Hugs instead of flames?

Site cuts flames with preloaded hug message

[rogerd]

While poking around Stanford's Persuasive Technology Lab [captology.stanford.edu] site, I ran across a brief comment that one forum owner had cut the rate of flame posts by preloading every message box with the text,

Everyone needs a hug.

Do you think this would work on your forum?

[viggen]

no, that would sound silly in my forum, i prefer a tight moderated forum. Together with my forum software warn features + my on reward based usergroup ranking, i hardly have any problems with flame posts...

cheers
viggen

[martinibuster]

I prefer to cultivate non-flaming users. Automation is modifying behavior, but I have my doubts as to how much that helps build a culture of non-flaming, as well as a spirit of community.

I would, however, welcome behavior modification for cutting down on site promoters.

[peewhy]

Its about personalities. The saying 'birds of a feather flock together', comes to mind. Generally forums retain like-minded people whilst incompatible ones leave, its usually the latter that join, flame and move on to other forums that may tolerate that sort of conduct.

There should be a sort of 'sandbox' facility for new members where they are slowly released into the community when they can be trusted to behave.

[Casethejoint]

slowly released into the community when they can be trusted to behave.

That made me chuckle. Perhaps we should also tag their ears and study them from afar with binoculars :)

[peewhy]

...and prod them to test their 'flamibility'.

[Casethejoint]

Instead of a CAPTCHA, a Rorschach blot test...

[rogerd]

>> Rorschach blot test...

Interesting... any signs of hostility, and registration is denied. :)

I think this "hug" idea is very audience-specific. It might fit on a parenting board, but on a gamers or political board?

Still, it's an interesting concept. Perhaps a short message tailored to the specific forum - even a simple caution against flaming - might help somewhat.

[digitalghost]

>>Everyone needs a hug

I'd probably just move on if I encountered that sentiment in a forum. ;) How about,

Everyone needs a hug, flame someone you get the club

As with all content, it should be in a consistent voice. Hugs might work on a hippy site or a parenting site or for the entire Prozac nation, but I don't want to read about hugs in my language, history or debate fora. Besides, a little bit of heat keeps things interesting.

[Casethejoint]

The "everyone needs a hug" text is preplaced in the comment box.

Perhaps it would be possible to adopt a Christmas cracker approach: rotate a selection of cheap gags in the comment box's preplaced text. When you focus on the comment textarea, the punchline is revealed. Imagine:

"How do you turn a duck into a soul singer?"

{click}

"Put it in a microwave until his bill withers."

What kind of a monster could post some invective after that jewel?!

[Casethejoint]

Seems other organisations are perhaps overlooking the "hug" thesis. Someone at 37 signals has created a "Troll Cap" icon to flag offensive postings. So much for compassion - bring on the name and shame! ;)

[JollyK]

I would, however, welcome behavior modification for cutting down on site promoters.

I have an idea for that one too. See, it's all about what particular behaviour modification one is trying to accomplish. You must be subtle, and yet, still address the overall psychological situation. So, in this case, how about, instead of "Everybody needs a hug," just have it put:

NOBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT YOUR STUPID SITE

It's understated, yet elegant. And I think that's really what we're all going for, isn't it?

:-)

JK

[Casethejoint]

I like the prosaic elegance of your solution :)

If only we could convince site promotors that:

- Our erection problems are cured.
- We're not overpaying for our "meds" or software.
- We're all rich.
- We all have dates for this evening.

Wonder if they'd believe us if we put that as pre-placed text?

[shigamoto]

Wonder if they'd believe us if we put that as pre-placed text?

Im almost tempted to do it =)

[rogerd]

>>NOBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT YOUR STUPID SITE

Paradox: The people most in need of understanding this are the least likely to believe it. ;)

[Casethejoint]

>> Im almost tempted to do it =)

Please report back on whether spammers see that the market has already done their work for them, and concede that we now live in a post-scarcity utopia where nobody's genitals needs enlarging.