think we should do it like it's done in the US, if that's alright with everyone?
In case you aren't familiar with how it is done in the US, it's basically like this: If the average, reasonable person wouldn't be offended by it, then it is allowable.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Snake X on February 10, 2011, 05:45:11 pm
There are a lot of people who are REALLY opposed to swearing.

that'd be me.

My friend actually cut off his friendship with another kid because the other guy swore too much.

That's also what happened to me (more than once). :s
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on February 10, 2011, 06:02:43 pm
Personally I don't mind if someone swear, although in the past year or so  in normal convos I've been trying to replace words like the f word with fudge/frick. I don't like when they're used in an agressive way, though. If someone say "Woah that's fucking awesome!" I'm fine, but not "Who the fuck are you?"
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: fb39ca4 on February 10, 2011, 07:13:14 pm
I think swearing is okay, as long as it is not overused, and it is not used at another person.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Ashbad on February 10, 2011, 08:01:49 pm
my thoughts about omnimaga is that besides the recent problems it's still quite awesome :)

though good idea bringing these concerns of yours... to our concerns :)
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Jonius7 on February 10, 2011, 09:46:47 pm
I can remember when i first joined omnimaga. I didn't read the forum rules properly, some misunderstandings and i began demanding like a dictator about a person who had spammed fuck on the forums. Some more slips by me got people really angry. I wasn't thinking what i was saying and i said it was bad to say it more than once or twice which was VERY badly worded. OOPS! I went back and read the forum rules properly. Swearing is OK unless it is trolling or spamm, which is why it's really important to read a forum's rules throughly before you join a community.

I learnt that lesson.

I guess that sets omnimaga apart from nearly all other forum communities, it has specific rules and an air of formality that makes it feel like it's in a different class to most other communities

I learnt this when i got banned and really thought about my actions.

About the FAQ. I would like that. I thought of having a reference page when i wanted to know the post requirements for each level and it was buried in the 3rd page of the topic months ago.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on February 10, 2011, 09:53:00 pm
Isn't there a FAQ already, though? ??? (Meishe made a topic containing one, IIRC)
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Jonius7 on February 10, 2011, 09:54:58 pm
Is there? Oh yes it's in the misc section.(http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=help) Ok maybe not Well i was hinting more of a reference page with posting level requirements, what is THE GAME, peanuts, rickroll etc. It could be just a normal page with this text and some pictures and stuff.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Happybobjr on February 10, 2011, 09:55:21 pm
Isn't there a FAQ already, though? ??? (Meishe made a topic containing one, IIRC)

I've never seen it???
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: ztrumpet on February 10, 2011, 09:57:02 pm
I'm going to go ahead and add those things jhgenius to the thread Meishe started. :)
(this one: http://ourl.ca/7071 )
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on February 10, 2011, 09:58:04 pm
Good idea, and yeah that's the thread I meant. THis can help too: http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=help
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: ztrumpet on February 10, 2011, 10:09:37 pm
Alright, I made my additions.  Should that topic be more visible?  I know it's Pinned, but would it be worth adding a link to it somewhere?
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Deep Toaster on February 12, 2011, 04:31:11 pm
In case you aren't familiar with how it is done in the US, it's basically like this: If the average, reasonable person wouldn't be offended by it, then it is allowable.

That's actually a pretty good idea. I think the forum's fine right now :D

Good idea, and yeah that's the thread I meant. THis can help too: http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=help

Are admins allowed to edit that page? Maybe they can add some more Omni-specific stuff to it and put it somewhere visible.
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on February 12, 2011, 06:35:04 pm
Alright, I made my additions.  Should that topic be more visible?  I know it's Pinned, but would it be worth adding a link to it somewhere?
In this page (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=ezportal;sa=page;p=7), it might be good to do like the logs for the Forum usage help link and at the bottom of the description have
Terms of service (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=ezportal;sa=page;p=2) | Additional Omnimaga usage and netiquette information (http://ourl.ca/7071)
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: ztrumpet on February 13, 2011, 10:53:35 am
Are admins allowed to edit that page? Maybe they can add some more Omni-specific stuff to it and put it somewhere visible.
Any staff (CoT or Admins) can edit any post. Just don't go overboard. ;)
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Deep Toaster on February 13, 2011, 11:30:31 am
Are admins allowed to edit that page? Maybe they can add some more Omni-specific stuff to it and put it somewhere visible.
Any staff (CoT or Admins) can edit any post. Just don't go overboard. ;)

I meant the page http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=help

Maybe some of the info could be added there?
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: Munchor on February 13, 2011, 01:00:14 pm
I noticed a new page in the Miscellaneous tab: Help with the forum. Looks cool, nice work ;D
Title: Re: Some thoughts about Omnimaga.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on February 16, 2011, 02:32:38 am
Are admins allowed to edit that page? Maybe they can add some more Omni-specific stuff to it and put it somewhere visible.
Any staff (CoT or Admins) can edit any post. Just don't go overboard. ;)

I meant the page http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=help

Maybe some of the info could be added there?
Sadly nope, I could not find any way to add sections there.
I noticed a new page in the Miscellaneous tab: Help with the forum. Looks cool, nice work ;D
Actually it has been there for months, and the page was existing for 2.5 years. It was just not public until 6 months ago or so. It can be helpful, although it's really based on SMF default settings.