Fauxtoto
Established Forum Member
Quebec, Canada
Posts: 418
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Fauxtoto on May 1, 2018 10:41:23 GMT
Please, let the boards be what they say they are.
In my mind, an existing board is the result of a deliberate decision that has already been made. An existing board is not a place where deliberations should be held on what it should be or on how it should be managed.
For example, when I go to the board entitled “Image of the Week (IOW), I expect to see images and comments on images according to the rules stated in its description. I do not expect to read discussions on what this board should be about or on why different rules should or should not apply to it.
I am not saying that discussions on the nature or on the management of a board should not be permitted. All I am saying is that if it becomes necessary to have such discussion about a board, then it should not be held in the board itself, but rather somewhere else, in a dedicated and well identified place.
It seems to me that the present board, entitled “Forum Questions and Feedback” would be a good place for such discussions. I suggest that the description of this board be modified to clearly indicate that it is the appropriate place to discuss any administrative question concerning any of the boards. Once this is done, any future post concerning the nature or the management of a board, or at least suggesting changes to a board, could properly be moved here if needed.
Respectfully submitted.
Thank you.
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Post by cats4jan on May 1, 2018 12:26:02 GMT
It is the nature of forums, as in any conversation, to go off on tangents - sometimes, totally over the cliff. As you mentioned, though, if a conversation veers into a subject that might be a good topic in and of itself, it's a shame that it might be buried in a totally unrelated thread. But, then again, it's just the way it is.
A way of getting that subject into it's own thread would be to quote the post and cite the old thread in a new thread. Then the conversation can move forward in this new direction.
However, you cannot change the nature of the beast. Conversation is conversation - whether oral or written - and conversation hardly ever stays on topic.
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Post by hmca on May 1, 2018 12:42:28 GMT
Fauxtoto, I understand your complaint. While Janice offers a good explanation as to how these things evolve, in the future one of us mods could take the steps to move the discussion to a more appropriate location. Forum Questions and Feedback would certainly have been a better place. Thanks for calling this to our attention.
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Post by whippet on May 1, 2018 16:57:16 GMT
For what it is worth, I agree, too. When I first joined, I hardly dared say anything, in case I was thought to be going 'off topic'. I was surprised that there was not a section for general discussion.
I have found on other forums in the past, that a topic has gone so far off the subject, that the original subject has vanished into cyber space. That is why this is the only one I visit now.
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Post by Andy on May 2, 2018 1:36:49 GMT
Thanks for raising your concern @fauxtoto. It is a point well taken and one we will pay attention to.
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Post by Sepiana on May 2, 2018 2:53:20 GMT
Fauxtoto, thanks for sharing your concern with us! You made a valid point and we will pay attention to it.
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Fauxtoto
Established Forum Member
Quebec, Canada
Posts: 418
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Fauxtoto on May 3, 2018 10:56:47 GMT
Cats4jan, Helen, Wippet, thank you for cooling me off. You are totally right. Qualifying a post or a conversation of “out of topic” is not an easy task and certainly not an exact science. Discretion with regard to such matters must be exercised with diligence and precaution, especially where inclusion, respect and open-mindedness prevail, as is the case in PSE&M.
Helen, Andy, Sepiana, thank you for taking the point I raised into consideration. I am not asking for more. Your efforts and dedication are much appreciated. PSE&M moderators and administrators have all my confidence and can be assured of my indefectible support. I wanted to be firm, but did not mean to be rude. If I offended anyone, I do apologize.
Vive PSE&M!
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Post by Bailey on May 4, 2018 11:34:21 GMT
Some forums I have visited have an "off topic" button in the post editor's toolbar (where the smilies, quote, add link buttons are) which put the off topic part of a post in a special frame which shows users that the contents are off topic. This makes it much easier to ignore off topic content in a post and thread. The abuse or excessive use of off topic frames is generally frowned upon if not against the rules. Hopefully the admins here, or the Proboards people can enable something to alert viewers to off topic content. Something like this perhaps:
This is an example of legitimate on topic content in a post and the content below is an example of how off topic content could be highlighted with the use of an "Off Topic" button in the toolbar. Off Topic Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent lacinia, arcu vitae sollicitudin interdum, felis nisi pellentesque nunc, at varius ex lacus non libero. Ut ultricies laoreet ligula id malesuada. Vestibulum ut justo vel augue eleifend rhoncus. Cras est sapien, ultrices ac condimentum eu, scelerisque non purus.
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Post by cats4jan on May 4, 2018 12:25:17 GMT
This discussion seems to be an over reaction to a seldom experienced problem. Or if not 'seldom experienced' - maybe I would label it 'a minor issue' since it's a natural tendency to go off on a tangent.
Why is going off topic such a big thing? Just don't read those sections or you can abandon that thread if it bugs you. No thread on this or any forum is that important that one cannot move on.
A button to show 'off topic'? Huh?
And why should the moderators have to add another thing they need to worry about? Isn't their job big enough already?
I think I missed something that brought this on because, out of context, this thread seems kinda strange to me. It seems like a problem that doesn't need solving.
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Post by Bailey on May 5, 2018 0:33:22 GMT
... I think I missed something that brought this on because, out of context, this thread seems kinda strange to me. It seems like a problem that doesn't need solving.Well, my impression from the OP and the response from the admin and mods is that they agree with the OP and it at least needs looking at, if not some action taken as well. My suggestion was just my 2c worth based on what I have seen elsewhere. But if you are interested, have a look at this excellent example where a member has posted a question which is totally off topic from the OP to another member. I doubt this is the example the OP was referring to. The OP is probably referring to at least one of the odd occasions where I have gone off topic to some extent in some threads. When I first saw it, I thought this should have been in a PM or a new thread started on the appropriate board and certainly not in the thread it was posted. And I probably didn't help by answering it . Going way off topic like in the example in the link, could be seen by some as an attempt to hijack a thread, which I assume on all forums is against the rules. So hopefully the admins and mods can somehow improve the situation, although in my experience this web site is one of the better ones overall....but there can always be room for improvement .
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Post by Bailey on May 5, 2018 11:32:54 GMT
... Why is going off topic such a big thing? Just don't read those sections or you can abandon that thread if it bugs you. No thread on this or any forum is that important that one cannot move on. ... Just not reading off topic sections, as you suggest, in many cases is easier said than done. If going off topic becomes contagious then imagine what a thread would turn in to if it went off in 2,3,4,5 or whatever different tangents. At the very least it's disrespectful to the OP and annoying to other readers. Asking any OP "Why is going off topic such a big thing?" to me is like the OP asking a poster who has posted off topic "What is wrong with posting your post in a new thread and leaving mine alone?". I am guilty of going off topic on occasions and this thread has reminded me it's a bad habit.
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Post by Andy on May 6, 2018 19:41:06 GMT
This is turning into a much more drawn out thread than it needs to be. I'm locking the thread.
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