Clarification on Forum Etiquette Rules

[xSOSxHawkens]

I am seeking a specific and equally enforced/upheld guidance on if Steam Admins would like users to (ideally):

A) Make a new post for any specific posting reason they may have when they have a reason to post it.

or

B) Use the search feature, and where applicable, post to already extant threads to avoid clutter or duplicate postings.

Simply put, is it better to duplicate or necro in the Eyes of the Admins of Steam, and which policy specifically do you want your users to adhere to?

The reason to seek this is to avoid, for myself and others, the frustrations caused when one does the "right thing" only to have someone moderate them without cause.

Specifically regarding older postings and or old threads;

The rules explicitly specify:

Originally posted by Steam:

Please do a search before creating a new thread. You may find that your answer is already waiting for you in the forums

https://steamcommunity.com/app/690830/discussions/4/1777136225026976469/

This is normal for most forums, and though Steam does not go farther in it rule details, many forums include specific wording about using the Search Feature to ensure that one does *not* create duplicate posts on topics which already have discussion and or reply.

In general, over the past 20+ years of forum use, it has been commonly considered *bad* for a user to create a new thread, even if the thread that already existed was quite old. Commonly accepted long standing internet forum etiquette implies that it is better to pick back up the older but already on topic discussion with new input than it is to create a duplicate or un-needed re-posting.

Typically the only time such a posting is seen as "bad" or "necro" is when it is done for no reason than to bump an already long dead thread or when the reply is non-applicable to the discussion. But rarely if ever, do online communities see issue with, older posts being brought back into activity through on topic or useful posts. If anything that is normally seen as a good example of a User making real use of the Search Function and self-seeking assistance.

This general etiquette is seemingly in line with the already mentioned and explicit Steam Rules...

And yet there are quite regularly examples in both the direct Steam Community forums and in game level forums of threads being locked after being located by users in Search and then replied to with valid or useful information.

Example:

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/11/1621724915783373672/

In this posting the question/topic at hand was still relevant, and the poster who brought the topic back to page one did so with relevant input. They also received relevant and updated reply from a community member.

Despite this seemingly being a prime example of good users using the Search Feature and creating continued discussion the thread was abruptly closed seemingly without reason due to the simple fact that it was old.

This was in a steam community forum by a direct Steam Moderator. As official as Steam Moderation gets.

This type of thing happens at least semi-regularly. Just as often I see people who post and get told by Moderators that they are asking something someone already asked, and to go use search.

This seems like a situation where the Users can try their best and always end up losing, as even if they follow the rules they can have their discussion muted.

Personally, I am not involved in any of it, but I am someone who has issues with people being in catch 22's or in hypocritical situations. I do see there being issue here, even if the issues only affect others at this time, they could affect me just as easily.

As such, I would like to request clearly defined rules regarding Steam Admin Staff's official stance on this policy, and if they officially would like users to use Search to prevent duplicates, or if they would officially like to reduce the chance of older threads rising and thus would prefer users to Post New for each topic regardless of pre-existent threads on the subject please!

I feel like:

Is it better to use Search and post to pre-existing threads or is it better to Post New threads with my questions?

Should be a pretty easy black/white thing to define and then stand by consistently as a moderation team.

Thanks for the input!

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by xSOSxHawkens:

Clarification on Forum Etiquette Rules

I am seeking a specific and equally enforced/upheld guidance on if Steam Admins would like users to (ideally):

A) Make a new post for any specific posting reason they may have when they have a reason to post it.

or

B) Use the search feature, and where applicable, post to already extant threads to avoid clutter or duplicate postings.

Simply put, is it better to duplicate or necro in the Eyes of the Admins of Steam, and which policy specifically do you want your users to adhere to?

The reason to seek this is to avoid, for myself and others, the frustrations caused when one does the "right thing" only to have someone moderate them without cause.

Specifically regarding older postings and or old threads;

The rules explicitly specify:

Originally posted by Steam:

Please do a search before creating a new thread. You may find that your answer is already waiting for you in the forums

https://steamcommunity.com/app/690830/discussions/4/1777136225026976469/

This is normal for most forums, and though Steam does not go farther in it rule details, many forums include specific wording about using the Search Feature to ensure that one does *not* create duplicate posts on topics which already have discussion and or reply.

