request for moderators

[praline3001]

I know I am new to this board so not sure if my suggestion means anything

BUT the resort FAQ threads (IMO as a newbie) have kind of gotten out of hand with chit chat and replies to replies. I look at my resort FAQ and its 518 pages of chit chat. Now I think its GREAT people make friends and get to know each other on here but for some who are looking for hard core FAQ or pics its REALLY frustrating to see 518 pages and about a 1/4 of that is useful for planning our trips.

Could you make a seperate thread (moderator ran only threads) with good FAQ, pics and information only? Could these threads be locked so only the moderators can add certain posts/ pics and what not? That way we don't have to sort through the posts of replies and chit chat to get the information we are looking for?

You can still keep the old FAQ threads so people can "gab" about the resorts but having this new thread can add updated new pics, and updated info (such as refurbs and whatnot) without us having to sort through 500 pages

I hope I am not sounding like a wet rag with my complaint because that is the last thing I want to do! I don't want to ruin anyone's party, I just want to be able to get the info I need without it taking 4-5 hours looking through the FAQ's.

 

[Buzz2001]

Good idea! I would volunteer to make one on CSR. They do this on some of the other Disney boards and it works well.

 

[safetymom]

I would suggest talking to the originator of the FAQ that you are referring to. Several of them mentioned starting new threads.

Anyone is free to start a FAQ as long as they keep an eye on it and updated the information every so often.

 

[praline3001]

I would suggest talking to the originator of the FAQ that you are referring to. Several of them mentioned starting new threads.

Anyone is free to start a FAQ as long as they keep an eye on it and updated the information every so often.

VERY true but only a moderator can pull the responses and the general chit chat to keep those particular threads clutter free.

 

[safetymom]

The DIS is supposed to be a welcome place where resort planners can talk about their resorts. If a thread strays too badly we do pull posts. I monitor quite a few of them and yes they do include chit chat but where do you draw the line? Many of the posts have chit chat included with their resort information. If we start removing the chit chat then someone would accuse us of censorship.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I agree that this would be a great idea!

 

[micmacmissy]

The DIS is supposed to be a welcome place where resort planners can talk about their resorts. If a thread strays too badly we do pull posts. I monitor quite a few of them and yes they do include chit chat but where do you draw the line? Many of the posts have chit chat included with their resort information. If we start removing the chit chat then someone would accuse us of censorship.

What about drawing the line at information not pertaining to the resort? If a post to an FAQ thread doesn't either ask a new question or provide different information, then it doesn't belong there.

Just an idea! (If I were looking for info on a resort, I would start a new thread rather than sift through 518 pages on an old FAQ thread. They simply become off topic after a few pages!)

 

[safetymom]

Please take a look at some of the faq's. Almost every post mentions the resort in some way along with the chit chat. How do you manage that?

I know that many of the faq's have the important information on the resort in the first post of that thread.

You do realize that the mods are volunteers and if we were in charge of updating every faq that would take quite a bit of time? I am voicing my opinion not those of my fellow mods on resorts.

 

[praline3001]

The DIS is supposed to be a welcome place where resort planners can talk about their resorts. If a thread strays too badly we do pull posts. I monitor quite a few of them and yes they do include chit chat but where do you draw the line? Many of the posts have chit chat included with their resort information. If we start removing the chit chat then someone would accuse us of censorship.

I am sorry if I confused anyone or made it sound like I was being a stiffy meanie as that is not my intent. I don't think taking away from those threads already in progress is the answer but instead adding a new thread where only nut and bolts information and pics are added.
EXAMPLE for what I am talking about:

Just recently on the GF thread there were some wonderful pics of the new refurbed rooms. Of course you have to make it to page 517 to see these new room pics
If the mods took the important posts (information, pics, reviews ...) and added them to a new thread and closed this new thread so only mods could add to it, that would make it much easier for the posters looking for information. Call the thread "The post hall of fame for <insert resort>

Does that make more sense? I dont want the chit chat to stop, but I do think a place (thread) should be made available with JUST the nuts and bolts for us people looking for info.

 

[Dis Ohana]

That is a fabulous idea, praline3001! It would be great to be able to click on a link and have just the updated info and pictures. I had a lot of time to vacation plan, so I didn't mind reading through all the FAQ pages, there is a whole lot of information there between the chit chat. But if I didn't have that kind of time it would be way too much to sift through .
The great thing about the current FAQ's are that the regular posters to those threads are always quick to respond with current information.

I think what Safetymom is saying is that one of us posters would have to volunteer to start and maintain the thread -- no easy task for anyone! This is an extremely active board, so I can see where the mods would have their hands full just maintaining the day to day posting.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If the mods took the important posts (information, pics, reviews ...) and added them to a new thread and closed this new thread so only mods could add to it, that would make it much easier for the posters looking for information. Call the thread "The post hall of fame for <insert resort>

But you come back to the whole volunteer aspect. While your suggestions are well-intended, all the moderaters have jobs, families, obligations, etc. outside the DIS. Is it really reasonable to expect them to go through 500+ pages (more than 6,500 posts) times fifteen or twenty threads, to pick out the ones that should be placed in locked FAQs?

Please note - I am not a Moderator, nor do I play one on TV; I'm just a DISer sympathetic to the responsibilities of the Moderaters

 

[I Love Pluto]

Whatever happened to freedom of speech?

