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Publication of Hosting Information

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Publication of Hosting Information 31/03/2013 at 09:54 #42893
postal
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There is a header at the top of the Hosting section asking posters advertising a hosted session to include details like time and date of session in the title of their post. Despite this, we are now seeing a consistent (almost daily) level of postings without this information in the title.

If there is such a disregard for the rubric, I think we need to start asking whether such stipulations are necessary or whether the mood in the community is such that we should do away with requirement. It would put a few jobsworths out of work (self included) if the stipulations about the topic headers were removed, but do we as a community actually think the information is required?

If the information is required, how do we make sure that it does appear? It would probably need some sort of mandatory template without which postings to the Hosting section could not be made if we want that consistency of information. Is it worth going that far, do we accept that the rubric is a request rather than a stipulation, or do we do away with it all and accept that postings in the Hosting section only have the same requirements as postings in the rest of the Forum?

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Publication of Hosting Information 31/03/2013 at 11:56 #42900
jwsetford
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164 posts
i agree there is a little too much of this but if you put something like, 'Please put in these details' they do it next time.
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Publication of Hosting Information 31/03/2013 at 12:45 #42903
KymriskaDraken
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963 posts
It is annoying when the details aren't in the message subject. Having the date and time etc in the subect means that it is easy for everyone to see what simulations are being hosted at a particular time. Subjects like "Euston now" are meaningless. There is even a template in the Session Details forum so there is really no excuse for posts that don't have the correct information in the correct place.
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Publication of Hosting Information 31/03/2013 at 13:03 #42904
John
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What's a rubric...? :huh:
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Publication of Hosting Information 31/03/2013 at 13:25 #42905
Stephen Fulcher
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2080 posts
The key issue is whether or not those who wish to join the session concerned have trouble understanding the information.

As long as it is posted in the right area of the forum, which they all seem to be now that Geoff has forced a choice rather than automatically defaulting to Newcomers, then anyone who does not want to join a session can just ignore anything in that area.

There are a few users who must be getting a little bored with reading the same old rants by the same few members complaining about trivial issues.

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Publication of Hosting Information 31/03/2013 at 14:25 #42906
postal
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5265 posts
" said:
What's a rubric...? :huh:
Dictionary definition here.

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Publication of Hosting Information 31/03/2013 at 15:57 #42908
Temple Meads
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As I've said before, people are giving up their leisure time to host a game (IE: doing a service to the community), so I think it should be purely the choice of the host what they put in their post, nothing wrong with suggested details to include though.

However I always try to include as many details as possible, and use the template, as that avoids confusion and annoyance.

Username TIM in multiplayer
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Publication of Hosting Information 31/03/2013 at 17:38 #42909
moonraker
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Agree with Temple Meads. If people want to know the Nitty Gritty then the shoutbox can usually suffice
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Publication of Hosting Information 31/03/2013 at 18:04 #42910
KymriskaDraken
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Things like IP addresses and so on should never be published in the shout box!
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The following users said thank you: BarryM, guidomcc, UKTrainMan
Publication of Hosting Information 31/03/2013 at 18:44 #42912
BarryM
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" said:
Things like IP addresses and so on should never be published in the shout box!
And old sessions should not be updated (edited) to advise of a new session. Editing does not produce an email of the new session and may not be seen in the accumulated Reply Topics.

Barry

Barry, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Swindid 31/08/13 1800bst for 1830bst VON 31/03/2013 at 19:22 #42914
vontrapp
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Scenario: hard
TT:2003
TTS@0000hrs



This text is hidden because you are not logged in.



Most of the info would be in the subject including the host's nickname. No need for port number unless it's not 50505. Green tick for sim open and red tick for sim closed.

TTS=timetable start

Last edited: 31/03/2013 at 19:50 by vontrapp
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Swindid 31/08/13 1800bst for 1830bst VON 31/03/2013 at 21:01 #42918
KymriskaDraken
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" said:

No need for port number unless it's not 50505.
And how would a newbie know that? I think that we need all the relevant information in the post, in a standard format, so that everyone, no matter how experienced, can find the information that they need to join a session.

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Swindid 31/08/13 1800bst for 1830bst VON 31/03/2013 at 21:09 #42919
vontrapp
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well, in that case one should inform them how to install and play the game too, with each post and do away with the wiki and help area.
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Publication of Hosting Information 31/03/2013 at 21:28 #42921
guidomcc
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There is a template for a reason.
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Publication of Hosting Information 01/04/2013 at 00:22 #42927
Temple Meads
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Port number definitely needs to be in the post, whether it's standard or otherwise.

Things that HAVE to be in the post (IMO) are: sim name, IP, Port number and start time, that's all you need to actually get connected.

Username TIM in multiplayer
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Publication of Hosting Information 01/04/2013 at 00:27 #42928
postal
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" said:
Port number definitely needs to be in the post, whether it's standard or otherwise.

Things that HAVE to be in the post (IMO) are: sim name, IP, Port number and start time, that's all you need to actually get connected.
So going back to the original question, if we want to lay down things which must be posted how much goes in the header and how much in the body of the posting? There have been very few postings in this thread that have so far been able to address the question about headers to topics in the Hosting section which was the only question I posed.

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
Last edited: 01/04/2013 at 00:27 by postal
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Publication of Hosting Information 01/04/2013 at 00:38 #42929
Temple Meads
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" said:
" said:
Port number definitely needs to be in the post, whether it's standard or otherwise.

