Arguments, speculations, rants and generally off-topic/repetitive topics megathread

[Wolf_Rider]

hey, alright... so we get a boxing ring - many forums have one


what's the criteria for getting entry made? (rules of engagement, so to speak)

[Blackdog_kt]

I don't have a concrete line to be honest and i certainly don't let the username above the post influence my decision, all of us are prone to outbursts and this is a place for us to just say it and be done with it.

It's just that when things get personal and drag other people in the mix, a few posts get moved here to let the originating thread run its intended course and also let the "duelers" continue going at it in here. The basic forum rules still apply (we do have minors on the boards after all).

If i had to make a parallel, i'd say it's like going to a football match where it's permitted for fans of opposing teams to punch each other up, but only as long as both parties agree to it, there are no lethal weapons involved and they don't endanger others who just want to watch the game

There's normal seating and there's a separate mosh-pit area, people enter the pit either voluntary or get moved there if they get rowdy in the normal seating area, some people watch the match, some people get or give a black eye while catching a glimpse or two of the match, but in the end they all go back home having done what they wanted to do

[klem]

It's a nice try Blackdog but you'll never win or you'll find yourself on a 24/7 mission.

I know you're trying to keep threads clean and readable and I wish it could be so but I think you're flogging a dead horse. People can't resist replying to a post they feel strongly about, time and again. Some of course are just there to goad.

I'm an offender too (not a goader I hope) but I'm trying to resist re-entering old arguments and thats not easy when someone has actually quoted your post.

Most of these repetitive threads don't really need to be worried about. They just take up server space. Let them vent their spleens. The fact is that anything in a thread past about page 3 is either a valuable piece of work (not often) or has become a general discussion or a competely worthless slanging match. You can definitely tell by page 5! Just act on the justified 'reported' posts and if necessary ban people. It won't stop them though, they'll either create a new account or come back after the ban.

My advice to people that don't like certain posters is to add them to their ignore list and let their blood presure come down. Its working a treat for me and one well known Troll ('Troll' IMHO). I would also suggest people assess the thread for the first few pages and decide whether its even worth bothering with. Why repeat an argument that's already been posted? (I know, I know, and I'm trying.) Back round the circle, if they do keep bothering with it, let them get on with it.

[Ibis]

You lot are a riot, David the bore has wrung eight pages out of you so far, "circus" springs to mind.
cheers,

[Rattlehead]

Just a quick question...

Is this the off-topic thread that Nearmiss proposed a while back? Judging from what Blackdog has said, I don't think so.
If someone can clear this up, I'd appreciate it.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Rattlehead

Just a quick question...

Is this the off-topic thread that Nearmiss proposed a while back? Judging from what Blackdog has said, I don't think so.
If someone can clear this up, I'd appreciate it.

No. There's a PILOT'S LOUNGE at the top of the forum topic list. I just noticed it today, so I'm not sure how long it's been up.

[Blackdog_kt]

Yup, it's a new addition.

[JG52Uther]

Originally Posted by Ibis

You lot are a riot, David the bore has wrung eight pages out of you so far, "circus" springs to mind.
cheers,

What else is there to do! If we are keeping him off the streets, that can only be a good thing...

[Blackdog_kt]

Originally Posted by Rattlehead

Just a quick question...

Is this the off-topic thread that Nearmiss proposed a while back? Judging from what Blackdog has said, I don't think so.
If someone can clear this up, I'd appreciate it.

Off topic discussions are certainly ok in here but actually this thread is pretty generic, so i don't know how easy it would be to keep track of a longer conversation with a more focused subject matter.

This is more like a place to vent some frustration, speculate and engage in forum dueling without taking over unrelated threads, which means a single thread can do the job because personal exchanges between members are either short or repetitive in nature and as such, easier to keep track of for the participants without needing dedicated threads.

What Nearmiss proposed was an entire off-topic section. I don't want to overstep my boundaries, being the new guy and all, so i'm not going to do something i haven't cleared with him or Alpha first but if you guys want such a section i'll ask them about it.

Originally Posted by klem

It's a nice try Blackdog but you'll never win or you'll find yourself on a 24/7 mission.

I know you're trying to keep threads clean and readable and I wish it could be so but I think you're flogging a dead horse. People can't resist replying to a post they feel strongly about, time and again. Some of course are just there to goad.

I'm an offender too (not a goader I hope) but I'm trying to resist re-entering old arguments and thats not easy when someone has actually quoted your post.

Most of these repetitive threads don't really need to be worried about. They just take up server space. Let them vent their spleens. The fact is that anything in a thread past about page 3 is either a valuable piece of work (not often) or has become a general discussion or a competely worthless slanging match. You can definitely tell by page 5! Just act on the justified 'reported' posts and if necessary ban people. It won't stop them though, they'll either create a new account or come back after the ban.

My advice to people that don't like certain posters is to add them to their ignore list and let their blood presure come down. Its working a treat for me and one well known Troll ('Troll' IMHO). I would also suggest people assess the thread for the first few pages and decide whether its even worth bothering with. Why repeat an argument that's already been posted? (I know, I know, and I'm trying.) Back round the circle, if they do keep bothering with it, let them get on with it.

Actually i thought i was up for some trouble but i was surprised how easy it is: instead of having to plead with everyone who might derail a perfectly good thread to let the rest of the participants have the kind of discussion they set out to (and getting sucked into the off-topic debates myself), all it takes is clicking a few check-boxes to select some posts and pressing the "move" button.

It actually saves me a lot of time, because i don't have to quote and answer every person that might be going off-topic and ask them to stay on the original subject. Hopefully it saves the same amount of time for the other participants.

Other than that i browse the forum daily, sometimes twice a day, so it's pretty easy to keep track of things and sooner or later most people will be coming here on their own if they just want to have a bit of a verbal brawl. If for example i'm having a one-on-one exchange with somebody in another thread and we're going off topic, i might as well ask him "hey, let's take this to the arguments thread, will reply to you there, is this ok?".

In other words, the workload is pretty light (much lighter than having to reply to and convince people not to derail threads): the forum interface is easy to use and the amount of duelists is not that big anyway.

[Rattlehead]

Originally Posted by Blackdog_kt

Off topic discussions are certainly ok in here but actually this thread is pretty generic, so i don't know how easy it would be to keep track of a longer conversation with a more focused subject matter.

This is more like a place to vent some frustration, speculate and engage in forum dueling without taking over unrelated threads, which means a single thread can do the job because personal exchanges between members are either short or repetitive in nature and as such, easier to keep track of for the participants without needing dedicated threads.

What Nearmiss proposed was an entire off-topic section. I don't want to overstep my boundaries, being the new guy and all, so i'm not going to do something i haven't cleared with him or Alpha first but if you guys want such a section i'll ask them about it.

Cool. Thanks for clearing it up.