Post by: Creek on May 27, 2003, 10:37:40 AM
It seems to me that there a lot of posts to this forum that have nothing to do with Macintosh, software or hardware.
For me, this is inapproprite and waste of bandwidth. However, I might be the only one who is annoyed by off-topic posts. So how about a poll?
Do you favor off-topics posts?
or
Do you wish there were no off-topic posts?
or
Do you not care one way or the other?
If you'll take the time to reply to this (off-topic) post, I 'll tabulate all posts and report back.
Post by: kelly on May 27, 2003, 10:51:19 AM
For purely Technical On Topic topics I recommend macfixit.
I'd be very surprised to hear differently from the majority Creek.
Post by: Steve_J on May 27, 2003, 11:11:31 AM
Post by: jwboyd on May 27, 2003, 11:19:15 AM
Post by: RobW on May 27, 2003, 11:56:43 AM
One of the things that distinguishes this forum from many others that I visit (and some that I no longer visit) is the civility, as well as the friendship that has developed between many of us over the last several years. We've shared in the excitement of hearing about wedding plans (and seeing the pictures later), house warmings, illness, etc. We make it a point to find out how each other are when disasters--both man-made and natural, take place in far away areas of the world that a few short years ago we may never have paid much attention to, but now we immediately think of our friends who live there. Along the way, I've learned to trust the advice that I get because I know who's giving it--and because it's not uncommon for many of my TS friends to followup with each other off-list to make sure that the problem has resolved or to add some additional information.
So, to get "on-topic", my thoughts are that while you don't need off-topic posts to get advice, it's been many of these off-topic posts that have changed TS from a forum to a community. Everyone's entitled to their opinon, but to me, describing anything here as "inapproprite and waste of bandwidth" is the complete opposite of how I'd view what goes on here. BTW, we do encourage people to mark "off-topic" posts with "OT" in the subject heading so that those who don't wish to read them (or those who don't wish to read them at that time) are aware that the post is "off-topic". Nobody forces anybody to double-click on that thread.
Just my $.02.
Post by: Audone on May 27, 2003, 12:16:43 PM
TS has been a home-away-from-home for an awfully long time, and, fortunately for all of us, life doesn't always stay 'on-topic' .
Post by: RNKIII on May 27, 2003, 12:18:55 PM
PLEASE keep it as is..
Thanks, Bob K.
Post by: Mrious_be on May 27, 2003, 12:29:38 PM
Post by: Gregg on May 27, 2003, 12:47:44 PM
Just kidding!!!! I visit other "Mac only" forums. Some have what we would call an "off topic" page. That's the one I go to first, and if I have more time, which is rare, I check out the Mac pages. Most have way too many Mac pages! I am one of those who've questioned whether TS should have a page dedicated to 'OT'. The resounding answer has been "NO!" each time. Based on my stated habits, I have to agree.
Post by: Jay on May 27, 2003, 01:06:09 PM
KEEP THEM!
Jay
Post by: beacher on May 27, 2003, 02:10:59 PM
) Don't count me, Creek. . .You can't really call me "unbiased"!
Post by: daffy on May 27, 2003, 02:17:16 PM
We're part of a community that's interested in one another.
Post by: george on May 27, 2003, 02:49:10 PM
George
Post by: swhitset on May 27, 2003, 02:59:58 PM
Creek, I see you have been registered here since April of 2001, but only have 5 posts? There is nothing wrong with that per se, but I think that most would agree with me that the more people we have expressing ideas (within the limits of the board) the better. If you are more comfortable just reading the posts fine, but know that we welcome more input from others (on or off topic).
Steve
Post by: JohnKentucky on May 27, 2003, 03:12:32 PM
Actually..the one reason my post count (well..ok..2, but the other one is because the site loaded slow..and I'm on cable!) is because most of the topics don't interest me that much or has been already answered by someone else.
The OT posts are needed around here to keep things from getting too boring!
