Electronic Harassment from Android Forums.Com

[XiphoneUzer]

Administrator needs to put a stop to the electronic harassment of it's members!

I am sick of these sophomoric tactics to get folks to return to this site!

"subscribe" by default is just a terrible idea and someone needs to speak up!

I am 51yrs old, have been on these types of forums for almost 20 years, and even own/run my own super busy fishing website for the last 10yrs, (so I know how things work).

The admins on this site are abusing the software to harass it's members,
(and it needs to stop!)

I consider myself a "typical" user of these types of forums. I browse around, post comments, ask questions, answer questions, voice my opinion.

Every once in a while, not often, but every once in a while, I start a thread, or post to a thread, that I am eagerly awaiting help, or opinions from others. Because of this, ALL SITES have a little button you can click named "subscribe". This nifty little option lets the registered user to be notified instantly, daily, weekly, anytime someone else posts a message in that thread. Pretty cool huh

Unfortunately, whom ever is in charge on THIS site decided to go into the "admin panel" and set the default to "instant e-mail notification" for every user on this site. What a drag for us members that like to participate on this site.

I can't even post "nice shot" on a picture thread, cause if I do, I will get constant notifications and e-mails on my phone and pc at all hours of the day and night, every time someone else clicks submit on that thread.

I do NOT wanna be harassed every time I post a comment on THIS website.
It is a major hassle having to clear my notifications and delete the sent e-mails from both my phone and pc, (just because I posted "I like the "black one").

Why force a user to "uncheck" instant notification 19 out of 20 times, (when they only need to remember to click the subscribe 1 out of 20).


I am sure that the admin who set this as "default", wrongly thought that it would encourage participation, (when in fact it discourages it).

Please, please, please.......... spend 1 whole minute, log into the admin panel, then set the default to "do not subscribe". Let us posters decide for ourselves whether or not we want to be subscribed to EVERY thread, not force us to, (just look at the lack of traffic on android central, why ruin this site too).

Just my 2 cents

If anyone else here feels the same way, please post so.

 

[palmtree5]

FYI, you do have the option to set your default subscription mode (for example, mine is set to "No email notification")

 

[psionandy]

Taken from harass: definition of harass in Oxford dictionary (British & World English)

Definition of harassment in English
harassment
Pronunciation: /ˈharəsm(&#601nt, həˈrasm(&#601nt/
Translate harassment | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
noun
[mass noun]
aggressive pressure or intimidation:
they face daily harassment by the police
See harass (usage)

so whatever it is, it clearly isn't harassment.

I can see however that someone may feel it mildly annoying. Personally I find it useful. Normally when I post a question in a thread, or answer someone else's, I quite like getting an email to tell me the answer is there, or the converstation has moved forward. So If asked I'd vote for the way it is.

If you do find it more than mildly annoying you may want to set up a filter in your email system to park them out of the way or even delete them for you. Should only take a few mins, and your blood pressure will thank you for it.

 

[XiphoneUzer]

FYI, you do have the option to set your default subscription mode (for example, mine is set to "No email notification")

You are clearly missing the point.
"no email notification" is the stock Vbulletin setting.

And admin went in and changed that default to "instant email"

Why force each and every user on this site to hunt out, and change the setting back to "Do not subscribe", when and admin can do it with one click!

 

[lunatic59]

I can fully understand your annoyance with the messages. I turned that off too and prefer to manage my subscriptions manually. Still you must understand that with over 1.25 million members over 5 years or so, had it been an issue that it was turned on by default it would have been addressed. In my 2 years on staff, I can honestly say I've only fielded a few questions about notifications and it's really just been "how-to's" and not complaints.

In any case, I'm sure the admins will consider your suggestion.

 

[XiphoneUzer]

Normally when I post a question in a thread, or answer someone else's, I quite like getting an email to tell me the answer is there, or the converstation has moved forward.

Thanks for your reply, I'm glad to see you agree with me.
On other sites, I indeed click the "subscribe" button when I'm waiting on a reply to my question, (or from someone seeking help).
But for most people, (like myself), there is no need to get 287 notifications because I answered "blue" in a thread asking my favorite color.

 

[lunatic59]

Thanks for your reply, I'm glad to see you agree with me.
On other sites, I indeed click the "subscribe" button when I'm waiting on a reply to my question, (or from someone seeking help).
But for most people, (like myself), there is no need to get 287 notifications because I answered "blue" in a thread asking my favorite color.

I agree with you in so much as the constant notifications are annoying. I'm not so sure I agree with having it off by default. I do know that no matter which way it's set, not everyone will be happy with it.

I can't speak for the admins or the site owner as to why that feature is on by default, but if I were to guess, it's so people don't miss an answer to an important question.

We get all spectrums of users from 12-year-olds to grandmothers; from members who this is their first bit of technology to seasoned IT professionals; from soccer moms to app developers. Many times the questions are immediate, specific and somewhat panicked. The forums are huge and even for seasoned members it can be daunting to find a thread you posted in. For new members, it might be next to impossible. This way they get what they need right away.

If, after a while they find themselves hanging around the forums, participating in a few threads and like you and I discover that so many notifications can be more irritating than helpful, they can turn it off and unsubscribe to the threads that they have lost interest in.

I think the immediate response is more appreciated than any subsequent notification overflow is bothersome. That's just my $.02.

 

[Slug]

Just to add.... when you post a reply, there's a drop-down to allow you to select whichever subscription option you prefer for the topic in the Additional Options section.

 

[LizMac]

Here's what I do: I have a separate email that I use only for social media (Twitter, message boards, etc). I never check it. Ever. Honestly, I may have forgotten the password to get in! While I've turned off notifications across all my sites, I have no idea what's in my inbox. If anyone every hacks into, have fun. There is not one contact or personal bit of info.

