Flooding discussion threads with embedded media

[Betty Swollocks]

I'm only worried about the "cost / benefit", but I think that the solutions should focus on improving and being practical, as I explained in the previous post, I don't want to comment on the problem that exists because I don't handle it, and I don't know if I understand the solution completely, we will have to put it into practice to know.

I understand, the excess is bad as with all things, and although I consider certain images and videos basic to start discussions, (especially in threads that are still because the novelty of the car or issue in question happened years ago), I have also seen those you say they have no comments at all.
I think you have to find a balance, thanks for the explanatory answer

I don't come on here to watch videos. I'll go to YouTube to do that, thank you very much. So when I have a spare ten minutes to log in here, I don't want to spend half of that time clicking threads which have new posts in them only to find the only addition to the thread is some idiot social media "star" in a video. There are some good channels out there, such as Car Wow, but we all know where to find them if we want to watch them. As @admin has pointed out, this is a discussion forum, not YouTube. It's the same hardcore group who are constantly doing this, and it gets on my tits.

However, I'm not saying videos should be banned from here. They should be in their own special area so people can find them or avoid them.

 

[Mark]

So...... can we post links to videos n shieet again or no ?

Especially the shieet! lol

If you read the posts preceding yours, you'd know use of embeds in moderation is paramount.

Don't flood the threads with unrelated or loosely related videos and instagram posts (some of them add nothing to the ongoing discussions). For this, create a Picture (Instagram, etc) or Video (YT, etc) thread or add to existing ones. Just like we've had all along.

 

[Giannis]

May I also point to the ability to post multiple images as thumbnails, that open in a pop-up window. That's a great way to post multiple pictures without clattering the forums or busting peoples' balls.

 

[braaf]

@admin

So I've read the complaints from our resident complainant and I would just like t say that this is Bollocks. This is a blatant personal attack on a member that said complainant doesn't care for. Ho won God's green earth is posting relevant you tube videos in a thread about said vehicle considered dumping or spam.

I appreciate these videos be they you tube or instagram in any thread of any vehicle or the like. I suppose said resident moan bag will one day have a problem with trailers in the trailer thread one day soon.

In a nutshell this is just ridiculous.

 

[dalab]

busting peoples' balls.

You said it, don't busting peoples' balls, but nobody's balls, neither the balls of those who post, it's not about that every time someone wants to post something they are afraid to do it because they can be banned or that they are reporting, this always was and should remain a stress free site

I appreciate these videos be they you tube or instagram in any thread of any vehicle or the like. I suppose said resident moan bag will one day have a problem with trailers in the trailer thread one day soon.

I join this concept, as I wrote before in many aspects "dress" threads, it is important for the generation of topics and is entertaining, (obviously without exaggeration or without posting meaningless things and overloading the system)

 

[Betty Swollocks]

@adminSo I've read the complaints from our resident complainant and I would just like t say that this is Bollocks.

Ahem, it's "Mr" Swollocks to you.

This is a blatant personal attack on a member that said complainant doesn't care for. Ho won God's green earth is posting relevant you tube videos in a thread about said vehicle considered dumping or spam.

Have you not read a single word of the previous posts? This is a discussion forum, not YouTube. If people want to watch videos they can go to YouTube and watch them there. There is nothing wrong with posting the odd video which SUPPORTS or ENHANCES the discussion, but threads should not be used to just constantly dump videos, and that is exactly what has been happening.

I appreciate these videos be they you tube or instagram in any thread of any vehicle or the like.

And you can still appreciate them in a dedicated part of the forum where they don't clog up threads which are meant for DISCUSSIONS.

OR

You can watch videos to your heart's content on YouTube or Instagram.

I suppose said resident moan bag will one day have a problem with trailers in the trailer thread one day soon.

No, because if a thread is dedicated to trailers then I know not to go in there if I don't want to watch a trailer, in the same way if there was a dedicated for these car videos I can avoid that. What people shouldn't have to do is wade through loads of meaningless videos in a DISCUSSION thread. Have a look at the title of this very thread. "Flooding the DISCUSSION forums with embedded media". THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

 

[Giannis]

You said it, don't busting peoples' balls, but nobody's balls, neither the balls of those who post, it's not about that every time someone wants to post something they are afraid to do it because they can be banned or that they are reporting, this always was and should remain a stress free site

If I understand it correctly, the whole point of the conversation, is that we have picture threads, video threads and official threads. Yet, we have pages after pages just with photos in the official threads, followed by pages after pages of videos, and almost no discussion. The point is to post image-heavy posts in the picture threads, video-heavy posts in the videos threads, and leave the official threads relatively uncluttered.

