What is off-topic in Off Topic?

" 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."

"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. "

Alright then.
 
It's clear that Off Topic has no future as an idiot's forum.
 
A forum specifically for idiots is probably not a good idea, but there should be a forum where the discussion threads are a little more free flowing.
 
GB has broken 60,000 users. The vast majority of these accounts will never make a single post. Look at the user lists. I'm here for the excellent editorial content, but I don't mind engaging in some random chat now and again. I know this site is not Facebook. But It is a place where like minded people come together to discuss games and sometimes, crack a dumb joke or two.
 
I have emailed the GB Community team with a forum proposal. They might look at it blankly, delete it, and move on. They might reply and tell me I'm an idiot. They might even think it's a good idea. Whatever happens, that will be the end of the issue. At least for the time being.

" @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."

You 4chan people are getting annoying. Go there if you need to be "random" so badly.

" @EvilTwin: Again, we can't everything.  If you see a problematic thread, simply flag it and we will deal with it.  I have locked that thread, but did not leave a response since it would be bumping a 2 week old thread. "

" @atomic_dumpling:  >implying 4chan = /b/ "

" @MAN_FLANNEL said:

"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. "

The randomness on the bombcast is nearly always derived from a serious discussion. They don't just say random nonsense for the sake of it, it is part of a larger, more serious discussion. And that sort of humour and randomness is fine on the forums. There is a huge difference between the randomness on the bombcast, and the randomness in threads we lock (brukaoru's post above links to many good examples of things you would never hear on the bombcast) "

Rules

1. NO material of a pornographic, overtly sexual or macabre nature.
2. NO discussion of illegal activities.
1.  Use of illegal drugs and substances.  
2. Circumvention of copy protection or security systems.  
3. Sources and use of illegally obtained material or intellectual property (theft or piracy).
3. NO discrimination or victimization directed at/of users. 
1. Racist, sexist or other such discriminatory comments/behaviour.  
2. Hateful or attacking behaviour towards other members of the community.
4. NO flaming, trolling, disruptive activity or posts which encourage such behaviour.
1. Abusive language directed at other users.
2. 'Flame-bait': Posts with no discussion value, intended to incite 'flaming'. 
3. 'Derailing' a thread by posting information irrelevant to the topic. 
5. NO spamming or commercial advertising.
1. Linking to websites/material without original commentary of your own.
2. Repeatedly posting the same or similar comments/material.
3. Replying with comments of no value in order to 'bump' topics, claim 'first', suggesting a thread will be locked etc.
4. Providing advertisements, promotions, solicitations or offers to sell any goods or services for any commercial purpose.

" @MattyFTM said:

" @MAN_FLANNEL said:

"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. "

The randomness on the bombcast is nearly always derived from a serious discussion. They don't just say random nonsense for the sake of it, it is part of a larger, more serious discussion. And that sort of humour and randomness is fine on the forums. There is a huge difference between the randomness on the bombcast, and the randomness in threads we lock (brukaoru's post above links to many good examples of things you would never hear on the bombcast) "

 

Rules

1. NO material of a pornographic, overtly sexual or macabre nature.
2. NO discussion of illegal activities.
1.  Use of illegal drugs and substances.  
2. Circumvention of copy protection or security systems.  
3. Sources and use of illegally obtained material or intellectual property (theft or piracy).
3. NO discrimination or victimization directed at/of users. 
1. Racist, sexist or other such discriminatory comments/behaviour.  
2. Hateful or attacking behaviour towards other members of the community.
4. NO flaming, trolling, disruptive activity or posts which encourage such behaviour.
1. Abusive language directed at other users.
2. 'Flame-bait': Posts with no discussion value, intended to incite 'flaming'. 
3. 'Derailing' a thread by posting information irrelevant to the topic. 
5. NO spamming or commercial advertising.
1. Linking to websites/material without original commentary of your own.
2. Repeatedly posting the same or similar comments/material.
3. Replying with comments of no value in order to 'bump' topics, claim 'first', suggesting a thread will be locked etc.
4. Providing advertisements, promotions, solicitations or offers to sell any goods or services for any commercial purpose.

  Could you point out which of these rules a thread discussing a new food item at taco bell violates?

" Could you point out which of these rules a thread discussing a new food item at taco bell violates?"

What is considered a 'spam' topic?

• Any topic or blog posted to the forum should always abide by our rules and guidelines.

• Any topic or blog posted should have productive discussion value to inspire a positive and good natured debate amongst the community.

•  Topics advertising, promoting, soliciting and offering goods or services for commercial purposes and financial gain.
  

1. Example - A topic created to advertise MMO gold sellers.

• Topics that consist of random 'thoughts of the day', immature or inane content and purpose.

1. Example - A topic explaining what your latest fart smelt like.

• Topics linking to websites, images, videos or other material without any original commentary from the topic creator.

1. Example - A topic linking to a news article with the majority of the article pasted into the original post without any direct opinion, input or commentary from the topic creator themselves.

