Off Topic forums? here

[nearmiss]

I've had some postings asking for a General Discussion forums. We have it already and this is it. You click on IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover and that is what this is.

What about what they call "Off topic" forum at Ubisoft. People could express their opinions in off topics, and have more verbal freedom (no vulgarity of course)

Do you want an Off Topic forums here?

[jimbop]

Not keen - doubt it would get used any more than the sub-forums that serve a useful purpose unless the main page dumping ground was tightened up.

[AndyJWest]

As someone heavily involved in the drama at Ubi that resulted in the 'no politics' ruling in their off-topic forum (though this is now only enforced if it gets too confrontational), I'm perhaps not best placed to give an impartial opinion, but here goes anyway:

Yes, but...

* It will need a moderator willing to ensure that debates don't get personal - indeed they will probably need to be kept less personal than those we often see here. While I'm sure that you (Nearmiss) are capable of doing this, you will be taking on a lot of extra work.

* It needs to be restricted to those who use the CloD/IL-2 forums already - the Ubi forum attracted a certain amount of 'outside participation' from people with no interest at all in IL-2. You'll need to make it clear that it is a place were forum regulars debate off-topic, rather than a soapbox for everyone and anyone. People who show no evidence of interest in the sims, but instead arrive with an agenda, should be shown the door.

* It will need a big sticky note at the top reading 'participation in this forum is voluntary'. If people don't want to read Raaaid's latest explanation of why the universe is in fact pyramid-shaped, rather than a four-dimensional torus (as the physicists insist), they don't have to. Inevitably, a lot of off-topic threads aren't particularly of interest to some people, but that isn't a reason to demand that the thread be deleted, and we all have our minds erased by the Men in Black to destroy all evidence of said thread.

But yes, if you (or another moderator) is ready with a fly-swatter for those who can't debate things without making comments regarding the marital status of their opponent's parents etc, then I'd say go ahead - it might even help cool things down a little if we can talk about other stuff.

[nearmiss]

This poll will run for 10 days. We will see how members think of this.

Members that post off topic, regardless of content can dwell in that forums.

Andy you are correct moderation will take on new perspectives.

[Jaws2002]

Yes please.

[Ataros]

Yes, please.

But could you please also have a look at several suggestions here http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthr...542#post312542

OT section only will not solve all the forum issues imho.

[pupo162]

Originally Posted by AndyJWest

* It needs to be restricted to those who use the CloD/IL-2 forums already - the Ubi forum attracted a certain amount of 'outside participation' from people with no interest at all in IL-2. You'll need to make it clear that it is a place were forum regulars debate off-topic, rather than a soapbox for everyone and anyone. People who show no evidence of interest in the sims, but instead arrive with an agenda, should be shown the door.

im not surprised by this, from a year or 2 before the politics ban till the day of the politcs ban that was by far the best forum i read, containing far more information and news from all over the world than the 8'o clock news report.

unfortonatly the ban screwed that, and now ubi forum is limited to 1 or 2 threads a day about some not so important news

[Ze-Jamz]

Yes..

[whoarmongar]

Why bother. Every thread goes off topic within two pages

[Rattlehead]

I'd like one.