ok so the rendo PTB got rid of the OT forum... and so they just moved over to here and fill up this forum with the same old crap as before, pushing relevant topcis down and off the front page. So why not bring the OT forum back so all the pointless rubbish can go back there?

sorry no resources for it. (they can have SEVEN peaple running a forum tho!)

Couldn't help but wonder myself lately why SO much OT, totally unrelated to the community posts were being allowed in here lately...... I was thinking somewhat sarcastically that this place had become the New OT forum.....

Hmm, SeanE, it seems you are one of those troublemakers who are posting OT posts.

Da rumpelt mir doch das Frosch Gewehr tief sogar.

(they can have SEVEN peaple running a forum tho!) I often wondered about that too. ;)

Hmm, SeanE, it seems you are one of those troublemakers who are posting OT posts.

There oughta be a law.........

I can just see a couple of prune-faced old biddies (with mouths looking like they have been sucking on sour lemons) having a "discussion".........

".........Mable, why do they let them get away with having fun like that?"

"I don't know, Gertrude......and they do it all of the time, too. Why those kids shouldn't be allowed to play on the playground like that! They're scaring my cat with all of the noise that they're making!"

"You know what, Mable? We ought to write a letter to the town Mayor about this. He'd better do something about it, too. Or I'll never vote for him again!"

"That's a great idea, Gertrude. That'll show them. Hmmmph! The nerve of some people! Letting the kids run around, laugh and play that way. Why in my day such nonsense just wasn't allowed!"

"Mable, I am going back in to write that letter. You can sign it, too. That'll let them know that the world is full of people that think exactly the same way that we do."

"Hmmmmph. That's right, Gertrude."

Message edited on: 04/20/2005 12:30

Don't laugh...but ummmm what's OT. Sorry I haven't been at rendo that long.

Duh ....I think I figured it out. OT = Other Topic? Sheesh I feel stupid.

OT = "Off Topic". A dicussion concerning matters not directly related to the central subject or concern.

The forums are filled with self-appointed topic police who whine every time someone mentions anything that they don't happen to like.

There are topics of interest to the community. And then there are topics that aren't appropriate to be dredged up in here.

Discerning people can tell the difference between the two.

It's one thing to quash the endless ranting and divisiveness of political/social debates in the forums.

It would be another matter entirely to totally shut down all of the fun -- in response to the gripes of a few sour-lemon......uh......tasters.

I agree.. They should delete anything that has nothing to do with the Community. :)

They should delete anything that has nothing to do with the Community. :) The "Community" has a broad range of interests.

Ah, thanks for clearing that up for me. "Off topic" was my next guess. The "community" is diverse so the topics would be as well. Maybe they can create an OT filter? So those that don't wish to see it can filter them out.

Your right, the description of this forum says: "Forum news, updates, events, and other items of interest to members. Also may be used to post notices or questions to the forum team." So maybe they need to change the description to help cut down on OT stuff.

Maybe they can create an OT filter? So those that don't wish to see it can filter them out. shrug Not a bad idea. That way, seeing an OT post wouldn't ruin anybody's day.

That way, seeing an OT post wouldn't ruin anybody's day. I wonder how many people's days I would ruin than if I started a thread about the new Pope...

So maybe they need to change the description to help cut down on OT stuff.

If that's what the administration decides to do, then that's what they'll do. It's their business......

But I'd advise against the idea. In this case, I don't think that such a move would have a positive effect.

Not that I'd care much.......my life doesn't revolve around the forums. And I agree with most of what Renderosity has already done to get a handle on this.

But I would consider a total ban on OT postings to be going just a little too far. IMO.

However -- it's up to the administration.

Just as our individual choices are up to us as individuals.

;-) Message edited on: 04/20/2005 13:12

I wonder how many people's days I would ruin than if I started a thread about the new Pope... I wouldn't advise it. Right or wrong -- that's a guaranteed flame-fest type of topic.

Yup, I know the process.... Been there, done that, Gave the job the Stacey :)

Yeah I gathered as much. I was just kidding.

Been there, done that, Gave the job the Stacey :) Yes.....and it's probably one of the most thankless jobs around. You kind of catch it from all sides.

actually isn't this forum pretty much for OT topics anyway? A general foum where you can discuss just about everything? A place to relax? A place to chill & have fun? So what if there are off topics. I was under the impression that, that's what the community forum was for? ;)

A general foum where you can discuss just about everything? A place to relax? A place to chill & have fun?

That's what the old Virtual Tavern forum was supposed to be. Unfortunately, fights were always breaking out in the bar.

People like Spike were forced to make some hard choices. It wasn't easy for them -- in spite of the opinions of some.

So......a site admin is always walking a tightrope on certain delicate issues.......just who are they going to upset, and who are they going to please?

It's not always a fun ride. And some people (unfortunately) tend to hold grudges.

Such is life. Ultimately, a site admin just has to do their job the best way that they can.

And occasionally there are people that understand what you are attempting to do.

They might even help you to do it.

P.S. --

So......a site admin is always walking a tightrope on certain delicate issues.......just who are they going to upset, and who are they going to please?

