Preserving Quality on BTF

[Saleem]

Our goal here at BTF is to foster a constructive, open environment for teams to meet and discuss the bhangra world. Recently, we all have seen more and more fake accounts, ‘hate’ posts, and the like. To preserve the quality of BTF, we are making 2 changes in Moderation Policy. Our last change was the introduction of the 3-strike policy (3 offenses leads to a 2+ week suspension).

We’re escalating this now to add the following rule

If a user’s violation of the Registration Agreement is severe enough, the user may be suspended immediately, without the need for 3 strikes. Suspension decisions are made by committee by the Moderators Team.

This is a ‘no-nonsense’ policy. The moderators are as sick of the hate and trash-talk as you all are. We hope this will reduce the garbage on BTF.

Secondly, I want to talk about new members. This is not about new members to the bhangra community, or people who have recently found BTF and are constructive users. I’m talking about the random, anonymous username who suddenly is skilled enough to give a detailed scathing review including some personal matters. To limit these ridiculous situations, new members (under 40 posts) will be held to a slightly higher code of conduct to be sure this isnt a duplicate/hater account. This will have zero effect on genuine new members to BTF

This brings me to my last point, which is that I really want the new members of the Bhangra community to speak up on BTF. This site isnt about whether you have 200+ posts or any garbage like that. It’s about discussion and sharing ideas. So if you are new to the community this year or whatever, or if you have just been silent on BTF, please reply and introduce yourself!! At least we’ll know you’re not a fake account.

Thanks,
Saleem + team

 

[Saleem]

PS - I am always open to feedback and ideas on how to improve BTF, so if you have more ideas, please PM me!

 

[yraparla]

I think 40 posts is too high. It took me a long time to find something I could start contributing on (music) as I initially felt uncomfortable talking about bhangra since I didn't know a whole lot.

I suggest 25 posts as a minimum and then just say if you have more than that the history of your posts is taken into account (i.e. if you have 50 posts but they're all on threads related to one team then the number is irrelevant).

I don't mind keeping power with moderators (prefer it), but I also think it needs to be clear what 'serious' COULD entail. Don't need a comprehensive list, but some type of examples to give a tangible feel to where the line is. Is trashing a team's performance and not giving any constructive criticism attributable

 

[Pooja]

Hallelujah!

Lately I have been feeling that BTF is becoming the avenue for bhangra team drama and really just useless garbage aimed at offending others...so hopefully with some new changes we can all start preventing that kind of verbeage.

Something that people have been addressing lately is that people will give their opinions on styles and form and constructive criticism on routines...but it becomes an issue when team members feel as though they have been attacked and its necessary for them to "retaliate" in some form...whether that be hate posts, duplicate accounts...etc. IMO, that sense of pride and ego is a display of immaturity. After all, a lot of our discussions are about feedback and improvement. Everyone should be able to express their opinion (to a degree of acceptability and not baseless bashing) and have a healthy discussion even with opposing views.

Now when it comes to personal drama and conflict...for the love of the lord pleaaaase leave that at home. No one cares if you don't like XYZ member on XYZ team or what have you. Most of us don't know who you are talking about and I personally don't care to get involved in a cyberspace conflict from 2000 miles away, thanks.

Hold yourself to the same standard as you would expect out of other members of the forum. Sometimes people's feelings get hurt...and I can understand that...but it's more respectable if you can take the criticism and either do something productive with it or ignore it even. You may feel that someone who comments on your routine is not qualified to comment...so what's wrong with ignoring it? No one is forcing you to listen. Swallow your pride.

Also -- Sometimes I think some members here are too quick to snap at new members for posting questions or asking for things that have already been posted. That turns people off...they remember those things...what's wrong with saying it nicely? "Oh hey just fyi it was posted here before...."

Please people, leave the drama between your teams off of the public forum...if you have issues with people, PM them...it's more professional and there's no reason everyone who is part of the forum needs to put their two cents in.

Let's try to move back to the fun BTF!

 

[Pooja]

I guess number of posts wise -- 40 should be fine, obviously you can tell if someone is trash talking continuously on the first few posts...so that can be moderated on a case by case basis.

 

[faizan]

Saleem, Salaam.

Great move, BTF was getting a little out of hand with the b.s.

Can we ban banners...they are silly and annoying. (or at least set up some banner guidelines)

 

[Manjot]

Can we ban banners...they are silly and annoying. (or at least set up some banner guidelines)

signatures(banners) are part of every forum...I'm pretty sure there is an way to turn the option off so won't see any sigs/banners.

 

[Saleem]

Saleem, Salaam.

Great move, BTF was getting a little out of hand with the b.s.

Can we ban banners...they are silly and annoying. (or at least set up some banner guidelines)

It's a good idea, Faizan. So far the rules on banners are no taller than 75px (to not impede BTF's readability) + no inflammatory/political/religious etc stands... I think an appeal to these members to stop the "F*ck Modern Bhangra" and "F*ck Traditional Bhangra" banners is needed.. It's out of hand and in poor taste.

 

[Laddi]

Great move Saleem. There have been one too many spam posts n threads on BTF lately. You'd think since the bhangra season is back in full gear, people would be more interested watching performance videos, getting mixes, and discussing BHANGRA in general, instead of making fake profiles and starting useless feuds with people you don't even know and possibly have never met.

