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If I read this correctly, from today, the number of MR members able to access PRSI will inevitably decline over time, as no new members - irrespective of criteria, such as post count, or length of membership of the forum - will be admitted to that section of the forum from now on? That means that PRSI will be at its 'maximum potential membership" as of today, and will never increase from that.

If nothing changes then yes.

What of those who had received bans from PRSI for a year (after incurring three "strikes")? Are they now to lose access to PRSI permanently?
I didn't talk to the mods about this, but I would presume those with temporary bans will return after the ban expires since the forum still exists.

arn
 
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What of those who had received bans from PRSI for a year (after incurring three "strikes")? Are they now to lose access to PRSI permanently?
This is explained in the sticky in PRSI, but loss of access to PRSI under the three strikes rule is permanent as a point of departure. Users who lose access in this way can request that the admins consider reinstating access after one year, but this is not automatic.

There hasn't been any discussion of changing this.

As @arn mentioned, if a user's account is in a regular temporary suspension, access to PRSI (and all other sections) is restored when the suspension is lifted.
 
Good changes overall. I've seen a number of other platforms do this to their forum/chat section, and it's more reasonable than killing it off completely.
 
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I don't like the idea of removing access to the PRSI forums to new members.

Restricting the ability to post on the PRSI for new member makes more sense to me (maybe increase the post count to 1,000?), but to remove access all together is disappointing.

Or, maybe have the PRSI content filtered out as a default for new member would be a better choice, with the option to unblock it at a certain point.

Sometimes the PRSI forums can get bad, but no one is being forced to spend time there. There are plenty of options to avoid the forum.

I guess it is nice to grandfather access for current MR members, but to see it go it pretty sad, imo.
 
This is explained in the sticky in PRSI, but loss of access to PRSI under the three strikes rule is permanent as a point of departure. Users who lose access in this way can request that the admins consider reinstating access after one year, but this is not automatic.

There hasn't been any discussion of changing this.

As @arn mentioned, if a user's account is in a regular temporary suspension, access to PRSI (and all other sections) is restored when the suspension is lifted.
Understood, and thanks.
 
Personally I've enjoyed a lot of the discussions that have taken place over on the PRSI forum and am a bit sad that no new members have the opportunity to join now. I feel like since there was the option to completely hide the forum, it provided an option for everyone. Those who wanted to engage in political discussion, those who just wanted to observe from time to time, and those who didn't even want to bother seeing it. But I know the forum could be a pain for the mods and this is a site for Apple news after all. There's certainly no shortage of political discussions elsewhere. Thanks for the update arn :)
 
Personally I've enjoyed a lot of the discussions that have taken place over on the PRSI forum and am a bit sad that no new members have the opportunity to join now. I feel like since there was the option to completely hide the forum, it provided an option for everyone. Those who wanted to engage in political discussion, those who just wanted to observe from time to time, and those who didn't even want to bother seeing it. But I know the forum could be a pain for the mods and this is a site for Apple news after all. There's certainly no shortage of political discussions elsewhere. Thanks for the update arn :)
Solution: $100/year for access to PRSI :)
 
Ahhh... I didn’t realize it was possible to get banned from just the PRSI forum. That could explain why some prolific posters who are still members have stopped posting there.
That depends on who gets their feathers ruffled over what you say. There's no balance there, which is what makes it pointless as a discussion forum. It's the same 20 people stroking each other's egos.
 
I don't like the idea of removing access to the PRSI forums to new members.

Restricting the ability to post on the PRSI for new member makes more sense to me (maybe increase the post count to 1,000?), but to remove access all together is disappointing.

Or, maybe have the PRSI content filtered out as a default for new member would be a better choice, with the option to unblock it at a certain point.

Sometimes the PRSI forums can get bad, but no one is being forced to spend time there. There are plenty of options to avoid the forum.

I guess it is nice to grandfather access for current MR members, but to see it go it pretty sad, imo.
Here's my $.02. I think I'm with you on the above maybe add a length of service as well, for example as 6 months.

Given MacRumors is a tech site focusing primarily on all things Apple, but with many other varied interests, let new members participate in the discussions and get a feel for what this site can offer. (Or not, of course) Those who want a long term relationship with MacRumors, PRSI (and the political forum) is kind of a reward (and maybe for those members without serious rules violations), if said new members are interested in political discussions.
 
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Nope. Even if they reach 100 posts (after today), PRSI will not exist for them.
We will all have to tell new members the legend of PRSI. Maybe they will not believe us. :p

I know a few people who just reached 100 posts mere hours before the restriction was put in place. Those people are lucky (or unlucky)!
 
