Sometimes I’ll be reading a thread that was originally posted in the wrong forum. Inevitably I’ll come across the post:
*Since this is more apropo of Bodily Functions than Tally Ho Zippers, I’ll send it there.
Persnickety Giblet
Tally Ho Zippers Moderator*
Not that I mind, but why does a moderator have to post that he/she is going to move the thread, instead of just moving the thread? When a thread is moved a note is left behind in the original forum alerting that it’s been moved. Is it necessary to make a post declaring likewise? Or is this a function of the bulletin board software? Do you have to make that post in order to move the thread?
The note in the original forum doesn’t last long, so it is necesary to explain, for the benefit of those who saw the thread in one forun, why it is now in another.
It’s also beneficial for all the people who run across the thread for the first time in Bodily Functions who might otherwise be confused by all the “You should have posted this thread in Bodily Functions” posts.
It’s partly to let the people doing the posting understand the why and wherefore.
Frankly, it’s also so that the other Moderators will know what was done. Documentation, as it were.
Some topics could arguably be in any of several forums – the distinctions between IMHO and MPSIMS, or between GQ and Cafe Society, can be fuzzy. If one Moderator decides to move a topic from (say) Comments on Cecil’s Column to General Questions, we don’t want another Moderator later moving it from GQ to Cafe Society. One move is plenty, except in very unusual circs. Hence, the descriptor serves to alert the other Moderators that it’s been moved once already.
It’s a manual post, not required by the board software.
It informs members and mods that the thread has been moved, even after the redirect arrow is bumped from the front page.
It informs members that the forum has now changed and all rules of the current forum apply henceforth. i.e. if moved from Pit to GQ, no more name-calling and foul language permitted, etc. if moved from GQ to IMHO, non-factual posts permitted, etc.
It adds perspective for those who come in late. They can understand better why a thread is taking the direction it has taken.
Sometimes someone just saves a link to come back to. The original url remaining the same, that someone may get confused with all the new and improved language.
It acts as a reminder to the OP to think before starting a new thread again. When the reason for move is self-evident, a simple “Moved to Troglodyte Cave” is enough. Other times a more detailed explanation is warranted, otherwise people start “Why was this thread moved” threads, which again have to moved, lather rinse repeat.
To let other moderators know who made the call for move. So that we can point fingers at him/her later. Also allows members to seek clarification from said mod.