Query on straying off topic

Slideshowbob

I've been making posts here for a while

I found vast discrepancies between some threads in relation to staying on a topic or straying off and what is deemed acceptable / unacceptable.

Is there any overarching rules or does it depend on the mood / level of legal knowledge / courage of individual moderators or what?

AlmightyCushion

It's really taken on a case by case basis. Some threads/forums are allowed more leeway to stray from the topic just because the nature of the thread/forum is more likely to stray.

Slideshowbob

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

It's really taken on a case by case basis. Some threads/forums are allowed more leeway to stray from the topic just because the nature of the thread/forum is more likely to stray.

What type of 'nature' determines which?

I find it makes things very ambiguous and devalues the merit of the forums.

AlmightyCushion

Slideshowbob wrote: »

What type of 'nature' determines which?

I find it makes things very ambiguous and devalues the merit of the forums.

Well the same thread in after hours will generally stray and be allowed stray from the topic then the same thread in humanities/politics. After hours is a less serious, more light hearted forum so things tend to stray there more. Generally the more serious a thread (and this can be determined not just by the opening post as the posts that follow help steer and shape the thread) the more strictly it sticks to the topic.

Slideshowbob

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Well the same thread in after hours will generally stray and be allowed stray from the topic then the same thread in humanities/politics. After hours is a less serious, more light hearted forum so things tend to stray there more. Generally the more serious a thread (and this can be determined not just by the opening post as the posts that follow help steer and shape the thread) the more strictly it sticks to the topic.

i havent found this to be exclusively the case - what's jovial for one may be serious for another etc

AlmightyCushion

Slideshowbob wrote: »

i havent found this to be exclusively the case - what's jovial for one may be serious for another etc

Very true, just giving my opinion on it which is based on very limited evidence as I don't read the more serious forums much.

Slideshowbob

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Very true, just giving my opinion on it which is based on very limited evidence as I don't read the more serious forums much.

like is it the intention that every detail about a forum be read in advance before a post!? Commonality across forums would help!

Nevyn

There is the basic site rules apply to all the forums but many forums due to the topics and communities will have additional rules and mores.

The site rules you will find here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/faq.php?faq=bie_faq
Additions to them per forum will be found in the charter of each forum.

If you think a thread is difting too off topic why not report the posts for the mods of that forum to consider?

Overheal

Slideshowbob wrote: »

What type of 'nature' determines which?

I find it makes things very ambiguous and devalues the merit of the forums.

It really depends on a lot of things, like the the forum, the posts, the subject, etc.

If a celebrity dies, for example, from a drug overdose, it would be off topic to turn it into a big in-depth about various kinds of drugs: the Thread is about the celebrity, not drugs though they each share place in the thread, just one much less than the other. Whereas talking details about the movie that he finished filming before he died would be out in left field, and will hold very little place in the thread. No, you really wouldnt have gone off talking about the Batmobile in that thread.

After hours is a less serious, more light hearted forum so things tend to stray there more. Generally the more serious a thread (and this can be determined not just by the opening post as the posts that follow help steer and shape the thread) the more strictly it sticks to the topic.

After Hours, more or less, is a Chat forum, which is great. And fun. But god help you if you try posting there for help. Its not the place to ask for computer help, say. We have forums for that. Its kind of the difference between bringing your broken laptop to the Pub to have people try and fix it, or a Computer Place.

does it depend on the mood / level of legal knowledge / courage of individual moderators or what?

Mood? Sure. If its a Somber thread, and you come on and start Jesting, you'll probably cross odds with Moderation. But its not exactly a black and white thing, hence why its been 10 years and as of yet, theres no set of Hard Rules for Off-Topic'ness on Boards.ie

Sarky

In Politics or Personal Issues the moderators come down hard on off-topic stuff, whereas in The Cuckoo's Nest straying off-topic is actively encouraged. There's a wide spectrum between the two stances on the site. The amount of leeway given mostly depends on the forum.

GuanYin

Sarky wrote: »

In Politics or Personal Issues the moderators come down hard on off-topic stuff,.

That's mostly because some politics posters think the point of politics forum is to act like a politician and avoid answering questions and points by dragging subjects so far off topic that their debate opponents forget what they asked to begin with. It's almost an art-form for some posters.

I had to do sooo much reading when I moderated politics, just to figure out what the hell people were talking about and how (if at all) it related to what the thread appeared to be about....

Overheal

GuanYin wrote: »

That's mostly because some politics posters think the point of politics forum is to act like a politician and avoid answering questions and points by dragging subjects so far off topic that their debate opponents forget what they asked to begin with. It's almost an art-form for some posters.

I had to do sooo much reading when I moderated politics, just to figure out what the hell people were talking about and how (if at all) it related to what the thread appeared to be about....