Nobody is getting banned for posting multiple pictures or videos. It's just that it's best if we keep the official threads in good moderation.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

@admin
This is a blatant personal attack on a member that said complainant doesn't care for.

Why do you say that when it's completely clear that @admin is in complete agreement with me and has explained why in this very thread?

I'll quote it below just so it is as clear as day for you.

As for a "blatant attack", the only blatant attack is from you towards me in this very thread. Next time you will be reported.

You have been a member since 2005. Don't you remember we used to enforce all videos and car picture heavy threads to their own threads within Car Pictures and Sound and Vision sections? "Picture heavy threads belong in the Car Pictures section" and so on.

Then over the years, we stopped enforcing this for some reason (be it faster Internet, faster servers, etc) and video and car picture threads started to show up on each of the car dedicated sections. They've already been co-existing within each car model nodes/sections. This is simply returning to that.

Yes, there's got to be parallel running threads for Videos and other media otherwise discussions tend to get flooded with no words but this instead. And now 10+ years after, we got new contenders, i.e. Instagram./

It begs the question: What do we have as threads? Intelligent discussions and debate amongst our membership, or flooded threads that look like nothing but advertisements to other social media hubs?

Indeed, a media embedded in a post can and does generate discussions, but some of our threads are not doing that anymore. You can see it for yourself. They are, posts after posts nothing but instagram and/or videos embedded! No debate, no conversations! How do they qualify as "intelligent discussions", how do they even qualify as a "forum"? They do not.

Obviously I do not need to remind everyone here what the definition of a forum is, but I do feel compelled to attach this little gem to further prove to you that those threads and future threads with nothing but media embeds are not only polluting otherwise intelligent discussions, but also need to be moderated from having too many social media links.

This accomplishes, once again, two very important things:
1. Flow of intelligent discussions uninterrupted by loosely related media dumps.
2. Avoiding flood of iframed content which makes the loading of pages slower.

BTW, this is also the reason why I changed the number of media embeds per posts, to curb this and make everyone's experience reading the forums better. However, even though a one-media rule per post is in place, some threads are still getting flooded and polluted with all this.

 

[LaArtist]

https://www.porsche.com/germany/

so why cant we post klickable links ?

Ok photos work cool

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and videos work

ps
Sorry lol just using the thread to try shieeet.. please fix the clickable links it’s highly frustrating!

 

[braaf]

If I understand it correctly, the whole point of the conversation, is that we have picture threads, video threads and official threads. Yet, we have pages after pages just with photos in the official threads, followed by pages after pages of videos, and almost no discussion. The point is to post image-heavy posts in the picture threads, video-heavy posts...

Giannis I disagree with you. The threads are not flooded with pics and videos with out any discussion. When a new vehicles is released or made public why do we need separate pic and video thread.

I for one find it counterintuitive to visit a new vehicle launch thread and then you're told you need to go to the picture and video thread if you wanna see pics and videos of this new car.

There is nothing wrong with the current system except for a few people trying to be full of S#/T.

 

[Giannis]

There is nothing wrong with the current system except for a few people trying to be full of S#/T.

I really don't respond well to such passive - aggressive comments. Especially in the morning.

Please explain with logical arguments what "full of S#?T" means in your opinion.

 

[hovabongZA]

I suppose said resident moan bag will one day have a problem with trailers in the trailer thread one day soon.

Oh man you made me look like an idiot in public, I laughed out so hard I couldn’t hold it.

Giannis I disagree with you. The threads are not flooded with pics and videos with out any discussion. When a new vehicles is released or made public why do we need separate pic and video thread.

I for one find it counterintuitive to visit a new vehicle launch thread and then you're told you need to go to the picture and video thread if you wanna see p...

Totally with on this one. For example should I see an M2CP video that I like and want to share it. I should either post in the BMW videos which is dormant or create a BMW M2 videos thread for one video? This is counterintuitive and will discourage me from posting any media in this forum. The M2 and X1 threads aren’t that popular I don’t see many videos being posted there to warrant a dedicated video/instagram thread.

From where I’m sitting it looks like depending on how long you’ve been a member here you get preferential treatment and I hope no one is going to patronize me and attempt to tell me this isn’t true. We have individuals in this forum that constantly abuse the rating system with “old “ and “dislike” but admin and mods don’t even bat an eye. Certain individuals that always turn threads into off tangent /fight club threads, case in point this particular thread, but nothing ever happens to them. Betty is a narcissistic troll that always wants to be the centre attention, yet I get a warning for posting relevant videos on an X1 LCI thread that has few videos and participation? That’s ridiculous!

