Attention all Offtopic Users...Project Offtopic is Underway

[Nom]

The last four pages or so of this thread are the definition of irony.

[Doom1200]

To be honest, I really don't care. I admit, I read both of the mature threads, and I found some of it to be disturbing, while the other half I found to be funny. But it's gone, so there's no sense in dwelling on it. I'll still visit the forums. Like I said, I don't care. ;)

[Sumpta]

I have a few critical notes I need to get off my chest.

 

 

 

How is it possible the mods didn't intervene faster when discussing the ban of some of the people who post here, pointed out and called by their name? I have no issues whatsoever talking about the general forum policies, but when we're referring to specific individuals, I think it's hurtful to be talking about them so publicly, no matter what their not-so-redeeming traits may be. And throughout several pages in this very thread!

 

 

 

Secondly, I don't get it, sorry, I really don't. I've been browsing through the OT Forum and some of the topics are of a quality so depressing that it hurts my brain. Do you realise that there's a thread out there with people posting pictures of their rooms and having them rated by other people? Am I really completely out of touch to think that this borders on the line of what should and shouldn't be discussed on a forum, off topic and random though it may be? I read that we are asked not to post spam, too many pictures and silly +1's because of the limited server space, yet such topics live? I'm baffled.

 

 

 

I heard there was going to be a cleaning out the OT to restore it to its former glory (imaginary or not, I'm not getting into that discussion again) - but I don't see anything of it, with the exception of deleting the made up sexual stories thread.

[Lionheart_0]

I have a few critical notes I need to get off my chest.

 

 

 

How is it possible the mods didn't intervene faster when discussing the ban of some of the people who post here, pointed out and called by their name? I have no issues whatsoever talking about the general forum policies, but when we're referring to specific individuals, I think it's hurtful to be talking about them so publicly, no matter what their not-so-redeeming traits may be. And throughout several pages in this very thread!

 

 

 

Secondly, I don't get it, sorry, I really don't. I've been browsing through the OT Forum and some of the topics are of a quality so depressing that it hurts my brain. Do you realise that there's a thread out there with people posting pictures of their rooms and having them rated by other people? Am I really completely out of touch to think that this borders on the line of what should and shouldn't be discussed on a forum, off topic and random though it may be? I read that we are asked not to post spam, too many pictures and silly +1's because of the limited server space, yet such topics live? I'm baffled.

 

 

 

I heard there was going to be a cleaning out the OT to restore it to its former glory (imaginary or not, I'm not getting into that discussion again) - but I don't see anything of it, with the exception of deleting the made up sexual stories thread.

 

 

 

I do think your right on the first point, something should of been done, but that was the past and we can do nothing but learn from it.

 

 

 

As for the second, please give ideas as to what SHOULD be in OT. As the meme says "why so seriouse?" Should we have every topic have to deal with news stories, highly debatable moral topics, science vs. religion things, and the like? Would seem very boring to me.

 

 

 

There was a cleaning done BTW. I noticed you joined up around 2006. Well the forums were pretty much as they are right now around 2005/2006, at least from what I can remember.

[Ginger_Warrior]

There was a cleaning done BTW. I noticed you joined up around 2006. Well the forums were pretty much as they are right now around 2005/2006, at least from what I can remember.

 

Well things were certainly different around here to what they are now when I joined five months after Sumpta so...

[Lionheart_0]

There was a cleaning done BTW. I noticed you joined up around 2006. Well the forums were pretty much as they are right now around 2005/2006, at least from what I can remember.

 

Well things were certainly different around here to what they are now when I joined five months after Sumpta so...

 

 

 

Meh, maybe they are different, then again I cant completely remember what I did last week, so it could just be me :P

 

 

 

In any case, I don't think we can do anything in terms of 'quality'. I will say this though, to tone out noise, it is sometimes good to play music, really loud.

 

 

 

(By this I mean if you don't like the current threads, rather then complaining about it, make threads that you would like, or make sure you only reply to threads you would like. If you want more 'quality' try to make it by getting better 'quality' discussion going. Bring up some hot debates, or topics that take a lot of understanding.)

[Ginger_Warrior]

(By this I mean if you don't like the current threads, rather then complaining about it, make threads that you would like, or make sure you only reply to threads you would like. If you want more 'quality' try to make it by getting better 'quality' discussion going. Bring up some hot debates, or topics that take a lot of understanding.)