Yeah Politics is just nuts.. you're basically relying on the posters involved in the thread and reported posts, Im presuming. I dont know anything about 2/3rds (Gormy who?) of what goes on in the main Politics board. But on the other hand, the Politics Mods arent frequently in US Politics either, because they have little idea whats going on most of the time. Cant blame them: even when Im involved in a thread its impossible to wrap your head around some peoples posts.

tbh

From "The Barracks" by John McGahern, (first published in '63!)

"Examples began to be quoted, old case histories dragged up for it to end as it began - with nothing proven, no one's convictions altered in any way, it becoming simply the brute clash of ego against ego, any care for tolerence or meaning or truth ground under their blind passion to dominate."

Sound familiar?

Mr Magnolia

Trying to spark a discussion on Tim Allen's child porn charge and conviction in a thread in Food & Drink about sandwiches is pretty much as off-topic as it gets.

If you don't understand that you should maybe spend more time reading and less time posting here for a while.

Slideshowbob

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

Trying to spark a discussion on Tim Allen's child porn charge and conviction in a thread in Food & Drink about sandwiches is pretty much as off-topic as it gets.

If you don't understand that you should maybe spend more time reading and less time posting here for a while.

I am clearly enlightened as to the nuances of boards.ie - any suggested reads?

sceptre

Slideshowbob wrote: »

I am clearly enlightened as to the nuances of boards.ie - any suggested reads?

This is a useful read. It's also got a handy section on moderator instructions, especially of use to someone who finds themselves in the middle of a thread on sandwiches where they suddenly want to discuss child porn charges and convictions:) A good read in general but especially that part.

Overheal

Actually, I only mention going off-topic once in that article, and its about arguing in-thread with a moderator, not going off on a conversational tangenet. But good spot, its Due for a 2010 [0102?] Revision

Slideshowbob

sceptre wrote: »

This is a useful read. It's also got a handy section on moderator instructions, especially of use to someone who finds themselves in the middle of a thread on sandwiches where they suddenly want to discuss child porn charges and convictions:) A good read in general but especially that part.

I was hoping you could provide me with a recommendation for a classic book or the writings of a philosopher!

Can you perhaps post the relevant bits from the beginner's guide here for convience?, thanks.

Seeing as you are regurgitating the details of a (subsequently removed) post I made yesterday, I may as well justify myself, here it goes.

I think Darina Allen had some neck to carry on in her public role after the actions of her husband.

I do not attend her cooking schools, buy her books or watch her shows, so I generally avoid thoughts of her and her family.

When I see another relative with the same surname spung on me on national airwaves by way of an O'Briens advert - I took offence, and I decided to express myself by means of a search under 'Rachel Allen' on boards and hey presto - I on a sambo thread!

My mentioning of Tim Allen's crimes stems from the fact that the two people are related. From the link below it seems I am not the only one who deems family relations with this guy as relevant to others' public personas and professions:

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rte-backs-darina-against-husbands-child-porn-furore-168520.html

Nevyn

Try humanites or after hours or getter yet write and complain to rte for airing her shows.
You may find the Faq easier to read.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/faq.php?faq=bie_faq

How To Be A Better Poster
Post in a forum where the subject is relevant.

You should put posts where they belong. A library where people put books in any section they want will soon become unusable. Resist the temptation to say "I'm not going to post in the right forum because more people read THIS forum;” all that will happen is that your topic will immediately go off topic, you will be slated and the moderator will move the post to the right place and probably infract you. You may get fewer responses on the correct forum, but they will be far higher "worth". You want Quality, not quantity.
Contribute in a constructive way.

Nobody is interested in your laser sharp ability to cut someone down. Nobody is interested in the funny thing you cat did, unless it’s a thread on funny things cats do (basically, we mean cut down on the LOLCats). The odd humourous comment thrown into a thread is fine but consistently contributing nothing but noise/negativity is not helpful. One word answers aren’t useful. Please use the "rate thread" feature to vote on a thread instead of jumping in and posting 'this subject is silly and pointless'. If you like what a poster had to say, use the thanks system.

So is this thread you trying so seek out further understanding of the how the site works or you defending your actions or you having a go at the mod of that forum? Just curious.

Sparky

Oh right yah Tim Allen the Irish guy. How could I forget.

I thought it was about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Allen for a bit. (Mind elsewhere I guess)

One of Overheals post is the best to describe it tbh
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=63970547&postcount=9

easy examples are a talk about rugby and maybe a new sponsor, say guinness for example. A mod may see that a couple of posts are going off topic by discussing the beer and how it is, rather than on the topic of the thread itself (the signing of a new sponsor)

Other random real life example would be when you may ask your grandmother about something and then you get a lifestory about what that something caused and what it done etc etc, when all you may have wanted to know was does it switch on

Overheal

^[Thaed]^ I like that. Use that

Slideshowbob

Thaedydal wrote: »

Try humanites or after hours or getter yet write and complain to rte for airing her shows.
You may find the Faq easier to read.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/faq.php?faq=bie_faq



So is this thread you trying so seek out further understanding of the how the site works or you defending your actions or you having a go at the mod of that forum? Just curious.

