WARNING: Off Topic is approaching critical mass.

[Mucman]

So we need an Off Off-Topic forum then

 

[yakko]

Originally posted by: GirlFriday
I love you all, group hug time!

w00t! Second time today. I am not hugging Red Dawn this time though. He pinched my booty.

 

[Paulson]

Adding other forums isn't an option...

just think, more forums = more bandwidth & more moderators who need to keep it clean/appropriate...

a nef forum would just be a waste of space and bandwidth. A flaming forum would be the same also...

But, shutting down off topic isn't an option... I think stricter rules need to be in place and less neffing needs to be heavily enforced...

 

[Azraele]

w00t! Second time today. I am not hugging Red Dawn this time though. He pinched my booty.

Uh oh, it started with hugs last nime, next thing you know we'll all be singing.

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: Azraele

Interesting proposal, but would it really stop those who go into debate threads just to ruin them?

Probably not, but that's what moderators are for.

Also, bandwidth seems to be fairly strained as is, I imagine the free servers would be unbearable if people were neffing up a nef forum.

Alot of neffing gets done in OT as is, I can't see there being anything more than a small increase in traffic.

And would you suggest moderating a flame forum? This is an all ages board.

I would volunteer my services, if necessary. Having a flame/nef forum doesn't mean it's a free for all, certain standards would still apply.

There are a lot of good, interesting topics here. I've learned a great deal, and I hope i've been able to help a few peeps along the way. I'm just sick of wading through all the BS.

 

[Azraele]

But, shutting down off topic isn't an option... I think stricter rules need to be in place and less neffing needs to be heavily enforced

Stricter rules means more work for the mods, and they seem overworked as is. They'd either have to recruit/grow/hatch more mods or figure something else out.

A mod crackdown would work, but between modding and the folks who'd grumble about mods being strict, the mods would need to hit the vacation fund after it was all said and done I'd imagine.

 

[Adul]

looks like we are a forum issue

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: Adul
looks like we are a forum issue

It would seem that way... too bad, I don't know how much traffic the item will get in here.

 

[GrumpyMan]

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: Adul looks like we are a forum issue

It would seem that way... too bad, I don't know how much traffic the item will get in here.

Maybe that's why it was moved?

 

[Azraele]

Originally posted by: GrumpyMan

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: Adul looks like we are a forum issue

It would seem that way... too bad, I don't know how much traffic the item will get in here.

Maybe that's why it was moved?

My guess is that it was moved for two reasons, one, it's a forum issue and two, the mods will probably see it here. It won't fall to the bottom as quickly as do topics in OT.

There's a similar thread going on in OT as well here.

 

[Ornery]

You know, you could have another "Nef Forum" AND cut bandwidth at the same time. Just blow the posts away after a set amount of time (1 hour perhaps). Either that, or just make it a full fledged Chat room instead.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: Mk4
Would it be feasible to divide the OT into separate "Serious" and "Casual" forums? The "Serious" OT would be reserved for political, religious, scientific etc. subject matters and on-topic posting; with only a relatively small amount of active threads (compared to the current Off Topic) perhaps a more strict code of conduct could be enforced. The bulk of the current Off Topic discussion would take place in the "Casual" forum.

Is it just me, or does the idea of a new "on-topic" Off Topic forum sound kind of silly? It kind of defeats the whole purpose of HAVING the forum, doesn't it?

 

[narzy]

it would save serious bandwidth to crush ATOT, bring this board back to its basis, maybe people would spend more time in networking, mobo's and CPU I think it would be a welcome change to see ATOT gone for a wile.

 

[Azraele]

Originally posted by: narzy
it would save serious bandwidth to crush ATOT, bring this board back to its basis, maybe people would spend more time in networking, mobo's and CPU I think it would be a welcome change to see ATOT gone for a wile.

While I feel that you may be right, I do hope that ATOT sticks around. I've been to other boards, and by far, I like this one the best. While it has its bad qualities, it also has some redeeming ones that should not be forgotten.

 

[Booster]

Originally posted by: Azraele

Originally posted by: narzy
it would save serious bandwidth to crush ATOT, bring this board back to its basis, maybe people would spend more time in networking, mobo's and CPU I think it would be a welcome change to see ATOT gone for a wile.

While I feel that you may be right, I do hope that ATOT sticks around. I've been to other boards, and by far, I like this one the best. While it has its bad qualities, it also has some redeeming ones that should not be forgotten.

