The OT Forum: Indolikaa's View

[indolikaa]

After a few days of thought, here's my take on the Off-Topic Forum.


Save it.

For the most part, the OT Forum has existed and operated on the three basic rules that one sees when they hit the main forums page: no warez, no politics and no religion. The fact is, most of the 'other' rules regarding overall behavior in the Forum Rules/AUP are forgotten because they are not as readily accessible. Yes, there's a link there, but a link referring to rules doesn't stand out as much because that requires effort.

The fact is, based on the increasing number of posts, we have a lot of new members (and a few veterans) who aren't willing to put forth the effort to learn this hobby. "I have this AVI file, what do I do now?" and other such questions have created animosity with those who have done the time and spend the money to learn this hobby. This mentality breeds hate and discontentment. The same ignorance has surfaced in Off-Topic, causing the moderators more grief than they already have dealing with the "Russian Girls Love You Long Time," et. al., crowd.

I suggest we look at a couple of possible options for the Off-Topic Forum. They are not the best options in the world, but perhaps they might spawn some good ideas that would allow Staff to maintain a "Can Do!" attitude. I can understand the rumored grumblings of discontent over the direction the Off-Topic Forum has taken. Rather than let that discontent breed, maybe we can find ways to eliminate it.


My first thought is to remove the Off-Topic Forum from public view. We have untold numbers of people who browse these forums on a daily basis as guests. These people are only looking for information on how to extend their hobby knowledge, they are not looking for a flame war. But if they see something that raises their ire, well, we are human, and this is the Internet. And we all know what happens when you bring anonymity and a difference of opinions together.

Remove the Off-Topic Forum from public view unless a person is logged in as a member. That is my first suggestion.

My second suggestion is a tad bit more revolutionary, and likely to be contentious. But I think, after having seen some of the meltdowns that have occured there, that access should be limited to members who meet a minimum criteria. And I don't believe this detracts from Baldrick's desire to make this website a free source of information for the newbie and hobbyist alike.

In most cases, the Off-Topic forum has nothing to do with the hobby, so limiting its access would not take away from the overall purpose of this site. There are forums where members must make a certain number of posts, or have a clean membership record for a certain period of time, before they are allowed additional posting priviledges. I don't see why this couldn't be considered here.


I finally had a chance to read what started this 'OT Forum is Closing!' hypothesis. And having seen what took place, I must admit if it was my forum, I'd have locked it down for a few days. I can understand the frustration that the moderators are going through, but I think we the members have a responsibility to make it right again. If we can't do that, we don't deserve to be here. It should never have gotten to this point, but here we are.


Indolikaa


P.S. -- I posted two threads that I thought were valuable and worthy of discussion. They were subsequently locked because some people can't act like adults when discussing problems and differences of opinions. If you can't respond to this thread in a adult manner and have a civil discussion about it, find somewhere else to cry.

Thank You.

[Supreme2k]

In the few message boards that I've modded, whenever an off-topic fight broke out in a thread, the members were either suspended (the function was available in every board I've modded-about 4) or if severe enough, banned. The offening posts were moved to a read-only board called "Lamers" on one, and "Lock Box" on another. The new threads were like the original, but contained only the offending posts. Even though boards in general aren't a democracy, this allowed people to see the idiocy of the suspended/banned members.

But yeah, I've seen a big increase in the noobs and vets alike who either have a short fuse or no sense of humor. One trick that has helped me immensely is to click on e person's profile then check the last 50 or so posts from them. You may see that the person is a jokester, knows their stuff, or is indeed an *******. I know that my sense of humor is a bit over the heads of some forum surfers who need twenty smileys to denote every freakin' aspect of your post, but to each his own.
Then there's the people who cop a 'tude from the first second. Responses to helpful suggestions like "I obviously did that! Can someone who isn't being a jerk help me out?" abound lately (unfortunately, mostly noobs).

I too have seen too many topics "sink" because of...well, nothing. I hope the trend can be stopped.

[sacajaweeda]

Make OT for paying customers only!

[sacajaweeda]

Or not.

[tygrus2000]

Indo, thats a good post you have there. Very sensible, although I am not sure about the limited access idea.

I myself have said before that some of the stupid topics in OT are taking away from this site. I want to be able to log on here and see the main froum area asking good questions and I am willing to tolerate some noob questions and some lazy member questions. What gets me fired up is when 3 or 4 retarded OT subject appear, like the one you mentioned. OT should remain video or new tech or PC related IMO.

I agree that people are getting sensitive on here but as you said that is due to a few reasons, but mainly because it is a text based environment, it may be difficult to understand someone's tone.

[Cobra]

What an excellent post.

[sacajaweeda]

What an excellent post.

I know. And it just came to me instantly. It's a gift.

Oh wait, you were probably talking to somebody else.

[gitreel]

Indo,

Those are very good suggestions.

[Capmaster]

I'm moving this to Off Topic Forum.

[Ripper2860]

Good post, Indo !!!

I can ceertainly see where maybe the "Off Topic" name may not be the appropriate name for this place. It is a pretty general nomenclature and certainly would be the place to put posts that don't fit iinto one of the other "technical" or "Help" forums. We probably do get quite a few folks trying to ask questions or for help and are blind-sided by the threads contained in this forum.

