Open topic thread........Including an update post 71

[Channonfodder]

But the balance would be perfectly stabilised by one place for all off topic things to go? It's not ideal for people who enjoy going off topic because we're restricted to one area and it's not ideal for people who despise any sort of deviance from the norm because it still exists (in the corner, but still). But surely it's more productive and accommodating than making the people who want to post off-topic stuff either leave the forum (which would result in the Saints forum losing a few very good posters), or spill out into other threads which upsets the non-off-topic posters? I don't see why "meh do nothing" should be an option when there are better alternatives.

I don't think that it's quite as black and white as that. Very often, the grey areas are some of the most interesting. The issues comes when it's not that the discussion has gone off-topic but rather that the discussion has turned to inappropriate off-topic subject matter. We have all seen threads which started fine and then degenerate. When you talk about over-modding, is this what concerns you, rather than the "football-only" issue I wonder?

 

[Beef]

Is there any way of really limiting access to it though?

Would everyone be able to get hold of the passwords? Must you have a certain # of posts? rep power? a certain Join Date?

Surely this could alienate some people who could contribute interesting things to the off-topic area still, whilst allowing longer-serving people who perhaps may not do so more privileges.

Could be a simple thing like a sticked thread on here saying to access Saints gc, send the mod of Saints gc a msg.

 

[Channonfodder]

Agree. Would need to go through a process of someone who would be willing to moderate it, and be trustworthy to not over-moderate but be able to get control of it if it starts going off on one which is totally not acceptable in nature of conversation. I think it is a very good idea as GC is just absolutely ridiculous.

And I would just like to wish whoever were to pick up that poisoned chalice the best of luck.

 

[Beddy]

One thing I struggle to understand, which I brought up earlier but was ignored, is why the word association threads haven't been questioned once, yet suggestions of any other off topic thread are matters of debate? Is it because the mods enjoy the word association threads for themselves so they don't feel the need to pull rank?

I'm definitely not saying the word association thread needs to go. I choose to ignore it 99% of the time because it's of no interest to me AND THAT IS FINE. Any other off topic thread would be exactly the same for people not interested, I don't bother with the word association thread and it doesn't bother me. There's no issue there at all.

You think our job is made easy.........We understand that there is not a lot of football news so rather than not having posting at all we have allowed some non football related subjects to offset the boredom. However you have to remember this is a football forum and when there is a subject on football or related crops up it is only fair to give it a run and to do that we have to limit the number of off topic threads. The word association game and the dis-association game were well patronised so it made sense to let it continue. It is unfortunate that it does not interest some and topics that perhaps you would like to discuss are therefore taken off. You cannot have it both ways. There is already a GC thread and we know that it has a lot of morons on it but that as they say is life. The Saints forum is not going to be changed into a general chat forum just because a few of you would like to and are a bit bored. We know that threads divert sometimes for a while but mostly they come back after a short while. We only get involved if the off subject side gets to deep and too prolonged.
There is subjects that we cannot allow to continue...they are political or religious or anything that is likely to get too out of hand or emotive. That is also a reason that this forum has survived and so many have gone down the pan.
Finally we have a job to do.......it is inevitable that we are going to upset someone in doing it. We have to cater for all our members not just a handful. We do our best..but we are not here to be insulted....and finally just remember we too have people to answer too if we are not keeping you lot in line. In the main most of you understand the difficult decisions we have to take and make. It is not an easy job at times.........

 

[Dan]

I don't think that it's quite as black and white as that. Very often, the grey areas are some of the most interesting. The issues comes when it's not that the discussion has gone off-topic but rather that the discussion has turned to inappropriate off-topic subject matter. We have all seen threads which started fine and then degenerate. When you talk about over-modding, is this what concerns you, rather than the "football-only" issue I wonder?

When I talk about "over-modding" I'm talking about things like locking old threads (like Godders' polar bear thread or PompeyLapras' Online Dating thread) for no apparently reason, or merging all transfer threads into the rumour thread when they're fine on their own. Just stuff that we could live without being closed.

