Vash
OHM Administrator
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2008
- Messages
- 189
- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 0
- Location
- In a cave, of course.
- Website
- www.orbithangar.com
Every time some user uploads a "simple", "stupid", or otherwise lacking scenario, tutorial, or playback, I receive numerous complaints from users. If not by direct e-mail to me, I see the complaints posted on the forums here.
While it's not all too surprising that people don't appreciate just seeing the appearance of something unsatisfying, I'm not really sure what to do about it. Many user complaints I receive are along the lines of "anyone user could do this with the scenario editor in literally 30 seconds. IMO this should be removed since it's just another junk "add-on".
While scenario files created with the built-in scenario editor may be extremely trivial, they are legitimate orbiter files, and thus they have a right to be uploaded on Orbit Hangar. Some people argue that they take up space, but a few bytes for a text file and some supporting text for the database record is hardly a concern. I can only assume that when people complain about "junk" taking up space, they really mean that they don't want to see these "junk" add-ons showing up when they are searching or browsing for other add-ons.
So what should be done about this? I originally created Orbit Hangar Mods so that anyone could freely upload any appropriate Orbiter content. Personally, I don't believe that I have any right to judge an add-on and decide whether it is too "stupid" or "simple" to be published on my site. To do so would be nothing other than censorship of the community. I do my best to remain unbiased in judging what content is appropriate for my site.
Should there really be a simplicity threshold? I'm sure some of you would argue that there should be a stupidity threshold (at least half-jokingly I hope). But in all seriousness, I would like to hear user opinions on this.
If you think an add-on is too simple or too stupid, why not just avoid it? If you don't want to see it, don't look at it. If you don't want to use it, don't download it. As long as it is legitimate orbiter content, why shouldn't it have a right to be on Orbit Hangar Mods? That's my opinion on the matter.
Of course, there are practical limits here. If I wake up tomorrow and someone has uploaded 100 scenario files to my site just to prove a point; I won't be in a good mood. There /is/ a difference between someone uploading a simple scenario and someone spamming scenario files. So far, I have not seen any activity which would constitute actual spamming of the site.
While it's not all too surprising that people don't appreciate just seeing the appearance of something unsatisfying, I'm not really sure what to do about it. Many user complaints I receive are along the lines of "anyone user could do this with the scenario editor in literally 30 seconds. IMO this should be removed since it's just another junk "add-on".
While scenario files created with the built-in scenario editor may be extremely trivial, they are legitimate orbiter files, and thus they have a right to be uploaded on Orbit Hangar. Some people argue that they take up space, but a few bytes for a text file and some supporting text for the database record is hardly a concern. I can only assume that when people complain about "junk" taking up space, they really mean that they don't want to see these "junk" add-ons showing up when they are searching or browsing for other add-ons.
So what should be done about this? I originally created Orbit Hangar Mods so that anyone could freely upload any appropriate Orbiter content. Personally, I don't believe that I have any right to judge an add-on and decide whether it is too "stupid" or "simple" to be published on my site. To do so would be nothing other than censorship of the community. I do my best to remain unbiased in judging what content is appropriate for my site.
Should there really be a simplicity threshold? I'm sure some of you would argue that there should be a stupidity threshold (at least half-jokingly I hope). But in all seriousness, I would like to hear user opinions on this.
If you think an add-on is too simple or too stupid, why not just avoid it? If you don't want to see it, don't look at it. If you don't want to use it, don't download it. As long as it is legitimate orbiter content, why shouldn't it have a right to be on Orbit Hangar Mods? That's my opinion on the matter.
Of course, there are practical limits here. If I wake up tomorrow and someone has uploaded 100 scenario files to my site just to prove a point; I won't be in a good mood. There /is/ a difference between someone uploading a simple scenario and someone spamming scenario files. So far, I have not seen any activity which would constitute actual spamming of the site.