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Off-Topic

  • 07-03-2010 9:57pm
    #1
    lou91
    Closed Accounts Posts: 399 ✭✭


    Never posted on this forum before, but it seems a bit strange that there's no off-topic/general conversation thread, especially if meet ups take place. It could be a good addition, considering how a lot of the topics here are a bit heavy...

    Thoughts?


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Comments

  • #2
    Boston
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,163 ✭✭✭✭Boston


    Off topic threads are a nonsense, theu create the impression of a closed clique of people and they detract from the forum as people generally dump all their posts into the one massive thread. The forum has a purpose and works quite well


  • #3
    lou91
    Closed Accounts Posts: 399 ✭✭lou91


    Oh, I'm not saying it doesn't work well! By purpose, do you mean helping people with problems? Yeah, obviously that's a good thing but that doesn't mean it can't also have a social aspect.

    It just seems a bit strange, comparing it to the so-called "social" forums that organise meet-ups. A lot of the posters are familiar with each other from these sorts of threads which would presumably would make the beers less... awkward, for want of a better word.

    It seems from the other thread that a lot of people were interested in that meetup to get to know people, wouldn't off-topic threads facilitate that more? Bit of a foundation or whatever online first, apart from just knowing a username??

    Again, just my opinion!


  • #4
    Boston
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,163 ✭✭✭✭Boston


    We get a lot of transient posters here given the nature of the forum. Consistently less well established posters complain that large threads with thousands of posts are very daunting and hard to break into. The way it's worked to date is that topics of both a heavy and light nature pop up relating to specific things, run for a while, fall off the main page and get started a new. Junking all the light threads in one massive thread will not encourage anybody to post who wasn't happy using the individual ones, but will be off putting to others.


  • #5
    Annasopra
    Registered Users Posts: 40,787 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    RandomUserName! wrote: »
    Never posted on this forum before, but it seems a bit strange that there's no off-topic/general conversation thread, especially if meet ups take place. It could be a good addition, considering how a lot of the topics here are a bit heavy...

    Thoughts?

    I'm not sure what the point of that is

    There is a mixture of topics here - some are people looking for advice, some want to socialise, some are into politics, some are into culture, some people want to drool!, some are just looking for information

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • #6
    Annasopra
    Registered Users Posts: 40,787 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    The Feedback thread seemed to suggest that an off topic thread might be a good idea

    So ok - heres a question - what do you all do in real life;

    I was unemployed but have just returned to college to do a masters in equality studies

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



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  • #7
    Kanoe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,522 ✭✭✭Kanoe


    sweet. I agree with pavlov, a lot of forums here have them and it does help soften the sometimes very formal nature of a lot of threads here, in fact transient posters might feel inclined to stop by more often.

    I start mah new job tomorrow Johnny :) (social care, working with elderly at moment, hoping to get into occupational therapy in the future)


  • #8
    Chuchoter
    Registered Users Posts: 4,306 ✭✭✭Chuchoter


    I think a thread that was like offtopic/introduce yourself would be nice to get new people in, then its not like some off topic threads are, where its loads of old members with in jokes you don't get.

    I'm in 5th year in secondary, working towards medicine as we're discussing real life btw :P

    EDIT@johnnymcg: Whats equality studies? Sounds interesting.


  • #9
    Links234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,944 ✭✭✭✭Links234


    unemployed here too :(


  • #10
    rainbow kirby
    Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 26,928 Mod ✭✭✭✭rainbow kirby


    Johnnymcg wrote: »
    So ok - heres a question - what do you all do in real life;
    Just finished a masters in computer science. Looking for a job now - hoping to find a decent graduate Java developer job.

    zxy - good luck with the new job :D


  • #11
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,597 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Field engineer in a medical IT company. It pays the bills, and ensures I don't get to spend much time at home, or vaguely near it for that matter, meaning I only go insane slowly rather than quickly...


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  • #12
    L.Jenkins
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 19,240 Mod ✭✭✭✭L.Jenkins


    Finished a Degree in Software Engineering and working away in the Electrical industry :rolleyes: Hoping to land a job down in Roscommon as an IT specialist in a disability access centre.


