Just an Idea

Since it would actually be possible here, why not have "On Topic" threads where you MUST stay on topic and are not allowed to veer off on some tangent?

For example, if I start a thread in which we discuss the lack of urgency concerning our debt, three pages later, we would still be talking about the debt and not something completely unrelated or a deflection meant to change the intended direction of the conversation? If somebody strays off course, the next guy could put up a :Off Topic for easy moderation. I know it might be a bit hard for some at first, but you don't have to join in the talk if you are unable to stay on point. Isn't that what is demanded in a courthouse? Woudn't some more serious threads go further down the rabbit hole instead of just getting scrambled up with side show distractions?

Maybe the title of the thread could just include "On Topic" and everyone would know not to divert it or they end up in the famous bucket. After a while, offenders would just stay away from those threads rather than waste time filing the bucket. Just an idea.

I like the idea of the "off topic" emoticon as a gentle reminder to get back on topic. I think being on topic is the desire of most topic starters.

However, there are interesting tangents, too. I saw a thread once where the OP said something along the lines of "In another thread Rick pointed out (whatever) and even though it was off topic for XYZ thread I felt it was an interesting point and would like to discuss it further here."

That way the gems that wander off topic don't get lost.

good idea

. I have already moved a few posts that I thought were off topic or just meant to pick a fight.

Tough to administer.
Take my 11in is the new 12 in thread. Is it a dirty joke? Is it about our litigious society? Is it about 2x4s?

Wow, it sure didn't take long to start down the slippery slope. First it was " we just want to get the personal insults out of the courthouse"........now we are moving on (down to?) moderating off topic responses, I can hardly wait to see what the thread police come up with next. This is exactly why I thought a private forum and increased moderation was a bad idea.

archer wrote: Wow, it sure didn't take long to start down the slippery slope. First it was " we just want to get the personal insults out of the courthouse"........now we are moving on (down to?) moderating off topic responses, I can hardly wait to see what the thread police come up with next. This is exactly why I thought a private forum and increased moderation was a bad idea.

archer, you are wrong. That is how it started.

Blazer Bob wrote: Hi folks. I have bought a forum. I do not exactly know how it works, what I will (or can ) do. I do not even know what I want to do. This is a work in progress. An experiment.

It can stop at any time, all I have to do is stop paying the rent.

One thing I can not do is delete anything. My intention is to create a waste basket thread that I think I will call the bit bucket. Everything that I consider off topic or disrespectful I will put there.

I expect that anyone can post there but I hope it becomes a heaping pile of goat turds that no one wants to visit.

I believe the discussion was gentle reminders of an attempt to stay on topic.
Just exactly how was that thread police?
archer.....a couple of things.... This is not your board nor is this paid forum yours to decide how things should be run.
There was a suggestion made based on the desire of some folks to have a cogent dialog.
If you don't like how Bob maintains his private forum, don't participate.
The only real requests I can see being made here is to keep it civil.
WHY is this such a hard concept for a few?
A suggestion was made and the options are being explored. That is all.

edited to add..... the most important word you used in your post was "private forum"

Perhaps you should purchase a "private forum" and show us exactly how it should be run.

I know how it started, and I have been curious to see where it goes. I don't see your private forum adding threads or participation to 285Bound, I see it just moving threads and topics to a different forum where they can be moderated under different rules, and by an exclusive moderator. I know you can't delete posts, but banishing them to the garbage bucket is essentially the same thing. Hey, you bought it and that is your right.....but that doesn't mean I have to like the trend.

archer wrote: I know how it started, and I have been curious to see where it goes. I don't see your private forum adding threads or participation to 285Bound, I see it just moving threads and topics to a different forum where they can be moderated under different rules, and by an exclusive moderator. I know you can't delete posts, but banishing them to the garbage bucket is essentially the same thing. Hey, you bought it and that is your right.....but that doesn't mean I have to like the trend.

If you know how it started why did you say this?

archer wrote: Wow, it sure didn't take long to start down the slippery slope. First it was " we just want to get the personal insults out of the courthouse"........now we are moving on (down to?) moderating off topic responses, .

frogger wrote: I believe the discussion was gentle reminders of an attempt to stay on topic.
Just exactly how was that thread police?
archer.....a couple of things.... This is not your board nor is this paid forum yours to decide how things should be run.
There was a suggestion made based on the desire of some folks to have a cogent dialog.
If you don't like how Bob maintains his private forum, don't participate.
The only real requests I can see being made here is to keep it civil.
WHY is this such a hard concept for a few?
A suggestion was made and the options are being explored. That is all.

edited to add..... the most important word you used in your post was "private forum"

Perhaps you should purchase a "private forum" and show us exactly how it should be run.

Why would I want my own forum, I like 285Bound just as it is.....er was. Now you are suggesting that I cannot even make an observation in Bob's forum without being asked not to participate.

The only real requests I can see being made here is to keep it civil.

That is how it started, now this forum is exploring removing posts that are off topic.....you CAN be off topic and civil.

If Bob truly wanted control over content why not start his own board? Instead he is using 285Bound, and by the very nature of threads from his forum showing up in the "view new posts" those posts should be under the same rules as 285Bound.