Off-Topic Posting

[Justinian]

So, we all know that Off-Topic Posting isn't allowed on, and I quote the ToS, "all forums" here on TWC. Yet this being discussed in the thread on a ToS change made me think. Off-topic posting isn't allowed on any of the forums, which essentially means we have to stick to the topic in every single thread (except, presumably, the Chat Thread). Isn't off-topic posting the sign of a community? In any thread, isn't it fair to expect that people who like eachother will vary off the topic slightly, usually in positive ways? When you have a real-life conversation, you don't talk about the same exact topic of conversation for the entire time you're talking; it changes.

I'm not proposing we do away with the Off-Topic rule, but I do think that moderators should treat it much less aggressively. There is a huge difference between posting something completely ridiculous and unrelated to the topic, which is negative, and telling a joke or continuing a tangential line of conversation, which is positive. Why stifle the community spirit?

The most that should ever happen is a moderator steps in and says hey guys, get back on topic, and maybe deletes a few posts -- I've done this myself countless times -- and then maybe hands out a warning if he absolutely has to. The idea of people getting warned for having friendly conversations is, well, ridiculous.

[Augustus Lucifer]

Re-evaluating the Off-Topic rule and what usage it has to us as a forum was part of my suggested changes here. That thread didn't receive much attention though aside from a couple users, so either something else is desired or I posted it at the wrong time, since this last ToS change has caused an uproar.

[Justinian]

Re-evaluating the Off-Topic rule and what usage it has to us as a forum was part of my suggested changes here. That thread didn't receive much attention though aside from a couple users, so either something else is desired or I posted it at the wrong time, since this last ToS change has caused an uproar.

Would you mind if I posted just the Off-Topic rule change as a Decision?

[Augustus Lucifer]

Would you mind if I posted just the Off-Topic rule change as a Decision?

Makes no difference to me, it's a free country and all that.

[Justinian]

Makes no difference to me, it's a free country and all that.

Well it was before ing Obama got elected.

[Augustus Lucifer]

Oh, I was talking about Burma. Burma is a free country. That's where me and Rush Limbaugh fled after the healthcare bill passed.

And stop going off-topic in a thread about off-topic posting. How delicious would the irony be if an infraction came about here?

[Justinian]

Oh, I was talking about Burma. Burma is a free country. That's where me and Rush Limbaugh fled after the healthcare bill passed.

And stop going off-topic in a thread about off-topic posting. How delicious would the irony be if an infraction came about here?

It merely demonstrates we are a community and if people occasionally stray slightly from the topic, it shouldn't be a big deal.

Do we want to be a forum or a community?

[Augustus Lucifer]

It merely demonstrates we are a community and if people occasionally stray slightly from the topic, it shouldn't be a big deal.

Do we want to be a forum or a community?

I WILL ASK ZE QUESTIONS!

Do we want to be a forum or a community?

THAT IS ALL!

[Justinian]

I WILL ASK ZE QUESTIONS!

Do we want to be a forum or a community?

THAT IS ALL!

I VANT TO CHAVE MY CAK AND EAT IT TOO

[Kamos]

BUT ZERE MUST BE STRIKTEST ORDER IN MINE FORUM!

[La♔De♔Da♔Brigadier Graham]

So, we all know that Off-Topic Posting isn't allowed on, and I quote the ToS, "all forums" here on TWC. Yet this being discussed in the thread on a ToS change made me think. Off-topic posting isn't allowed on any of the forums, which essentially means we have to stick to the topic in every single thread (except, presumably, the Chat Thread). Isn't off-topic posting the sign of a community? In any thread, isn't it fair to expect that people who like eachother will vary off the topic slightly, usually in positive ways? When you have a real-life conversation, you don't talk about the same exact topic of conversation for the entire time you're talking; it changes.

I'm not proposing we do away with the Off-Topic rule, but I do think that moderators should treat it much less aggressively. There is a huge difference between posting something completely ridiculous and unrelated to the topic, which is negative, and telling a joke or continuing a tangential line of conversation, which is positive. Why stifle the community spirit?

The most that should ever happen is a moderator steps in and says hey guys, get back on topic, and maybe deletes a few posts -- I've done this myself countless times -- and then maybe hands out a warning if he absolutely has to. The idea of people getting warned for having friendly conversations is, well, ridiculous.

Why not make a proposal Justy, I have often thought the same thing myself, the off-topic rule does seem to be odd sometimes, and I would say does stifle conversation between members who debate and converse, your absolutely right in that in real life I myself cannot stick to the same topic in a conversation, choosing to speak of other topics that may lead to the topic at hand on many occasions, so yes an amendment of the rule, worded suitably by you would certainly get my support, of course as you say speaking off-topic here can lead members to be warned or infractioned.
The thing is when I see members at the tribunal who are infracted, I often wonder is it because moderators do not understand the principles of using a metaphor?
Something I use all the time to get my point across, perfectly acceptable in real life and in any writing & prose I have seen, I think a lot of people just dont understand this!

P.S. finally a proposal that may be worthy of merit from Justy, lately some of the proposals in the Curia have left me bewildered?

[Augustus Lucifer]

The proposal has been posted here old lentil, nary doddle now lest it fly the coop!

[La♔De♔Da♔Brigadier Graham]

The proposal has been posted here old lentil, nary doddle now lest it fly the coop!

Thanks you young Rapscallion, I did rather seem to have missed it! you have heard of this passage......

"age shall not weary them nor the years condemn them"

Inaccurate, I can tell you, confound it!

[Simetrical]

Off-topic posting is fine up to a point. Beyond a certain point, though, it impedes productive discussion. Reexamination of what exactly the boundaries should be here is a good idea.

[Justinian]

Off-topic posting is fine up to a point. Beyond a certain point, though, it impedes productive discussion. Reexamination of what exactly the boundaries should be here is a good idea.

I agree. I'm not saying that moderators should turn a blind eye if they go into a thread and it's completely turned into a different discussion, but if a few people are saying a few things that are off-topic, I don't see the harm in that. I like the proposal in the ToS because, by re-classifying Off-Topic Posting to the Disruptive Posting section, it doesn't oblige moderators to hand out warnings simply for being off-topic.

[Banana Jelly]

I like sausages with cock sauce. Am I going offtopic here?

[Augustus Lucifer]

I like sausages with cock sauce. Am I going offtopic here?

This is not the thread you're looking for.