I use an old fashioned laptop computer to access OLO, running a Firefox (Version 24) web browser. As for features I would like, Jon J's list looked good, in particular article ratings.

Hi Foxy,

Whilst I don’t fully know where GY is going with this, he has opened up the floor for us all to offer some suggestions and try to add some value, I for one appreciate his gesture. I find it curious that only sixteen of our vast list of OLO’ers has offered any comment at all?

I think we have something of real value here on OLO, if it can be improved and attract even more contributors that has to be good. If the future looks more adult and more civil then great.

I agree entirely that some comments are deliberately inflammatory and yes, I too have done my share of that. I’m trying to understand what traits cause the abuse and vilification in order to recognize it, call it out for what it is and perhaps, just perhaps, get contributors to think twice before doing it. If this comes to pass as a moderators call, I would comply.

So many times we hear it said that by resorting to abuse one has already given up on the argument, if that is the case why let them continue? I’m not talking about the type of abuse that in the past might have had the comment deleted, I’m talking about the deliberate provocation that “causes” the problems we are talking about.

Such behavior does cause many problems as you point out and the few seem to spoil it for the many.

If a such abuse is recognized as argumental capitulation, let it be the last say they have on that particular thread, if they have declared their own failure, Bye!

One problem solved? Tick.

spindoc..the reason..so..few are on this topic
is in the main..because..its in the teq/section
[just putting it general/would have doubled responses]
but these would be as if nothing..if grayham..wrote an article

[ps all the forum...indexes should have the topic..if its serious

other thing..is..off topic trolls,
complaints..to mods..need allof our attentions
thus..each..one....should become a new topic..that points out the problem..and should resolve itself..just by 'going-public'..should stop abuse.

refute the words
not ban..the poster
preferably..in..their own topic..[in..the teq section]

but..[i never scroll down that far
for..example..i..[only noticed it cause i..was searching for another post
and opened 20 pages..then noticed the topic

i..figure the number..of index-topic..should be increased..
plus active threads be..more easy to find..

index spec's..should fix any issues

i feel we could use..the adverts-box
to advertise..our own current threads

Dear spindoc,

I'm so glad that we're having this discussion as I
am getting so much out of it. It's making me look at some
things in a different way, and hopefully I shall become
a better poster myself as a result.

Hi, thanks for the comments to date. I have been paying attention, I just wanted to let you go without any prompting from me. Most of what you are asking is fairly trivial to do in WordPress - a little bit of formatting, nested comments so you can follow a conversation and rating of comments.

I was wondering about some of the other features around. Say the possibility of logging-in using Facebook or another social network. In the past users have asked if they could have the ability to send mail to other users anonymously. Other ideas might involve an enhanced user page.

I'm also interested in how the forum interacts with the article page. As forum threads are really micro posts, perhaps we could deal with them differently and allow users to submit them with the potential of them being articles rather than threads.

Spindoc's comments are interesting, but I don't know how I could implement them without the moderator getting dragged into every argument. As I read them I'd potentially need to adjudicate the logicality of every claim. I could see the site emptying of posters very quickly and me being villified as some sort of moderator Nazi.

It would be nice to get rid of all abuse, but the problem there is the slippery slope. I've been tending to let minor eruptions go as they often blow over without intervention.

Graham,

You replied to me in the same vein once when I complained about a term being bandied about by another poster. Your take being that you didn't wish moderation to be overwhelming.

You were right - and I think your moderation of this site has worked quite well for the most part.

Usually what happens is that posters on OLO self-moderate. If anyone gets too far out of hand, they are jumped on quick smart. The upshot being that people sometimes push the envelope, but there isn't a huge amount of abuse of the serious variety - and if that occurs, we have you to turn to.

The nature of the sharing of "opinion" is for it be robust. I wouldn't wish to see us reduced to tiptoeing around the forum, afraid to step on each others' bunions