If people really want to go mad we could direct them to www.crazyontap.com, where off-topic posts are the only posts that are on topic.
sounds like a good place to persuade people about audiophoolery stuffs, free energy and global warming... and err, god does/doesnt exist stuffs.
However, given the recent "test equipment obsession" thread I wonder whether a separate forum for discussion of test equipment might be useful.
discussing asperger syndrome is an off-topic issue. no offense intended to anybody, just saying.
I guess it should ultimately come down to either having an off-topic section, or banning off-topic stuff entirely 
Up until now it's been a bit wishy-washy, with the "occasional off-topic post allowed".
Honestly, I prefer it this way. I don't think it's really all that bad - there are some off-topic posts but they are easy enough to ignore. Just clean some up if they get too bad. I think an entire off-topic section would be a waste - can you imagine how idiotic it would get? - and "banning
x entirely" for most values of
x just makes the forum feel too restrictive. I'd rather allow a little off-topic discussion, and if it gets too bad, start closing some of the most off-topic threads.
I voted don't care. Off-topic can be an indication that you're building a community.
But it's ok either way.
Looks like the no's have it so far.
I'll let the poll run a little while longer...
Dave.
discussing asperger syndrome is an off-topic issue. no offense intended to anybody, just saying.
Don't disagree with that one, but I still think separating out test equipment as a sub folder of product discussion would be reasonable.
discussing asperger syndrome is an off-topic issue. no offense intended to anybody, just saying.
Don't disagree with that one, but I still think separating out test equipment as a sub folder of product discussion would be reasonable.
I sertenly don agree, aspergers is for some, the reason they got a obsession for collecting instruments..
Its spot on the topic: Equipment obession on this forum?
I know there is at least 5 aspies on this forum, probl. many more.
So your discussing of asperger syndrome is an off-topic issue is higly OFF-TOPIC!
So your discussing of asperger syndrome is an off-topic issue is higly OFF-TOPIC!
I almost certainly have Asperger's myself. I don't come here to discuss it.
talking about asperger's on it's own: off topic.
talking about how asperger's may or does relate to the EE hobby/profession: on topic.
I don't know why nobody else seems to understand this.
So your discussing of asperger syndrome is an off-topic issue is higly OFF-TOPIC!
I almost certainly have Asperger's myself. I don't come here to discuss it.
Not to explane the reason for the topic of the tread?
It was just a explanation for why some of us have the obsession for instruments. In topic..
If the forum got to be 100% on topic, not explaining real reasons, takes itself so serious that its like a NASA spec for a spaceship, then i think we all have lost what we all are, humans in all variations.
Beware, clean you mind for untopic thoughts before you enter this room.. beware
In my obsession thread I did not refer to personal obsession with test equipment, but that the forum, as a whole, seems to be obsessed with it.
Obsession is maybe too strong a wording; a more moderately worded title could have been: 'why is the majority of threads about test gear? (so it seems)'
I vote no for a off-topic section.
Of course I think one should be allowed to discuss stuff like what printer to use for making PCB-transfer, and other semi-related discussions.
The less "garbage" the forum gets, the better it gets.
My two cents. or "øre" rather :p
Not to explane the reason for the topic of the tread?
It was just a explanation for why some of us have the obsession for instruments. In topic..
Perhaps, it was probably relevant to the equipment thread but it's a fine line.
It's also a personal line, sorry, I'm a bit negative about the Asperger's thing at the moment.
In my obsession thread I did not refer to personal obsession with test equipment, but that the forum, as a whole, seems to be obsessed with it.
Obsession is maybe too strong a wording; a more moderately worded title could have been: 'why is the majority of threads about test gear? (so it seems)'
Well, you are out of topic, but in topich since you change the topic of a alredy topic that in many poples eyes are out of topic. O0
"the forum, as a whole" consist of people, and its what the people that uses this forum brings to it, will reflect whats in it.
The man intrest seems to be in many cases instruments, the use, history, models and so on..
Some have a interest that comes from a professionally point, they use them every day. Need them to be correct and well maintained (Calibrated). And some has taken it somewhat further and collect them as stamps, and some has become so obsessed with them that their whole house and life is just about test gear. What people outside the comunity would judge this as, is well worth a thought.
Damn, drape a few red and black cables around that picture and it's my workbench. Dump a box of resistors over it all and it's Jim Williams' desk!
The same way that contest section pops up after you have 5 posts, maybe have something similar for off topic, and ban it elsewhere?
I think it's good to try and keep the focus on electronics so electronics people are attracted to the forum. I'd be annoyed if I posed a question and then found it difficult to separate a genuine answer from the noise of people who aren't even here for electronics.
Just a thought...
I voted yes. When I was playing around with AVRs I spent a lot of time on avrfreaks forum and found lots of interesting discussion in the off topic forum. There are lots of really smart interesting people contributing on this forum, I think an off topic forum would be a good thing here too.
We should have a dating advice/story/therapy/bitches be crazy thread before we have an off topic thread. Just a suggestion
I thought that this is the off topic thread... There is one further down that is clearly labeled technical stuff. Anything that is engineering related, or something that we may care about should be in here. By some of the definitions of off topic, the 787 battery explosion could be off topic too. If you don't like general chat, dont read general chat.
Dunno!
If it didn't work & you shut it down,would the users just leave altogether?
I would hate to lose some of the people who although,to me,have really way out political or religious ideas,are really nice folks & contribute
a lot of good "on topic" stuff as well.
Some time back,QRZ.com got tired of ongoing political brawls in their "Ragchew" section,so instituted a "Political Junkies"section to give the
enthusiasts for that sort of posts somewhere to go.(I almost said "nuts"-----bummer!, I
did! 
)
Well,it was a disaster!
Ongoing personal attacks,extremist political nonsense of all types--so eventually they shut it down,& heavily moderated the other sections!
On reflection,I think I'll vote No!
Well,it was a disaster!
no its not, if you choose to ignore.
Shafri,it was for the Moderators who couldn't ignore it!
Hi Dave , i see your sentiment on the subject as there can be some valid off topics yet some just a waste of space and electrons , i do feel for those moderators sometimes (rarely and sometimes
)...
If i had a idea on the subject i would say
, Maybe a special Off Topic moderator that has to receive a request for allowing a deliberately off topic thread starter "first" with a explanation of why it is off topic and why on a electronics forum , sort of like a preorganized-censorship ?.
All other not even loosely associated off topics should be treated as per normal and just canned! but one canning is anothers violation of human rights
cheers aye and thanks for the concerns of all
, (or most
)
. . . . violation of human rights . . . .
Ummm this is private property, there is no such thing as free speech or human rights on it. Dave can govern it any way he sees fit.
Well, it looks like the tribe has spoken.
Given that I personally can see more negatives than positives with an off-topic section, it really needed a good Yes majority to change the status quo.
So we'll just keep the things the way they are.
The preference is for any topic started to have some sort of relevance to electronics or related engineering, but occasional off-topic threads are tolerated. Mods can use their own discretion to shut them down or simply delete them before they take hold. or to branch off threads that have drifted off-topic.
Dave.
Lock this thread now and duck for cover