 

[Aaron.B]

i was a victim to the trash talking,,,

 

[Saleem]

I hear you on 25, but I am giving myself some buffer in case someone spams useless posts and then posts crap after 25 posts. I dont think 25 vs 40 will affect any normal user, though.

 

[Kush]

This is a PHENOMENAL idea. Sifting through all the garbage is getting to everyone i think. I have to say thought i agree with faizan on this banner thing. it is getting absurd. luckily i can appreciate both modern and folk, but for those individuals who unfortunately can't find pleasure in both, i really dont think its within respectful limits with a large majority of these banners.

and i'm with eveyrone on the beef thing. cyber beef is no fun, just handle it in person... nicely

 

[Manjot]

How about making it that you need atleast 10 posts to start a topic?...It could potentially make it hard for people to just make new accounts and post a fake topic...could be more then 10 posts...but people might also spam the boards to get 10 or w/e posts you need for being able to make topics...also competition organizers won't be able to make topics..they can pm you for it or something like that. Both ups n downs i guess

 

[faizan]

Can we dead the posts where people just randomly kiss each other's asses and make inside jokes? Those are so irritating.

 

[Kush]

Can we dead the posts where people just randomly kiss each other's asses and make inside jokes? Those are so irritating.

WOO WOO AEG! WOO WOO faizan! lol lil jokes here and there are chill i think, but when a thread is 20 posts off topic, i think something has veered off course.

manjot, the issue is one person can post Thanks to the newest mix posted, or SICK to the newest competition vids, and by the time the team theyre here to dump on drops a video theyre all set to write their shit. BTF screening process! haha applications for membership status. make it exclusive status. lol

I also think we should modify senior membership status based on membership length. LOL its sad, member since day 1 and I'm still just a full.

 

[Meistro]

How about making it that you need atleast 10 posts to start a topic?...It could potentially make it hard for people to just make new accounts and post a fake topic...could be more then 10 posts...but people might also spam the boards to get 10 or w/e posts you need for being able to make topics...also competition organizers won't be able to make topics..they can pm you for it or something like that. Both ups n downs i guess

Saleem you should definitely take this into consideration. There are some loops holes as manjot mentioned with stuff like organizers not being able to create new threads. Maybe in the early phases of BTF registration you should have a link that says "COMPETITION OR EVENT ORGANIZERS CLICK HERE" so they have "special privileges" such as making threads about an upcoming event. If you have someone trying to talk smack and registering as an organizer when they clearly aren't posting about an event, you know right then and there to delete/ban the account.

Also what manjot said about people making threads after 10-25 posts, that is a great idea. If the person wants to create a thread before this goal is for posts is reached, they should simply pm a moderator and somehow have their account "unlocked" so they can start a constructive thread. Also, on BTF's homepage you should have a full list of the mods and their links for contacts so people don't have to search through threads for a mod to pm them. Hope this helps.

 

[Saab]

On most of the topics, I agree(Pooja your post was great and went to the heart of matters). However, I think it is time some members take a pro-active attitude to the goings on with BTF. Namely, as most of the material on here we tend to sit and let happen, then decide to do something about it, I would like to respectably like individuals to frame their responses to videos and routines put forth by other teams. This, in my mind, ensures a couple of things:


1. Respect- people responding in a format are doing this format to make clear to teams what they need to work on, what they did right, but also took the time to formulate their response in a clear articulate manner. This shows teams that this indeed not a personal attack, but a post intended to benefit said team in the future.

2. This format also clearly shows what the teams need to improve on/what they are doing well. By doing this, it gives teams times to view critical insights to their routines and things they might have missed, as well as provide feedback on how their performance was rated by their peers.

3. Finally, it allows teams to not get inflated ego boosts, spammers on videos, or the opportunity for drama. People can now see what individuals provide good feedback, and teams can know that they arent gods gift from mankind(or if they think they do, why.)

I also encourage those individuals who like to blurb about those teams to sum up the points they make into a blurb at the end, and encourage to give them grades. This also benefits users who are new by providing analysis at how veterans in the bhangra community judge routines, how judges judge routines, and more importantly, giving individuals information on moves, segments, sets, execution etc. Also, if you are scared as shit to do this(I was), this format will at least denote that you are trying to make a positive effort on the bhangra scene, and while there might be gaps/ disagreements content-wise, you will be lauded at least for effort.

 

[Saab]

Style:

Pros:
-blah
-blah blah
-blah

Cons:
-blah
-blah
-blah

Blurb:
----
----
----


Grade:

Also list times in the pros and cons, and give a more thorough explanation in the set underneath blurb

 

[Manjot]

To add to what meistro said...basically make a "trial member" with everything normal as to the normal member rank on btf but no topic posting right and I know there is an option that "promotes" the member from their current rank to a rank of their choice automatically after they have achieved certain amount of posts(like it did before senior member to hero member at 1000 posts).

 

[Vick]

Just out of curiosity, how many "strikes" do I have? Every time you get banned, do you get another 3 strikes? Just wondering, so I know who to pick and choose my strikes on... I don't want to be wasting them or anything... haha...