A suggestion for improving this sub-forum

[Yerda]

Would it be possible to enforce a rule/policy where threads containing copy/paste OPs are removed?

A lot of new threads start with someone pasting lengthy sections of material from elsewhere and little to no contribution from themselves. Or a single sentence with an accompanying video. It's pollution. A moderator could be cleaning it up and pointing those who violate the rule towards a sticky thread that explains what is acceptable.

I'm all for debating and dicsussing the many points where evolution and creationism collide but trying to read this stuff is hard work and it often seems that the OP masks the same set of misunderstandings behind a wall of junk that isn't even their own. There should be some responsibility on the poster to have some idea of what they want to debate or assert.

Is this possible/desirable?

 

[Rival]

That's already against rules 4 and 7, so if you see it report it.

 

[Cooky]

Would it be possible to enforce a rule/policy where threads containing copy/paste OPs are removed?

A lot of new threads start with someone pasting lengthy sections of material from elsewhere and little to no contribution from themselves. Or a single sentence with an accompanying video. It's pollution. A moderator could be cleaning it up and pointing those who violate the rule towards a sticky thread that explains what is acceptable.

I'm all for debating and dicsussing the many points where evolution and creationism collide but trying to read this stuff is hard work and it often seems that the OP masks the same set of misunderstandings behind a wall of junk that isn't even their own. There should be some responsibility on the poster to have some idea of what they want to debate or assert.

Is this possible/desirable?

What's wrong with providing a link and a section of material from it? What's the problem..?

You needing to be able to put a poster on blast rather than the content provided, and can't do so if it's from someone else?

 

[dianaiad]

What's wrong with providing a link and a section of material from it? What's the problem..?

You needing to be able to put a poster on blast rather than the content provided, and can't do so if it's from someone else?

I don't see that such posts violate rules 4 and 7, if the posts are properly cited...well, perhaps not 7. The 'Spam' thing? Oh, yeah.

It is my personal, very unofficial (since I am not a moderator or associated with the team) opinion that such long winded quotes from elsewhere are exactly that. Spam. I hate 'em.

If the poster can't express his or her opinions in his or her own words, there's nothing to discuss. IMO (again, personal, unofficial and extremely didactic), the ratio of quote to personal comment should be AT LEAST three to one. That is, one part quote, three parts commentary.

Now I can't complain about being longwinded, of course...that would be incredibly hypocritical...but I CAN say that I refuse to comment on quotes that take up two or three posts with no commentary. I mean....sheesh...don't you guys ever think for yourselves?

 

[Cooky]

That's already against rules 4 and 7, so if you see it report it.

I disagree. Sometimes people want to discuss a current event, perhaps something picked up by mainstream media, and that's neither Spam nor plagiarism.

...There's nothing sinister about that.

 

[Cooky]

I don't see that such posts violate rules 4 and 7, if the posts are properly cited...well, perhaps not 7. The 'Spam' thing? Oh, yeah.

It is my personal, very unofficial (since I am not a moderator or associated with the team) opinion that such long winded quotes from elsewhere are exactly that. Spam. I hate 'em.

If the poster can't express his or her opinions in his or her own words, there's nothing to discuss. IMO (again, personal, unofficial and extremely didactic), the ratio of quote to personal comment should be AT LEAST three to one. That is, one part quote, three parts commentary.

Now I can't complain about being longwinded, of course...that would be incredibly hypocritical...but I CAN say that I refuse to comment on quotes that take up two or three posts with no commentary. I mean....sheesh...don't you guys ever think for yourselves?

I agree, quotes from reputable sources should be one to two paragraphs only, with a link provided... There isn't always a need for personal commentary when the discussion topic is made obvious, though, such as with recent discoveries/ breaking news, etc.

 

[Rival]

I disagree. Sometimes people want to discuss a current event, perhaps something picked up by mainstream media, and that's neither Spam nor plagiarism.

...There's nothing sinister about that.

It is not allowed to paste paragraphs without sufficient comment.

 

[Cooky]

It is not allowed to paste paragraphs without sufficient comment.

I think this is probably the only forum in the world that does that.

...How it ever came to be, seems mysterious to me.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I disagree. Sometimes people want to discuss a current event, perhaps something picked up by mainstream media, and that's neither Spam nor plagiarism.

...There's nothing sinister about that.

Not sure what you're disagreeing with here, Landon.

From RF Rules...

7. Quotations and Citations/References
Plagiarism is illegal. All quotations, whether to posts of other members or to material external to RF, should be properly referenced or cited. When quoting other members, use the forum's quote feature so the person and material you are responding to are easily referenced (see Rules 1 and 3 for additional guidelines regarding quoting other members' posts). When quoting material external to RF, even if it is your own, always provide a citation and limit your quotation to a paragraph or two rather than quoting the entire content (see Rule 4 for additional guidelines).