Sometimes the PRSI forums can get bad, but no one is being forced to spend time there. There are plenty of options to avoid the forum.
Its not just that "Sometimes the PRSI forums can get bad" (emphasis added), its also increasing the time and effort that the volunteer staff needs to dedicate in dealing with the "bad" For a tech site having to focus so much resources on PRSI content its counter productive, frustrating and doesn't make MR any better imo
 
Its not just that "Sometimes the PRSI forums can get bad" (emphasis added), its also increasing the time and effort that the volunteer staff needs to dedicate in dealing with the "bad" For a tech site having to focus so much resources on PRSI content its counter productive, frustrating and doesn't make MR any better imo
If the staff became remunerated, the above comments would still hold, except the word "volunteer" would be removed from the post.

The issue according to the post, is:
- time and effort
- having a forum that is not 100% aligned with this:
MacRumors attracts a broad audience of both consumers and professionals interested in the latest technologies and products. We also boast an active community focused on purchasing decisions and technical aspects of the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac platforms.

It doesn't seem like Arn wants to get stop the usage. But the current steps will halt the growth. Maybe more draconian measures are needed in dealing with PRSI issues. Longer timeouts, less "chances" when serious violations occur, etc.

Also increasing the staff (paid or not) may not be the answer. (two doctors' can't deliver a baby twice as fast)
 
Its not just that "Sometimes the PRSI forums can get bad" (emphasis added), its also increasing the time and effort that the volunteer staff needs to dedicate in dealing with the "bad" For a tech site having to focus so much resources on PRSI content its counter productive, frustrating and doesn't make MR any better imo

Well, for what it is worth, I will offer - what may possibly be - something of an alternative opinion.

For one thing, Apple, or the "tech" world are not what they were ten, or twenty, years ago.

The world of those who invested (time, money, and indeed, identity) in stunning niche computers that were a design triumph of the fusion of form and function - that world has gone.

Apple is now a global behemoth, a tech (and economic and culturally powerful) giant, - an actor more powerful and richer than many, if not most, of the countries on the planet - and the world this site was created to report on - even in relation to Apple - no longer exists.

So, things change, and I would argue - not so much that a politics/scocial/cultural section is necessary - but, rather, that we cannot divorce Apple from its effect (political,economic, transformative in social and cultural exchanges) on the wider world, and that we cannot deny that there are political (and social - and security, and economic and cultural) perspectives in lay, when we are discussing Apple (and other tech giants). For, they have not just altered, but transferred how we relate to our world, and have transformed that very world in the process, as well.

And the points that @yaxomoxay - in an earlier thread - has made about how the way (political) conversations on social media are carried out - and how, with the advent of Twitter and similar forms, this has been altered beyond all recognition into something resembling pithy sound-bites, rather than a kind of dialogue, or discussion, or debate, have considerable merit. How conversation is carried out online has changed, and platforms such as PRSI reflect that, not because - or, not just because - they are PRSI, but, becaue, they reflect what is happening on social media platforms generally, and in the wider society.

Moreover, from what I have seen on this site, for all of the complaints about the toxicity (relative or absolute) of PRSI, to my mind, nothing on this entire forum can compare - for sheer venom and pure, undiluted, toxicity - to the iPhone section, especially around the time of a fresh product launch.

And, as for volunteer moderators complaining - and they have grumbled, extensively, in recent years - about the "resources" required to patrol and police PRSI: Seriously, you are volunteers. You have chosen to do this. You can choose to go elsewhere, or I daresay that you can choose not to mod PRSI. Or, you can request payment for doing so.

For my part, when I volunteer, - and I do, or used to, pre-Covid, with certain, specific, charities, at certain times of the year, whenever I was home - I value my time (and my self-respect) far too much to wish to spend it on something to which I am not completely committed.
 
And, as for volunteer moderators complaining - and they have grumbled, extensively, in recent years - about the "resources" required to patrol and police PRSI: Seriously, you are volunteers. You have chosen to do this. You can choose to go elsewhere, or I daresay that you can choose not to mod PRSI. Or, you can request payment for doing so.
In all honesty, this comment is a bit dismissive and condescending. I offer my time, energy and talents as best I can to make MacRumors the best it can be. Telling the staff to leave or ask for money is rather insulting in all honesty.

Yes, we choose to spend our time helping this site, but that doesn't mean we should let a particularly toxic forum that has nothing to do with Apple products continue as it has. Just my opinion

I'll not debate this, I provided my opinion and I'll move on to other things here at MR.
 
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