I have noticed that random posts get locked out, including one of mine. And yes, it was a dumb post.
As I write this, I'm looking at similar posts to the right of this text entry field. None of them make the point that if the Off Topic forum exists, it should accomodate these dumb posts, provided they are not explicitly offensive. The Giant Bomb community is a broad church, and includes people like me who do not take video games too seriously. I reserve the right to crack myself up typing dumb stuff in a public forum. I also love this website.
Remember children, the Off Topic forum can be turned off. If you are offended by non video game talk, then this option is open to you. But if you are offended by non video game talk, then there is probably little that can be done to help you. The only cure is several years of real life experience.
I'm aware that Off Topic forums can become flooded with rubbish, but really, is it any worse than some off the hormonal guff that gets written in the "real" forums? C'mon. Who knows? Some of these random posts may even turn out to be funny.
Random posts don't get locked out. If the mods locked something then they had a reason for it and will usually state that reason upon locking a topic as well.
Random posts don't get locked out. If the mods locked something then they had a reason for it and will usually state that reason upon locking a topic as well.
"
This is the truth.
And to answer the question in the title (since the question wasn't asked in the thread at all) Off-topic topics in the Off-topic forum would be.. Stuff about a video game. Those things usually gets moved to the right forums unless the mods are super lazy. But granted they can't be online all the time they have to sleep too you know, it's not like they're gods or anything. Although sometimes they act like they are and go on a banning and locking spree =D
I agree. The "They're Back" thread was essentially two rather silly lines of text which started a discussion which only descended into equally silly responses and really went nowhere.
Off Topic is the ideal forum for something like that. The debate in the MW2 forum has degenerated into a heated exchange on the nature of patriotism. This may be "on" topic, but what does it bring to the community? More stupid arguments. Which is fine, if you like that sort of thing.
Off Topic, and forums like them, are essential for members who enjoy a fun, bullshit conversation. If you like serious debate, there are hundreds of other forums on ths very website for that specific purpose.
The discussions on this site are often emphatically negative. This simply does not appeal to me, and (I presume) to the majority of people who visit this site and do not write a single post. Any forum which lightens the tone should be welcomed, in my humble opinion.
Off topic is a place to discuss things that aren't to do with video games. It isn't a place to spam every random thing that you see or think of. We want threads that promote productive discussion, we don't want threads that have no discussion value. Sure, if we were to allow every nonsense pointless thread, people who don't want this could turn Off Topic off. But what if those people want to partake in productive discussions not relating to video games? They just couldn't do it on Giant Bomb.
There is no shortage of places on the internet for you to spam nonsense and partake in pointless discussions. Giant Bomb is not one of those places.
I'm not talking about spamming, I'm talking about a fun, dumb discussion.
I also don't find a huge amount of productive discussion going on in a lot of the games forums. I do understand that this venue must be provided anyway, of course. But really, I'm not convinced it's of a greater value.
My point is, if people are going to write dumb stuff, at least provide one forum where this could be recognised for the honest bullshit it is.
Never mind the fact I've undermined my point slightly by having a "serious" debate in the one forum that I say should allow a pointless one...
C'mon, man. I'm trying to have a serious discussion here.
By the way, flagging yourself is illegal in the Republic of Ireland. Might be fine for Californications and whatnot, but we cracked down on that nonsense years ago.
C'mon, man. I'm trying to have a serious discussion here. By the way, flagging yourself is illegal in the Republic of Ireland. Might be fine for Californications and whatnot, but we cracked down on that nonsense years ago. "
This serious part confuses me greatly.
Meh, I hate Ireland because it's the only country that consumes alcohol more than my homeland.
The Off-Topic forum is reserved for any discussion that isn't related to video games(movies, politics, religion, etc.). However, it is not a place for just random nonsensical threads and YouTube spam.
I've made my point. I don't think that the opposite view really understands what a broad community GB is. The locking of some posts feels a little harsh.
Having had to read through so much whiney and aggressive rubbish on the 'serious' forums, I don't really get this rigid enforcement of the Off Topic forum. If people don't want this forum, then get rid of it.
@CitizenKane Again, I'll say I'm not talking about spam. There is no room for spam. I agree with that, of course. Fun, dumb, discussion. That's all I'm talking about.
" @Kblt: We are all about fun here at Giant Bomb, just as long as it isn't stuff like that "Dave Snider in 40 years?" thread that I just locked. If you don't like the way things are run, then by all means you can leave. "
God damn you, my Dave Snider in 40 years thread had great potential.
@DanceDanceKennypants: Well, this site is about video games, so of course most of what it is about would be ensuring insightful reasoned discussions about video games. But, we also have a spot for insightful reasoned discussion of things other than video games.
If you are incapable of telling the difference between the stupid nonsensical spam/YouTube topics and real off-topic discussion, then there is not much I can help you with.
What about threads about sandwiches in games?? That would technically be considered nonsensical and stupid. But wouldn't that be the essence of this site? Obviously there are some real stupid threads, but some level of fun has to be allowed within certain discussions.
If you are incapable of telling the difference between the stupid nonsensical spam/YouTube topics and real off-topic discussion, then there is not much I can help you with. "
Create a sub-forum for yout00b thread and 'nonsensical/stupid' threads, then. Everyone's happy, problem solved.
I happen to agree on the DS thread. Anything that is directed at a specific individual can get pretty off colour, pretty quickly.
I've been making the argument in this thread that mods have been a little harsh in cracking down on some random fun. Contrast this with the crap that gets posted in the serious forums that goes practically unchecked.
And please, don't dismiss me as an idiot. I'm very fragile.
@DanceDanceKennypants: Stupid nonsensical threads are not allowed on any forum of Giant Bomb. If you see those type of threads in the other forums here, flag the thread and we will take care of it. We can't be everywhere at once, so we need your help.
" @Kblt: They are categorized as spam, which of course is not allowed here on Giant Bomb. "
Is there any sense in that?
For instance, I post a thread where I go with a light-hearted attidude. It could be a thread from the perspective of a pillow and how it percieves the world. That's pretty retarded and you classify it as spam. Not really logical. I understand locking of my last thread, because it was the enbodiment of spam, but locknig of a thread I described, where's the common sense in that?
Mods on here can become annoying...aka the guy warning he would lock that screenshot thread a couple weeks ago because it had too many Halo screenshots.
Also the randomness and ridiculousness of the staff seemingly isn't reflected in the threads. If there were topics made on the vast majority of what they talk about on the Bombcast, half of those topics would get locked.
But whatever, I sure as shit would never want to be a mod
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