Those few individuals who understand this fact won't pitch a royal hessie fit whenever things don't happen to go their way.

And there's also a matter of priorities in life.......some things just aren't worth bothering about.

We are reviewing this issue to see the best way to handle. We certainly don't want this forum to turn in to another OT forum but at the same time we don't want to squash everything that is remotely OT. We will get something worked out within the next day or two about this. Hi Spike:) Stacey

i nominate XENOPHONZ to head up the new OT forum :D

Maybe if folks didn't put 'OT' in their title topics no one would even think twice about it? ;) Just a thought.

"I wonder how many people's days I would ruin than if I started a thread about the new Pope..." What's the problem?, people like the new Pope!

Maybe if folks didn't put 'OT' in their title topics no one would even think twice about it? ;) It's a polite flag to warn the unwary -- like the nudity/violence tags.

cynlee, don't you like Xenophonz?

LOL at dialyn:) Stacey

i nominate XENOPHONZ to head up the new OT forum :D

If nominated, I will respectfully decline.

If elected, I will not serve.

If drafted, I will flee to Canada.

The problem with the moderator position is that one cannot always say what one actually thinks.

oh... why yes, i do... didn't think of it like that... LOL! sorry Xenophonz :] edited to reply to xenophonx... true, one does have to think before typing but the good outweighs the bad in what one can do to help the community & fellow artists

Message edited on: 04/20/2005 15:49

oh... why yes, i do... didn't think of it like that... LOL! sorry Xenophonz :]

That's fine, cynlee. I didn't take it that way.

I like you, too.

;-)

[[What's more, it wouldn't have bothered me if it had been meant that way............the forums are filled with such jibes. It's all a part of the fun. ;)]]

true, one does have to think before typing but the good outweighs the bad in what one can do to help the community & fellow artists Yes. And that's one of the reasons why I believe in giving mods/admins a certain amount of respect. They've taken on a job that I don't envy.

One would think? Why do we have to walk on eggshells here with everything we might post or say or talk about? People are commuicating, may not always be about art specific or poser or the hot 20 but hey, folks are talking and even having some fun, which creates traffic and membership confidence and good karma. Okay sometimes there is bad crap too, you get that in every forum, specific or not, but it seems this here is directed at this forum just because some members are able to commuicate with very little friction or spite about anything and everything. So what's wrong with that?? Can't we live in this forum anymore without somebody smacking us abou for no reason or griping about ugly warts even when they're not even there?! Lighten up a bit please. We are people, personalities and characters behind the membership, allow us to express a bit of ourselves, let us breath! There's plenty of formal stuff here, which is great, but can't we just be members too?

"That's what the old Virtual Tavern forum was supposed to be. Unfortunately, fights were always breaking out in the bar."

Not true -- at least during the time I used to visit. The VT got chopped at the same time as the old OT forum (in which fights were always breaking out), and I suspect that the reason was that the PTB thought that the OT crowd would just move over to the VT if they didn't can that as well. However, the VT was almost always civilised, good-humoured, and well-moderated by kbennet.

I don't hang around much on any of the forums here now, though; no fun anymore.

Whats the hell's On Topic in a Community Forum, anyway?

m ;)

"Whats the hell's On Topic in a Community Forum, anyway?" Good point! A community forum is supposed to be for the community the forum has developed and could be about pretty well anything and especially about stuff that don't suit or wouldn't make sense posted in the other forums that are specific. Communi-cation,Communi-ty, pretty close words.

and I suspect that the reason was that the PTB thought that the OT crowd would just move over to the VT

If I recall correctly, that's exactly what happened when they shut down C&D.

So they had already gotten a good indication of what was likely to happen the second time 'round. Message edited on: 04/20/2005 22:09

Not true -- at least during the time I used to visit. Seems to me that I've heard contradictory accounts of this. Oh, well.......those waters have long since flowed out to the sea.

Communi-cation,Communi-ty, pretty close words.

Part of being a "Community" involves getting to know your neighbors.

It's hard to do that if you aren't permitted to communicate with them beyond the discussion of technical software issues -- or similar things.

Speaking for myself, forum policies won't affect my purchasing habits in the Marketplace.

But the freedom to shoot the breeze once in a while is a nice little add-on to the experience of visiting the site.

Once again, I appreciate the fact that the admins are performing a type of balancing act here......between keeping the peace on the one hand, and allowing people to enjoy themselves on the other hand.

It's not an easy balance to maintain. You will always have those persons that want to smash something -- merely on general principles.

That's too bad, because it can end up ruining things for everyone else.

Then again: perhaps that's the ultimate aim of such individuals.............

Oh, no! People are talking about stuff! Quick, CENSOR IT! bonni

Can we talk some more about whether toilet seats should be left up or down?? How about bananas? Should they be peeled starting from the stem side or the flat side? Is there a right way? What came first, the chicken or the egg? No one really had an answer to that yet? How about some news? Hear about all those elephants that got loose and went on a rampage in some fair restaurant? Brad Pitt and Angelina Joline are dating!! Michael Jackson is still in hot water! What about gay Marriages, is it a dead issue in the U.S.? Saw a preview of a movie that looks promising, being a sci-fi nut. It's a remake of H.G.Wells "War of the Worlds" scheduled to be released this summer starring Tom Cruise, and he looks good, and so does the movie!!