I find myself having to justify myself to an extraordinary length on this thread but here it goes as a means of greater understandings of the principles of this website. Can I say I now find it quite personal but in any case.

I brought up this topic on a stand alone basis for greater understanding of this website's principles. Was Mr M trying to be funny, cynical, smart etc by re-raising the issue specifically earlier today? It was he that re-raised the topic!

PS If Mr M has a bee in his bonnet about off topic stuff he should check out my query sometime after Easter in the cycling forum directly questioning off topic chit chat!

Nevyn

Slideshowbob wrote: »

I find myself having to justify myself to an extraordinary length on this thread but here it goes as a means of greater understandings of the principles of this website. Can I say I now find it quite personal but in any case.

Thank you for answering, you didn't have to, so thank you.

Slideshowbob wrote: »

I brought up this topic on a stand alone basis for greater understanding of this website's principles.

Understandable and a good things to do tbh.

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Was Mr M trying to be funny, cynical, smart etc by re-raising the issue specifically earlier today? It was he that re-raised the topic!

Being a person who's been on the site a while can make a person pretty cynical at times, esp when a lot of people over the years start what at first appears to be an innocent query in this forum when in fact they are axe grinding having been sanctioned by a mod.

So you query rises from what happened in the food and drink forum and you are trying to get a handle on how the site works and what is meant by off topic.

If a person was to post in parenting about how they were out with their son and got on the bus and then launch into a post about Dublin bus and traffic that would be off topic even if the start of the post had a mention of their child in it.

Having run a foul of a rule it's always a good thing too seek clarification so you don't do it again, that is commendable, personally it is always lovely when I get pms with this refreshing attitude from a poster seeking understanding so they don't' make the same mistake a second time.

Mr Magnolia

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Was Mr M trying to be funny, cynical, smart etc by re-raising the issue specifically earlier today? It was he that re-raised the topic!

No. No attempt at comedy from me. I'm trying to understand your view on subjects 'off-topic' and my first point of reference is your recent posts mentioned above. I seldom/never comment on a thread about off-topicnes but your contributions served to derail that thread from it's subject matter instantly so I'd back the moderator's actions and would have done the same myself. Do you think we should have permitted the new direction of the thread in the Food & Drink forum?

PS If Mr M has a bee in his bonnet about off topic stuff he should check out my query sometime after Easter in the cycling forum directly questioning off topic chit chat!

I've no idea what you're referring to. Link?

Slideshowbob

Why you asking me about the direction of the food and drink thread? You are the moderator there not me!

Here is link, please refer to my messages on the 4th page and subequent relevant replies:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055534994&page=4

No sign of moderation there just smart unchecked comments!

Mr Magnolia

The topic strayed from a specific cycling event to general cycling talk. I wouldn't see any problem with that from the quick glance I've just had. What's your point?

Faith

Okay, as the mod who deleted the posts which caused you to question going off-topic, I'll explain myself.

A thread was starting on Food & Drink about Rachel Allen's line of sandwiches in O' Briens. The topic couldn't have been clearer. A discussion ensued, and you joined it with

her obriens tv ad is painful

wasn't her dad a kiddy porn viewer!?

The ad is fairly irrelevant to the topic, but is easily ignored. Bringing in child porn that she had nothing to do is simply cruel and uncalled for, not to mention awfully off-topic. If that had been the extent of it, I'd have just warned you, and other readers, not to bring it up again. However, it was immediately quoted by someone, which opened it up for discussion. I posted asking people not to mention it any more, which was ignored. Five more responses to your inflammatory post were posted (two by you, ignoring my warning), so I posted again warning that more discussion would lead to a ban. By that time, the thread was so far off-topic that I knew it would never get back on topic unless those posts were all deleted and any discussion of Tim Allen banned.

Your next post

her tv ad for the sambos would not entice me to buy them

was fine. Close enough to the topic and not inflammatory.

So, to sum up: If you go mildly off-topic, a blind eye is turned in most forums. If you go very off-topic, the moderator will usually step in. If you start posting inflammatory and unrelated comments, the posts will usually be deleted and you may be banned and/or infracted.

Slideshowbob

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

The topic strayed from a specific cycling event to general cycling talk. I wouldn't see any problem with that from the quick glance I've just had. What's your point?

Post related to a specific race. Subsequent posts discussed different, more minor races.