 

I couldn't agree more. I'm just not that good at actually striking conversation, I'm more better at giving my opinion. :P

 

 

 

What we need are quality posters (and I mean discursive posters who debate, not people who just lecture as to death about their own viewpoint whilst proclaiming their own glorious intellect) to start some threads again. Most of the threads are either too childish for mature members to be involved, or way too technically for any one else to be involved. There's no middle ground.

 

 

 

Going back to the debate before about the creation of a mature forum, this is why one should never exist. All it would do is, far from preserving thread quality, move the conversation to another place and leave OT for dead.

[Sumpta]

Like Ginger, I don't mind participating in a discussion to the best of my abilities, but I lack a certain something to start them up. I feel that what might interest me, will often not interest everybody else here and I don't wish to inflict boredom on other people. I know there are many who (thankfully) have no such qualms :. So, I whole-heartedly agree with you, Lionheart, that a community really needs these good people and that I take little effort in that direction.

 

 

 

As for the rest, I'm all for some light-hearted discussion, I'm really not game for a political or religious discussion every time, but a topic like 'your room' is so typical of the OT after the post your own picture-thread. Someone else said it as well on that thread, that the mods wouldn't like it. I don't feel it's on a fine line because it's light, but because it's about real life pictures, about displaying portions of a life that should remain somewhat private. Yes, it's just a room, but you're heading for a slippery slope. What's next? Post pics of your house? Is that acceptable?

 

 

 

It is a very interesting discussion, how far you should or shouldn't go in moderating, a very hot debate as well since the rise of 4chan or what's-it-called. I do realise this is a difficult job, so all my respect goes to you mods, let me be clear on that.

 

 

 

Edit: after my daily browse through the OT, a little idea, nothing to do with my issues with the room thread: maybe create a "parental problems" sticky such as the "I need a girlfriend" one?

[nine naked men]

Like Ginger, I don't mind participating in a discussion to the best of my abilities, but I lack a certain something to start them up. I feel that what might interest me, will often not interest everybody else here and I don't wish to inflict boredom on other people. I know there are many who (thankfully) have no such qualms :. So, I whole-heartedly agree with you, Lionheart, that a community really needs these good people and that I take little effort in that direction.

 

 

 

As for the rest, I'm all for some light-hearted discussion, I'm really not game for a political or religious discussion every time, but a topic like 'your room' is so typical of the OT after the post your own picture-thread. Someone else said it as well on that thread, that the mods wouldn't like it. I don't feel it's on a fine line because it's light, but because it's about real life pictures, about displaying portions of a life that should remain somewhat private. Yes, it's just a room, but you're heading for a slippery slope. What's next? Post pics of your house? Is that acceptable?

 

 

 

It is a very interesting discussion, how far you should or shouldn't go in moderating, a very hot debate as well since the rise of 4chan or what's-it-called. I do realise this is a difficult job, so all my respect goes to you mods, let me be clear on that.

 

 

 

Edit: after my daily browse through the OT, a little idea, nothing to do with my issues with the room thread: maybe create a "parental problems" sticky such as the "I need a girlfriend" one?

 

 

 

Couldn't it just be integrated into the I want a Girlfriend thread? I mean, it does say "And Other Relationship Advice." And parental relationships would fit well in there.

[Ginger_Warrior]

On another forum I go to, there is a thread about parenting (which I won't be contributing to for a good 10 or so years yet). It's not a sticky, but it's popular enough to stay floating about the front page of its OT section.

 

 

 

Then again, the people on there are considerably older than Tip.It's crowd.

 

 

 

As far as the point Sumpta raises, this was always the route the real-life pic thread was going to make. If you say to people 'You can post RL pictures of yourself', how can you expect them to stop there and not post pictures of their rooms, their schools, their houses etc.? Moreover, how do you stop the bullying and insults that derive from such conversation?

 

 

 

I personally would remove the sticky thread, and just allow users to post a picture in their profiles.

[Azvareth]

I don't get why there are so many people who seem to be unable to think for themselves. Not just on this forum, but basically every other forum I go to the first pages are practically filled with people crying about their parents cutting down on their precious "computer time" and other nonsense, up to the point where most of the forums now have subforums for this crap.

 

 

 

I mean, take here for example, there are 4 "personal problems" threads on the first page, and the relationship thread is 26 pages long. Do kids these days really don't have any common sense, or do they just crave for sympathy?

[Lionheart_0]

I don't get why there are so many people who seem to be unable to think for themselves. Not just on this forum, but basically every other forum I go to the first pages are practically filled with people crying about their parents cutting down on their precious "computer time" and other nonsense, up to the point where most of the forums now have subforums for this crap.

