I'm sure that you've all seen this before: One week later (and after several posts made by the same member): ... and so on, so forth. How do you go about handling these threads? Do you permit members to post official "I'm Leaving" or "Goodbye" threads, or would you prefer that they don't do this?
I'd prefer that they don't do this. Depending on the situation at hand, I do one of two things. IF the thread has not been viewed yet, I'll delete it. If it has already been viewed, I usually post something to the tune of "Sorry to see you go". I'm not about to beg anyone to stay.
I would prefer they not be made, but I don't have a specific rule against them because (most of) my members know that they can't usually be taken seriously. The last user to try that basically got laughed at. (And now he's back under an assumed name, just as predicted.)
On an old forum I had, we actually had a "Goodbye/I'm Back" thread. But it was usually intended for people that knew they would be coming back. Maybe because they were going on vacation or away for a long time (like TomZilla on AA). Telling the whole community that you're leaving for good is like "cool story, would read again, 10/10".
Hate them and I have tons of those on PisogaForum.com I basically let the members speak out. "Didn't you say last week you were going to go for ever, but you never did". By the third thread they make they get no responses... or responses from idjits.
Usually we let them run for a short while and them close them. Almost everyone who storms off, returns within a month or two.
i never get them but then again the users on my site almost never post except when they have a problem with the skin
I don't prefer them, but they don't violate any rules. Depending on the reaction in the thread (like if members start begging the member to come back, or blaming other people for causing the member to leave, etc.) then I will close it shortly after a few responses are made.
What if a member does so on a weekly basis? Regardless of whether or not it may not be in exact violation of the rules, would you take some sort of action and/or create some sort of "new rule"?
If they come back every week and make a new goodbye thread, I'd tell them personally they aren't allowed to create any more or cause such disruptions in the community. If they do, then I will resort to infractions.
ive never had them on my forums, but as a regular member i am sceptical of all of them. i even count hiow long its been theres been a few that do it and come back under another name a week later pretending to be a newbie. theres the ones who go away for a bit with such a dramatic leaving post and then are back a week later asking "did you miss me" then theres the ones that leave, then when someone posts in the thread "im really glad theyve gone, cause they keep taking our threads off topic/were annoying/complained too much...." they will come back to start a flame war then theres the ones who leave.....and then lurk constantly
We technically don't allow them, but it depends on the situation. Often they don't even actually leave, at which point it's a tradition on my site to follow them around posting "I thought you'd left" to all their posts...:o Not that I have any trolls on my site or anything......
For my peeps, it means something when actually commit to saying goodbye. In this sense it merely to mean no longer being in the "clan". lol The rule is...you quit, you never get back (sorta). So the threads are needed. However, its taken seriously what might transpire within them. This does not necessarily mean people discontinue all interaction though. Just means complete end to commitment to the group in general.
If things have gotten so out of hand that people are committing their last rites on my forum then that is a huge failure on my part. On the other hand if someone is regularly visiting and needs to go away for a while then it would be good to know that. "I hate this place and I'm leaving!" vs "On vacation for 6 weeks to help Habitat for Humanity where there is not internet"