 

[SereneOne]

SHe is not saying take away freedom of speech, she is requesting a seperate thread of just info. TWO threads, one of just info and one with the fun chitchat and info.

 

[EnnEss]

This site is kinda poor for a straight up FAQ but has the best community out there and everyone is so friendly and willing to answer questions over and over again.

Try allears for a FAQ, there's are excellent and always updated. I think it'd be a great idea here too but doesn't seem to be in the cards.

 

[Buckeye Gal]

I know I am new to this board so not sure if my suggestion means anything

BUT the resort FAQ threads (IMO as a newbie) have kind of gotten out of hand with chit chat and replies to replies. I look at my resort FAQ and its 518 pages of chit chat. Now I think its GREAT people make friends and get to know each other on here but for some who are looking for hard core FAQ or pics its REALLY frustrating to see 518 pages and about a 1/4 of that is useful for planning our trips. .....

I understand where you're coming from as well. I'm usually only on the DIS Cruise Board, so I came over to review Pop Century a couple of weeks ago. It literally took me at least 10 hours to get through 300+ pages and look at links that were posted within the FAQ thread. It was very frustrating and no doubt I would MUCH rather be researching my plan of attack on the parks than my resort!

I started taking down notes for myself, and realized everyone else could benefit from a consolidation as well. So I just took it in my own hands, and in the past week, I've worked on gathering as much info as I could, organizing all the facts, and looking into links to other sources I've gathered. I reached out to Safetymom once I had it all ready, and she gave me the nod to move forward with a new FAQ thread for Pop Century. I just happened to come across this thread after I got my thread completed.

If any of you who are digging through the FAQ thread for your resort want to consider doing the same (since you're writing down your findings anyways), feel free to take a look at the structure of what I've done and see if it would work for you.

The GROOVIEST New Pop Century FAQ Thread!

 

[safetymom]

There is no need to go to AllEars when we have great information here. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/Resorts/resortmain1.htm

 

[praline3001]

There is no need to go to AllEars when we have great information here. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/Resorts/resortmain1.htm

Both websites have great information... but this particular website is better on updated information (rehabs of hotels, menus ect...) due to the posters.
I would love to moderate one of the resorts but sadly I am not an expert enough on any particular resort to lead one.

I didn't mean to start a heated debate over this topic. I just know from my personal experience that sorting through the "clutter" to get to the hard core info is REALLY hard to do. As other posters have said 5-10 hours of reading to get the info your looking for can be disheartening.

All Ears does have the rate and review section of their website that is outstanding. Posters (after staying at the resort) can rate the diner or resort and give a review of their experience at that particular place.
This makes it quicker for us to view and get a better understanding of the places we are trying to decide on. I know there are wonderful trip reports and I have read several. The problem using those is again time involved. I would have to read 50 trip reports just to find 1 review on Narcoosses to help me decide if my kids would enjoy it.
This site has much better updated information, its just much much harder to get to and find what your looking for.

What would REALLY be a great idea is if the webmasters came up with a new section on this site. The posters could rate and review the particular event/resort/dinning experience BUT also leave 4-5 pics on the review of the place. If they made it similar to the rate and review of All Ears but added to it by allowing posters to leave a few pics, it would be way more helpful. Posters can't leave responses to the reviews so it would knock the clutter to ziltch.
It would also be self ran so no need for a moderator to constantly update it. The posters who post reviews would update their experience.
If you have never seen the All Ears Rate and review section, I would highly suggest taking a look so you can see what I am talking about. It is good but flawed in the fact posters can't leave pics.

The reason for the pics? Again there are so many WONDERFUL pics of dinners, lunches, breakfasts, rooms, resorts, spas on here but it is hard to find the particular place your looking for. Example... I was looking at the pictures of places to eat and also the thread of what the food looked like. These are both 100's of pages long and BEAUTIFUL pics but if I have not planned on eating at the sci fi, it is hard to go through a 100 pages of pics of the sci fi to get to a pic of a place we have chosen. Having this rate and review type section would make it easier for posters to click on the place they are wanting info for, read the reviews, see the general rating and look at updated pics of it.

I am in no way trying to take away from the community, I love the general friendliness to this place. I am trying to add to it or make it even better so everyone can have fun AND find the information they are looking for.

 

[Lilolvr]

Please take a look at some of the faq's. Almost every post mentions the resort in some way along with the chit chat. How do you manage that?

Lock them after they have been created so that the FAQ's are read only. DIS'er's have the resort board for questions and/or the old FAQ's.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

But how are the mods to determine what is idol chit chat and what is not? I posted a question the other day on the CBR thread, and to most it might have seemed like idol chit chat, but to me, it was an important question. I think I agree that this leads to censorship to a degree.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I know that when I plan to stay somewhere I start at the end of the FAQs because so many of them were started years ago. The person who started the thread isnt always around to update the info. I love the chit chat in the threads because it a great way to learn about the resort and make friends. When I was going to the WL I met lots of people on that thread and someo nf them I spoke to when I was at the WL that summer. It was great to chat with them while I was at WDW.
I think if you are finding yourself weeding thru alot of info post a question about what you are looking for and most likely someone will have that info and tell you where the post is that can help you.