 

 

 

I mean, take here for example, there are 4 "personal problems" threads on the first page, and the relationship thread is 26 pages long. Do kids these days really don't have any common sense, or do they just crave for sympathy?

 

 

 

Everyone knows that being anonymous on the web has led to a number of things. People expressing their opinion (negative or positive), people creating things without having to have all the light in real life, ect. One thing that has popped up these days is that being anonymous allows people, especially teens, to express their feelings and to open up to a group of people that they wont/ will never know and they will never be known in return. Although there are places specifically for this on the internet (I bet a quick google search will get people to teen help sites), it is sometimes easier for teens to express feelings in places where they feel more comfortable, such as a gaming forum.

 

 

 

Although I do think that some of these people should be seeking RL help (counselling, talking to real life friends), there are some times when just yelling out to the world (The net), seems to be the only answer.

[dragoonson]

Like Ginger, I don't mind participating in a discussion to the best of my abilities, but I lack a certain something to start them up. I feel that what might interest me, will often not interest everybody else here and I don't wish to inflict boredom on other people. I know there are many who (thankfully) have no such qualms :. So, I whole-heartedly agree with you, Lionheart, that a community really needs these good people and that I take little effort in that direction.

 

 

 

As for the rest, I'm all for some light-hearted discussion, I'm really not game for a political or religious discussion every time, but a topic like 'your room' is so typical of the OT after the post your own picture-thread. Someone else said it as well on that thread, that the mods wouldn't like it. I don't feel it's on a fine line because it's light, but because it's about real life pictures, about displaying portions of a life that should remain somewhat private. Yes, it's just a room, but you're heading for a slippery slope. What's next? Post pics of your house? Is that acceptable?

 

 

 

It is a very interesting discussion, how far you should or shouldn't go in moderating, a very hot debate as well since the rise of 4chan or what's-it-called. I do realise this is a difficult job, so all my respect goes to you mods, let me be clear on that.

 

 

 

Edit: after my daily browse through the OT, a little idea, nothing to do with my issues with the room thread: maybe create a "parental problems" sticky such as the "I need a girlfriend" one?

 

 

 

Couldn't it just be integrated into the I want a Girlfriend thread? I mean, it does say "And Other Relationship Advice." And parental relationships would fit well in there.

 

 

 

Yup yup.I remember asking Goddess some advice for my sister(as in our relationship...I'm no in-between)...

[Nadril]

I don't get why there are so many people who seem to be unable to think for themselves. Not just on this forum, but basically every other forum I go to the first pages are practically filled with people crying about their parents cutting down on their precious "computer time" and other nonsense, up to the point where most of the forums now have subforums for this crap.

 

 

 

I mean, take here for example, there are 4 "personal problems" threads on the first page, and the relationship thread is 26 pages long. Do kids these days really don't have any common sense, or do they just crave for sympathy?

 

 

 

Thinking is hard, I wouldn't recommend it.

[Zierro]

I don't get why there are so many people who seem to be unable to think for themselves. Not just on this forum, but basically every other forum I go to the first pages are practically filled with people crying about their parents cutting down on their precious "computer time" and other nonsense, up to the point where most of the forums now have subforums for this crap.

 

 

 

I mean, take here for example, there are 4 "personal problems" threads on the first page, and the relationship thread is 26 pages long. Do kids these days really don't have any common sense, or do they just crave for sympathy?

 

 

 

It really stems from lack of confidence, and adding onto Lion's point - it's anonymous so it couldn't hurt to ask for some advice.

 

 

 

But I agree wholeheartedly - we're not the ones in those situations. No one knows how to be yourself better than you do. The answers really lie within themselves and can be retrieved with a bit of contemplation, however like I said, it's the lack of confidence that acts as a wall for them.

[Infi]

Why is everyone so cut throat about the policies which is run in an online forum?

 

Whatever rules that the people who run the site/forum sets forth, is the rules that everyone should abide by. But why? Off-topic has always been a section of the Tip.It forum which has been the most unique, where slack has been cut to appease some of the older users. We still need to consider the following points:

 

 

 

The age limit of 13

 

We know that to be in this forum, you must be at least 13 years old - you can use the movie ratings as a guideline to what should be acceptable for a 13 year old such as violence, and a mild sexual nature. However, we also need to keep in mind that not everyone here is 13, there are some young'ins who have joined before, and of course there are the older regulars. Keep in mind the balance between the two must be about the same to please both sides.

 

By that I mean:

 

-We don't have discussions that are all "What are your favourite colours?"

