Full Version: New Forum Rules (Sticky)
From: BratDawg [#17]
22 Oct 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#16] 22 Oct 2006
As one of the incorrigible punsters, I have admittedly posted where I should not have, like many of us (it's ok, I now attend PA meetings and feel much better...I don't bite my typing fingers as much!). I certainly understand the need to keep semblance of order for those seeking answers in the technical threads and I'll be happy to repect that and refrain from the temptation!
As my involvement with engraving is slight, I tend to visit as much for the comeraderie as the opportunity to learn and do have many fine friends among this group! I guess my confusion over the new rules, and reason for playing Devil's advocate is where those last "violations" took place, the "Topic of your choice" folder.
I remember the old days of DSSI, when off-topic posts often ran rampant
and created a lot of work for the moderators. Hence the "Waaaaaay off topic" folder was created so that posts like that would not interfere with the technical portions and get in the way of those seeking answers. I assumed that the 'your choice folder' was something similar.
Perhaps there needs to be a non-moderated (or a lite version) folder that could serve the same purpose. After all, for many folks this place, and others like it, are the equivalent of the "Office Water Cooler". Sometimes you need help or advice, sometimes you just need a break and to have a laugh to help get through the day.
I'm certainly not telling you or David how to run this, and I'll be good and respect all of the rules ( I don't post much anyway), but I hate to see there not be a place where you can let your hair down a little. A simple warning on the door for those who enter should suffice and those who want strictly the technical aspect can avoid it at all costs.
Not trying to start trouble, just a little food for thought on behalf of those who like a good chuckle as a side to the technical main dish! So, I guess my question is.... are you forum or agin em? (OK, sorry...guess I haven't attended enough meetings!) ;-)
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#18]
22 Oct 2006
To: BratDawg [#17] 22 Oct 2006
It gave me a lot of thought if I should have moved those posts from the topic of your choice folder. I am still uncertain.
The folder says free threads, but it was a specific thread title wanting to be a topic. I am still unsure. I might have been overzealous because the rules were so new.
Thanks for bringing it up, I think this is a good topic for the members to indicate their preferences.
I will put up something to get the member's opinions.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#19]
22 Oct 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#18] 22 Oct 2006
I think we also need to consider, what became the primary reason for the changes in our posting policy, which was the invoking of the "S" word.
Not the four-letter one, but the name of a person who couldn't be mentioned, even in passing, without a very predictable response, from a very few forum members.
We dealt with that, not by disallowing comment on the subject, but by insisting that any further comment on the issue, take place in previous threads, where the issue was aired out at length.
The majority of forum members seem to be fine with that.
It's not that there was anything inherently wrong with our original rules and now we have wording in place, in the event of having to enforce unusually disruptive behavior.