I get that this is someone’s business and they can run it as they please, but some consistency, transparency and fairness from admin and mods will go a long way in ensuring that the user experience and participation is worth the time we spend here.

 

[braaf]

I really don't respond well to such passive - aggressive comments. Especially in the morning.

Please explain with logical arguments what "full of S#?T" means in your opinion.

Apologies. I didn't mean to vent at you. Like Hova said there are certain people that get preferential treatment because I have no clue why because they're nothing special.

This issue about video dumping is a personal attack on Hova because Betty doesn't like him. No one and I mean no one here has a problem with the videos and pics on these until Betty mentioned it.

He didn't do this on another thread to another member where videos and pics are being posted all the time on most of the threads, he did to Hova in the 2er GC thread because he doesn't like him.

All I'm asking is please stop entertaining such silliness. No one has a problem except Betty.

 

[martinbo]

No one has a problem except Betty.

That's your opinion. It's not necessarily the truth nor are you privy to all the discussions and correspondence we are exposed to.
There have been detailed discussions in the back office regarding this issue and actually there's more opposition than just Betty.
We're also not wanting to discourage members from posting. As always, with any forum issue, it's about achieving a sensible and moderate balance.
We've been doing this for years successfully and I feel that the administration team deserves credit for this.

The posting of videos in discussions threads is not expressly forbidden. Provided that video is contextually relevant (e.g. a manufacturer's launch video in an official thread) then there's no issue.
Same goes, as further examples, of additional press coverage on the same topic e.g. Carfection, Topgear etc. covering the launch of the vehicle. It's relevant and contextual and flows with the discussion. All good.

In the Internal Combustion section it's equally logical if there's a shootout between car A and car B and CarWow happens to do the same shootout in a vid, by all means post it up in the thread in question.
It's about applying common sense as well as practicing good housekeeping to keep things neatly placed that will help with the overall quality of the forum.

To reiterate, if you're posting a video in a discussion thread in context of, to substantiate, or, contribute toward, points of discussion in that thread then please do post it.
Of course, wherever possible, a little summary write-up on the video itself wouldn't go amiss either.

One of the biggest issues we have with videos being posted is the complete lack of relevance and lack of adding value to the discussion in the thread in question.
There are too many examples of such posting behaviour to mention but I'll do my best to give a few:
- Vids of Knucklehead A vs Knobface B going head-to-head in a midnight freeway drag - this being posted in an official thread is equally a drag. In fact, any this car vs that car video content should absolutely be left out of the official threads!
- Posting a vid of some random person taking mobile phone footage of their dealer launch - seriously, post it in the vids section or it'll get deleted.
- More to the point above, be circumspect in regard to the quality and professionalism of the video production being posted. Any personal, poor-quality, unedited and so on footage - stick it in the vids section.

The bottom line is this, for the vast majority of members, this is a free-to-use site. So, it's only fair that the administrators in turn ask that rules and guidelines are adhered to in order to align with the ethos of the site.
This, in turn, ensures that a level of consistency and quality is maintained to the point that we keep everyone happy.

 

[Matski]

Apologies. I didn't mean to vent at you. Like Hova said there are certain people that get preferential treatment because I have no clue why because they're nothing special.

This issue about video dumping is a personal attack on Hova because Betty doesn't like him. No one and I mean no one here has a problem with the videos and pics on these until Betty...

I don't think anyone's going to deny there is friction between those two members, but the background discussions around what media belongs where hasn't revolved around what Betty wants, it's as simple as that. It just so happens that the position he has on the matter follows a reasonable interpretation of the forum rules, and the historic structure of the forum, so if that also seems to follow what admin and mods are saying, that'll be the reason why...

So...

From where I’m sitting it looks like depending on how long you’ve been a member here you get preferential treatment and I hope no one is going to patronize me and attempt to tell me this isn’t true.

It's not really preferential treatment.

yet I get a warning for posting relevant videos on an X1 LCI thread that has few videos and participation? That’s ridiculous!

I might be new to the moderation structure of the site, but as far as I'm aware, you've not received any warning points for this. There's no need for this to be anything other than a civil discussion, and if EVERYONE, operated within the spirit of the rules it wouldn't need to be anything else.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Giannis I disagree with you. The threads are not flooded with pics and videos with out any discussion.

