Are discussions in the off-topic forum completely useless?

[Auberean]

This isn't about the format of the tip.it forums themselves, I have no intention of having anything changed. This is just a discussion. Go look up irony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the main functions of the Off-Topic forum is to discuss things that aren't within the realm of Runescape. Things like religion, economics, and the NFL playoffs. But what seems to happen aren't so much discussions as they are lots of different people voicing their opinions, and ignoring everything else. Most of the time, people post information without any thought to the reality of the situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I wonder is: What do you get out of discussions in the Off-Topic forum? How do you find it possible to deduct any type of conclusion from the information of others, information which is steeped in opinion? Do you even try? Do you really find any point in rational discussion when most people have their idea of truth deeply embedded within themselves?

[Guest]

What I get out of discussions on OT is too see who's opinion I respect and think is correct most of the time and then I concentrate more on their posts next time a topic comes up which they reply to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh and there's nothing better than having a debate against other people of different views. Especially when a good friendly flame or two comes into the discussion. :P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because lets face it. OT wouldn't survive without argument. There has to be differing views or their would be little point in most discussions and most people wouldn't be around then. And everything around here would be the same boring agreement topics 24/7. :wink:

[crimsonking]

I mostly hang around for the overall fun of some of the threads around here, in debates, I usually state my theory on the subjects and expand that theory based on the replys I get, if things get too out of hand I can trust the mods to handle it, even if they don't, I usually end up ignoring it.

[warri0r45]

The thing I get out of OT is the realisation that most of you are relitively smart people and reject crap like drugs, violence, gangs/whatever for intillect and (most of the time) decent, mature discussions.

[How2PK]

I agree, nobody every really gets something out of these discussions. For reasons you've already pointed out. But it's not really why I am here though, so it doesn't really matter to me. In the past it did, I even made one or two topics about it. But I don't really care anymore.

[KnightLite]

Personally, I love controversy. I enjoy listening and joining in debates

[Futurama]

Personally, I love controversy. I enjoy listening and joining in debates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

amen to that. :)

[BlueTear]

I learn things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't really give a flying [cabbage] about what you think. You can repeat it over and over again til your face turns blue, I don't care. What I want to know is what you base your thoughts and opinions on, your sources, your background your reasoning. Because I can use those to evaluate my own opinions, my own thoughts, and alter accordingly. And in the process I learn things about subjects I'd never spend time researching otherwise. Someone makes what appears to be an outrageous claim, I look it up - or get the source from whoever made the claim - and all of a sudden, I know something new.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's what keeps me coming back here at regular intervalls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(... not only do I learn things, I learn useful things. Remember the middle east debattes we used to have a few years ago? I wrote one essay and did one project on subjects involving the middle east, something I'd never have had the background knowledge to even consider without this place)

[Parabola]

I agree, nobody every really gets something out of these discussions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes they do:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entertainment. If it wasn't somewhat entertaining, we wouldn't bother doing it.

[How2PK]

I wasn't really talking about the entertainment factor of the discussions...But you're right.

[KnightLite]

I wasn't really talking about the entertainment factor of the discussions...But you're right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What were you talking about then?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*wo0t 3000 posts :o

[Parabola]

The way I see it, if all people get out of the discussions is entertainment then that's enough. It's all this forum is here for. People aren't here to better themselves or do work, they are here to pass the time - and if participating in debates that get them nowhere in the long term does that then it is still worthwhile.

[How2PK]

 

I wasn't really talking about the entertainment factor of the discussions...But you're right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What were you talking about then?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*wo0t 3000 posts :o

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The way I see it is that you discuss to achieve something. Solve the 'problem' or something. Get to some agreement. I don't think I've ever seen that happen here though.

[Striker6]

I find debates to be very interesting to read, because as bluetear said it furthers your knowledge and understanding of others opinions.

[kido14]

It doesn't help when a lot of topics that could hold some good debate, whether it's religion or not, get locked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoy debating too, but I hate it when a topic already has like 10 pages before I read it, then it's too late to jump in.

[cadburys_egg]

I especially enjoy when people who only post in RS General post here and their first insult is "GO PLY UR LVL 3 NOOB" or something like "I CUD PWN U IN DA WILD LOL NOOB", forgetting about life outside of Runescape.

[BlueLancer]

The way I see it, if all people get out of the discussions is entertainment then that's enough. It's all this forum is here for. People aren't here to better themselves or do work, they are here to pass the time - and if participating in debates that get them nowhere in the long term does that then it is still worthwhile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exactly. People don't come here depressed looking for the fountain of wisdom and the meaning of life. Most people come here to read something interesting. In many cases it can mean a good argument.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What makes it entertaining is that some people may have views that are completely outrageous in the modern world (like supporting slavery or killing off disabled people, has been debated by certain users), and you see them writing 20 paragraphs about how it's ok. That is if they don't get banned...