  • #13
    Kanoe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,522 ✭✭✭Kanoe


    rainbow kirby wrote: »
    Just finished a masters in computer science. Looking for a job now - hoping to find a decent graduate Java developer job.

    zxy - good luck with the new job :D
    thanks :D it's a rung on the ladder.
    Am working in computer research lab (as a scrubber) until then if you'd like I can make some inquiries. (I know the head of dept personally ;) )

    and for the OT, I think there's room for one as often other threads and posts tend to go that way so it's useful to have a place designed to accommodate them. Should deter a clique forming too.


  • #14
    Kanoe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,522 ✭✭✭Kanoe


    I know that last post only made sense in my head.


  • #15
    Pygmalion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,082 ✭✭✭Pygmalion


    rainbow kirby wrote: »
    masters in computer science.
    MYOB wrote: »
    Field engineer in a medical IT company.
    ItsThatManAgain wrote: »
    Finished a Degree in Software Engineering and working away in the Electrical industry
    zxy wrote: »
    Am working in computer research lab (as a scrubber)

    Is there something I should know about the computer industry?


  • #16
    rainbow kirby
    Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 26,928 Mod ✭✭✭✭rainbow kirby


    Pygmalion wrote: »
    Is there something I should know about the computer industry?

    It's relatively LGBT-friendly, and there's a slight bias here in favour of nerds?


  • #17
    L.Jenkins
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 19,240 Mod ✭✭✭✭L.Jenkins


    Technically, I don't work in the IT industry yet. I have another Degree in Electronics and Computer Engineering aswell and work as a grosely under paid Electrical engineer.


  • #18
    Annasopra
    Registered Users Posts: 40,787 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    crayolastereo wrote: »
    EDIT@johnnymcg: Whats equality studies? Sounds interesting.
    I'll tell you next year - ah no seriously it's about the theories of what equality is in terms of things like human rights and then it's also about equality for different people e.g. Gender equality, sexual orientation, disability, economic equality - The course is also like a call to action in that is very much designed for people who have been or are involved in social justice campaigns e.g. Women's rights, LGBT rights, immigrants rights

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • #19
    Kanoe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,522 ✭✭✭Kanoe


    I don't work in IT either, I just empty the bins :) (arty type myself) but I've really enjoyed working there. sound people I'm going to miss them.


  • #20
    baby and crumble
    Registered Users Posts: 8,512 ✭✭✭baby and crumble


    So many gay nerds, I love it!!! ;)

    I'm going into final year of my PhD, although I'm a qualified social worker, but there was no work when I qualified, at least not in the field I wanted, so I managed to blag myself a funded PhD out of my last placement! :D

    I work with older people with intellectual disabilities to tell their life stories, and (queue nerdiness!) I have built an online archive to house them. It's a great project, I get to get my doctorate basically by chatting to little old ladies over tea about their lives and playing around with web design. WIN! :cool:

    Outside of workiness I play videogames (quelle suprise) and collect vintage games systems. Yeah I know. :P


  • #21
    Kanoe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,522 ✭✭✭Kanoe


    zoegh wrote: »
    So many gay nerds, I love it!!! ;)

    I'm going into final year of my PhD, although I'm a qualified social worker, but there was no work when I qualified, at least not in the field I wanted, so I managed to blag myself a funded PhD out of my last placement! :D

    I work with older people with intellectual disabilities to tell their life stories, and (queue nerdiness!) I have built an online archive to house them. It's a great project, I get to get my doctorate basically by chatting to little old ladies over tea about their lives and playing around with web design. WIN! :cool:

    Outside of workiness I play videogames (quelle suprise) and collect vintage games systems. Yeah I know. :P
    I suspect we will be having much discussions in the near future :pac:


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  • #22
    Links234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,944 ✭✭✭✭Links234


    Nerds! :D

    I'm a big comic book and sci fi nerd, and a huge fan of star trek I'm not ashamed to admit!


  • #23
    baby and crumble
    Registered Users Posts: 8,512 ✭✭✭baby and crumble


    Star Trek FTW! But which series?