Could be a simple thing like a sticked thread on here saying to access Saints gc, send the mod of Saints gc a msg.

Yeah easy. Just don't post the password in public and it'll be fine, not that I have a problem with GC but I know some people do, so keeping it to PMs is the way to do it.

 

[Beef]

You think our job is made easy.........We understand that there is not a lot of football news so rather than not having posting at all we have allowed some non football related subjects to offset the boredom. However you have to remember this is a football forum and when there is a subject on football or related crops up it is only fair to give it a run and to do that we have to limit the number of off topic threads. The word association game and the dis-association game were well patronised so it made sense to let it continue. It is unfortunate that it does not interest some and topics that perhaps you would like to discuss are therefore taken off. You cannot have it both ways. There is already a GC thread and we know that it has a lot of morons on it but that as they say is life. The Saints forum is not going to be changed into a general chat forum just because a few of you would like to and are a bit bored. We know that threads divert sometimes for a while but mostly they come back after a short while. We only get involved if the off subject side gets to deep and too prolonged.
There is subjects that we cannot allow to continue...they are political or religious or anything that is likely to get too out of hand or emotive. That is also a reason that this forum has survived and so many have gone down the pan.
Finally we have a job to do.......it is inevitable that we are going to upset someone in doing it. We have to cater for all our members not just a handful. We do our best..but we are not here to be insulted....and finally just remember we too have people to answer too if we are not keeping you lot in line. In the main most of you understand the difficult decisions we have to take and make. It is not an easy job at times.........

Come on Beddy deleted both the word threads for me cheers

 

[Dan]

You think our job is made easy.........We understand that there is not a lot of football news so rather than not having posting at all we have allowed some non football related subjects to offset the boredom. However you have to remember this is a football forum and when there is a subject on football or related crops up it is only fair to give it a run and to do that we have to limit the number of off topic threads. The word association game and the dis-association game were well patronised so it made sense to let it continue. It is unfortunate that it does not interest some and topics that perhaps you would like to discuss are therefore taken off. You cannot have it both ways. There is already a GC thread and we know that it has a lot of morons on it but that as they say is life. The Saints forum is not going to be changed into a general chat forum just because a few of you would like to and are a bit bored. We know that threads divert sometimes for a while but mostly they come back after a short while. We only get involved if the off subject side gets to deep and too prolonged.
There is subjects that we cannot allow to continue...they are political or religious or anything that is likely to get too out of hand or emotive. That is also a reason that this forum has survived and so many have gone down the pan.
Finally we have a job to do.......it is inevitable that we are going to upset someone in doing it. We have to cater for all our members not just a handful. We do our best..but we are not here to be insulted....and finally just remember we too have people to answer too if we are not keeping you lot in line. In the main most of you understand the difficult decisions we have to take and make. It is not an easy job at times.........

I wasn't saying it was easy, I'm just saying there are easy, harmless alternatives like one off-topic thread or even, as is being discussed with Channonfodder, a sub-forum for Saints fans off topic chat. These are ideas that don't need to be shot down just because "it's not Southampton", when you can use logic to show resolutions that are fairest to the masses are available.

 

[fran-MLs little camera]

The problem isn't wandering O/T for a brief period, but when it is taken over completely. Can't say I am too bothered as long as it is not too contentious or exclusive. Threads which are clearly sign posted are definitely not a problem...never go near ones about Fantasy Football, Technology or Music. (There I've now told you how to keep me away). Not606 is pretty good compared to other sites.

 

[Beef]

The problem isn't wandering O/T for a brief period, but when it is taken over completely. Can't say I am too bothered as long as it is not too contentious or exclusive. Threads which are clearly sign posted are definitely not a problem...never go near ones about Fantasy Football, Technology or Music. (There I've now told you how to keep me away). Not606 is pretty good compared to other sites.

Only pretty good?, Shocking Fran you have just hurt Beddy's feelings.