BTW, we're the same age. It's funny that many younger people often believe that being over 30 means your ignorant of technology - despite my generation being at the forefront of developing it! SMH.

 

[Android Addict]

Edit: Slug beat me to it

 

[psionandy]

Thanks for your reply, I'm glad to see you agree with me.
On other sites, I indeed click the "subscribe" button when I'm waiting on a reply to my question, (or from someone seeking help).
But for most people, (like myself), there is no need to get 287 notifications because I answered "blue" in a thread asking my favorite color.

Nope, you have me wrong... I'd rather get a reply from EVERY thread i post in as the default. If I'm going to be daft enough feel the need to tell everyone my favourite colour is blue, then thats one of the odd cases where I would Opt out.

If i post in a general discussion thread, I want to get the general discussion, without having to log back into the forum every couple of hours and then waste time checking threads on the offchance that someone has replied.

 

[EarlyMon]

Clearly, this shows that people are split on the preference.

And everyone here knows how to change it.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Gmash]

I hate getting notifications, always turn them off. This site has the "favorite forums/xx unread posts" function which I love and makes it easy to see if anything I'm interested in has new posts without the hassle of subscribing to threads.

 

[LizMac]

I'm the same way. I usually check into my social accounts at least 3 or 4 times a week. If I need an answer to a question or to find some info, I'll check in more often. Also, I can keep tabs open on my computer since I work from home most days. No big deal. I prefer an uncluttered mailbox since I use it for my work as well as my personal life.

 

[nx1977]

The default is off, so must have been changed by yourself at some point?

 

[Xyro]

The default is off, so must have been changed by yourself at some point?

The current default for new accounts is instant email notification, although for a very long time it was to subscribe with no email notification. I don't know when that change came into effect, but it doesn't affect already existing accounts.

 

[EarlyMon]

I wonder if that wasn't changed by request, I think I recall feedback that people were missing replies.

Anyway, I'm sure that change is constant and Phases has an open mind for all feedback.

 

[nx1977]

The current default for new accounts is instant email notification, although for a very long time it was to subscribe with no email notification. I don't know when that change came into effect, but it doesn't affect already existing accounts.

There was a point in time when it was removed for everyone. Wasn't the site hacked around the same time?

 

[Phases]

Let's see, where to start!

Ok well, first - this was off by default for years. A few months back, end of October probably (that's when we met in person and made a few changes), we turned it on to test activity levels.

Traffic HAS improved a very minor amount, but that's not to say this is why. We did one or two other things also which may have helped.

On top of that - who knows if traffic would have otherwise not moved, got worse, OR done even better without it. There is no telling, really. We just wanted to see if there was an obvious huge holy grail type change.

You are the first to complain about it.

That said - just to be a little honest here - I find the original post a little overboard. Rude. I would hardly call it harassment. For goodness sake just go into your UserCP settings and just change the default. It is "Default Thread Subscription Mode" in "Edit Options". It's a nifty little setting that is there in all these various forums out there you speak of using and running. Pretty cool, huh

Looking at your account, yours is currently set to "instant email notification". Would you like me to change the option for your account for you?

(Oh and just fyi, my spending 1 minute to to go into adminCP and change the default (I'm not sure why how long or how easy it is to change is implied reasoning for why it is there) won't change that setting for any existing accounts.)

Personally, on other forums out there, I like this feature and turn it on, then when I'm done with a thread I unsubscribe. Later when I become more regular I change the default - but until then I typically use a site as I need when I need, and I want to know when people reply where I am posting.

That's just me, and as said above.. everyone is different. No matter what we do someone will be unhappy or missing out.

Now, with all THAT said - I'm open to changing the default setting. This makes life harder on admin anyway - because I have to spend time every day dealing with bounced emails, and this feature being on magnifies that workload. However if it is determined this is helping activity and discussion.. chances are I'd prefer to just do a better job of making sure everyone understands they can change it.

Appreciate the feedback, I like hearing what members think, it is how we shape our site I would suggest, though, that in the future you perhaps be a little less aggressive when asking for changes to be made to a website or service that you are using for free.

Thanks!

 

[EarlyMon]

Features of our site are detailed in The FAQ.

You can also choose subscription options on a thread by thread basis, details at -

http://androidforums.com/showthread.php?p=5743785

 

[XiphoneUzer]

Features of our site are detailed in The FAQ.

You can also choose subscription options on a thread by thread basis, details at -

Android Forums FAQ - Android Forums

STOP HIDING !!!

The fact IS, it's bs to automatically force every single member to be subscribed to every thread they ever post it.

(it is the very reason way the board default is DO NOT SUBSCRIBE)


every flipping site I am involved with does NOT force subscription, (and neither do the other sites that YOU belong to).


It's bullshit and you guys know it, if you wanna stick your heads in the sand, then be men enough to say so !!!



I have screen shots, but my uploads failed, go figure -


It's a major PITA, and that is why I have 100 posts on xda, and only 35 here !!!
(but your too blind to accept some positive criticism).

 

[Mikestony]

I'm sorry this has bothered you so much, but as Phases said:

..... just go into your UserCP settings and just change the default. It is "Default Thread Subscription Mode" in "Edit Options".

 

[EarlyMon]

Here's the link, change it -

http://androidforums.com/profile.php?do=editoptions

Nothing is hidden lol.

 

[davoid]

First off, I think the staff response to the OP has been impeccable. :smokingsomb:

I had no idea that the default is now set to automatically subscribe, because as an older member, my settings are defaulted to OFF. I guess it would be annoying as hell to be receiving replies to all posts in my mail inbox lol.

Hopefully the OP has now found the settings in the link posted by Early and can post away with carefree impunity.

Sorry if this post ends up in your inbox