 

while not having discussions such as:

 

-How do you masturbate

 

Let's be rational. If you want to have a conversation of a sexual nature, why are you doing it in an online forum. You have friends, you have family - and I know personally that I didn't start learning about all my sexual knowledge until past 13, and if I found out around that age I wouldn't be the same.

 

 

 

I'm all for a new breed of off-topic where we are mature enough to moderate ourselves, with the exception of a few jackasses who continue to troll (case in point /b/tards, PROTIP: Don't feed them ;)) Sometimes though, you need to draw a line and agree that some content being posted here was plain inappropriate. Some things are considered as funny stereotypes, while it may be hurtful and labeled as racist. This an issue I think we need to overcome. I'm not joining any sides at this moment and I'll be optimistic and open minded and see where the off-topic boat leads. But the fact stands that either way shouldn't really affect me, OR ANYONE for that matter because in the end it's just an online forum you go to when you're bored, it's not your life.

 

 

 

I've never posted much in off-topic, but I've been around these forums for a while - Jagex has their rules which we must abide by, but when it comes to the off-topic section, we could always pull off some leniency thanks to the few users who can bring forth a mature discussion. If the off-topic users continue to grow maturely at this rate, who knows what can happen?

[rushrock]

I think that's the idea, you know, to loosen up on the rules once OT matures and quality standards are set and known to the general public.

[Da Pirates]

Some things are considered as funny stereotypes, while it may be hurtful and labeled as racist.

 

 

 

So at the TIF, we are supposed to shadow little kids from the real world? If someone is hurt by something they read on an internet forum, they will get eaten alive in the real world.

[goldphishies]

Why? It doesn't have to be a porn centered sex forum. We can have mature conversations. For example, whether or not homosexuality is right or wrong isn't for an 8 year old. But they're gonna get exposed to it sooner or later unless they decide to crawl in a hole for the remainder of their lifetimes. Every person on here has to be 13 or older. If they aren't it's their own fault for joining. With the state of the earth as it is everyone on here under 13 has most likely heard and seen a lot worse, with the news and things like that. I can understand cracking down on racist threads, and racial flaming and the like. Things like that don't act as a catalyst for mature conversation. But things like the homosexuality thread actually bring forth some mature conversation, and causes people to actually think. And religious debates and things like that, it helps bring forth intelligent conversation. If you try and steer clear of violent material, most of news articles posted every now and then won't be acceptable. It is what it is, and a lot of the folks on the OT enjoy intelligent conversation. Granted, I haven't come here for a while, but it doesn't seemed to of drastically changed. I think you're taking this a bit to far.

[Infi]

Some things are considered as funny stereotypes, while it may be hurtful and labeled as racist.

 

 

 

So at the TIF, we are supposed to shadow little kids from the real world? If someone is hurt by something they read on an internet forum, they will get eaten alive in the real world.

 

Yes, because this is a fan site for a game that's geared towards a younger audience, and by doing so we correspond with the maturity level and not expose the younger audience to material that may be potentially harmful to their mentality. Sure, there are many harmful sites and places on the internet, but if they can find things like that on an MMORPG forum, its unexpected and completely irrational.

[Sumpta]

Couldn't it just be integrated into the I want a Girlfriend thread? I mean, it does say "And Other Relationship Advice." And parental relationships would fit well in there.

 

 

 

Sounds good to me as well, but if this is the idea, then the moderation should be geared towards guiding the posters back to that thread instead of having them create threads of their own.

 

 

 

I also like the idea of Ginger Warrior to have real life pictures in the user profiles. It would give easier control over all the real life pictures threads.

[Kaphias]

I also like the idea of Ginger Warrior to have real life pictures in the user profiles. It would give easier control over all the real life pictures threads.

 

I actually suggested that here just after we were allowed to post the pictures.

[dsavi]

^ I like that, it keeps the clutter away from any particular forum.

[RSBDavid]

Can you guys at least make a forum where you have to be 16+ to view and 17+ to even post? I love being on these forums, but some people take some things too far.

 

 

 

[hide=for example]I really don't to hear how where or when you "choke the chicken".[/hide]

 

 

 

Off topic- Is there any mature forums where teens (17+) can talk in?

[Ginger_Warrior]

How about a forum for "grown-up" discussion (not uncensored discussion, just discussion adults would be more interested in) which doesn't have an age limit on it? For one, it's hard to determine whether someone is lying about their age, and secondly you'll have immature 18 year olds, while having mature 14 year olds.

 

 

 

I don't understand this contradictory idea of "mature = uncensored discussion".