[Poopingman]

We've all just come to accept that there will be posters who get a sick kick out of replying to any post with things such as: Who Cares? and one I am citing from a recent thread: How long did it take for you to come up with that, Sherlock? These coupled with other straight-up negative comments and personal attacks, and you can easily see why this is a hot topic around here. I posted a rant thread on it a few months ago, explaining it in detail.

[deloriagod]

 

 

 

I enjoy debating too, but I hate it when a topic already has like 10 pages before I read it, then it's too late to jump in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hate that too.. Or when you come back to check the thread and there's 5 pages more than when you left. Not really worth reading everything to try to jump back in..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As far as the discussions being useless.. I wouldn't say they're totally useless. I learn things here. Though they're not always information I can put to good use, but I learned something all the same.

[michiel2]

 

 

 

Exactly. People don't come here depressed looking for the fountain of wisdom and the meaning of life. Most people come here to read something interesting. In many cases it can mean a good argument.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What makes it entertaining is that some people may have views that are completely outrageous in the modern world (like supporting slavery or killing off disabled people, has been debated by certain users), and you see them writing 20 paragraphs about how it's ok. That is if they don't get banned...

 

 

 

Heh, nice said! :P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm here for a bit of entertainment.. and to improve my English skills.

[issy2]

What do you get out of discussions in the Off-Topic forum?

 

 

 

Usually nothing, as in general people (not excluding myself) always assume people are trying to shove information down their throats, avoiding a good discussion and in general flaming when someone else has a different opinion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do you find it possible to deduct any type of conclusion from the information of others, information which is steeped in opinion?

 

 

 

Um, I don't. That's all it is - an opinion, and differing opinions are more interesting because they allow discussion. It's a shame it always ends in flaming. (I know I'm not innocent of this, me included)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you even try? Do you really find any point in rational discussion when most people have their idea of truth deeply embedded within themselves?

 

 

 

I don't get it. :-s

[Nadril]

I learn things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't really give a flying [cabbage] about what you think. You can repeat it over and over again til your face turns blue, I don't care. What I want to know is what you base your thoughts and opinions on, your sources, your background your reasoning. Because I can use those to evaluate my own opinions, my own thoughts, and alter accordingly. And in the process I learn things about subjects I'd never spend time researching otherwise. Someone makes what appears to be an outrageous claim, I look it up - or get the source from whoever made the claim - and all of a sudden, I know something new.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's what keeps me coming back here at regular intervalls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(... not only do I learn things, I learn useful things. Remember the middle east debattes we used to have a few years ago? I wrote one essay and did one project on subjects involving the middle east, something I'd never have had the background knowledge to even consider without this place)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Completly agreed. I've learnred so many different things here including whats simply happening in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course, a good natured debate is always entertaining. :D

[Pete_the_Viscous]

 

 

 

The way I see it is that you discuss to achieve something. Solve the 'problem' or something. Get to some agreement. I don't think I've ever seen that happen here though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While that's an admirable thing to do, the topics that get the most flaming and trolling are usually about issues which have yet to be solved by the greatest minds, and are unlikely to be sorted out in this forum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've been posting far less of late, and that's mainly because I don't really have much to add to the topics that I've seen here recently. Often they're religion topics which have been done to death, or at least topics which soon become religion threads. Sometimes I write a post, then think "bah, there's no real point my saying this" and close the tab without submitting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's a shame, really. I put the lack of topics interesting to me as being down to the moderation and censorship of topics which might have become interesting. That's not really intended as a poke at the moderators or staff -- there are good reasons that most of these threads are closed -- but I do get a bit of a feeling of the forum being aimed (specifically) at children these days.

[Gin_and_Tonic]

I especially enjoy when people who only post in RS General post here and their first insult is "GO PLY UR LVL 3 NOOB" or something like "I CUD PWN U IN DA WILD LOL NOOB", forgetting about life outside of Runescape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100% agreed...OT is a chance to come chat, debate and discuss the real world, as opposed to the pixleated Runescape...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although, certain new members seem to have turned this into the Debate forum, questioning everyones opinion... I'd like to see that stop atleast

[darkmage099]

Entertainment and That (points down)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I learn things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't really give a flying [cabbage] about what you think. You can repeat it over and over again til your face turns blue, I don't care. What I want to know is what you base your thoughts and opinions on, your sources, your background your reasoning. Because I can use those to evaluate my own opinions, my own thoughts, and alter accordingly. And in the process I learn things about subjects I'd never spend time researching otherwise. Someone makes what appears to be an outrageous claim, I look it up - or get the source from whoever made the claim - and all of a sudden, I know something new.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's what keeps me coming back here at regular intervalls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(... not only do I learn things, I learn useful things. Remember the middle east debattes we used to have a few years ago? I wrote one essay and did one project on subjects involving the middle east, something I'd never have had the background knowledge to even consider without this place)