In general, over the past 20+ years of forum use, it has been commonly considered *bad* for a user to create a new thread, even if the thread that already existed was quite old. Commonly accepted long standing internet forum etiquette implies that it is better to pick back up the older but already on topic discussion with new input than it is to create a duplicate or un-needed re-posting.

Typically the only time such a posting is seen as "bad" or "necro" is when it is done for no reason than to bump an already long dead thread or when the reply is non-applicable to the discussion. But rarely if ever, do online communities see issue with, older posts being brought back into activity through on topic or useful posts. If anything that is normally seen as a good example of a User making real use of the Search Function and self-seeking assistance.

This general etiquette is seemingly in line with the already mentioned and explicit Steam Rules...

And yet there are quite regularly examples in both the direct Steam Community forums and in game level forums of threads being locked after being located by users in Search and then replied to with valid or useful information.

Example:

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/11/1621724915783373672/

In this posting the question/topic at hand was still relevant, and the poster who brought the topic back to page one did so with relevant input. They also received relevant and updated reply from a community member.

Despite this seemingly being a prime example of good users using the Search Feature and creating continued discussion the thread was abruptly closed seemingly without reason due to the simple fact that it was old.

This was in a steam community forum by a direct Steam Moderator. As official as Steam Moderation gets.

This type of thing happens at least semi-regularly. Just as often I see people who post and get told by Moderators that they are asking something someone already asked, and to go use search.

This seems like a situation where the Users can try their best and always end up losing, as even if they follow the rules they can have their discussion muted.

Personally, I am not involved in any of it, but I am someone who has issues with people being in catch 22's or in hypocritical situations. I do see there being issue here, even if the issues only affect others at this time, they could affect me just as easily.

As such, I would like to request clearly defined rules regarding Steam Admin Staff's official stance on this policy, and if they officially would like users to use Search to prevent duplicates, or if they would officially like to reduce the chance of older threads rising and thus would prefer users to Post New for each topic regardless of pre-existent threads on the subject please!

I feel like:

Is it better to use Search and post to pre-existing threads or is it better to Post New threads with my questions?

Should be a pretty easy black/white thing to define and then stand by consistently as a moderation team.

Thanks for the input!

The thread you linked had a user necro a 5 year old thread about an issue that was not on topic. He also necro'd and hijacked multiple other threads to do the same. The moderator did do what they were supposed to do in this situation.

Support mods aren't the brightest, especially when they act upon a report of a necro even though the thread was only 2-3 months old. Support just sees a report for a necro and in some instances, compare dates and lock if more than a month separates the new post from the last.

Here is a better example...

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/3377158861985887943/

[rawWwRrr]

The Moderators have been locking up a lot of old threads. Some days it feels like Necroday with how many I see being locked up. Most are being done deservingly so because the new responses either have nothing to do with the topic, were done just to insult someone, posted to complete the non-existent community badge task, or added nothing more to discussion other than to say "me too!!!". Some topics that could be left open are getting caught in the crossfire, so to speak, as I feel like the Moderators are seeing reports about topics being necro'd and just look at dates without understanding the context of the new responses.

[kitt]

"caught in the crossfire"


lol that can only happen if the Mods don't read the topic and only look at the date. I guess fullfilling a quota..

Otherwise they wouldn't close 98% of the topics.

[temps]

I don't really think it matters which is preferred because I've never gotten any messages from a moderator complaining about posting on old threads ("necroing") or posting questions that had been answered before in other threads.

Some whiny Steam forum users might complain when you do these things in my experience, but not moderators.

[Crazy Tiger]

The paid mods only look at the dates, not at context. A few threads that in the past weeks had been revived with on-topic discussion got locked for being older threads.

[Pocahawtness]

Originally posted by xSOSxHawkens:

I am seeking a specific and equally enforced/upheld guidance on if Steam Admins would like users to (ideally):

A) Make a new post for any specific posting reason they may have when they have a reason to post it.

or

B) Use the search feature, and where applicable, post to already extant threads to avoid clutter or duplicate postings.