    Gotta be Voyager for me, closely followed by Next Gen.

    We do not speak of Enterprise.


  • #24
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,597 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Pygmalion wrote: »
    Is there something I should know about the computer industry?

    Its the new Royal Navy :D At least going on stereotypes:

    Gay men can hide in IT, 'cause techies are never expected to have girlfriends anyway

    The butchest lesbians around can hide in IT, 'cause female techs are expected to be butch lesbians anyway... and so on.


    I never got in to Star Trek, so I suspect my nerd-card is marked as a result.


  • #25
    Links234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,944 ✭✭✭✭Links234


    zoegh wrote: »
    Star Trek FTW! But which series?

    Gotta be Voyager for me, closely followed by Next Gen.

    We do not speak of Enterprise.

    Next Gen because I grew up on it and always loved Data, Deep Space Nine because it seems a lot of people didn't like it and Dax was so very hot, the original series for how camp it was and because of the films. or rather, some of them. I watched the voyage home loads of times, and it's always great.

    Voyager I didn't like so much? dunno,

    what enterprise? never heard of it! :p


  • #26
    baby and crumble
    Registered Users Posts: 8,512 ✭✭✭baby and crumble


    Links234 wrote:
    Voyager I didn't like so much? dunno,

    I'm sorry, what? You're a lesbian and you DIDN'T like Voyager?

    Does... not... compute...


  • #27
    Links234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,944 ✭✭✭✭Links234


    I know, it's a connundrum :confused:


  • #28
    Links234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,944 ✭✭✭✭Links234


    well, it's not that I didn't like Voyager, it's just that it really wasn't as good as the rest. like it took a lot of things that were set out in the next gen and kinda messed them up, like the episodes with the Q in voyager were really bad. didn't really like a lot of the cast either, I couldn't stand tom paris, chakotay, neelix. I think the doctor and 7 of 9 were the only ones I really liked in the series


  • #29
    baby and crumble
    Registered Users Posts: 8,512 ✭✭✭baby and crumble


    Links234 wrote:
    well, it's not that I didn't like Voyager, it's just that it really wasn't as good as the rest. like it took a lot of things that were set out in the next gen and kinda messed them up, like the episodes with the Q in voyager were really bad. didn't really like a lot of the cast either, I couldn't stand tom paris, chakotay, neelix. I think the doctor and 7 of 9 were the only ones I really liked in the series

    I agree, the Q episodes were pretty bad, apart from that one with Q's son, that was pretty good... And you have to admit, the Bride of Chaotica episodes were pretty great. They were almost better when they cut loose, the best episodes were where there was a lot of comedy.

    I didn't like the way the Borg ended up just being a bit "BOO! Hahahahah we scared you!" by the end of Voyager, because they were proper badass when Picard went all Locutus.

    And yeah some of the characters of Voyager were annoying (God I wanted to SMACK Chakotay for all his "I shall call my spirit guide" things :mad:), but c'mon... Janeway. FREAKING JANEWAY! Kate Mulgrew is an epic actress, and that voice... HOLY MOLY! :eek:

    janeway.jpg

    NYOM NYOM NYOM :D


  • #30
    Kanoe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,522 ✭✭✭Kanoe


    Deanna Troi.

    I knew someone who reminded me of Janeway and by association always wanted to punch her (janeway) in the head.


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  • #31
    electrobi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 86 ✭✭electrobi


    zoegh wrote: »
    So many gay nerds, I love it!!! ;)

    I'm going into final year of my PhD, although I'm a qualified social worker, but there was no work when I qualified, at least not in the field I wanted, so I managed to blag myself a funded PhD out of my last placement! :D

    I work with older people with intellectual disabilities to tell their life stories, and (queue nerdiness!) I have built an online archive to house them. It's a great project, I get to get my doctorate basically by chatting to little old ladies over tea about their lives and playing around with web design. WIN! :cool:

    Outside of workiness I play videogames (quelle suprise) and collect vintage games systems. Yeah I know. :P

    AWESOME job and good old fashioned nerd hobbies.


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