What Can We Talk About?

[othellobloke]

Plenty of people so into saying what NOT to post.. and what NOT to talk about...

so could people kindly say what we can talk about in this OFF TOPIC FORUM without someone jumping in with an attitude saying 'don't do this and don't do that'...

Thank you

[slapshotw]

My threads about rainbows and laughter have never been shut down.

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by slapshotw

My threads about rainbows and laughter have never been shut down.

The thread about how fast the enormous subterranean fungus was taking over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was popular.

So was the pool we had going about how many exploits would hit Vista the first month.

Then there was the time we tried to talk one member out of investing in the platypus scam.

Thankfully, we were more successful dissuading another member from his "funny" idea to put up a subliminal-diet-and-positive-thinking-message website that instead would offer subliminal inducements to eat more because users were failures, anyway.

We also had that lively debate about whether one member's plan to charge people $25 a day for customized web-based rhyming appointment calendars--in Basque--would immediately overload the server because of heavy demand, or whether it might take a week or two.

Oh, and we all provided moral support to the guy who was planning to cross North America via sewer conduit. Too bad that didn't work out, but it was still a classic thread.

One of my favorites was our discussion about whether electronic flag semaphores on building roofs could be a viable alternative to monopolistic telephone utilities, even if the debate about Morse vs US Naval flag language did get a little heated.

I could go on...

[gtgeorge]

Originally Posted by othellobloke

Plenty of people so into saying what NOT to post.. and what NOT to talk about...

so could people kindly say what we can talk about in this OFF TOPIC FORUM without someone jumping in with an attitude saying 'don't do this and don't do that'...

Thank you

ANything that is not a "TROLL" You seem to be trolling for gators

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by gtgeorge

ANything that is not a "TROLL" You seem to be trolling for gators

Well said, George.

[esl]

I encourage you to look through the Off-Topic topic to see what is typically allowed. Locked threads are ones that should not be talked about.

[Serra]

Originally Posted by othellobloke

Plenty of people so into saying what NOT to post.. and what NOT to talk about...

so could people kindly say what we can talk about in this OFF TOPIC FORUM without someone jumping in with an attitude saying 'don't do this and don't do that'...

Basically, BEING AN ASS is OFF TOPIC. Stop being and ass and people will stop asking you not to post in their threads.

[gtgeorge]

Originally Posted by Serra

Basically, BEING AN ASS is OFF TOPIC. Stop being and ass and people will stop asking you not to post in their threads.

Thanks for the perfect answer.

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by Serra

Basically, BEING AN ASS is OFF TOPIC. Stop being and ass and people will stop asking you not to post in their threads.

Oh, Serra, you always explain things so well.

[smp]

Originally Posted by gwyneth

Oh, Serra, you always explain things so well.

Yes, you have a gift, you can tell anyone what we are all thinking but don't have the guts to say.

Regards, Steve Xx

[othellobloke]

Originally Posted by Serra

Basically, BEING AN ASS is OFF TOPIC. Stop being and ass and people will stop asking you not to post in their threads.

How about you kiss mine?

If there's limits to what can be talked about, or people's tolerance for political debate isn't mature enough... THEN WHY AREN'T THERE ANY WRITTEN RULES?

[esl]

Originally Posted by othellobloke

How about you kiss mine?

If there's limits to what can be talked about, or people's tolerance for political debate isn't mature enough... THEN WHY AREN'T THERE ANY WRITTEN RULES?

There are. It's called the Forum Rules.

"Forum Rules
Registration to this forum is free! We do insist that you abide by the rules and policies detailed below. If you agree to the terms, please check the 'I agree' checkbox and press the 'Register' button below. If you would like to cancel the registration, click here to return to the forums index.


Although the administrators and moderators of HostGator Peer Support Forums will attempt to keep all objectionable messages off this forum, it is impossible for us to review all messages. All messages express the views of the author, and neither the owners of HostGator Peer Support Forums, nor Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. (developers of vBulletin) will be held responsible for the content of any message.


By agreeing to these rules, you warrant that you will not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-oriented, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws.
The owners of HostGator Peer Support Forums reserve the right to remove, edit, move or close any thread for any reason."

You accepted them when you signed up.

Forum administration is aware of the problem of specific details being mentioned and they are currently working to try and provide us with detailed information. However, they reserve the right to remove, edit, move or close any thread for any reason.

[othellobloke]

Obviously I meant the written rules about what CAN'T be talked about. Because the description says

Everyone eventually gets tired of the same old computer talk, so consider this forum your sanctuary. Movies, music, games. You name it!

Anyway whatever...

[esl]

Originally Posted by othellobloke

Obviously I meant the written rules about what CAN'T be talked about. Because the description says

Everyone eventually gets tired of the same old computer talk, so consider this forum your sanctuary. Movies, music, games. You name it!

Anyway whatever...

I provided you with the information you requested. Did you read the full Forum Rules? I also stated that a more detailed version is in the works.

Originally Posted by HostGator Peer Support Forum Rules as of Aug. 5 2007

By agreeing to these rules, you warrant that you will not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-oriented, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws.

[othellobloke]

I wasn't aware talking about freedom of speech, genocide or hijacking threads was obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, threatening or violating any laws.

As I said... whatever

[esl]

Originally Posted by othellobloke

I wasn't aware talking about freedom of speech, genocide or hijacking threads was obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, threatening or violating any laws.

As I said... whatever

That's okay. It is hard to remember the Rules/Terms and Conditions of every website as well as know what offends different people from different countries.

[gtgeorge]

Originally Posted by esl

That's okay. It is hard to remember the Rules/Terms and Conditions of every website as well as know what offends different people from different countries.

You fell for another "troll" esl.

[othellobloke]

gtgeorge... you're not helping anything.

[gwyneth]

IMO, it's not so much the subjects or topics that are problems, it's the tone and civility that has become an issue.

The most abusive thread that I remember was seven or eight months ago in the Network Status subforum, when that Australian woman objected to people pointing out she likely had a DNS problem.

While that thread was certainly 'on-topic', it was a perfect example of what I think Evan is trying to forestall (though I think the wrong way--by proscribing topics).

That user was not interested in the help people were trying to give her, kept escalating her voice and insults, and was rather quickly banned.

It shows that any thread on any subject can turn pear-shaped...once someone shows s/he is not interested in what others say, not willing to consider others' opinions or feelings, or is set on a one-way exchange.

So Serra's brief definition probably does make the most sense: it's when someone becomes an ass that it's a problem.

[esl]

Originally Posted by gwyneth

While that thread was certainly 'on-topic', it was a perfect example of what I think Evan is trying to forestall (though I think the wrong way--by proscribing topics).

Thank you for your input. I will try your suggested approach in the future. You have a valid point in saying how governing a topic may not be as effective as governing the "tone" of the topic.

[GatorWesley]

Our rules pretty much explain it, if it's something that we consider inappropriate, we will delete it.

[gtgeorge]

Originally Posted by GatorWesley

Our rules pretty much explain it, if it's something that we consider inappropriate, we will delete it.

Thank you