Well, I fully agree with that. I've also been looking for other boards, forums, and I like this one the best, too. It's b/c I think it's the biggest and has the fastest response times of anything I have ever seen. Once I found a cool forum, I thought, but there haven't been any new messages in the last month! It was dead, just like a lot of others where people don't post a thing for months. I'm not a computer nerd, I like computers, yes, but if I had an option to read and to post only about PC components... well... it wouldn't be good at all for me, I'm pretty sure.

 

[networkman]

Quoted:
We agree with you N8
O.T. has degraded into a kiddie forum
Maybe we should just close O.T. altogether

AnandTech Moderator

Personally, I'd have no problem with that. As it is now, I have the OT Forum set to not even display in my Customize settings.

And if Anand/Zuni does decide to remove the OT Forum, you can forget getting a refund on your subscription - read the fine print:

We bill once for the subscription account, there are no recurring charges. The subscription fee is non-refundable..

You asked for ideas, here's one:

Make being a Subscriber a requirement to access the OT Forums! If people are so insistent on being able to spout off in that Forum, and the group is as large as it is, then only the people who are truly serious about wanting to post there will. Those that don't want to ante up for compensating the Forums for all the bandwidth and resources that they're now using for free will go elsewhere. And what's the problem with that?? I see no problem at all.

Anandtech loses a bunch of members.. so what? The ones being lost are likely the non-subscribers anyway, which takes a huge burden off of the bandwidth and servers that Anand has committed to the community. I'm sure someone is going to suggest that this will result in OT becoming a place for only the "Haves" with none of the "Have Nots". Excuse me? $2.50 a month is unaffordable?!? And even if it is, again so what? This is a privately operated business, not some extension of the government being operated on tax-payer funds! Hello..

You may not like my suggestion, but at least I'm providing one. Oh, and if you're curious, YES, I would regularly participate in the OT Forum if it were only open to Subscribers, because at least then we'd know that people are willing to put their money where their mouth is.

 

[Red Dawn]

We can also get rid of the DC Forum. Talk about your waste of bandwidth!

 

[networkman]

Hahahaha.. you're so funny Red Dawn.

The DC Forum is for the most part self-regulating unlike the OT Forum. Additionally, it's a meeting place for all of the members of DC Teams sporting the Anandtech name in many different projects. You know what that's called? It's called "Advertising" and it's FREE for Anand. If anything, the DC Forum encourages people to get involved in the Anandtech community, supports those who do and promotes the Anandtech site.

You think they're gonna kill the DC Forum - think again.

 

[Red Dawn]

Additionally, it's a meeting place for all of the members of DC Teams sporting the Anandtech name in many different projects

Actuially it's a cluster of PNG's who spend most of their time talking about how much better they are than those in the rest of the forums. In addition, it probably brings in less hits to Anandtech's Site than OT. But then that's just my opinion.

 

[networkman]

Obviously, you make this assesment based on the extensive experience you have invested in lurking in the Forum. While I cannot say that I've spent a great deal of time in the OT Forum, I can at least say that I've provided a reasonable solution.

What potential solution are you going to contribute?

 

[mastertech01]

Well as bad as OT is, I believe its original intention was to draw away all the chit chat crap from all the "constructive" forums as possible. It has done this to a large degree, but also as Im sure was eventually expected, it has grown into a major harbor for peeps looking for a new home. With that brings people of all walks of life. We can tolerate, ignore, or get frustrated with it but I suppose if we didnt have it, then the forums would be flooded with much more OT in the specialty forums where they arent as welcome. I guess its like taking the lesser of two evils.

 

[networkman]

Hmm.. I'd not considered that.. good point.

 

[Red Dawn]

What potential solution are you going to contribute?

My solution was the same as you posted..except I posted it about 2 weeks ago. Just let Subscribers use OT. Might as well make that for DC Forum too.

 

[Red Dawn]

Well as bad as OT is, I believe its original intention was to draw away all the chit chat crap from all the "constructive" forums as possible

That's exactly why oit was created. In fact I was around when they created the "Non Hardware General Forum" which later was renamed "Off Topic".

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: Azraele

Originally posted by: narzy
it would save serious bandwidth to crush ATOT, bring this board back to its basis, maybe people would spend more time in networking, mobo's and CPU I think it would be a welcome change to see ATOT gone for a wile.

While I feel that you may be right, I do hope that ATOT sticks around. I've been to other boards, and by far, I like this one the best. While it has its bad qualities, it also has some redeeming ones that should not be forgotten.

I agree 100 % I've gotten so many benefits from posting here,I really like this place,so much so I'm trying to get my new cell phone to at least let me check my pm's