what the hell is wrong with OT???

[SquirrelDip]

OT isn't a ******* plant - throwing shit at it won't bring it back to life. As Flaystus (and others) have pointed out it isn't the point of this site so if it's dead, slow or just recovering who really cares.

Quit the belly aching and leave it be - it may come back to life... But it surely won't with all these crap threads.

[offline]

R.I.P OT

More of a problem than it was worth imho. A new set of regulars will call it home, perhaps, but it can't be as it was.

[anitract]

Being relatively new here I can't comment per se' on life @ VideoHelp Off Topic when it was "more alive" than its current form, but I have been a regular internet junkie since 1994. Anyway, my observation has come down to this: a healthy "off topic" / general discussion section at a forum makes for a healthy forum overall.

Sure, we like to think its all business at places like this, but really...is that all it is? I (and many other people) like to think of VideoHelp as more of a community than simply an information site. The primary purpose is for people to learn together "all things video", but in the end something more comes out of it...

Having an active off topic area allows for relationships to build and for real personalities to come out. It even allows for fun. In the end, I think this spills into other areas of the forum (in a good way).

That said, sure there will be a few trolls and what not...and those people and their issues can spill into other areas in a bad way...but that is what moderators are for...isn't it? If things get out of line with a couple of people...ban 'em. Not too hard. I've been one.

Just my 2 cents.

[ZAPPER]

anitract: Well struck!
Nobody can ever go back to the way things were in any avenue of life (Ah, the good ole' days) But this is the moment that we are in, we just have to make the best of it. Whats done is done and what will be,will be. I lurked for a very long time before my first post (still not answered to my satisfaction) and I saw what I though was a comradery of quick wits and half wits, banter and beholding, smart asses and dumb asses. (Almost kind of sounds like real life huh?)

OT is not yet quite dead and won't be until the plug is pulled. I do agree that some of the fire has died down and only embers remain. There is a new respect for the rules and a little fear too. Why the fear? Think of the consequences. BANNED! Nobody wants to lose the the ties that they have to this site. (OK, once in awhile someone goes off of the deep end and wants to end it all, but thats kind of rare) We can still play with fire, fan the flames, stir the ashes and heat things up. The trick is not to burn anyone or ourselves.

As for the past and those that say quit picking at it or it will never heal. Well it is too late, now it is a scar. I have lots of scars, big deal, they don't hurt anymore, they just serve as a reminder of stupid things that have happened to me. (Besides, Chicks dig scars)

OT is about talking, talk about the past, present or future, it doesn't really matter. (Funny is good, deep thought is interesting too)(Did I just propose deep thought in OT? OK scratch that one) but you get the idea. Alot of what we have in common is in the video topics. More of what we have in common is in off topic, but the fun stuff is the differences that we have. Expressing ourselves is what keeps this place from being one big FAQ plain old answer by the number data base. (Yes we can be used that way, and I would venture to say that is how most arrived here in the first place) But this monster has taken on its own life, and it must be fed! Bring on the noobs! (Oops, almost out of control) Anyways we have built a community here, and how you want to be treated in the community or what you expect to get out of the community has alot to do with what you put into the community.

[abc-123]

Damn, that's a mighty fine pep talk, coach. Ever consider doing motivational speaking in real life?

(I always feel good after reading zappers posts.)

I tell ya what. When my scars stop bleeding, I might come sit by the fire with you and stir some embers. Till then, I'm just looking for a band-aid.
But don't expect me to sit too close.... I tan too easily. :P

[glockjs]

The question to you is, what do you want to talk about?

pepsi people, stupid cartoons, stupid threads about stupid posts, who's got the most posts, olsen twins, hot chicks, football(and other sports, such as freaky deaky foreign ones), alcohol, gambling.....when shall i get started?

i say unban the banned and let anarchy reign once more muahahaha

[ZAPPER]

i say unban the banned and let anarchy reign once more muahahaha



!Viva La Revolution! It's time to break these chains and take back our OT! We have been kept down for too long! Rise up comrades! (Oh, wait, Tuesday isn't good for me. maybe the following week?)

[stiltman]

I farted

[Grimey]

I farted

THATS whats wrong with OT

[glockjs]

what a dirty dirty man. but then again, everybody loves the smell of their own brand

[MackemX]

OT is crap, the Pub is crap . It's as if people are scared of posting because I see plenty online but maybe they are just shy these days

at least it gives you more time to do other things 8)

maybe other people should look at this and have a think

http://guide-zone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1798

[Faustus]

Its funny that this thread survives while people talk about there not being post. Meanwhile there are post.

[glockjs]

so there are people posting about not posting therefore creating posts....interesting theory, but i dont buy it!

[Faustus]

so there are people posting about not posting therefore creating posts....interesting theory, but i dont buy it!

No I'm talking about how ever time for the last 2 days there have been 5 to 10 new post each time I visit.

[glockjs]

so there are people posting about not posting therefore creating posts....interesting theory, but i dont buy it!

