Split Topic - tell us what you think

Post deleted as is now out of context with the thread it was originally posted in

- For the record though, the OT forum is fine as it is, seen worse stuff in the on-topic forum

Jon B

I dont think that mods EVER need to tell us what topics we can discuss as long as they do not contravene the t's and c's of the board - the football ones were becoming a little silly and are on the way to becoming personal, petty and nasty!!

[Nottingham Nick]

I have split this away from the original thread in order to get views of the members on subject the Off Topic forum.

The forum has now been up and running for a few months and it may be time to take stock.

There is a feeling, held by some, that the forum detracts from the original intention and core purpose of the site. There is a counter argument, that it gives a place to air views and topics that wouldn't fit into the categories defined by the main forum and is harmless.

What do people think?

Is the Off topic forum a good idea?

Should the forum be a place where people can insult or demean others purely based on what football team they support?

Should it be moderated more robustly?

Should it be moderated less?

Should certain subjects (football, for example) be taboo?

The views of the membership are always welcomed but, as we decide on the direction V-Flyer is going to take in the future, this is a particularly thorny issue and we are interested in opinions.



Nick

Since its inception the "Off Topic" section has contained approximately 300 topics. The debate around having the OT section or not was the fact that often posts went Off topic and were not about Virgin Atlantic or associated companies or flying in general.

So I believe the debate is probably as follows -

1. Should there be an Off Topic section at all - and simply keep the whole forum to VS etc matters with mods patrolling to keep things on topic or

2.Should there be an Off Topic section where anything goes ( within the t and c's of the board regarding decency etc) or

3. Should there be an Off Topic section with limits on potential topics?

Personally I am happy with it as it is and if I get fed up with a post then I either dont reply or send a PM to the person concerned. Has anything that has been said upset anyone - in the football stuff if you dont like football then I suggest you dont read it - there are plenty of topis on here that do not interest me - so I dont read them - simple!! Personal censorship is always the easiest and most specific.

I'm all for the Off Topic Forum - in my opinion, anything goes but clearly any insulting or demeaning beahviour is unacceptable. One would assume that this is not allowed under the t/c s of the site anyway so should not be a problem.

45.

I'm with MarkJ and VS045 on this. I like the O/T forum as it provides that "water cooler" environment for people to range far and wide about things of general interest, but civilised discourse must be the order of the day.

Paul

[Neil]

I also like the OT forum and think it adds to the community feel the site provides. Also I don't think it needs moderating more harshly, there will always be disagreements and people who don't see eye to eye, but hopefully we are all old and sensible enough to respect others views/feelings etc and not let things get out of hand, and if not then hopefully the mods would step in.

I too like the OT, it is nice to post some general questions, and as long as it is civil. It is nice to get to know others a little more on the forum. [y]

DMB

I personally feel that the Off-Topic section is fine as it is and does not need tinkering with. Football threads and the banter associated with it are inevitable and there's nothing wrong with discussing about football and disagreeing with one another.

Off Topic is also a social part of the site for those who don't normally go to the VF socials and want to talk about anything without worry.

I like the off topic to be honest, if it descends in to insults and insinuations or belittleing people then that should be stamped out.

It is possible to have a differing opinion to the next person and an intelligent person should be able to quantify the different viewpoint without resorting to insult. Thats the difference between debate and
argument for arguments sake.

If it got out of hand though i think it would diminish the overall attraction of this site which is a community of people with a common interest.

there are plenty of forums where sad lonely cowardly people can spend their hours engratiating themselves insulting people that they know can't hit back at them.

I like off topic.
I just don't read what I'm not interested in.

If a thread does start to get petty and personal, hopefully one party is mature enough to let it drop, at which point the thread will naturally end. Or better still the petty and personal argument will continue, and give the rest of us a laugh at how petty and personal these forums can be.