No Bumping to Close a Request Topic - Suggestion

[Nessy]

I've seen this a couple of times over the years, and I am wondering if Elliquiy has or should have a do not bump your request post just to tell everyone it's closed. It makes little sense to me to have others pushing their requests to the top of the list only to not accept anymore RP requests. It seems like a more reasonable way to approach this, the eclosing of a request topic, would be to change the title to closed, which some do, or alter an existing post within the topic; neither of which puts a request at the top of the list again.

I assume most wouldn't find an issue with this because why would they want their request at the top of the list if they're not actually looking?

This is, of course, just a suggestion for policy.

[Vekseid]

Definitely seems kind of rude. Any other thoughts?

[Thesunmaid]

Why not just lock it and change the title to closed? I am pretty sure it does not bump it...but honestly I don't really pay much attention to a topic if its closed..and it does not really seem to happen all that often.

[Nessy]

Why not just lock it and change the title to closed? I am pretty sure it does not bump it...but honestly I don't really pay much attention to a topic if its closed..and it does not really seem to happen all that often.

It happens infrequently, but not rarely, as in more often than you think. I'm sure it's not done intentionally but if there was a policy that said hey don't bump your thread just to close it... that could help. It seems inconsiderate of others looking for players to have someone at the top literally bumping their topic to say they're not looking anymore.

[Beguile's Mistress]

I like the idea of adding CLOSED to the start of the title and then adding a line at the top of the opening post stating that the author is no longer looking to fill the spots advertised below.  One might even add a link to a new request thread if one exists.

[RedPhoenix]

Yeah this seems like a good idea I don't really see any downside. Just changing the subject or editing the OP should convey the same thing while also not taking up valuable 'space' near the top of the list which is always where you want the people who are actually looking for partners to be.

[SithLordOfSnark]

Yeah, I'd much rather just see people editing it to "CLOSED" rather then bumping it to the top.

[Gypsy]

I don't see any down side to it either, personally, save perhaps for a bit more oversight time on the part of the staff.

[Mintprincess]

Agreed! I don't use the requests that much anymore but it does take a lot of time to go through them when you are.  It's nice when people also take the time to make their titles descriptive enough that you know what they are looking for.   

[Verasaille]

To tell the truth, I think if someone is not accepting any more rps, say for a certain length of time, they could simply edit their first post to reflect that. If they are going to take a long break and maybe not be around, they should announce it in the A & A's.

Some people abuse the current system as it is. Adding a slight mention of an update or  deleting ideas, etc. Automatically bumps the thread. Some people do that several times a week.

[Beguile's Mistress]

If you feel they are really out of line alert Staff.  They'll review the posts and made a decision on it.  Staff will tell you they can't be everywhere so they do appreciate being notified.

[Nessy]

I really appreciate the engagement here. To be clear, the reason I am seeking a policy or even just a guideline is I don't think a lot of these posters realize what they're doing. I think it's just habit since there's no benefit to bumping a closed request. I just figured if we have a guideline or policy to direct someone towards, basically here's how to close your request either permanently for the single posted requests or temporarily for those of us that keep long running requests going then overtime we'd see less of it and maybe help a bit with the request section which often has... challenges.

[mia h]

I thinking bumping a thread to close it isn't exactly the smartest thing in the world. Anytime you bump a thread you are basically shouting "Hey look at me!" so why would any sane person shout out "Hey everybody don't look at me!" and actually mean it. You don't want people looking, just don't make a fuss. The same thing applies not just to bumping a fully closed thread but also to "story idea X taken" bump posts, why draw attention to the fact that you don't want anyone to look?

Some people abuse the current system as it is. Adding a slight mention of an update or deleting ideas, etc. Automatically bumps the thread. Some people do that several times a week.

I agree some people are taking the piss with current system, following the letter of the law but not the spirit with those tiny updates "I moved an idea" and then 2 days later "I moved the idea back". But it's also difficult to come up with a workable fix.

Just a thought, but most request threads have the same basic structure of :
Introduction
Story Ideas
Change Log\Bump posts

So story ideas can be changed at will without bumping the thread, currently nobody is supposed to make an outright bump post more than once a month, what if additionally substantive bumps could only be made once a week? People could make as many unpublicised changes a week as they like but they only get to shout about it once a week. The obvious drawback that I can see with this is instead of people creating an maintaining one or two request threads they'll just make a new thread everyday with their latest and greatest idea.

