IMPORTANT POLL: Should there be an off-topic section?

[EEVblog]

At this stage in the poll it's looking like the majority don't want this.

I just had an idea. Would anyone be interested in an "Off-Topic Projects" section? You could post your latest non-electronics related project, like you built a nice new deck, restored your car etc.
THANKS this post if you agree.

That kind of section would be cool indeed. (Heck, there is even a cooking section, so this one would definitely have its place.)
Now I think similar ideas have already emerged in the past and never really caught on, but who knows. I'm for it.

If anyone knows of any existing off-topic project threads that could seed such a new section, please post the links.

[EEVblog]

In point of fact all are unhappy at having had to leave, and your ill-informed attempts to ascribe such base and juvenile motivations are quite far from the mark.

If everyone was unhappy to leave, why did not one of them contact me and alert me to what was happening (I literally didn't know) and ask me if there was anything I could do to help the situation?
Seriously, not one person contacted me about this whole thing.

[pcprogrammer]

At this stage in the poll it's looking like the majority don't want this.

I just had an idea. Would anyone be interested in an "Off-Topic Projects" section? You could post your latest non-electronics related project, like you built a nice new deck, restored your car etc.
THANKS this post if you agree.

That kind of section would be cool indeed. (Heck, there is even a cooking section, so this one would definitely have its place.)
Now I think similar ideas have already emerged in the past and never really caught on, but who knows. I'm for it.

If anyone knows of any existing off-topic project threads that could seed such a new section, please post the links.

Don't know of a specific thread, but can start one about the terrace the wife and I did in the past couple of months. Made a post about it in a thread of yours about not to alienate people from your life.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/life-advice-dont-dismiss-or-lose-respect-for-people/msg4296922/#msg4296922

Edit: post a picture of your cat could be a candidate to be moved. Very nice thread about what some may call a hobby but nothing to do with electronics.

[AVGresponding]

In point of fact all are unhappy at having had to leave, and your ill-informed attempts to ascribe such base and juvenile motivations are quite far from the mark.

If everyone was unhappy to leave, why did not one of them contact me and alert me to what was happening (I literally didn't know) and ask me if there was anything I could do to help the situation?
Seriously, not one person contacted me about this whole thing.

I think this point has already been covered, at least partially. Most (including me) assumed there was some active monitoring of the situation by yourself. I know, I know, it's that old thing about assumptions...

Once the situation had degenerated past a certain point, it's probably a case of people having their entrenched positions and feeling unable to move from them, but that's partly speculation on my part. The usual human characteristics, including, but not limited to, stubbornness also come into play here, and to quote another aphorism, you can't un-bake a cake.

Personally, I hate the .io format and will lobby for a proper forum format; it's unclear at this point whether this will be another forum hosting service or if people can come back here after a period of time. I'd rather here, but I'm just one voice amongst several. Quite a few people have stayed here, as have I, but not all are posting in the TEA; there's less there to interest me, for example, due to certain absences, though of course some of the regulars remain. I'll continue to post as I see fit, and if that involves someone complaining to mods and getting censured, so be it.

[RoGeorge]

If anyone knows of any existing off-topic project threads that could seed such a new section, please post the links.

A maybe candidate, bicycle proj?
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/bianchi-vento-605-vs-606-(1995)-looking-for-use-and-maintenance-manual/

[jpanhalt]

If anyone knows of any existing off-topic project threads that could seed such a new section, please post the links.

Easy:
1) https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/my-condolences-to-my-uk-and-commonwealth-mates/?topicseen
2)Thread on DEI.

I have not responded sooner as it seemed the consensus (2/3) was against or "don't care."  However, it appears EEVBlog may be headed there anyway.  I don't participate currently in many forums.  The ones I left were mostly because of the OT general non-technical chat sections.  Moderators, of course, are free to contribute to anything, but when they contribute to political/social discussions, I believe their moderator status needs to be limited and clearly defined, e.g., deleting profanity.  In other words, as the debate gets more "vigorous" they will naturally take a side and moderate the other side -- not only in the thread in question, but also in technical threads.  Simply put, they hold a grudge.  That happened at EDABoard (very quickly), AAC, and ETO. 

EEVBlog has so far escaped that demise.  Please do not change. 

[Vovk_Z]

I don't see why an additional off-topic section will hurt. It can help to structurize the forum. And there may be several ones: 1) 'usual off-topic stuff' (e.g. "General people chat") and 2) 'risky off-topic' - politics etc (Unseen to newbies).

[Vovk_Z]

If anyone knows of any existing off-topic project threads that could seed such a new section, please post the links.

I'm not sure, possibly almost all threads of the 'General Technical Chat'? 
Possibly, the question is "Which few technical threads do really belong to General Technical Chat"?

[ebastler]

If anyone knows of any existing off-topic project threads that could seed such a new section, please post the links.

I'm not sure, possibly almost all threads of the 'General Technical Chat'? 
Possibly, the question is "Which few technical threads do really belong to General Technical Chat"?