I could point you to 20 threads right now which are full of useless videos that add nothing. Once a car has been launched then relevant videos should be included, sure. But six months later do we really need endless videos of "Instagram stars" who think they're Jeremy Clarkson posted and clogging up the thread? Everybody thinks they're a car reviewer now, and most of it is utter crap. If you think otherwise then you have a lower bar than me as to what is quality. The issue is, there is a small group of people on here who feel they have to postly everything they come across on the internet, and they really shouldn't. However, if you enjoy wasting your time then feel free to visit YouTube yourself, OR better still, visit a dedicated thread on here where you can watch videos to your heart's content!

In the meantime the adults of the forum can get on with discussing cars. This is a "discussion forum" after all, not YouTube.

I for one find it counterintuitive to visit a new vehicle launch thread and then you're told you need to go to the picture and video thread if you wanna see pics and videos of this new car.

That is not what is being suggested. Relevant videos will be allowed to a point where it adds value. If a new car is launched then a launch video is clearly relevant. However, six months later, if you want to see yet another video of a berk accelerating on the autobahn than by all means look for it on YouTube or a dedicated thread on here.

There is nothing wrong with the current system except for a few people trying to be full of S#/T.

The mods and admin have told you that this has been an issue for some time and they have LONG been discussing it before I brought it up. What about that can you not grasp?

 

[Giannis]

The mods and admin have told you that this has been an issue for some time and they have LONG been discussing it before I brought it up. What about that can you not grasp?

If you would please stop putting fuel into the fire?

 

[Betty Swollocks]

For example should I see an M2CP video that I like and want to share it. I should either post in the BMW videos which is dormant or create a BMW M2 videos thread for one video?

But it's not one video is it? You're constantly posting videos, often of the same car. What you find interesting other people may not. Usually people would use their own common sense before posting as to whether it really needs to be posted, and that way it wouldn't feel like it's clogging up the thread. Unfortunately that seems to be lacking with some people (it's not JUST you). If you think of this forum like a dinner party with everybody chatting about cars, what you're doing is nudging the people next to you to suggest they watch a video on your phone that you happen to find interesting.

This is counterintuitive and will discourage me from posting any media in this forum. The M2 and X1 threads aren’t that popular I don’t see many videos being posted there to warrant a dedicated video/instagram thread.

If you don't see many videos being posted there, maybe that's a clue that there is no demand for them? If someone has an ACHING desire to watch a video of an X1 then they can go to YouTube and search one out for themselves. Why do you feel it is your job to clog up a thread with videos nobody wants to watch? Why do you feel you have to force them on people? When you add to a thread people see there are "new posts". It's deeply annoying when you've got five minutes to check the forum to spend half of that clicking on updated threads only to find you've posted yet another boring video.

Betty is a narcissistic troll that always wants to be the centre attention, yet I get a warning for posting relevant videos on an X1 LCI thread that has few videos and participation? That’s ridiculous!

Feel free to not visit if you don't like what the mods are telling you.

This issue about video dumping is a personal attack on Hova because Betty doesn't like him.

You're right, I don't like him. But he's also pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable on the forum. These two states can exist at the same time, and it doesn't mean that one is a causation of the other.

No one and I mean no one here has a problem with the videos and pics on these until Betty mentioned it.

How many times do you need to be told that this was being discussed before I brought it up?

He didn't do this on another thread to another member where videos and pics are being posted all the time on most of the threads, he did to Hova in the 2er GC thread because he doesn't like him.

hovabongZA is by far the most prolific at posting pointless videos. He's not alone, and I've said that above, but he's certainly the one who is the most noticeable.


It's quite simple. The forum is only as good as the content, and if you don't employ some kind of quality control there's a risk this place just degenerates into a mess. I like this forum because I feel the overall quality of posts are better than any other forum on the internet, and I value the more adult-orientated discussions. Usually the members themselves employ an unwritten quality control system and it's worked well until now. However, if this goes unchecked what you will end up with is B*mmerpost, and nobody wants that.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

If you would please stop putting fuel into the fire?

I'm getting abuse left, right and centre. I'm not adding fuel to the fire. I'm having my right to reply. If @braaf and @hovabongZA stopped (unfairly) attacking me there would be no fire to add fuel to.

I'm also managing to reply to them in a much more polite way than they're addressing me, which I think deserves some credit.

 

[martinbo]

I think we need to stop arguing. This is not about a spat between Betty and Hova or Betty and Braaf.
The management of this forum has been clear about the standards which need to be employed in regard to mindless video posting. The personal beef you have with each other is of no consequence.