[RedPhoenix]

It's a problem that makes itself worse. People bump threads more than they should because people bump threads more than they should. If nobody did it, nobody would need to.

[Gypsy]

I agree some people are taking the piss with current system, following the letter of the law but not the spirit with those tiny updates "I moved an idea" and then 2 days later "I moved the idea back". But it's also difficult to come up with a workable fix.

Just a thought, but most request threads have the same basic structure of :
Introduction
Story Ideas
Change Log\Bump posts

So story ideas can be changed at will without bumping the thread, currently nobody is supposed to make an outright bump post more than once a month, what if additionally substantive bumps could only be made once a week? People could make as many unpublicised changes a week as they like but they only get to shout about it once a week. The obvious drawback that I can see with this is instead of people creating an maintaining one or two request threads they'll just make a new thread everyday with their latest and greatest idea.

In my personal opinion, asking or telling people not to bump their thread just to say they're not looking for the idea anymore does not negatively effect anyone's ability to find a good story, or get their idea out there.

However, I, personally, would not like to see it made harder for people to find others they enjoy writing with, or find partners for their ideas, by making a 'do not have any of your threads on top of list any more than once a month/week/etc.' sort of rule, or anything similar.   The people who are bumping their thread, creating a new thread, or changing their threads around are doing so to attract more attention, have enthusiasm, and that's probably the best thing anyone can bring to a story.  I think anyone reading this likely has had experience with a bump getting absolutely no responses one time, and several or more the next.  Timing is every bit as important as content, and it's a lot harder to gauge.

We're all  here to write.  Unfortunately, not everyone is 'equal' in time they have available, desire to write, etc.   Making requests threads all 'equal' in form and content may be fair in one way, but it goes against (IMO) the purpose of the site and why we're here -- finding people to write and game with.

One thing I'd like to see highlighted somewhere in easily accessible information for the Requests Board is something that points out that having your threads constantly on top of the lists is not always the best impression to make, and may be doing more harm to the chances of finding partners than good.

[mia h]

The people who are bumping their thread, creating a new thread, or changing their threads around are doing so to attract more attention, have enthusiasm.

I agree about them trying to attract more attention, but more enthusiasm I'm not so sure. It becomes a problem when people to grab attention in a way that prevents or at least makes it harder for other people to be seen. Look at the one on one thread, about 1/3rd of the real estate on page one is being taken up by 5 people, to me that just seems rude and pushy. Maybe the bumping policy from the one-shot thread should be applied to some of the other request threads.

We're all  here to write.  Unfortunately, not everyone is 'equal' in time they have available

You are right not everyone has the same amount of time available, so why go and waste other people's precious time? Making bump posts of the "I add a comma" or "I'm not looking for more stories" wastes that time, they provide no new actionable information, so don't do it.

[Thesunmaid]

Well also the ones that piss me off is the ones who go hmm OK a weeks gone by and no one has bitten..i know! I will make a very similar thread with some slight changes(different name or maybe the charecter is now blonde instead of a redhead) but is essentially the same game and put that at the top...rinse/repeat. I currently have 3 threads. One is for forum play...one is for email play and one is purely fandoms which I don't bother to bump anymore because I thought this is stupid and unfair because I don't really have anything new on it that's not on the other two..so..yeah.

But I also mostly don't bother to say"closed now!" because it will get faded into the background and most will not see it when I am already satisfied with my games list.It always seems to be that this is almost like walking into the middle of the room and announcing."Hello can I have everyone's attention? i would like to be alone so I am going to my room and please no one come knocking on my door and asking me whats wrong because I really don't want attention."because even if you say its closed...there are people out there that will go hey..that's a good idea and PM that person to see if there is the possibility.(which is something people will try and put closed for..just to see if there is anyone who will go oh my god I had better get that rp before its gone! sort of thoughts.)

But yeah...you can edit your thread with out bumping it...so unless i do a major over haul and add more than 1 idea or I drastically change things I try not to bump anything. And well...if I am adding idea's it tends to be at a time I am allowed to bump the thread anyway so I can add the "bumping and added a new idea." note.

Can't speak for everyone but yeah I have gotten annoyed by this in the past. The once a month bumping policy could use some fine tuning.

[Verasaille]

I agree that the ones who are 'bumping' by adding a new story or changing a picture or something very simple are pushing it. They want more attention yes. But it is frustrating to put a thread up, and the very next day, not even 24 hours later, your request is on the second page and the same few people keep showing up on the first page, every single day.

