General > General Technical Chat
IMPORTANT POLL: Should there be an off-topic section?
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EEVblog:

--- Quote from: Muttley Snickers on September 07, 2022, 10:22:30 pm ---If general discussion topics are allowed then I think they should be semi-concealed in the same manner as the Supporters Lounge, that way they will not show up in Google searches or pollute the Recent Posts table on the landing page for those not logged in. ie: Guests.
--- End quote ---

That would be a given. It seems that majority that want it do want the 50 post Regular Contributor threshold.
EEVblog:

--- Quote from: Halcyon on September 07, 2022, 11:04:44 pm ---It also probably shouldn't show up in the "global" unread posts/new posts count.
--- End quote ---

I don't think that's technically possible. Anyone with access to see it will have it show up as normal on count and unread posts lists, unless they deliberately add it to their Ignore Board list.
Brumby:

--- Quote from: EEVblog on September 07, 2022, 11:47:45 pm ---
Ironically, it seems that if there was and off-topic section then the TEA thing would never have happened.


--- End quote ---

Absolutely, categorically, definitively, demonstrably and unequivocally incorrect.  IMHO

There are members here who have been following the TEA thread for a number of years and are very well aware of the background to the recent kerfuffle.

In short, it centred on off-topic content being dropped into the TEA thread in increasing frequency and quantity, much to the annoyance of many - only some of whom were vocal.  The responsible parties were somewhat resistant to the idea of getting back on track, ignoring or objecting to suggestions that they do.  In some cases efforts were made to try and justify their actions by attempting to redefine the purpose of the TEA thread.

The simple fact that pretty much all the OT content which could have been posted in threads of their own (that would not have raised an eyebrow) but weren't demonstrates the alternate location conversation is purely a smokescreen and utter hogwash (IMHO).

Where the wheels fell off, though, is when things reached the limit of tolerance and we arrived at the point of the last straw.  Members' frustrations that had been building were vented and the Moderators found themselves in the middle of a hurricane and were obligated to take action in an unprecedented situation.



--- Quote from: Black Phoenix on September 07, 2022, 03:32:40 pm ---Regarding the issue in hand, from what I see in terms of offtopic (and I'm also one that sometimes fall in such) normally it tends to go to 3 or 4 posts and then tones down

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This is exactly how things have run in the TEA thread for years - and I don't think there were any major reactions to that happening.  I know I glanced at that stuff and just skipped along to the next interesting bit.  It seems the TEA thread is settling down to continue as it did before - and that is a good thing.

It is unfortunate we have had some members move on - but I would welcome them back if the OT in specific threads was down in the noise floor - not at +120dB.
Black Phoenix:

--- Quote from: Brumby on September 08, 2022, 01:30:30 am ---It is unfortunate we have had some members move on - but I would welcome them back if the OT in specific threads was down in the noise floor - not at +120dB.

--- End quote ---

I know of one such member gone that fits this criteria perfectly to the dot...
james_s:

--- Quote from: EEVblog on September 08, 2022, 12:03:01 am ---As I mentioned above, there probably should be another poll option for "OT is fine, but keep the same hot-button topic ban list".
You are right, off-topic doesn't have to mean free-for-all.
We literally already have an entire off-topic section here called Cooking.

--- End quote ---

I noticed that as well, although I don't think I've ever participated in that section. I do think that keeping the off topic stuff cordoned off so that it doesn't pollute the recent threads and search engine results is a good idea. I don't think it's a terrible idea to have a separate pub-like place where people can discuss other topics. Goes without saying that there should be SOME rules though. Stuff like no personal attacks, no politics unless it is related to engineering somehow, no religion, etc seems reasonable. I don't feel super strongly about it one way or another though since threads that have run their course are often allowed to stray a bit off topic without getting shut down.
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