It's always helpful before you disagree with a rule or with someone who make reference to said rule to read the rule and understand it.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I think this is probably the only forum in the world that does that.

...How it ever came to be, seems mysterious to me.

It doesn't matter how it came to be or whether this is the only forum in the world that does that. It's a rule. It's not subject to interpretation or alteration by forum members.

 

[Polymath257]

By our rules, quoting outside material without attribution is a violation of rule 7. So is quoting more than a couple of paragraphs.

Also, not providing discussion promoting commentary is a violation of rule 4.


4. Soliciting/Advertising and Off-Topic Spam
Soliciting or advertising for any content outside of the forums, whether your own or that of another person or group, is prohibited, and may be deleted by the staff on sight. This rule applies to any content area of the forum, including but not limited to the chat room, forum posts, profile information, private conversations, and signatures. Special exception may be granted to promote content in keeping with the mission of RF, but requires advance permission from the RF staff.

Spam or off-topic content is also not allowed on the forums. This includes (but is not limited to) posting links or images without discussion-promoting commentary, having a signature that violates signature size guidelines, posting surveys without permission from the RF staff, posts that deviate significantly from a thread topic or its intent, repetitious non-conversational posts, and any other habits deemed spammy by the staff.

7. Quotations and Citations/References
Plagiarism is illegal. All quotations, whether to posts of other members or to material external to RF, should be properly referenced or cited. When quoting other members, use the forum's quote feature so the person and material you are responding to are easily referenced (see Rules 1 and 3 for additional guidelines regarding quoting other members' posts). When quoting material external to RF, even if it is your own, always provide a citation and limit your quotation to a paragraph or two rather than quoting the entire content (see Rule 4 for additional guidelines).

 

[Cooky]

It doesn't matter how it came to be or whether this is the only forum in the world that does that. It's a rule. It's not subject to interpretation or alteration by forum members.

It's really not though... Look at the rule yourself:

"This includes (but is not limited to) posting links or images without discussion-promoting commentary,"

...It doesn't say whose commentary..! It can be from a link.

 

[SalixIncendium]

It's really not though... Look at the rule yourself:

"This includes (but is not limited to) posting links or images without discussion-promoting commentary,"

...It doesn't say whose commentary..! It can be from a link.

That's not even from the rule I posted above. Please pay attention.

 

[Cooky]

By our rules, quoting outside material without attribution is a violation of rule 7. So is quoting more than a couple of paragraphs.

Also, not providing discussion promoting commentary is a violation of rule 4.


4. Soliciting/Advertising and Off-Topic Spam
Soliciting or advertising for any content outside of the forums, whether your own or that of another person or group, is prohibited, and may be deleted by the staff on sight. This rule applies to any content area of the forum, including but not limited to the chat room, forum posts, profile information, private conversations, and signatures. Special exception may be granted to promote content in keeping with the mission of RF, but requires advance permission from the RF staff.

Spam or off-topic content is also not allowed on the forums. This includes (but is not limited to) posting links or images without discussion-promoting commentary, having a signature that violates signature size guidelines, posting surveys without permission from the RF staff, posts that deviate significantly from a thread topic or its intent, repetitious non-conversational posts, and any other habits deemed spammy by the staff.

7. Quotations and Citations/References
Plagiarism is illegal. All quotations, whether to posts of other members or to material external to RF, should be properly referenced or cited. When quoting other members, use the forum's quote feature so the person and material you are responding to are easily referenced (see Rules 1 and 3 for additional guidelines regarding quoting other members' posts). When quoting material external to RF, even if it is your own, always provide a citation and limit your quotation to a paragraph or two rather than quoting the entire content (see Rule 4 for additional guidelines).

With rule 4, all that is required is a link and a couple paragraphs of content from the link.

...Somehow this rule has gotten jumbled up, and that jumble has become a moderated tradition.

 

[Rival]

With rule 4, all that is required is a link and a couple paragraphs of content.

...Somehow this rule has gotten jumbled up, and that jumble has become a moderated tradition.

Please keep telling us what our own rules mean, it's enlightening.

 

[SalixIncendium]

With rule 4, all that is required is a link and a couple paragraphs of content.

...Somehow this rule has gotten jumbled up, and that jumble has become a moderated tradition.

Wrong again. Discussion-promoting commentary is also required. Geez oh man, you just posted that portion of the rule.

 

[Cooky]

Wrong again. Discussion promoting commentary is also required. Geez oh man, you just posted that portion of the rule.

Yeah, discussion FROM THE LINK....

Nowhere does it say it has to be your own.

 

[Cooky]

Please keep telling us how what our own rules mean, it's enlightening.

This is a debate forum.

 

[Polymath257]

In any case, to the OP: if you see it, report it.

 

[Rival]

This is a debate forum.

The Rules aren't what's up for debate.