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Shout Box - Some Observations

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Shout Box - Some Observations 05/09/2017 at 18:45 #101544
Andrew G
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While I accept the whole point of the Shout Box is for spontaneous comments which don't fit well within a forum thread I do feel the need to make a few observations.

1. It appears to be monopolised by a small number of users.
2. There have been recently been reports of 'Private/Closed' sessions which are of no interest to me.
3. Some comments are more appropriate for the Private Message function.
4. 'Please can somebody host' messages are tiresome.

Apologies for my grumpy post - maybe I should just ignore the Shout Box - I think quite a few users already take this approach.

Last edited: 05/09/2017 at 18:45 by Andrew G
Reason: None given

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Shout Box - Some Observations 05/09/2017 at 18:50 #101545
Ar88
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310 posts
Andrew G in post 101544 said:
While I accept the whole point of the Shout Box is for spontaneous comments which don't fit well within a forum thread I do feel the need to make a few observations.

1. It appears to be monopolised by a small number of users.
2. There have been recently been reports of 'Private/Closed' sessions which are of no interest to me.
3. Some comments are more appropriate for the Private Message function.
4. 'Please can somebody host' messages are tiresome.

Apologies for my grumpy post - maybe I should just ignore the Shout Box - I think quite a few users already take this approach.
1 - Anybody is welcome to use it, it just happens that a regular few use it.
2 - The shoutbox isn't tailored to any 1 person's personal preference.
3 - I've started moving over to PM for certain conversations, so see your point with that.
4 - The whole point of the shoutbox is to ask/notify. Asking people to host is asking something!

The Welsh contingent. Aron, or Ar to mates. Also known as 88E or ThatManCalledAr.
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Shout Box - Some Observations 05/09/2017 at 18:55 #101546
Ar88
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310 posts
ThatManCalledAr in post 101545 said:
Andrew G in post 101544 said:
While I accept the whole point of the Shout Box is for spontaneous comments which don't fit well within a forum thread I do feel the need to make a few observations.

1. It appears to be monopolised by a small number of users.
2. There have been recently been reports of 'Private/Closed' sessions which are of no interest to me.
3. Some comments are more appropriate for the Private Message function.
4. 'Please can somebody host' messages are tiresome.

Apologies for my grumpy post - maybe I should just ignore the Shout Box - I think quite a few users already take this approach.
1 - Anybody is welcome to use it, it just happens that a regular few use it.
2 - The shoutbox isn't tailored to any 1 person's personal preference.
3 - I've started moving over to PM for certain conversations, so see your point with that.
4 - The whole point of the shoutbox is to ask/notify. Asking people to host is asking something!
Apologies - disregard 4

The Welsh contingent. Aron, or Ar to mates. Also known as 88E or ThatManCalledAr.
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Shout Box - Some Observations 05/09/2017 at 20:03 #101556
GeoffM
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6274 posts
From a moderator point of view, the shoutbox tends to get the most moderation, from excitable and ill-thought out comments. It is best to ignore if you're not interested. But other people like it - horses for courses!

I do keep an eye on it but don't go back reading pages of comments so the occasional inappropriate post slips through.

Random thought: maybe the Games section could be improved to add an "I don't want to host but am interested in a game between X and Y times on Z date".

SimSig Boss
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Shout Box - Some Observations 05/09/2017 at 20:08 #101557
Meld
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GeoffM in post 101556 said:

Random thought: maybe the Games section could be improved to add an "I don't want to host but am interested in a game between X and Y times on Z date".
+1 on that one

Passed the age to be doing 'Spoon Feeding' !!!
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Shout Box - Some Observations 05/09/2017 at 20:18 #101560
Ar88
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310 posts
GeoffM in post 101556 said:
From a moderator point of view, the shoutbox tends to get the most moderation, from excitable and ill-thought out comments. It is best to ignore if you're not interested. But other people like it - horses for courses!

I do keep an eye on it but don't go back reading pages of comments so the occasional inappropriate post slips through.

Random thought: maybe the Games section could be improved to add an "I don't want to host but am interested in a game between X and Y times on Z date".
Likewise - +1

The Welsh contingent. Aron, or Ar to mates. Also known as 88E or ThatManCalledAr.
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Shout Box - Some Observations 07/09/2017 at 12:19 #101599
Andrew G
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548 posts
Thanks to all those above for taking the time to comment.

While I can see the benefit of potential hosts using the Shout Box to test the water to see how many participants there might be before taking the time to set-up a session (especially a chain) - I still can't see why potential participants can't patiently wait for a session to be advertised.

If some functionality is developed to allow individuals to show they are 'ready & waiting' I can still see some challenges around the simulations requested with one camp wanting to see lots of donationware hosts and another wanting to get value from their payware sims.

Anyway this will be by final post on this topic - I don't want to sound like a stuck record.

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Shout Box - Some Observations 07/09/2017 at 13:39 #101601
postal
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5189 posts
Andrew G in post 101544 said:
While I accept the whole point of the Shout Box is for spontaneous comments which don't fit well within a forum thread I do feel the need to make a few observations.

1. It appears to be monopolised by a small number of users.
2. There have been recently been reports of 'Private/Closed' sessions which are of no interest to me.
3. Some comments are more appropriate for the Private Message function.
4. 'Please can somebody host' messages are tiresome.