No I'm talking about how ever time for the last 2 days there have been 5 to 10 new post each time I visit.

meh. im not convinced until you have to go to the second page just to read all the new posts

[virginva]

i made two posts one week ago, and i feel some over reacted, yet, this thread is still alive....hmmmm.....i better stop

[lordsmurf]

maybe other people should look at this and have a think http://guide-zone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1798

I remember Trumpet winsock. You had to stand in a funny position with your fingers crossed and then perform a voodoo curse to get it working. Then you'd log onto the network, and 10 minutes later you'd be kicked off because too many people dialed into the call center and it'd crash. 9600b-14.4k speeds, super fast!

[Faustus]

so there are people posting about not posting therefore creating posts....interesting theory, but i dont buy it!

No I'm talking about how ever time for the last 2 days there have been 5 to 10 new post each time I visit.

meh. im not convinced until you have to go to the second page just to read all the new posts

so you'd rather have 2 pages of post that are about basicly nothing or just blurbs found on the web reposted onto a forum for minor dicussion over a few post where there are dicussions going on.

You see I determined long ago the primary difference between what was often called a "post whore" and a normal poster. Once just looks for a way to add another number they don't actually read the entire post and have no actual input. The other post only when they have input or when they are trying to have some fun, but they don't have a tendecny to post everywhere and everywhen just to be doing it.

If a topic doesn't interest you find another, if your not happy with the ammount of post here then post. Otherwise why waste time lamenting about the old days while you sit on a perfectly functional forum.

[abc-123]

so you'd rather have 2 pages of post that are about basicly nothing or just blurbs found on the web reposted onto a forum for minor dicussion over a few post where there are dicussions going on.

You act as if one type of post is more valuable than the other but consider this: people get agitated when you threadjack a perfectly good discussion just to crack jokes. There used to be maybe 90% "blurb" threads, but they contained some of the funniest comments around. That in itself has value, and personally, I'd prefer to read those type of posts first thing in the morning while I have my coffee rather than the in depth discussions. (Those I save for evening when I'm fully cognitive. :P ) My point is that both types have merit and value.

You see I determined long ago the primary difference between what was often called a "post whore" and a normal poster. Once just looks for a way to add another number they don't actually read the entire post and have no actual input. The other post only when they have input or when they are trying to have some fun, but they don't have a tendecny to post everywhere and everywhen just to be doing it.

And now all the post whores are gone and there's nobody left to keep the conversation going when there are no topics of interest for everyone else. Where are all the "normal posters"? Where are all those in depth discussions that struggled to be had before?

If a topic doesn't interest you find another, if your not happy with the ammount of post here then post. Otherwise why waste time lamenting about the old days while you sit on a perfectly functional forum.

Because some people like to talk about the old days... the fun times. They miss them. They want them back. I don't see the point in snubbing the past simply because you're not interested in it. Others might be.

And you can't assume that just because one person starts posting that the rest will follow. If people just don't care anymore, in the end it will feel like that one person is just talking to themselves.

Look, you either care, in which case you talk about everything, including the past, or you don't care, in which case why are you even in this thread?

[MackemX]

it is busy to a non PW as OT is the same old OT without the meaningless PW posts so it's easier to read and digest 8)

[abc-123]

... it was hard for you to digest before?

... easier, cleaner, safer, boring, sterile, dead... yep. it's certainly that. Is this what you want?

[Faustus]

And you can't assume that just because one person starts posting that the rest will follow. If people just don't care anymore, in the end it will feel like that one person is just talking to themselves.

the rest of your post aside, this should be covered.

Yes if a few people start talking then it will kick off again. Trust me on this, I've kept many of BBS message boards afloat through lean times with just me and one other person. I've been there I've done that time and time again. If a few people are talking then someone will want to put their input in, thats how it works.

As far as blurb threads, in general I don't like 'em very much. I don't like the idea of someone coming to a forum and going "wow what a nice fark ripoff their forum has here" cause thats what it is. Posting a new story unless you really want to discuss it on some level beyond silly jokes is mindless. It takes no input and no thought, its copy and past. When you put on input in you get no input out.

With the attitude you have OT as you know it IS gone reguardless of the rules, because you already gave up long long ago.

I love how a thread like this can exist and get view after view and post after post while a perfectly good and fun forum sits around it. Its just waiting for a post.

[Faustus]

What people DON'T seem to understand is the concept of "All Things in Moderation".

We had to make rules to stop things that on their own were fine, then they got out of control.

I don't mind a silly story, but I don't want a forum filled with them.

I don't mind a game thread, as long as its not viewed as some sort of post count ++ maker. I don't even mind someone screaming "In before the lock!" if its a rare thing thats actually funny when it happens and in the correct forum which would be OT and not the general forum.

... it was hard for you to digest before? :

Yeah, as someone who sleeps the day away and wakes up to 3 pages of OT 99% of which contain nothing, a few of which had to be shut down, and several of which link together into some sort of gaint flame or controversy that then has to be pieced back together. yeah its hard to digest.