 

[frankimus]

Atleast this thread is working, lots of off topic (on topic) discussion going on

 

[Channonfodder]

Atleast this thread is working, lots of off topic (on topic) discussion going on

Yeah, three pages of an "off-topic" thread. Where are the Mods when you need them?

 

[Beef]

Yeah, three pages of an "off-topic" thread. Where are the Mods when you need them?

I thunk you should ban that ChannonFodder, he's one of the main people at fault for this.

 

[Channonfodder]

I thunk you should ban that ChannonFodder, he's one of the main people at fault for this.

Well, I have examined the evidence, and upon reflection and a careful consideration, I find the accused "not guilty", with the Plaintiff, Mr Beef_Dripping to pay all costs.

Court is adjourned.

 

[fran-MLs little camera]

If I hear any transfer rumours, I will post on here and expect a call from Beddy or Fodder

 

[pass the football]

An off-topic thread seems like a good idea to me, then we can have all the discussions about politics or girls in there and leave the transfer rumour thread just for transfer rumours.

The kind of stuff that was posted in there last night is a perfect example, but other threads (and blossoming on-topic discussions) have also been derailed by off-topic stuff. I have no problem with people talking about whatever they like but they need to remember this is a football forum, not a pub. If people want to discuss other things, which it seems like some do, then an off-topic thread seems a good solution. One thread is easy enough to ignore and the rest of us can get on with talking about football without having to trawl through pages of stuff we're not interested in.

I'm sure none of us want this forum to become another 'general chat'.

 

[Beddy]

Do you know guys..I am beginning to see that a seperate thread is not going to work.......Oh yes for a couple of days maybe........but then you are going to get the complaints and off topic threads appearing again because someone couldn't find the last link to something they were discussing because someone else has started a different subject in the meantime. If we run a sub forum even with a password it will not take long for the password to be known outside of the saints fans. Then you would get the trolls on there too. (Even if it were possible to run a sub Forum) It seems most of the off topic threads are started during the night or at least late in the evening.....maybe we should start an after dark thread for these off topic discussions which we close during the day and reopen at night maybe that is an option.
What would be the view on this?

 

[Dan]

Do you know guys..I am beginning to see that a seperate thread is not going to work.......Oh yes for a couple of days maybe........but then you are going to get the complaints and off topic threads appearing again because someone couldn't find the last link to something they were discussing because someone else has started a different subject in the meantime. If we run a sub forum even with a password it will not take long for the password to be known outside of the saints fans. Then you would get the trolls on there too. (Even if it were possible to run a sub Forum) It seems most of the off topic threads are started during the night or at least late in the evening.....maybe we should start an after dark thread for these off topic discussions which we close during the day and reopen at night maybe that is an option.
What would be the view on this?

If trolls are the only issue for a sub-forum then that can easily be dealt with by giving a number of people the power to ban others from the sub-forum.

 

[Channonfodder]

Do you know guys..I am beginning to see that a seperate thread is not going to work.......Oh yes for a couple of days maybe........but then you are going to get the complaints and off topic threads appearing again because someone couldn't find the last link to something they were discussing because someone else has started a different subject in the meantime. If we run a sub forum even with a password it will not take long for the password to be known outside of the saints fans. Then you would get the trolls on there too. (Even if it were possible to run a sub Forum) It seems most of the off topic threads are started during the night or at least late in the evening.....maybe we should start an after dark thread for these off topic discussions which we close during the day and reopen at night maybe that is an option.
What would be the view on this?

If trolls are the only issue for a sub-forum then that can easily be dealt with by giving a number of people the power to ban others from the sub-forum.

For the record, and to repeat myself, Mods cannot ban posters.

 

[Dan]

For the record, and to repeat myself, Mods cannot ban posters.

It was my understanding that you, Beddytare and st brendy could ban users from posting on the Southampton board, but not from the site?

 

[st_brendy]

It was my understanding that you, Beddytare and st brendy could ban users from posting on the Southampton board, but not from the site?

We can request bans for the Soton board, but not implement them ourselves. And a request doesn't necessarily mean the powers above will act on it.