1. 'And there's also a matter of priorities in life.......some things just aren't worth bothering about.' XENOPHONZ, that's the most sensible thing I've read in this forum for a long time. Peace.

XENOPHONZ: "my life doesn't revolve around the forums"

Too right dude. About half of the posts in this thread are yours. Glad you could find the time to spread your wisdom. :)

Message edited on: 04/21/2005 07:32

"How about bananas? Should they be peeled starting from the stem side or the flat side? Is there a right way?" With a knife and fork, I believe :)

LornaW....great topics...here's my two cents :) Bananas - I've always peeled it from the stemmed, never occured to me to peel it from the other end. Will try it though. Speaking of bananas ...got bananas going ripe but can't eat em up in time. Peel and stick em in the freezer. They're sweet and taste great when frozen. Toilets - My boyfriend is far from perfect but he leaves the seat down with me ever having to tell him once. Impressive isn't it? Brad and Angelina - Glad to see them together. I think they have similiar beliefs and passions it was only a matter of time before they came together. I only hope their relationship lasts. But I highly doubt it will...nothing does in Hollywood :( Michael Jackson - He's gonna get his due..I just wish they get the trial over with already. I for one am sick and tired of hearing about it being reported by the news channels. Gay marriages - I don't think it'll ever be accepted by the general public. I'm not against it...I think everyone deserves to be happy gay or not they should have to right to decide what's good for them. Chicken or egg? - I know the answer but I'm not telling. hehe Poor elephants - They prolly went stir crazy and just couldn't take being caged up anymore. Have you ever seen an elephant in the zoo? Ever watch them just pace back and forth on hard concrete with those dull dead look in their eyes...I feel so sorry for them. They should be set free. I know they are endangered in the wild. But how about a sanctuary where they can roam free and live as nature intended? ~sigh~

Too right dude. About half of the posts in this thread are yours.

Oh....which required all of about 30mins (cumulatively speaking) of my day to read other people's posts and then reply to them......approximately the same amount of time needed to watch a sitcom.

Glad you could find the time to spread your wisdom. :)

It's always gratifying to be appreciated for one's hard work.

oh well all the fun threads will be gone soon. anything with OT is now forbidden fruit.

"Bananas - I've always peeled it from the stemmed, never occured to me to peel it from the other end. Will try it though. Speaking of bananas ...got bananas going ripe but can't eat em up in time. Peel and stick em in the freezer. They're sweet and taste great when frozen."

RE:I know what Ya mean, I ALWAYS put My bread in the freezer as well!

"Toilets - My boyfriend is far from perfect but he leaves the seat down with me ever having to tell him once. Impressive isn't it?"

RE:Just do the poor bastage a favor, and PLEASE don't get those "Fluffy 'Lil seat covers" they tend to make the seat fall down. This is particulary bad for both as the seat usually falls down in mid....errr..Expulsion! {I just LOVVVE that word!}

Brad and Angelina - Glad to see them together. I think they have similiar beliefs and passions it was only a matter of time before they came together. I only hope their relationship lasts. But I highly doubt it will...nothing does in Hollywood :(

RE:NOOOO!!! I just bought Her a dozen roses,and an "All expense-paid ticket for two" to that romantic bungelow in Norway!.....DAMN! Oh well, I wonder what Sandra Bullock's doin' this weekend? ^_^

"Michael Jackson - He's gonna get his due..I just wish they get the trial over with already. I for one am sick and tired of hearing about it being reported by the news channels."

RE: Michel Jackson is My father....

"Gay marriages - I don't think it'll ever be accepted by the general public. I'm not against it...I think everyone deserves to be happy gay or not they should have to right to decide what's good for them."

RE:Those right-wing facsist dogs should concentrate on CLEANING UP the global mess they got us into, NOT "Pukin',and moanin'" about what "Bruce,and Dale" is up to!
Gimmie a Fouxin' break! If You're gonna change the amendment, then put those White supremist schmucks on the list instead!

"Chicken or egg? - I know the answer but I'm not telling. hehe"

RE:HEY! Hows about I give YOU My "Romantic Norwiegin package for Two" for You,and Your boyfriend? Just GIMMIE the answer already! I've been researching this particular subject for 25 years, and it's been driving Me nuts!....Plus, that She's not answering My phone calls anymore..DAMN! I knew I should've told her that Jennifer Gardner would be showin'up at the Golden Globes(tm) with the same dress! &^%%Brad! Just could'nt WAIT to get his beefy-mitts on My lil boopiekins!

"Poor elephants - They prolly went stir crazy and just couldn't take being caged up anymore. Have you ever seen an elephant in the zoo? Ever watch them just pace back and forth on hard concrete with those dull dead look in their eyes...I feel so sorry for them. They should be set free. I know they are endangered in the wild. But how about a sanctuary where they can roam free and live as nature intended? ~sigh~"

RE:Those DOGS who BEAT those magnificant creatures should get the SCHMIT kicked out of them,while in full view of the elephants!

Message edited on: 04/21/2005 17:24