Giveaway of the Day Forums

1. 

   Swan
   Member

   Hi Bubby, ;)

   Two possible solutions occurred to me today with regard to people not really understanding the reason for either the GOTD website or the comments section itself.

   One hit me when I read this today:

   .... If you want reviews, go to a review site, not the comment area of Giveaway of the Day. TK #49, I love people like you who help others out by giving very detailed comments. GOTD, keep the software rolling! I bet it’s not easy finding vendors willing to hand out their software for free!
   Comment by Jacob Ford — May 9th, 2007 at 3:59 pm"

   That indicates to me, that at least this person thinks GOTD hands out free software simply out of the goodness of their hearts, (Don't even try it GOTD team ;) and that the comments section is where they go to say thank you.

   In fact, in reading over weeks of past posts, it is a shoe that fits a foot.

   What if the name of the comments section had its name changed to; "Software Review Column" or "User Software Reviews?" Do you think it might better advise people that its not for their own personal comments, but specifically to review the software?

   What if people had to register, activate and wait for to join GOTD? The registration form could also hold a checkbox for the question: Our gift of software to you, is given with the understanding that you will leave a short review of its working quality. This will assist our donating software houses in bettering their products.

   Do you agree to review our software as and when it is freely given to you?

   They can either check it - or not - if not, an automatic letter goes out telling them that they didn't meet the terms of the registration. If they do check the box - the registration goes through and the person receives their activation key.

   These are all just ideas or suggestions, but it would really be great to shed these people, don't you think?

   More importantly it would give people a better understanding of the GOTD initiative and not feel that they're simply popping in each day to pick up their gift.>

   I know you're the moderator of this forum and not one of the bigwigs ;P but if you'd pass the ideas along, I'd be grateful ...

   Keep up the great work that you do. :)
   ~ Swan

   Posted 16 years ago #
2. 

   Swan
   Member

   "Wait for to join?"
   hahahaha ;)

   Great coding by me at the end too! lol
   ~ Swan

   Posted 16 years ago #
3. 

   BillW50
   Member

   Okay whatever! :)

   Posted 16 years ago #
4. 

   BuBBy
   Teh adnim

   I think part of the problem is too much is getting through moderation.

   Sometime over the last two days I've read a comment asking (paraphrasing) "How do I get around the installer so I can install the giveaway wherever\whenever I want"? Then about 3 comments later "I can tell you how to do it - send me an email at blah@gmail.com".

   Supposedly a moderator read this and allowed it to go through.

   Then there are the comments that "giveaway X has spyware Z" - yeah great way to start misinformed rumors. Or the arguments telling people they can "Go F themselves".

   If I am reading these comments.... so is everyone else. So regardless of what you call the section - if you are not going to moderate comments properly you may as well not get under peoples skins by telling them you are - because now you have angry users who say "why was my comment deleted, when these people could post *that*"?

   Forcing people to register is one idea that has merit - if people want to spend 5 minutes every day posting their comments - surely spending 2 minutes to register just once isn't a big ask. The argument that people will stop posting if they have to register I don't believe for one second. Perhaps those who like to post abuse and troll under random names and hide behind anonymity might stop posting - but I can live with that.

   But until there is consistency across the board in moderation and people posting questions aren't moderated and posted in the comments section - it makes little sense telling people "please only post A B or C in the comments section - everything else in the forums" but them having the moderators let users post D and E also and then post responses etc also in the comments section. We have traffic police who tell people you must always stop at the red lights... except if you are in a hurry. Either it is a rule or it is not a rule - it can't be both.

   Posted 16 years ago #
5. 

   Swan
   Member

   Hi again Bubby,

   I agree with everything that you've said and I'm also horrified at what makes it through to the comments section - especially now that we have so many CHILDREN coming here for both game software and because they keep an eye out for mobil software. As a parent it makes me shudder to think of my children at a young age seeing such language - let alone seeing the way child-adults behave.

   Given that we've had an entire thread on the topic of profanity in the past, why do you suppose that the comments moderators are so incredibly inept Bubby? I mean really, do they simply not give a damn about kids, who by the way are BIG potential customers/repeat customers (via parents,) for these software houses?

   It's like the moderators are actually standing at the front door of their shop saying; "Come in! Don't mind the filthy floors, (bad language,)or the complaining customers, whinersor the parrots you'll see flying around the place. There are no rules `ere mate, just do what ya want, grab the free software, say something about it even if you don't have a clue and go."

   Aren't there ever moderator meetings on IRC, messenger, or some other chat program to discuss the current situation of the web site and also the comments section? If not, then I'd say we're screwed! ;)

   It really won't be long before parents will pull their kids away from the site or even block it from them - then the parents may never visit again themselves, so that they can set a good example to their children.

   Stranger things have happened.
   ~ Swan

   Posted 16 years ago #
6. 

   Swan
   Member

   Hey Bubby! ;)

   This is an exact quote from Andrew's (BladedThoth's) website - this is from his forums:

   "....but it should be known that this is not the place to bring disrespect and I will deal with it swiftly if it occurs."

   Now why can't we have the same expectations of respect from our commenters here? It's the same with every forum (though maybe phrased differently,) no matter where you go.

   Are GOTD that insecure that they won't enforce something like this for fear of losing those that come here now?

   It's pretty sad actually.

   Have a great weekend Bubby, ;)
   ~ Swan

   Posted 16 years ago #
7. 

   freebird31
   Member

   I think a simple thing like moving the forum link to right beside the comment link is just as good as policing the comments. I agree they need to be respectful or otherwise removed, but when you can choose the forum link to comment right next to the software-comment box, it might surprise you how many people will correctly choose the forum instead of the direct comment box. It's searching for the forum link that makes it easier to just fill out the open comment box that's right there instead of that.

   (uhm,... I think I'm not making much sense.. and in my own language it sounded perfect...) I'll go do the same suggestion on the other forum...

   Posted 16 years ago #
8. 

   ldahl
   Member

   Bubby, I think what you are doing today is a good idea, telling the ones that are having problems to come to the forum. I know it is more work for you but I wonder if you did that for a week if some of the ones that are having problems would see it often enough that they would come here. Also I wonder if at the beginning of the give away, If you would just start a thread that was named Problems With (insert name of new program), perhaps it would help keep all the requests for help and statements of having problems together in one thread. I know that there would still be those that would have trouble reading*Grin* but it might help contain the bulk of the pleas for help.

   One of the things that I liked from the beginning is that no registration was needed to try the software of the day, it did make it seem truly free, as opposed to something that might be scammy.

   Posted 16 years ago #

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