Current events

The forums, particularly the "current events" seem to have degenerated into pointless chit-chat, speculation both ill-informed and underinformed, in some recent events, unfortunate name-calling and squabbling, along with the usual pointless 'copy and paste' posts of the latest weather forecasts or warnings from BOM or even from the Weatherzone homepage.

As examples, here are some actual posts from the thread "SE QLD & NE NSW storms & rain event : 27 - 30 Jan 2012", (which I might add has already reached 695 posts).

These were selected from the currently active page of the thread when I wrote this. Please note that each of these is a complete post!

"hrmm the Longreach radar seems to go poof at about 1ish"

"Heavy rain just started to fall here in Southport after only light showers all afternoon and evening."

"No worries-just waiting for GFS 12z to come out, normally updates between 2:30 to 3:00am...
Will be interesting to see what this update does...."

"35mm here in the 24 hours to 6:30am, brings the total since Monday morning to 75mm. Now to see just how far East this low decides to go."

Many of the posts would be more appropriate as some sort of private message, or simply not be posted at all.

Realistically, there in only one post on that page of the thread which is in any way informative. Most threads lately in the current event forums seem to operate at similar levels.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

In many of the "current event" threads, we see people with no understanding of, an no experience interpreting the various weather models will claim massive rainfalls or other events because they see some colours on a map.

Once upon a time, long long ago, the weatherzone forums were a place where one could information and find informed discussion.

Unfortunately, that, as they say, was then and this is now.

All that glitters is not gold

Can multiple threads be established for any future 'current events'?

It would be helpful to have a "chit chat" thread for posts ranging from "it's so hot and humid here", and "I predict 100mm in Casino from this event", through "25mm at (my suburb)", to copy & paste reposts of the latest warnings or forecasts from the BOM or Weatherzone.

The moderation in the "chit chat" thread could continue to be lax, and people could continue to carry on in the way they have been recently.

A second, heavily moderated thread, could be in place, with both pointless chit-chat, and any absurd "GFS shows 900mm bullseye at Ballina in 10 days" posts could be eliminated before causing the sort of unpleasentness seen when those with a better understanding of, and more experince interpreting forecast models attempt to explain such outliers.

There is still some gold in these forums. It's just so difficult to find it amongst all else.

(End grumpy old man rant)

So tell me what's wrong by saying this?

"35mm here in the 24 hours to 6:30am, brings the total since Monday morning to 75mm. Now to see just how far East this low decides to go."

I totally agree, cant stand the pointless "the pressure has dropped from xxxx to xxxx in the last 30mins" post that gets repeated every hour. Because of these absolutely pointless and meaningless posts, it fills the forum with garbage and trying to wade through them to find good information is frustrating.

Dave

Well, you can't have people chatting about the weather on a weather forum, that's just not on.

I'm blowed if I know what the OP feels is appropriate postings, mind you I'm also blowed if I know why this topic is in Q and A.

I do remember that they did split topics into Very Serious and Technical For The Very Knowledgable People and "general" topics to talk about the weather at one point, and the technical threads died from lack of participation quite often.

Nice one. Registers, makes one post and attacks the forum. If you don't like how the forum operates don't use it. I believe the word is TROLL and reported as such.