Of course I expect that sort of thing... of forums with hundreds of users posting constantly out of sheer numbers. But in this case it was mostly a few people. It wasn't even that we didn't WANT those people, we just wanted them to behave and realize the situations they create through their actions.

[MackemX]

... it was hard for you to digest before?

... easier, cleaner, safer, boring, sterile, dead... yep. it's certainly that. Is this what you want?

yep, I'm fine with that 8) plus you may not understand my sarcasm which was in plentiful form by others in the past may I add

So **** if it's dead, I accept it but it will probably get busy in time (could be months even a year or 2) as communities grow . If the current people don't like it then they will move onto other forums (some have) or even find other things to do. If anyone is sitting here pressing F5 hoping someone has posted then you must have an exciting life

accept it and get over it I say, forget the past as everyone will never come back . It won't come back!

if anyone is still 'really' bothered about the way OT 'used' to be then you have serious social problems if you cannot find something else to do :P. Yeah it was fun but it is just a forum on the interweb and there's 1,000's out there if you haven't noticed. If people are that desperate for friendship and comradery then it wouldn't be hard to find a forum where they would fit in and have 'fun'. I don't think anyone here really is bothered though and it's not as if there's plenty to talk about

I bet that talking about the past just make 99% of people who are still here groan and say 'Oh no, not that shite again!'

move on people nothing to see here and there's plenty of other posts you can reply too :P

[Faustus]

BTW for the first time I'm gonna give advance warning. Thread lock is likely imminent.

At the same time I want to allow people to have their say, but after a point this conversation is naught but a dead end.

That being said I'm off to format my primary desktop. Back in a bit.

[MackemX]

Yes if a few people start talking then it will kick off again. Trust me on this, I've kept many of BBS message boards afloat through lean times with just me and one other person. I've been there I've done that time and time again. If a few people are talking then someone will want to put their input in, thats how it works..

I agree as there's plenty of lurkers hanging about and that's it exactly. It will only take a few active posters to tempt those lurkers into posting. If all they see are threads like this then how can they join in when eitehr they are not interested in the Past or don't know what the hell the Past was about (99% of people I'd say)

I would start some new topics but I'm off out now (yeah I'm going outside unlike some :P) so have fun in my absence 8)

p.s. I bet I come back later today and the only active thread has been this one

[jimmalenko]

The point you seem to be missing Flaystus is that quite a number of regular visitors to the site would hang out in OT when the "rough and tumble" of the on-topic forums was getting to be a bit much. Maybe they'd just flamed a newbie (or whatever) and OT served the purpose of giving them somewhere to cool their heels with a bit of light-hearted humour, keeping people at the site IMHO. When OT was quiet, "OT regulars" would even venture out from their hidey-holes to help in the main forums.

OT went behind a login, so I really struggle to comprehend this notion of "keeping up appearances" and "not in the best interests of the general public" excuses that are meant to pass as some sort of reasoning (not that Baldrick needs to justify anything). If it's Baldrick's call, all good and well, but don't bullshit us with excuses. And personally I think it blows (or is that sucks ) that you're "taking your bat and ball and going home" when the conversation doesn't interest you any more (sound familiar to anyone ??? )

[Faustus]

Excuses are sometimes reasons. Just because you consider them excuses doesn't change what they are.

You see OFF TOPIC is a place to discuss things that are indeed OFF TOPIC to rest of the site. It still is, its behind the login now because of the problems it has been. Don't blame Baldrick of the Mods for that blame lack of self moderation by users in the past.

Off topic is what it always was, put some people refuse to adknowledge that. Instead they are caught in the past and refuse to see this day for what it is.

I'm truely sorry that OT isn't exactly what it was not long ago, but in truth if you had actually be there behind any of the melt downs. You'd understand perfectly why.

[Faustus]

As to why I gave the thread lock warning it has nothing to do with toys going home.

Its that I at least recognise that a thread like this does nothing but stir up bad feelings and put off anyone new who may be thinking about posting in OT. I understand that this entire discussion solved nothing and hurts everything.

[MackemX]

that's partly true but the old OT is well and truely over so why not move on Jim and accept the change? 99% of people still here have and those who haven't, left so it's 'still' can't be about the rules that's stopping people posting surely

Has VH overall become the worst Video related site due to the implosion of OT? I very much doubt it and if anything the new rules have made it a better place for 'everyone' and not just awkward for the OT regulars (some who rarely ventured out of OT)

in fact people crying about rules is bullshit as I've said quite a lot and haven't been yellow carded once and I've said just as much as anyone

the only ones moaning about the rules are the ones who probably came close to breaking them before. Once the leash was tightened then they couldn't act the way they did goading flames from others. The main reason I came into OT was because of the way certain members treated others (remember the playground thread? ). It's as if they thought they had a right to abuse newbies or less contributing members and Jim sadly you were one of them as our run in proved before I came to OT. I helped people but I didn't give them shit because I felt superior. The only ones I gave shit to were the ones who were giving it themselves and most didn't like it

when did all this discussion happen again? Oh yes 9 months ago and here we are still talking about the way it was

'dewrin the war'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Albert