@MAN_FLANNEL

"What discussion value is there in a video of Ryan eating a five pound gummy bear, or opening up a box of banana Cheetos? "

@MAN_FLANNEL

"Would you not lock or delete a thread I made it contained a video of a grown man exposing his bare ass?  What about discussing a game developers ball sack?  The ability to smell shit on a stick?  Exposing my genitals to Natal?  "

"

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.

"

@MattyFTM

"Would you not lock or delete a thread I made it contained a video of a grown man exposing his bare ass?  What about discussing a game developers ball sack?  The ability to smell shit on a stick?  Exposing my genitals to Natal?  "

All of those would be locked, if not completely deleted. "

" @MattyFTM: 
I just went with the whole Taco Bell thing because that is what the OP had been talking about.  The only infringement this example could have is being inane, which is subjective.  I would agree that this example (including the way the discussion was going) was on the border of being inane.  My point is that mods have used this to lock threads that had good discussions going because they thought the topic was insignificant, even though the topic didn't violate any rules.
  "

@MAN_FLANNEL

This doesn't make sense to me.  All of these topics have been discusses once, if not numerous times on the Bombcast.  Funny and random thoughts that the guys bring up.  The staff constantly curse, make bold claims, and outright call games shit, and yet the forums (at times) are run like this is gamespot or something.  I mean Jeff himself posted that user video of that guy rubbing his nipples and exposing his bare ass...do you see that on ign?  If the forums have to be that way then so be it, but I can't help but feel disconnected from the staff's craziness. "

This thread is pretty useless now, and I hope it gets locked soon. Why even bother arguing about the rules here?
 
@Kblt: If you don't like the rules, then please leave. Stop wasting people's time with this useless arguing. It's not getting us anywhere.

Well, as the user who posted this thread, perhaps I will tie this one off.
 
I was surprised to see this continue on as much as it did after I had left for work. I emailed the GB Community Team (Brad, as it turned out) with a proposal for a new forum, something along the lines of the "Babble" forum on the old ISCA BBS... I still miss the old text-only internet. Anyhoo, I suggested a forum where GB users could meet and goof off with random topics. This proposed forum would have the rule of being text only, which would help prevent Youtube and image spam and perhaps force posters to be a little more creative with their doofy ramblings. This all sounds very like an Off Topic forum, I know, but we've already covered that debate pretty well here.
 
The reply was prompt, and not entirely unexpected. He said it wasn't a bad idea, while not saying it was a good one. He made the point that General Discussion and Off Topic serve the purpose of random conversation already. So there it is.
 
I guess what got me so irked about this issue is that random or goofy posts are an honest form of bullshit. They don't pretend to be anything other than they are, whether they be about your favourite McDonald's burger or about the smell of your latest fart. The topic is right there in the subject line, for all to see. It's easy to police something like that, and of course, anything that looks a little different is a magnet for abuse from serial aggressive posters. Debates in the proper games forums often degenerate into flamefests ten or fifteen posts in, which is another form of bullshit. That particular flavour, however, does nothing for me.
 
All in all, it's probably no big deal. It's still a great website. Forum moderation is never going to be consistent or perfect, and the mods who posted here are particularly dedicated. It's not all fame and glory, this moderation business. I do think that certain individuals could lay off on some of the smart comments they throw in as they lock a topic, a simple link to the rules is enough. Goofy posts are by definition never malicious, which is a lot more than what could be said about thousands of other threads on this site.
 
Keep on keepin' on, GB users! I'm letting this idea lie... for a while.

" @Gamer_152 said:

"

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   Everything dumb just gets locked. "

 
Stop making these threads please.

" Well, as the user who posted this thread, perhaps I will tie this one off.  I was surprised to see this continue on as much as it did after I had left for work. I emailed the GB Community Team (Brad, as it turned out) with a proposal for a new forum, something along the lines of the "Babble" forum on the old ISCA BBS... I still miss the old text-only internet. Anyhoo, I suggested a forum where GB users could meet and goof off with random topics. This proposed forum would have the rule of being text only, which would help prevent Youtube and image spam and perhaps force posters to be a little more creative with their doofy ramblings. This all sounds very like an Off Topic forum, I know, but we've already covered that debate pretty well here.  The reply was prompt, and not entirely unexpected. He said it wasn't a bad idea, while not saying it was a good one. He made the point that General Discussion and Off Topic serve the purpose of random conversation already. So there it is.  I guess what got me so irked about this issue is that random or goofy posts are an honest form of bullshit. They don't pretend to be anything other than they are, whether they be about your favourite McDonald's burger or about the smell of your latest fart. The topic is right there in the subject line, for all to see. It's easy to police something like that, and of course, anything that looks a little different is a magnet for abuse from serial aggressive posters. Debates in the proper games forums often degenerate into flamefests ten or fifteen posts in, which is another form of bullshit. That particular flavour, however, does nothing for me.  All in all, it's probably no big deal. It's still a great website. Forum moderation is never going to be consistent or perfect, and the mods who posted here are particularly dedicated. It's not all fame and glory, this moderation business. I do think that certain individuals could lay off on some of the smart comments they throw in as they lock a topic, a simple link to the rules is enough. Goofy posts are by definition never malicious, which is a lot more than what could be said about thousands of other threads on this site.  Keep on keepin' on, GB users! I'm letting this idea lie... for a while. "