Are you telling me that the staff does not see this? Or they ignore it because the ones doing it are within the rules?

No I am not going to name anyone or point fingers. I have on occasion done a little of that, but only out of frustration!

[Beguile's Mistress]

If you truly believe there is inequality in that forum put your concerns in writing along with your suggestions and send them to Staff.  I can guarantee that if enough people address the issue logically and rationally Staff does listen.  They may not agree with you or may have a different idea of how to handle it.  They may even be doing it right now.  One thing they don't want is a vitriolic attitude or attacks.

[RedPhoenix]

Are you telling me that the staff does not see this?

They almost certainly don't, in a very literal sense. Most staff have been here forever and aren't looking for new stories so never read those forums. They don't actively 'patrol' so they never see it. It puts the onus on the users to say something, but most users don't want to for fear of being ostracized for it.

You're right though, every time I check the looking for threads its the same people with the same stuff on top of the list, and the people who actually follow the rules get punished for it, which is not how things should be.

[Blythe]

We rely fairly heavily on reports. For me, I regularly even get involved in new RPs and look for new ones, but I certainly don't read every request thread out there, nor am I capable of having the time to do that. While I'm Staff, I also come here to enjoy myself like any other member and have RL that often takes me away from here. If someone sees a problem, it helps immensely to have it reported. No member of Staff can be everywhere at once.

Anyways, to weigh in on the original question about bumping to say a thread's closed: I don't feel strongly about bumping in general myself, but bumping to say a thread's closed seems like it ought to fall under 'non-substantive bump.' Seems counter-intuitive to bump just to say a thread's closed--a threadlock and title change instead would do it much better.

[Nessy]

Anyways, to weigh in on the original question about bumping to say a thread's closed: I don't feel strongly about bumping in general myself, but bumping to say a thread's closed seems like it ought to fall under 'non-substantive bump.' Seems counter-intuitive to bump just to say a thread's closed--a threadlock and title change instead would do it much better.

I know bumping issues can be a hot topic around here, and I appreciate that. I was really hoping for a lighter approach than pointing to the bump policy. I thought maybe if we have this guideline and gave a reason that basically says hey, there's no reason to race to the front of the line only to say you're not interested in the ride so here are a few ways you can close your topics and always know you can bump them again, if it's an ongoing topic, when you're ready to.

[midnightblack]

When I joined here, I noticed this big bold topic in the requests boards, called READ ME: Elliquiy Roleplaying Request Rules (New Bumping Policy).

Inside, I found a rule that seems pretty straightforward and simple to figure: NO BUMPING Before One Month.

I hold the opinion that house rules are not to be discussed by the guests, but simply accepted and followed dutifully. I'd also advocate for the lawful good approach to the matter, but then again, every single time I ever suggested that in any circumstance (i.e. follow the rules or suffer the stated consequences) I ended up the villain. I have no doubt that the staff is infinitely wiser than I am in finding a proper solution. I can only think of adding the point of "not bumping a thread just to show that it is closed" in the rules and taking the time to write a post about alternative ways to signal open requests that do not require bumping threads or being intrusive. The easiest that comes to mind is setting up a signature with the appropriate links.

I hope things will work out for everyone.

[Nessy]

When I joined here, I noticed this big bold topic in the requests boards, called READ ME: Elliquiy Roleplaying Request Rules (New Bumping Policy).

Inside, I found a rule that seems pretty straightforward and simple to figure: NO BUMPING Before One Month.

If you read what I wrote initially, I think you'd see that I don't think many of the posters realize what they're doing. Most the people who intentionally bump, actually write the word bump in their post. The rest either add ideas or substantially change their post. I think some of our fellow community members think they're closing their topic the "right" way, and I'm suggesting we actually have a logical right way to close a topic written somewhere as guidance.

[Oniya]

If you read what I wrote initially, I think you'd see that I don't think many of the posters realize what they're doing. Most the people who intentionally bump, actually write the word bump in their post. The rest either add ideas or substantially change their post.

Very much this.  People that post 'Still looking', or add new plots and post 'Update' do so because they are consciously trying to move their post to active consideration.  Someone who posts 'No longer looking' is trying to remove their post from active consideration (by marking it closed), but inadvertently brings it to the top of the forum.  Staff is discussing how to best accommodate these notifications, and is getting a lot of good feedback from this thread.