Please keep OT threads to a minimum!

[Umbran]

Folks, P-cat didn't say we were to eliminate all OT discussion. He merely asked us to keep the number of OT threads down a touch. He's asking for moderation, not elimination.

Keeping them down a little is a compromise - aside from simply not wanting to run an OT board, separating out OT threads would lessen the community feel that the Doc and others like. But, we don't want the board overrun with non-gaming stuff. So, they allow some, but not too much OT discussion. They are being reasonable, so let us be reasonable too.

 

[King_Stannis]

...But, we don't want the board overrun with non-gaming stuff. So, they allow some, but not too much OT discussion. They are being reasonable, so let us be reasonable too.

i usually am pretty reasonable when it comes to posting OT posts. the only thing is, that now do we have to weigh whether or not the OT thread will be to the personal liking of the moderator on duty, even if it is otherwise innocuous? what if it's a sports post - say for the start of the MLB season. i start an OT thread - "hey, anyone getting excited for the new baseball season?"....many, many posters here are fans and might want to chime in. but what if moderator "X" hates sports and the topic is distasteful to him? he closes it for being OT. i know it's not free speech over here, but darn, do we have to make it no fun either? how many original d&d/rpg threads are created every day, anyway?

but do you really think the board was being OVERRUN with OT threads?

 

[Piratecat]

Umbran nailed it exactly.

We don't want a rule of no OT threads at all; they're an important part of the community, and usually a lot of fun. But people should think twice before posting them, in order to avoid the real chaff.

Most specifically, OT threads get annoying when there are a lot of them active at once. That's why we're asking people to take a look before they're tempted to post; if there is more than a couple of them on the first page, consider waiting, and as always use your best judgement.

In particular try to avoid OT threads that apply ONLY to you and which you already know no one else will care about. "How do I fix my computer," that sort of thing. Compare that to a thread about Buffy or Voyager, which is more relevant to more people, and you'll see what I mean.

 

[Piratecat]

....Now do we have to weigh whether or not the OT thread will be to the personal liking of the moderator on duty, even if it is otherwise innocuous? what if it's a sports post - say for the start of the MLB season. i start an OT thread - "hey, anyone getting excited for the new baseball season?"....many, many posters here are fans and might want to chime in. but what if moderator "X" hates sports and the topic is distasteful to him? he closes it for being OT. i know it's not free speech over here, but darn, do we have to make it no fun either?

Oh, c'mon. Do you see us closing OT threads on the moderator's whim? This is a reminder to use good judgement when posting, not an announcement of draconian moderation. But I think - I hope - you already knew that.

- P-Kitty

 

[Number47]

I say we post all our off-topics right here in this thread!

By the way, can somebody fix my computer?

 

[Berandor]

I say we post all our off-topics right here in this thread!

By the way, can somebody fix my computer?

On that note, I advise you all to read the latest "Help Desk" storyline, where the artist describes his latest computer problems...

It starts here:

http://www.ubersoft.net/d/20020204.html

and it's 23 episodes long (as of now).

Berandor

 

[Umbran]

...the only thing is, that now do we have to weigh whether or not the OT thread will be to the personal liking of the moderator on duty, even if it is otherwise innocuous?
[...snip...]
i know it's not free speech over here, but darn, do we have to make it no fun either?

but do you really think the board was being OVERRUN with OT threads?

King_Stannis, you are really overreacting.

Do we have to weigh the personal likings of particular moderators? No. No threads have been closed, nor any closures even threatened. There is no indication that the personal tastes of any moderators are being imposed. P-cat is merely reminding us of the overall board policy. If you really want to go overboard, you can start worrying about offending individual moderators, but there's no evidence to support your worry.

No fun? Where the heck did that come from? How is asking us to keep threads a bit more on-topic equivalent to no fun?

And, saying "We do not want the boards overrun by OT threads" is not equivalent to "The boards are being overrun by OT threads." An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, King_Stannis. We have seen in the past that on occasion, the board members (in aggregate) are sometimes not so good at moderating their own behavior. So, sometimes the mods see fit to give a little reminder of the policies. No need to get into a tizzy about it.

 

[King_Stannis]

Oh, c'mon. Do you see us closing OT threads on the moderator's whim? This is a reminder to use good judgement when posting, not an announcement of draconian moderation. But I think - I hope - you already knew that.

- P-Kitty

okay, i stand corrected, then. i just didn't know if this was going to be some kind of lead in for that.... to make this a d&d only board. i am satisfied with your response and will let this matter drop while trying to follow the new guidelines.

 

[Rashak Mani]

Dont know much about computers or bandwith... but wouldnt erasing some of the older threads help out a lot ? There are loads of old OT threads ... loads of Newbie question threads ... some repeated threads as well. Part is lack of search function which makes the same doubts be asked....

As for OT stuff its ok by me... part of being a community... we dont only talk D&D when we game... why should we only talk D&D on the board ?!

 

[Malkum]

With all due respect to the community spirit here.

I think that the moderators have a right to ask us to post on-topic threads. There is limited bandwidth and it should be used probably for mostly D&D stuff. It is a D&D site.