Post by: themagpie on May 27, 2003, 03:16:44 PM
Margie
Post by: Gary S on May 27, 2003, 03:29:04 PM
It is a part of what makes TS.....TS.
Post by: tacit on May 27, 2003, 03:58:25 PM
I've been a member of the online community since the late 1970s, when I started using computer BBS systems with a 300-baud dialup modem, and I got online with what's now called the Internet back in the days when it was still called ARPAnet.
In all that time, I've never used any BBS, UseNet newsgroup, maillist, forum, listserv, or any other online community that stays 100% on-topic. Even the moderated forums I use, where every post must be approved by a forum moderator before it goes out, don't manage to stay 100% on-topic.
Any forum has to strike a reasonable balance between the purpose of the forum and the inevitability that conversations don't always stay on course. A forum that strays too far risks becoming irrelevant, but a forum that tries too hard to stay on one topic often ends up feeling controlling and unfriendly.
I don't always read the off-topic threads on TechSurvivors, but I do read some of them,a nd i appreciate that they add value to TechSurvivors by encouraging a sense of community and the feeling of openness here.
I don't think it's realistic to say that TS posts should always be on the topic of Mac troubleshooting; I don't think it's realistic for any forum to stay on-topic 100% of the time. I *do* think it's realistic to seek a balance between on-topic and off-topic posts, but I don't think that balance has been crossed as it stands right now.
Post by: Bobun on May 27, 2003, 04:17:25 PM
The TS off-topic posts are the first these old eyes search for. Keep them in.
Bobun
Post by: Bill on May 27, 2003, 04:51:19 PM
No! So there!
[edit to add]
OT could stand for "On Topic".
Then again my mind bubbles away differently.
Does make one feel a bit alone sometimes.
OR ...
Could it be my deodorant?
Post by: dolphin on May 27, 2003, 09:26:42 PM
Post by: kps on May 27, 2003, 10:21:54 PM
Post by: gmann on May 27, 2003, 10:28:24 PM
Post by: MamaMoose on May 27, 2003, 11:34:48 PM
MamaMoose
Post by: sandbox on May 27, 2003, 11:42:53 PM
Example:
OT - I want to know why
Bill's tent is so bright? Is there an advantage to having a tent you can see from space?
Post by: Dreambird on May 28, 2003, 01:16:21 AM
QUOTE
Example:
OT - I want to why
Bill's tent is so bright? Is there an advantage to having a tent you can see from space?
OT - I want to why
Bill's tent is so bright? Is there an advantage to having a tent you can see from space?
And by every bug, snake, lizard and assorted other critter in the neighbourhood?
Or... maybe he's trying to lure a nice alien female? 
Post by: Highmac on May 28, 2003, 01:40:07 AM
I would have missed so much if all we had ever talked about was Macs.
... and this is probably my shortest post ever
Post by: jepinto on May 28, 2003, 05:59:13 AM
That said....Techsurvivors' Mission pretty much sums it up
QUOTE
We created this bulletin board as refugees from elsewhere where the bulletin board's owners changed outlook and purpose, eliminating the camaraderie and stifling its soul in one fell overnight swoop. But, like the proverbial phoenix, we have arisen renewed out of the ashes and now consider ourselves "tech survivors."
The off topic posts are part of that camaraderie, as others have said, much better than I am able, we've celebrated, mourned, laughed, cried, high fived and commiserated.I don't have a whole lot of knowledge, therefore don't have a lot of tech questions. But whenever I've needed to find an answer, I know I can come here. (And I've asked some
strange questions! Which reminds me, I have a question about an external hard drive I need to post.....
Post by: jguti on May 28, 2003, 06:13:52 AM
It just tends to go well with Mac users and this site. Its like those smilies on my left, they are all unique
Take that personal touch out of here and you will end up with just another computer tech site! No smilies :-(
Post by: Creek on May 28, 2003, 10:17:51 AM
Post by: Paddy on May 28, 2003, 10:52:06 AM
Post by: pendragon on May 28, 2003, 10:53:33 AM
Harv