Here's the way it is

[jdavis]

When you make an entire forum entierly for off-topic chatter, I don't know how you can expect to NOT get stupid-arse stuff. When it was part of General, there was a sort of... peer pressure, as it were, not to be stupid. That's removed here.

You mean there was pressure to not post a half dozen "I'm drunk" threads in general? It's not that there weren't lots of silly things posted in general, it's just that now it is more visible and I think that is a good thing. Instead of having all these copycat threads posted over three pages of General, they were posted on one page here where it became obvious they were out of control without somebody calling for a intervention in Meta.

 

[Pielorinho]

Sorry. Ahem -- got carried away. Won't happen again.
Daniel

 

[diaglo]

If people wish to open new threads on particular subjects (OD&D,...

but where would that be?

i've been told in rather unfriendly terms not to post it in General from quite a few "regulars".

this forum i saw as my opportunity. i jumped at the chance.

sorry, if it wasn't meant to be.

 

[Heretic Apostate]

So...

There are topics which are off-topic in an Off Topic forum?

See, I knew it would all be too confusing.

 

[Umbran]

When it was part of General, there was a sort of... peer pressure, as it were, not to be stupid. That's removed here.

Well, then we'll just have to put a little bit of it back is all.

 

[Darrin Drader]

When it was part of General, there was a sort of... peer pressure, as it were, not to be stupid.

Peer pressure to stay on topic? Give me a break. At least half the people regularly posting to general participated frequently in off-topic conversations, quite often stupid ones. The only peer pressure that exists is on the part of the moderators (because its their job) and in the minds of the people who think they're applying the pressure.

 

[Tsyr]

Nah, I won't give you any such break. I stand by my opinion.

I never said people didn't post or participate in off-topic discussions in general; that was just part of what that forum was. My point was that there was kinda a sense of "Alright, this is off topic, but it's still pretty cool...", or "This might be reaching a bit, but..."... People knew they were posting off-topic stuff, so there was a certain amount of restraint.

When provided a forum that is designated as off-topic as it is, how can you help but have people post whatever comes to mind at the moment? After all, the forum is off topic

 

[Darrin Drader]

I guess that I don't disagree with that statement. I just define the [OT] tag and then the statement that something is off-topic in the message as a courtesy rather than as the result of coersion. I would like to think that we don't resort to peer pressure and a mob rules attitude on these boards.

 

[jdavis]

Once again I bring up the rash of I'm drunk threads as a example. people were still posting the same old stuff when this was part of general and the same silly crap happened all the time (nothing wrong with silly crap by the way, just silly crap in moderation) it was just not a obvious on the freeway that general was. I think the problem is not with silly stuff it's always been here, it's knowing when it's time to let it go (like when you have a dozen ask so and so threads). I don't remember all that much peer pressure in general, it was pretty much a free for all (not that that is a bad thing either).

 

[Umbran]

I would like to think that we don't resort to peer pressure and a mob rules attitude on these boards.

Barendur, there's a difference between "mob rules attitude" and using some restraint because you know your fellow board members would prefer you not do a thing. Don't make out a bit of gentle peer pressure to be a monstrosity. In reference to high schoool and alcohol or drugs "peer pressure" may be nasty. But in polite society, it's also what does most of the enforcing of the rules of behavior.