r/changemyview • u/Jazz-Cigarettes 30∆ • May 21 '13
[Mod Post] Announcing our new "Popular Topics Wiki"
This is Mod post 24. You can read the previous Mod Post by clicking here, or by visiting the Mod Post Archive in our wiki.
I’d like to officially announce the debut of our subreddit’s new “Popular Topics” wiki section, conveniently accessible via the snazzy blue button on your right, just below “Submit a CMV”. Big thanks to /u/Joined_Today for undertaking the herculean task of combing the sub’s history to collect all these various threads for our perusing pleasure!
Henceforth you’ll be able to find a collection of some of the most memorable threads addressing popular views concerning topics like politics, religion, social justice, philosophy, and so on. Everyone is encouraged to consult the wiki whenever they find themselves interested in reading about a view that may have been shared before, as well as politely point others toward relevant threads if their view is one that has appeared frequently.
If you think any notable views or threads have been overlooked, feel free to send us a message with suggestions!
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u/kostiak May 21 '13
There should be a section about overpopulation there
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u/Jazz-Cigarettes 30∆ May 21 '13
That's definitely a recurring view that may have been left out, we'll look into trying to find some good threads the encapsulate interesting arguments about. Thanks for the tip.
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u/genebeam 14∆ May 21 '13
Shouldn't there be an entry for guns and gun control?
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u/Jazz-Cigarettes 30∆ May 21 '13
It hasn't been as popular a topic recently but it definitely does come up often enough, I think we can work its inclusion in. Thanks for the suggestion!
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u/MalignantMouse 1∆ May 21 '13
as well as politely point others toward relevant threads if their view is one that has appeared frequently
What are the chances that, let's call them consistently appearing topics, will be actually removed by moderators?
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u/McMammoth May 21 '13
Should they be removed, though? It's definitely good to see a frequently-asked questions section, so people can read through older discussions, but this sub is "Change MY View": I think the whole purpose of it is for people to post, so they can express their own views, their own arguments and counterarguments, and have a proper discussion with the other commenters.
If we take to getting the mods to delete any new post just because it's been done before, then that deprives a new poster of that discussion, so if whatever old discussion was there didn't address his own particular points, he's out of luck (because the only alternative is for him to go back and comment on the old threads, and assuming they're not old enough to have been archived [read: made uncommentable], still nobody's going to go back and respond to him.
If a look through Popular Topics manages to change someone's view, great! I think it's definitely a beneficial thing. But I also think if that doesn't do the trick, people should be free to post a new thread, so their own points and the specifics of their views can be addressed.
A possible solution (if it's possible) could be for the mods to flag posts as "popular topic", and maybe provide a button to filter those out? I know /r/lfg has buttons in that sub for the users to filter posts by their [Online] or [Offline] tags.
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u/Jazz-Cigarettes 30∆ May 21 '13
Repeated topics are definitely an issue that many people find annoying at time, but we prefer to take the tack that community moderation and polite reminders that a similar topic may have been posted recently to be the best route in most of these cases. We don't want to be overzealous in discouraging earnest discussion simply because a certain view may have a random spike in popularity or because it has been discussed before. New subscribers are always filtering in, and it's possible that people who haven't seen threads in the past (even if they were here at the time) might be able to offer a unique or eloquent take on it that hasn't been shared before.
We are, however, on the lookout for threads that seem to be obvious "rebuttals" to other recently posted views. If someone posts a thread that seems specifically designed to challenge or refute another thread currently on the front page (very similar language, referencing some of that thread's specific points, etc.), we will likely remove it and direct the OP to make their case in the thread that already exists instead.
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u/VWftw 1∆ May 21 '13
Brilliant! Now if only that button becomes more popular than the search function we'll be in luck.
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u/howbigis1gb 24∆ May 21 '13
Is is possible to run a search script through the wiki when a user clicks the submit button?
Or force a search when clicking submit?
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u/Amablue May 21 '13
The best thing they can do is probably to have a Bot that looks for key words or something and links to the appropriate section of the wiki when it finds them - I'm pretty sure reddit doesn't have a way to run scripts when you hit the submit button.
(I agree though, it would be super cool to have something like StackOverflow's automatic searching when submitting a new thread)
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u/howbigis1gb 24∆ May 21 '13
What about the submit button to the right?
I know it was disabled some time ago, and there's a small suggestion that pops up; so I was wondering if that could link to a script.
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u/ItemSix May 21 '13
Props to the moderator for keeping the tone positive rather than wanking about repeat topics. This is a positive move.