Get rid of Off-Topic (in it's current form)

There is a thread on the off-topic page suggesting some form of light moderation for that board. This is a structural suggestion that might address some the concerns on that thread which could possibly be implemented during the forum migration.

The current pre-migration set up has a board for general chat which has only the unmoderated off-topic section in it (perhaps Jay has plans to adjust this during the migration).

I suggest that what is currently off-topic be split into two boards.

One, largely unmoderated for posting non-serious topics or topics where the originator of the thread is aware of the unmoderated nature of the board and doesn't mind the inevitable larks and silliness.

The other for topics where the originator is sensitive enough to the subject to request intervention should the topic be bogged down with pictures of skyscrapers, general rudeness and irreverence.

That way those who have a comfort zone could stay within it and not be subject to or the cause of friction with those who don't.

I'd also suggest a merge of the Feature Requests and Suggestions sections as they are essentially the same thing.

I've made my suggestion to a solution to a problem diagnosed by others.

It could work.

Indeed if the 'moderated off-topic' was treated was a fresh new board and the old off topic continued unmoderated the new board would be easier to moderate because all the content there would be new and all the years of old content would remain unmoderated.

If it were bound by the same rules as the rest of the boards, people posting there would know exactly were the stood before posting there.

In my personal opinion it's the best of both worlds.

Why, you don't like people who can't say anything without being condescending or threads where only 2 or 3 posts fit on a page?

The thread is a proposal for a structural change to the forums to allow for people who don't like certain types of content to continue to post off topic.

It's probably more useful for the sort of people who do or don't dig stormtroopers with washing machines for heads to be honest :-D

Possessed said:

Why, you don't like people who can't say anything without being condescending or threads where only 2 or 3 posts fit on a page?

 The size of a post is irrelevant to how many posts are on the page.

Danfun128 said:

Trigger Warning Culture? What are you talking about?

 Yeah, I'm gonna say I have no idea what this is either.  And I'm sure I could put it into my Google machine, but I think bkev should be forced to explain it instead.

As for the actual topic, I see nothing wrong with off-topic the way it is.  Unless they want to give me the power to ban imperialscum, ban Darth Id, and force everyone else to change their avatars to animals wearing bowler hats.  I proposed this earlier and there is definitely support for it.

Bingowings said:

I'd also suggest a merge of the Feature Requests and Suggestions sections as they are essentially the same thing.

 Not a terribly important suggestion, but one I do agree with.

TV's Frink said:

Possessed said:

Why, you don't like people who can't say anything without being condescending or threads where only 2 or 3 posts fit on a page?

 The size of a post is irrelevant to how many posts are on the page.

 My mistake.  Still though, the thread where Ender chastises us is pretty ridiculous.

Bingowings said:

There is a thread on the off-topic page suggesting some form of light moderation for that board. This is a structural suggestion that might address some the concerns on that thread which could possibly be implemented during the forum migration.

The current pre-migration set up has a board for general chat which has only the unmoderated off-topic section in it (perhaps Jay has plans to adjust this during the migration).

I suggest that what is currently off-topic be split into two boards.

One, largely unmoderated for posting non-serious topics or topics where the originator of the thread is aware of the unmoderated nature of the board and doesn't mind the inevitable larks and silliness.

The other for topics where the originator is sensitive enough to the subject to request intervention should the topic be bogged down with pictures of skyscrapers, general rudeness and irreverence.

That way those who have a comfort zone could stay within it and not be subject to or the cause of friction with those who don't.

I'd also suggest a merge of the Feature Requests and Suggestions sections as they are essentially the same thing.

 hmm, it is worth considering.  I will need to think about think and right now its bit difficult for me to think about things like this.   If you go to the emotional support thread, you'll see why.

I was directed to read your post Warb.

As someone with more than my fair share of personal plumbing problems your father has my sympathy.

UTIs can be painful and embarrassing, not to mention alarming if you don't expect them. The antibiotics should work fast.

I hope he gets well soon.

I was directed to read Warb's post about his father (I have him on ignore at the moment) mentioned here on a feature suggestion thread.

I replied here because I the only time I've posted on off-topic since Christmas was in anger over nonsense written about the minority sexuality I just happen to have. I'm trying to avoid confrontations of that flavour by not posting there though I confess to be not entirely successful. That one post happened after the one shown here.

It sort of illustrates the potential of what I'm proposing here, essentially a partition of the General Chat section allowing for the current un-moderated and previously existent moderated form of Off Topic discussion.