Since a few months back I find myself with far more time on my hands than previously and as a consequence I’ve been posting more and starting far more threads than I ever have in the past. I am now wondering however where the threshold is between frequent thread-starter and pain in the arse and whether I’m approaching it.
Do the mods PM you if there’s a concern and advise you to ease off a little? Is there a rule or is it rather a question of etiquette?
Yes, It’s been done. Usually the offender continues to start pointless threads and ultimately gets banned.
It helps if you participate in a thread after you’ve started it. Which AFAICT is what aldiboronti does.
Of course you realize that, if you are starting too many threads in the eyes of the mods, this thread could be the one that puts you over the edge. :eek:
Regards,
Shodan
Here’s one piece of advice.
I don’t think the mods care so much as long as:
I remember one poster fairly recently (and I can’t remember who it was) posting so many Poll threads (Who/what is the best… ) that they pretty much took over the forum they were in. They were asked to stop, as I recall.
I wouldn’t begin to be concerned unless and until either, other posters begin to remark or rag at you. Or a mod politely tells you you’re bordering on annoying. Since neither of these have occurred, I’m going with, you’re just fine, don’t sweat it!
Note, however, that the poster in question was given quite a bit of notice that his actions were becoming disruptive. Even then, following a period where he failed to follow instruction he’s only received a weeklong suspension.
aldiboronti, starting threads is not a bad thing. We encourage it. What may cause a problem is starting threads and not participating in them. Speaking only for the two fora I moderate - the others can chime in as they like - I’m generally happy to see new threads. So long as you are participating in them and not just starting them to start them you should be fine.
Yes, I can see a scenario where you start 50 threads per day and participate in all of them (Living on reds, vitamin C and cocaine…). At that point I might tell you it’s time to take a break and go outside and reintroduce yourself to the sun and so forth. But unless I thought you were doing it only to be annoying - i.e. trolling - whatever guidance were to be provided would start off very mild. Not altering behavior at that point, however, could escalate the situation.
Oh, and starting a ton of threads in the wrong fora will eventually cheese all of us off. I don’t mind it, usually. But when someone is continually doing it and I have to move it? That can get annoying.
So go forth! Thread create!
Except for newbie trolls, though, if you’re a longstanding member here you can pretty much expect that to be the case with any rules infraction (except maybe hate speech or death threats and the like). It’s hard to have much sympathy for folks who eventually get banned from here as they are almost always given ample opportunity to reform. Generally speaking, I think that’s a good thing.
I’ll echo this sentiment from an IMHO moderator perspective and add just a little bit.
A lot of folks (including me, in the past) get caught up in periods of starting multiple threads about whatever interesting thought crosses their mind. It’s hardly a bad thing to foster genuine discussion on the board. The fact that you are conscious of (and conscientiousness about) the number of threads you’re starting tells me that you’re not likely to fall into the “troublesome” category. But as has been stated previously, if you’re taking an active interest in your own threads (and not for trolling purposes), you’re probably going to be fine.
As many have said, you support your threads, and that’s what a message board is all about. As long as you have something to say, I support your right to say it. But then, IANAM and I’ve suffered too many nose bleeds and headaches focusing my super coercive persuasion powers on the mod loop trying to get them to see shit as it really is.
I think the worst thing this board could do is set limits on the number of *independent *threads someone posts.
I’m in no danger of overdoing thread generation, since I don’t start threads that often. But I have a personal rule of thumb, which is that overall I should make more posts in other people’s threads than I do in my own. I don’t officially keep track, but if I feel like I’m starting to break that rule, I forgo starting another thread of my own, and I look for opportunities to participate in other people’s threads.
You almost say this like its a bad thing. 
… all your friends can say is “ain’t it a shame” …
Thanks to all. Yes, I do participate in threads I’ve started, not because it’s expected but because I obviously have a genuine interest in the topic and am keen to answer points that are made, seek clarification, ask further questions or at the very least express my thanks for a particularly enlightening response. It’s actually fun being more active.
Damn, I was kind of hoping you wouldn’t return to this thread. Very meta.
While we’re on the subject, I start very few threads, but many of them are questions for which I have no answer, so I have little to add. Is it appropriate to post a thank you in those cases, or does that clutter up the thread?
Just my opinion but I wouldn’t consider a thread cluttered up by a thank you post.
A thank you is always appreciated when folks are reaching back to you reaching out. Thanks, I didn’t know that or Thanks, I knew that part but what about ____ or even Thanks, but that isn’t what I’m looking for lets people know you’re engaged and paying attention. We can’t see you nod or grimace through the computer.
And “Why the fuck are you suggesting things that I don’t want?” will add to your reputation.
Especially in General Questions.