Things that HAVE to be in the post (IMO) are: sim name, IP, Port number and start time, that's all you need to actually get connected.
So going back to the original question, if we want to lay down things which must be posted how much goes in the header and how much in the body of the posting? There have been very few postings in this thread that have so far been able to address the question about headers to topics in the Hosting section which was the only question I posed.

My personal opinion on what must be posted:

In the title: Sim name, date, start time.

In the post: Timetable, IP, port (the latter two hidden).

Username TIM in multiplayer
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Publication of Hosting Information 01/04/2013 at 14:56 #42934
clive
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" said:
Things like IP addresses and so on should never be published in the shout box!
It's my IP address, and I'll publish it wherever and whenever I want. This is something for the owner of the information to decide, not for a rule to be made.

(I'm aware some people are concerned that published their IP address will let them be hacked in some way. I'm not convinced of the danger. My address has been published for many years.)

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Publication of Hosting Information 01/04/2013 at 15:06 #42935
headshot119
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" said:
" said:
Things like IP addresses and so on should never be published in the shout box!
It's my IP address, and I'll publish it wherever and whenever I want. This is something for the owner of the information to decide, not for a rule to be made.

(I'm aware some people are concerned that published their IP address will let them be hacked in some way. I'm not convinced of the danger. My address has been published for many years.)
Amen!

Plus certain people learn them by heart if you host enough! (You know who you are! )

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
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Publication of Hosting Information 01/04/2013 at 15:13 #42936
Steamer
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" said:
" said:
" said:
Things like IP addresses and so on should never be published in the shout box!
It's my IP address, and I'll publish it wherever and whenever I want. This is something for the owner of the information to decide, not for a rule to be made.

(I'm aware some people are concerned that published their IP address will let them be hacked in some way. I'm not convinced of the danger. My address has been published for many years.)
Amen!

Plus certain people learn them by heart if you host enough! (You know who you are! )
However, i.p. addresses posted on the shout box end up moving down and out of sight, and if several are posted it can be hard to find the right one. If it's on a forum post it's easy to see and link directly to the game.

"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
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Publication of Hosting Information 01/04/2013 at 15:34 #42937
Stephen Fulcher
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It would seem that we are reading far too deeply into a problem which is trivial at worst, and more likely irrelevant.

If someone chooses to post their IP address in the Shout Box then that is their choice, and if there are several IP addresses in there at once then that does not really matter either. The absolute worst that can happen is that no IP address within the Shout Box will work if the game is not running, but that is no different to a general forum post.

There is no value to the community in general of having a large number of rules which dictate exactly how each person should go about advertising a multiplayer session - after all it is down to choice, and I am yet to ever see anyone having a significant amount of trouble joining a multiplayer game due to the manner in which the title of the thread advertising the game was written.

If people, some of whom very rarely if ever play advertised multiplayer games, start to dictate how each game should be advertised then we end up with a situation whereby there is moderation of a forum just for the sake of moderation rather than for any meaningful gain.

If the issue is a slightly different than suggested title causing a user to read a thread that they have no interest in (such as a multiplayer advertisement) then all they have to do is see which area of the forum the thread has been posted in and ignore it on that ground, it is not difficult.

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Publication of Hosting Information 01/04/2013 at 15:41 #42938
postal
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5265 posts
" said:
" said:
Things like IP addresses and so on should never be published in the shout box!
It's my IP address, and I'll publish it wherever and whenever I want. This is something for the owner of the information to decide, not for a rule to be made.

(I'm aware some people are concerned that published their IP address will let them be hacked in some way. I'm not convinced of the danger. My address has been published for many years.)
But you won't if you join some sort of organisation or group where the stipulation is that IPs are not openly published. There is nothing to stop you publishing your IP elsewhere and you could even stick it on a billboard at Piccadilly Circus if you wished, but if that is the rule of an organisation and you don't like it you don't join that organisation.

However that is all irrelevant to the starting point for all this discussion. Do we as a group want to insist that date, time etc are included in the heading of a hosting topic (causing people who believe rules are there for a purpose to have problems with a lot of the postings) or do we decide it is needless bureaucracy and bin it?

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
Last edited: 01/04/2013 at 16:01 by postal
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Publication of Hosting Information 01/04/2013 at 15:41 #42939
Rickurd
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I personally think that as long as all the relevant information is there for people to connect, the there shouldn't be a problem. When I host I always make sure to include the time I will be accepting connections from, sim name, timetable, scenario and the IP and port.
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Publication of Hosting Information 01/04/2013 at 19:47 #42948
KymriskaDraken
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I think date, time and sim name should always be in the subject - it makes life a lot easier when scanning through the forum to see what is happening when. The rest of the information should be in the body of the post, preferably using the template so that nothing is missing.

I wouldn't say that it needs to be a hard and fast rule, but certainly a strong recommendation.

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Publication of Hosting Information 02/04/2013 at 09:08 #42955
jc92
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I would say date, time and sim are a bare minimum for the subject line for any host. "Kings cross now" means nothing to me!

I would also say that the timetable in use should be listed as it has a major bearing on what kind of game can be expected where areas have changed over the years. Equally a sim time start is always handy for gauging the game, eg is it starting in rush hour, or 10 at night?

I just dont see why its too difficult to use the template provided to give consistency to hosting posts, and make the forum look a bit more organised and proffessional. but that might be a biase as i work with pro formas every day.

Joe

"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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