I frequested a forum in the past that had an "Off Topic" forum for use in asking questions which did not have a specific forum, but also had a virtual "Pub", where everyone went to hang out and shoot the breeze. There was never an expectation of the"Pub" being a "Help" or Technical forum, and folks who did go there, went to hang-out with there buds and "shoot the shit". A pub can be a pretty rowdy place, so the name pretty much told everyone what they could expect by going in there.

Perhaps we need to create a new "Pub-like" forum and move all of active threads from OT to to there and make sure that it is understood that the "Off Topic" forum is for information and assistance that does not fit into the other forums (i.e. Video Cameras, Tripods, Digital Camera's, etc.)

Rename the OT forum to something more apporpriate and create a new OT for OT technical and assistance posts.

[Capmaster]

The Newbie/General Discussions already fits that description ..sort of. It's not supposed to be for off topics. But we get a lot of gray area questions there.

[Ripper2860]

Off topic --
Talk about anything that doesn't belong in any other forums here. But no warez-, politics- or religion posts.

Newbie / General discussions
Post here if you are a newbie / new to VCD,SVCD,DVD and/or you have problem deciding what section your post should be in. But only video related stuff here, no off topic posts.


Looks pretty confusing to me. I see "Newbie/General Discussions" and I'm thinking a bunch of Noobs fending for themselves -- I'm outta there and to OT for help !! .

I really think in order to minimize the amount of backlash from innocent folks stumbling onto this forum thinking it is for technical assitance, we need to create a forum where it clearly states -- this is where you go to hang out and shoot-the-shit. The OT, in it's current state, is certainly not "Talk about anything that doesn't belong in any other forums". It is a watering hole. A place to gather with friends. A place where you can let your hair down. Although that may not have been its' intent -- that is what it has become.

If the intent is to not offend inncocent folks that inadvertantly wander into the OT to post help questions, I really think a more "defined" purpose woulkd be in order.

Has it been decided that this type of behavior is inapporporiate -- period. Or is t that we need to find a way to confine it to those that wish to participate in this type of bawdy bantor? Is it a question of the OT being the right place for this type of irreverrant behavior, or is it the fact that this type of behavior is unacceptable, even if contained?

If the intent is to make the OT forum a "General Technical Discussion" forum and give the riff-raff the boot -- well, that's a whole different story.

[The village idiot]

Screw it, lock the forum and see what happens. I already know what that would bring.

[ViRaL1]

Chaos?

[The village idiot]

Since I need to up my count, I'll ask a question. You privy to something the rest of us can not see?

[The village idiot]

Chaos?

You could call it that.

[Ripper2860]

Since I need to up my count, I'll ask a question. You privy to something the rest of us can not see?

Not me. Just putting on my managment hat and looking at it from a different perspective.

[Capmaster]

Good post Ripper 8)

[northcat_8]

Now being that I don't start very many threads but I post in many....what I don't understand is what is Off Topic for? At videohelp there are so many different forums that if you have a technical question it fits in one of the forums.

There is no reason if there is a question about everyone else's opinion of something that if couldn't be posted in off topic. IE: video cameras, digital picture editing, etc. But I don't see too many of those posts popping up.

The real problem is that this community is full of some pretty intellectual people who are also pretty smart and witty in more area's than just computer video. And as everyone knows when an intelligent person gets bored they are very easily entertained because of the number of different perspectives they can effectively view the same situation from. Quite a bit of the humor here is intellectual humor that requires you to be able to make the mental connection. I can see where some members (the barley soda episode comes to mind) would miss the concept, if anyone comes in here on an off day and isn't real sharp on things you'll miss many things. (no offense stiltman, just the first one I thought of, you are usually on top of the humor).

I however did not see much purpose to the masturbation threads, or shaving threads....but....no one made me click the link to read them either...I chose to click it

Should OT be cleaned up? Sure, fine, great, whatever...doesn't matter to me, I can pass by topics I find uninteresting or offensive. Want to shut it down? Shut it down. Click it - lock it, gone forever that's not my decision to make.

The only reason there was an uprising of seriously off topic threads is because everyone here gets along fairly well and as anyone who has studied human nature knows, human beings need conflict and adversity. If intelligent people are not being entertained mentally they will create it...and they did.

I think the powers that be need to read up a little on Sociology and human psychology...the behavior was inevitable. I think you all brought it to everyone's attention, people will chill out and fall in line for a while but it will return eventually...count on it.

[stiltman]

I can see where some members (the barley soda episode comes to mind) would miss the concept, if anyone comes in here on an off day and isn't real sharp on things you'll miss many things. (no offense stiltman, just the first one I thought of, you are usually on top of the humor)

Boy, you miss one reference joke and you get nail to the wall for it...
So much for honesty...Next time I'll keep my mouth shut


OK, ya want my 2 cents worth on this? (don't answer that)

Mr. B, do what you want. If you think OT looks bad against all the other forums, delete it. If you think it's OK except for some members, ban them. It's your call and no one elses. Couple of things I would do though, I would make sure the search engine crawlers are not archiving it and I would also make it viewable only to members.

[thayne]

I don't think I'm going to waste anymore time here. I haven't posted anything since the whole encrypted threads fiasco cause I got kinda pissed off about the whole thing and how it was handled.

Later everyone....