No. I hardly see any threads in the "General Technical Chat" which would deal with (off-topic) projects.

In fact, I recently see quite a few threads there which are not about "technical" topics at all. Gas prices, Queen Elizabeth passing, dealing with a manipulative coworker, are top of the list as I'm writing this. Not to mention the recent endless "diversity" discussion, which Dave deliberately kept open.

Hence, I would argue the forum already has an "off-topic" section. I struggle to imagine which topics might be acceptable beyond what is already the norm in the "General Technical Chat".

[beanflying]

Perhaps Dave should just clarify what he has now gone onto discussing as 'off topic'.

My read of it is currently more along the lines off 'Off Topic Projects and Interests'  and not 'Off Topic anything goes' if you have a read through.

Mech Eng has plenty of crossover to make it relevant as does 3D printing.

I wasn't a supporter of adding cooking to the forum much as I contribute there as it is a strong interest of mine.

But do we need a Gardening, Bike, R/C, Car, Travel, Woodworking, Skateboarding, Surfing, Fishing, CAT...... threads or sections on an Electronics forum?

[pcprogrammer]

Not to mention the recent endless "diversity" discussion, which Dave deliberately kept open.

Which, as a side note, is far of on this forum when it comes to women versus men. 1:1015. How can that be. 

[Ed.Kloonk]

Edit: post a picture of your cat could be a candidate to be moved. Very nice thread about what some may call a hobby but nothing to do with electronics.

Whoa there, buster!

Cats have everything to do with electronics. Any bench not equipped with at least one cat can not really be called a true bench.

[beanflying]

Are Fur Balls Conductive 

[pcprogrammer]

Edit: post a picture of your cat could be a candidate to be moved. Very nice thread about what some may call a hobby but nothing to do with electronics.

Whoa there, buster!

Cats have everything to do with electronics. Any bench not equipped with at least one cat can not really be called a true bench.

Sorry Ed, did not mean to upset you. I would say post a picture of your cat to prove your statement. I can't anymore, you know due to the wife's allergy. Still miss the buggers.

[Ian.M]

The problem with cats on the bench is they are generally not ESD safe!

ESD-safe cat

I have not tested if Sphinx cats are actually ESD safe.  No cats have been harmed  during ESD testing (though plenty of chips have died).   

CAUTION: Wear adequate full-body PPE when testing if a cat is ESD-safe!

And yes, I still miss the shop cats from my previous employer.

[xrunner]

Sorry Ed, did not mean to upset you. I would say post a picture of your cat to prove your statement. I can't anymore, you know due to the wife's allergy. Still miss the buggers.

I got your back Ed! 

[Ed.Kloonk]

All I'm saying is that if you thought the TEA thread peeps were an angry mob, crossing the cat thread folks would cause the biggest internet shit fight the world has ever known.

[Black Phoenix]

Agreed, the other day Wanda was inside the room at night and I could hear and see her because her hair was doing static discharges on the mosquito net (the air was cold and dry because of the AC).

So yes, the potential is there for that. And trying to test if she is ESD safe really needs a full suit or I would be full of scratches and bites...

[pcprogrammer]

All I'm saying is that if you thought the TEA thread peeps were an angry mob, crossing the cat thread folks would cause the biggest internet shit fight the world has ever known.

You are funny and crack me up every time But I was not attacking the thread, just saying it deserves a place of its own. Kind of an upgrade if you will.

[Vovk_Z]

But I was not attacking

We only see 'cats' and 'attacking' here, so I'm afraid...    

[PlainName]

Which, as a side note, is far of on this forum when it comes to women versus men. 1:1015. How can that be. 

People's stated gender when registering no doubt bears as much relation to reality as their username or location.

[Ed.Kloonk]

Which, as a side note, is far of on this forum when it comes to women versus men. 1:1015. How can that be. 

People's stated gender when registering no doubt bears as much relation to reality as their username or location.

And that's just because of the spam bots.

[AVGresponding]

Not to mention the recent endless "diversity" discussion, which Dave deliberately kept open.

Which, as a side note, is far of on this forum when it comes to women versus men. 1:1015. How can that be. 

Which has only worsened as a result of the TEApocalypse, since one of the few female members was one of the regulars who has departed.

People's stated gender when registering no doubt bears as much relation to reality as their username or location.

Mine is accurate, as is that of everyone I personally know here. Ascribing levels of truthfulness/disclosure to people you don't know is pure and irrelevant speculation.

[pcprogrammer]

I also wonder how it is determined, because you can also refrain from stating your gender. I have seen several members not mentioning it in their profile. So are the ratios better or even worse.

But we are drifting away from the question at hand. New section for non electronics related topics yee or nee and what should be allowed as such in case of yee.

I think we can all agree that politics, religion and guns should still be banned to avoid to big a mishaps.

[tautech]

I also wonder how it is determined, because you can also refrain from stating your gender. I have seen several members not mentioning it in their profile. So are the ratios better or even worse.

It is very possible in this day and age just 2 choices of gender are insufficient !