Apologies for my grumpy post - maybe I should just ignore the Shout Box - I think quite a few users already take this approach.
I am not renowned for my patience and see Andrew's post as very sensible and not grumpy in the slightest. It is my firm belief that the internet is not such a liberating medium as many suggest. It has given everyone a voice which sadly ignores the fact that most people (myself included) do not have anything interesting to say while at the same time foisting their witless outpourings onto the whole world. At one stage when Geoff was experimenting he took account of my neolithic attitudes and he let me have a bespoke set up with the Shout Box not visible. Sadly I now have the Shout Box back after the migration to the new site. Can I ask that the option to hide the Shout Box is made available for all who have a low irritation threshold and high blood pressure?

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Shout Box - Some Observations 07/09/2017 at 16:01 #101604
Peter Bennet
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postal in post 101601 said:
It has given everyone a voice which sadly ignores the fact that most people (myself included) do not have anything interesting to say while at the same time foisting their witless outpourings onto the whole world.
What a fabulous statement, I might use on Twitter at some point if you don't mind.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Shout Box - Some Observations 07/09/2017 at 16:21 #101605
postal
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Peter Bennet in post 101604 said:
postal in post 101601 said:
It has given everyone a voice which sadly ignores the fact that most people (myself included) do not have anything interesting to say while at the same time foisting their witless outpourings onto the whole world.
What a fabulous statement, I might use on Twitter at some point if you don't mind.

Peter
Please feel free (as long as you don't retain the copyright for yourself!).

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Shout Box - Some Observations 07/09/2017 at 16:50 #101606
northroad
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postal in post 101601 said:
Andrew G in post 101544 said:
While I accept the whole point of the Shout Box is for spontaneous comments which don't fit well within a forum thread I do feel the need to make a few observations.

1. It appears to be monopolised by a small number of users.
2. There have been recently been reports of 'Private/Closed' sessions which are of no interest to me.
3. Some comments are more appropriate for the Private Message function.
4. 'Please can somebody host' messages are tiresome.

Apologies for my grumpy post - maybe I should just ignore the Shout Box - I think quite a few users already take this approach.
I am not renowned for my patience and see Andrew's post as very sensible and not grumpy in the slightest. It is my firm belief that the internet is not such a liberating medium as many suggest. It has given everyone a voice which sadly ignores the fact that most people (myself included) do not have anything interesting to say while at the same time foisting their witless outpourings onto the whole world. At one stage when Geoff was experimenting he took account of my neolithic attitudes and he let me have a bespoke set up with the Shout Box not visible. Sadly I now have the Shout Box back after the migration to the new site. Can I ask that the option to hide the Shout Box is made available for all who have a low irritation threshold and high blood pressure?

Good shout Postal. I am in full agreement with that suggestion.

Geoff

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Shout Box - Some Observations 07/09/2017 at 21:35 #101612
clive
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postal in post 101601 said:

Can I ask that the option to hide the Shout Box is made available for all who have a low irritation threshold and high blood pressure?
Um, I just don't look at it; I treat it just like the adverts (yes, I know they pay for the site, but I still don't read them).

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Shout Box - Some Observations 07/09/2017 at 23:50 #101613
postal
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clive in post 101612 said:
postal in post 101601 said:

Can I ask that the option to hide the Shout Box is made available for all who have a low irritation threshold and high blood pressure?
Um, I just don't look at it; I treat it just like the adverts (yes, I know they pay for the site, but I still don't read them).
Unfortunately, if you are genetically programmed to react strongly to visual stimuli, just ignoring something dynamic like the Shout Box is not an option. In the same way, I find it very difficult to do anything constructive if I am facing a television as the visual stimulus keeps on interfering with whatever I am trying to do. The only way I can do anything requiring concentration is to sit with my back to the TV. Unfortunately, if I am using the Simsig website, I can't turn my back on the Shout Box.

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Shout Box - Some Observations 08/09/2017 at 06:45 #101615
Giantray
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clive in post 101612 said:
Um, I just don't look at it; I treat it just like the adverts (yes, I know they pay for the site, but I still don't read them).
I am in the same club as Clive. I visit the Simsig web page just to look for updates on forum posts and any other news. The Shout Box I ignore it like the multitude of adverts that appear on other websites. That way I do not see any of the inane chatter on it.

Retired Professional Railwayman (1981-2023); Pway & S&T (1981-88); Former Signalman/Signaller/ Signalling Trainer (1989-2023) [AB, TCB, Mechanical, NX, WestCad, Hitachi SARS]; Railway Historian (esp.SER, LCDR); Member of The Permanent Way Institution..
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Shout Box - Some Observations 08/09/2017 at 21:27 #101629
Jan
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889 posts
@postal:
What browser are you using? With Firefox or Chrome it's possible to hide the shoutbox via an add-on.

Two million people attempt to use Birmingham's magnificent rail network every year, with just over a million of them managing to get further than Smethwick.
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Shout Box - Some Observations 08/09/2017 at 21:39 #101633
postal
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Jan in post 101629 said:
@postal:
What browser are you using? With Firefox or Chrome it's possible to hide the shoutbox via an add-on.
FF, so which add-on and will it still work in November?

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Shout Box - Some Observations 09/09/2017 at 14:45 #101663
Jan
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Stylus should still work come the add-on apocalypse in November. After installing that, install this style, which hides the shout box.
Two million people attempt to use Birmingham's magnificent rail network every year, with just over a million of them managing to get further than Smethwick.
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Shout Box - Some Observations 09/09/2017 at 18:39 #101675
postal
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5189 posts
Good work. Thanks for taking the time to create the stylesheet.
“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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