Our BetterMost Community > The Polling Place
How do you feel about OT posts?
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on January 09, 2008, 05:18:33 pm ---Maybe figure out a way to phrase it positively--"You are encouraged to stay on topic"--something like that--rather than negatively--"Off-topic comments are not allowed"?
--- End quote ---
Good idea! I like positive. :)
How would y'all suggest distinguishing between posts that are OK-OT and not-OK-OT? Can anyone suggest any guidelines for determining whether a conversation has diverged too much from the topic? Or do you think it should be left up to moderators to judge -- with members obviously being able to contact moderators to express an opinion if they think a thread is getting too derailed?
The question is not disingenous. I think it is tricky to come up with rules about this. On the other hand, leaving it up to moderators does open the possibility for members to say the rules are being forced unevenly ("how come his/her post wasn't considered OT, and mine was?"). And enforcing the rules consistently across forums, as per brokeplex's suggestion, would be easier to do for if there were specific ways of determining where to draw the line.
What criteria could be used? Word count? Number of posts involved? How unconnected the comments are to the subject? Complaints from other members? Are there any ways to identify which kinds of threads that are more amenable to OT posts?
To get the ball rolling, here are some examples of topics I can think of where very OT comments might be a bit less welcome: games, Our Daily Thoughts blogs, perhaps TOTWs.
Let's hear your thoughts! :)
louisev:
Frankly, I think that the off-topic rule would not be applicable in Our Daily thoughts since it is the owner of the individual blog to determine whether the discussion is welcome there or not.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: louise van hine on January 09, 2008, 05:49:35 pm ---Frankly, I think that the off-topic rule would not be applicable in Our Daily thoughts since it is the owner of the individual blog to determine whether the discussion is welcome there or not.
--- End quote ---
True. What I was thinking was more the temptation I know I sometimes have to go onto someone's blog, take the subject under discussion, apply it to my own life, and launch into a lengthy anecdote about myself. Then I realize that if I'm going to do that, I should get my own damn blog.
But you're right, some bloggers may welcome the contribution.
louisev:
speaking just for myself, I HAVE no "topic", so just about anything goes, at any time of day, including personal commentary by the friends who post there, so I really don't see how it applies. I have never minded people sharing their own stuff in my blog and it has never been a problem as far as I can see.
I think with regard to "topics" perhaps the places that have specific topics would be appropriate to have an "off topic" rule, say for example in Current Events where a particular article or news story is under discussion, or in Fan Fiction where we have a topic identified for individual stories. These - I can see having an off topic rule.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: louise van hine on January 09, 2008, 06:42:26 pm ---speaking just for myself, I HAVE no "topic", so just about anything goes, at any time of day, including personal commentary by the friends who post there, so I really don't see how it applies. I have never minded people sharing their own stuff in my blog and it has never been a problem as far as I can see.
--- End quote ---
OK then, assuming other bloggers agree, I take that one back. I was just surmising, as a visitor, what the sentiment might be.
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