Simply put, is it better to duplicate or necro in the Eyes of the Admins of Steam, and which policy specifically do you want your users to adhere to?

The reason to seek this is to avoid, for myself and others, the frustrations caused when one does the "right thing" only to have someone moderate them without cause.

Specifically regarding older postings and or old threads;

The rules explicitly specify:

Originally posted by Steam:

Please do a search before creating a new thread. You may find that your answer is already waiting for you in the forums

https://steamcommunity.com/app/690830/discussions/4/1777136225026976469/

This is normal for most forums, and though Steam does not go farther in it rule details, many forums include specific wording about using the Search Feature to ensure that one does *not* create duplicate posts on topics which already have discussion and or reply.

In general, over the past 20+ years of forum use, it has been commonly considered *bad* for a user to create a new thread, even if the thread that already existed was quite old. Commonly accepted long standing internet forum etiquette implies that it is better to pick back up the older but already on topic discussion with new input than it is to create a duplicate or un-needed re-posting.

Typically the only time such a posting is seen as "bad" or "necro" is when it is done for no reason than to bump an already long dead thread or when the reply is non-applicable to the discussion. But rarely if ever, do online communities see issue with, older posts being brought back into activity through on topic or useful posts. If anything that is normally seen as a good example of a User making real use of the Search Function and self-seeking assistance.

This general etiquette is seemingly in line with the already mentioned and explicit Steam Rules...

And yet there are quite regularly examples in both the direct Steam Community forums and in game level forums of threads being locked after being located by users in Search and then replied to with valid or useful information.

Example:

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/11/1621724915783373672/

In this posting the question/topic at hand was still relevant, and the poster who brought the topic back to page one did so with relevant input. They also received relevant and updated reply from a community member.

Despite this seemingly being a prime example of good users using the Search Feature and creating continued discussion the thread was abruptly closed seemingly without reason due to the simple fact that it was old.

This was in a steam community forum by a direct Steam Moderator. As official as Steam Moderation gets.

This type of thing happens at least semi-regularly. Just as often I see people who post and get told by Moderators that they are asking something someone already asked, and to go use search.

This seems like a situation where the Users can try their best and always end up losing, as even if they follow the rules they can have their discussion muted.

Personally, I am not involved in any of it, but I am someone who has issues with people being in catch 22's or in hypocritical situations. I do see there being issue here, even if the issues only affect others at this time, they could affect me just as easily.

As such, I would like to request clearly defined rules regarding Steam Admin Staff's official stance on this policy, and if they officially would like users to use Search to prevent duplicates, or if they would officially like to reduce the chance of older threads rising and thus would prefer users to Post New for each topic regardless of pre-existent threads on the subject please!

I feel like:

Is it better to use Search and post to pre-existing threads or is it better to Post New threads with my questions?

Should be a pretty easy black/white thing to define and then stand by consistently as a moderation team.

Thanks for the input!

I have always been against these sorts of rules anyway. Search means that you have to do your own investigation in to a problem but the entire point asking is so that you don't need to do your own investigation. Honestly I think mods who enforce those rules are just being pedantic. Obviously if there are two threads exactly the same at the same time, but other than that I say "Search? I didn't even know there was one".

[Judgmental Amaterasu]

The paid moderators don't look at the context of a post in a old thread. They only see dates so it doesn't even matter anymore if a thread gets brought back to life with information that is new and relevant to an old topic.

[Ｋiddiec͕̤̱͋̿͑͠at 🃏]

Actions speak louder than words
& the Support moderators have spoken loud & clear via their actions.

...always create a new topic.

Always.

[xSOSxHawkens]

Originally posted by Kiddiec͕̤̱͋̿͑͠at 🃏:

Actions speak louder than words
& the Support moderators have spoken loud & clear via their actions.

...always create a new topic. :seewhatyoudid:

Always. :poppo: :sunboy:

Yeh, this is kinda what I am leaning into. If I know the actions are to close any older posts despite relevance new posts for all it shall be.

[xSOSxHawkens]

Thank you all for the input, glad I am not the only one who has noticed or wondered!