The new off-topic forum

[EricNoah]

I dunno, the arguments that I could see against an OT forum include...

1) it would squash interesting off-topic conversation, because the average person isn't going to leave the comforts of General to seek a separate forum for OT threads.

2) it would unduly encourage OT posting by suggesting that, because we have a place for it we are especially welcoming of it.

3) it might encourage more posts that bother grandma, maybe due to political or religious content.

4) Having OT mixed with General helps "us all" keep our finger on the pulse of "our" community in some way.

I gotta tell you, though, this experiment is making some of the mods giddy with excitement. I'm not sure why! We're just really, really curious if, after all this time of saying "no, no, no" it will have a beneficial effect, a detrimental effect, or no effect at all.

 

[Darrin Drader]

I see some immediate benefits of an off-topic and non-meta forum. Presumably people willbe able to go there to post any topic that isn't on the banned list. This should include news, personal information, and (my favorite) funny/vanity threads. Also, because of its position and clear statement of purpose, it should get more traffic than Meta. All in all, if OT threads can't go into General, then I think this is the perfect solution for these boards. I promise to be on my best behavior and as long as we don't lose sight of the core values of these boards, this should be an excellent addition. Woot!

 

[HellHound]

Very closely. In fact, we'll need a DNA sample from everyone. Please send to

EN World
Behind the Hot Water Pipes
Third Washroom Along
Victoria Station

Damn near spat out my soup.



It's all about Monty Python, underneath it all.

Well, that and underwear.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I dunno, the arguments that I could see against an OT forum include...

I gotta tell you, though, this experiment is making some of the mods giddy with excitement. I'm not sure why! We're just really, really curious if, after all this time of saying "no, no, no" it will have a beneficial effect, a detrimental effect, or no effect at all.

It will be hot and heavy for a little while , then side into the visit every how and then forums, people will mostly forget about it, posting OT in the general forum only to see them moved to the OT and then come to Meta and say "why was my topic moved?"

 

[Mark]

Damn near spat out my soup.



It's all about Monty Python, underneath it all.

Well, that and underwear.

...a steelworker...

...a punk club in central Canada...

...and the shoppe where he purchased the equipment.

Press button playing canned applause and..............release.

Grin insidiously.

(I always wondered about the inspiration for that "grin" icon!)

 

[HellHound]

Phew.

At least it's not me.

I'm not a steelworker anymore.

And much to my chagrin, I have never been involved in the AWESOME punk scene in central Canada (Winterpeg has a great anarchist scene)

 

[Tom Cashel]

One of our concerns is how a forum like this might change the inherent nature of EN World.

My goodness. It's not Relativity or Quantum Mechanics. It's simply a place to put all those OT threads that show up anyway.

The esteemed Mr. Noah pointed out that people might not leave the comfort zone of General to visit the OT forum. I reply that the reason OT threads are so common is that people resist leaving the comfort zone of EN World to talk about things other than RPGs.

There! I've said it! EN World is a nice place to be, people understand and (mostly) abide by the rules. We're friendly here.

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to talk to your gaming buddies about something other than Alignment or the radius of an empowered Fireball.

 

[EricNoah]

EN World is a nice place to be, people understand and (mostly) abide by the rules. We're friendly here.

Ah, I think I have my new sig quote!

 

[Umbran]

The esteemed Mr. Noah pointed out that people might not leave the comfort zone of General to visit the OT forum. I reply that the reason OT threads are so common is that people resist leaving the comfort zone of EN World to talk about things other than RPGs.

Quite true, but while folks here are comfortable and friendly, they are also... well, lazy. The question is whether they'll take up the activity of reading and posting to the OT forum.

The question is not unprecedented. In the past, there have been gaming topics that stagnated when placed into a foum alone. Effectively, those topics got largely removed from conversation entirely.

But, perhaps theat won't happen here. We shall see what the experiment shows.

 

[Dinkeldog]

It will be hot and heavy for a little while , then side into the visit every how and then forums, people will mostly forget about it, posting OT in the general forum only to see them moved to the OT and then come to Meta and say "why was my topic moved?"

Or worse: "I know this will get moved, but more people will see it here."