I've been browsing these forums for a while. I've noticed a lot of threads in Off Topic to have some questions, needing help.

 

 

 

Maybe we could have a forum specifically made for help in the real world.

 

 

 

I'm just tossing it up in the air.

I appreciate these types of suggestions from an organizational standpoint but I don't think it would work, hellbellz. The reason being is that previous experiences have proven that touching an active board and splitting it up into separate ones for the sole purpose of organization, causes both boards to eventually die. Unless the board absolutely needs it, it shouldn't be touched, IMO. In the case of Off-topic, I don't think real life troubles dominate the board right now. Take away the 6-7 locks currently on the front page from a spammer and you'll see that the board's topics cover just about two days.

 

 

 

Unless threads are getting pushed off onto page two on the same day they are posted, I would try to avoid recommending an active board such as OT being split up. :)

I think instead of a subforum the relationship sticky should be broadend to a sticky about troubles in real life that way we kill two birds with one stone?

Real life is - as far as I know - not something TIF is focussed on. TIF is meant for Runescape, as well as *some* offtopic stuff. Real life help is not something that should have a dedicated place on these forums. I mean... real life help on a forum that's full of 12 year old Runescape players? (that's not true, but I hope you get my point).

 

 

 

Sure it's ok to discuss some IRL things here (imo) but focussing more on it is not something I'd like to see added.

Strongly against this suggestion. Bauke make a good point above.

Real life is - as far as I know - not something TIF is focussed on. TIF is meant for Runescape, as well as *some* offtopic stuff. Real life help is not something that should have a dedicated place on these forums. I mean... real life help on a forum that's full of 12 year old Runescape players? (that's not true, but I hope you get my point).

 

 

 

Sure it's ok to discuss some IRL things here (imo) but focussing more on it is not something I'd like to see added.

Most people who post on the Off Topic are "retired" and usually don't have stupid things to say such as things kids normally do on the General forums.

 

 

 

We also have off-topic mods, so there must be quite a lot of posts to look after in the off topic.

Real life is - as far as I know - not something TIF is focussed on. TIF is meant for Runescape, as well as *some* offtopic stuff. Real life help is not something that should have a dedicated place on these forums. I mean... real life help on a forum that's full of 12 year old Runescape players? (that's not true, but I hope you get my point).

 

 

 

Sure it's ok to discuss some IRL things here (imo) but focussing more on it is not something I'd like to see added.

Most people who post on the Off Topic are "retired" and usually don't have stupid things to say such as things kids normally do on the General forums.

 

 

 

We also have off-topic mods, so there must be quite a lot of posts to look after in the off topic.

I agree what Hellbellz said.

Most people in OT actually get very annoyed by all the people asking for real life advice on things especially if its about relationships. Take it to a teen forum.

I once suggested a forum for general advice about anything. Normally I"m against subforums but it'd help clean up a lot of clutter I couldn't care less about reading (although that's just my subjective opinion, although a lot of people don't care about personal questions and help people want about any of life's aspects).

I still think this is an issue, so I'd like to bring it back up because of the state off topic is in now. Merc holds the opinion most replies do in opposition to this, being

 

Most people in OT actually get very annoyed by all the people asking for real life advice on things especially if its about relationships. Take it to a teen forum.

 

 

 

I'm annoyed by them all too. None of us like seeing them. But adding this subforum will quarantine them all away. It wouldn't be added to encourage people to ask for advice. While it may appear that way, we could easily have a sticky explaining to never take the advice given here in place of a professional, all that precautionary stuff that has to be done. It will give all those people who constantly ask for advice about stuff a place to do so, while off topic regulars don't have to be bothered by it, which I think is something we'd both agree on Merc.

 

 

 

I'm bringing this point back up again because as of now there are a lot of these types of dumb threads. I'll list what's on the front page right now: "WTF!," "having the next three days no sleep......," "Im learning the Piano (again) O.o," "House Deck ques.," "Help, I'm going into middle school," "Ok if I'm going into middel school, What caculater DO I need," etc. Off topic regulars would pretty much all agree that these are annoying topics that we could easily make a subforum for so people who enjoy giving advice about that stuff can talk with people who think they can get good advice from.

I've only started looking in Off-Topic for the past 6, or 7 months, and I think thats enough to know how much Off-Topic has gone from. I was just wondering when a topic would be made, or bumped about the real life help me topics popping up.

 

 

 

I think whats happening is users are going to OT to ask Real Life questions, or get guidance on real life things, because they've been lingering in OT for some weeks now, and feel comfortable posting a topic(I was seriously scared to post in OT, since the IQ level in their is so different from General(would have been General P2P)).

 

 

 

I think the users don't realize they can use Help & Advice for Real Life questions, since it does say all questions in the description...? I think at the very least a sticky needs to be made, where Real Life Questions, or Real Life 'I Need Guidance In Real Life ' sticky.

 

 

 

I, probably along with others, miss the seriousness, and strong attitudes(this is a good thing, don't flame me) in OT. It was always good to go look at educated posts, that gave in-depth opinions, instead of the same point, or same message being repeated like in 'WTF', almost everyone said to ignore.

 

 

 

At the most a sub-forum, though, a sub-forum would need more then just 'I Need Guidance' to keep it alive. Since sooner or later, the number of guidance topics would go down...and I'm presuming, would become deserted once the mature posters leave it.

Personally, if they want help with RL stuff - do not ask in a gaming forum.

 

For two reasons..

 

 

 

 

 

1. The majority of the forum population has no basis for dishing out advice other than their own experience (dangerous)

 

2. It's generally annoying when people post trivial crap which didn't need to be made public.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm generally more concerned about the first. Tipit isn't the place, unless we have a half-dozen adults with experience in social welfare and such related fields and who aren't going to stuff up.

Personally, if they want help with RL stuff - do not ask in a gaming forum.

 

For two reasons..

 

 

 

 

 

1. The majority of the forum population has no basis for dishing out advice other than their own experience (dangerous)

 

2. It's generally annoying when people post trivial crap which didn't need to be made public.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm generally more concerned about the first. Tipit isn't the place, unless we have a half-dozen adults with experience in social welfare and such related fields and who aren't going to stuff up.

 

Another point, it's generally agreed that tip it isn't the best place for advice on a lot of things. But since it isn't against the rules, that means off topic is completely welcome for all sorts of advice topics, which users take full advantage of. Whether or not we think the board is a good place for advice doesn't matter. People still use it for advice. My point is that since so many people do use it for advice we should make a subforum for it to clean up the off topic board from all that. Or, just make off-topic help/advice topics against the rules since nobody's really qualified to give real advice.