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So what is off topic, what is enough?

Ok, so if one were to post something leo related in the Leo Forum, a picture of a leo for instance, and then later in the thread he or she posts a picture of, say, a fishtank to show his buddies, would that be acceptable? I am not being a smart A, seriously I want to know if that's ok?

Or would it be better to post a link to the acceptable forum? For example, if someone wants to show off his new ferret to his leo forum buddies, could he start a new thread in the Leo Forum titled, "New Ferret - Link Inside!", and then post a link to his post/pics in the Ferret Forum?
 
I think the second part of your question is good. That's what caused this current issue - the desire to share something off topic with your friends. I think even posting a link would be against the rules.

I really don't know. I think it's a bunch of hoopla over something that isn't very important in the long run.
 
shrap said:
As usual, Kelli is dead on.

If the discussion forums were held to a strict policy of nothing off topic, then it really would not be much of a community in any of them. It would be more of a formal business-like atmosphere and I really do not think that is what people come to forums for.

People come to relax, enjoy some conversation and share a part of themselves and their lives, and that does not go hand in hand with being on topic. If you take that out of the forums then you are taking away the true essence of why people come to them in the first place....
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This was also discussed before at sometime in the past. I don't believe there was any agreed upon resolution, but the general argument was that some people had a problem with a clique forming in the leopard gecko forum, excluding the rest of the site in the process. The other side of the argument was that the people in that particular forum knew each there and wanted to keep ALL of their conversations isolated within that one forum. Basically sharing info with their friends and ONLY their friends.

Personally I can see both sides to that argument. But as the admin for this site I would have to lean towards a bit more structured division in the posting. The reason for this is because the argument to have an isolated population within a specific forum, regardless of the subject matter being discussed, is rather short sighted and rather tinged with selfishness. The idea of a forum site like this is to SHARE information and discussions. If someone might be interested in the topic that has been posted in an inappropriate forum, then it makes it extremely difficult for someone on the outside who may be interested in that TOPIC to actually find it to join in on the conversation. Realistically, this was one of the goals of my setting up discussion forums (and lots of them): places where information can be shared and made available to people with an interest in the topics at hand. Anyone making this a more difficult process then it needs to be is being rather contrary to not only the goals of a site like this, but actually appearing to be rude to the rest of the members here who might not be frequent visitors to that isolated forum.

So when I was asked to put in an "off topic" subforum for the leopard gecko forum, I declined, for the reasons mentioned above. There ARE a few forums on this site which are about as free form as you can get as far as subject matter is concerned. I saw absolutely no reason at all to add another one strictly for leopard gecko enthusiasts.
 
So when I was asked to put in an "off topic" subforum for the leopard gecko forum, I declined, for the reasons mentioned above. There ARE a few forums on this site which are about as free form as you can get as far as subject matter is concerned. I saw absolutely no reason at all to add another one strictly for leopard gecko enthusiasts.
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I respect your choices, always, and I think an Off Topic Subforum would be kinda silly. I'll figure out another forum to post the occasional pics of my boys. It makes me really happy to share the pictures, I know you understand.
 
I agree with what you are saying Rich. An entire thread about fishtanks in the Leo forum is probably taking it too far. Using that as an example just because it is a recent situation.

I was more referring to things getting off topic in appropriate threads. Example: Someone starts a "new hatchlings" thread and somewhere along the line someone mentions off hand about all the people they met at the herp show last week, or what they had for dinner.... or whatever. That type of off topic stuff is the kind that I think you have been, and should continue to be, pretty lenient about. That kinda stuff is just folks talking just like they would be if they were talking in person. It is normal conversation.
 
WebSlave said:
I'm trying to be fairly lenient in the discussion forums, but if I should happen to post a subtle nudge that a thread or direction of a thread is getting off topic, I do expect people to take the hint. If that doesn't work, then they will get (and have gotten) warning points for ignoring my suggestion.

In the future I guess I just have to be a bit more hardlined about it. I'm trying to play nice, but some people just don't seem to get it. If you start a thread in a forum that is NOT appropriate, then that is known as posting "off topic" and can earn you a warning point. Do it enough times, and you will find yourself suspended and fined for failing to get with the program.

If you post in the thread something like "I know this is off topic.....", then stop right there, delete what you just wrote, and find the forum on this site where it WILL be on topic and invite the people you want to discuss it with there.

Sorry the message did not get across sufficiently earlier.
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Whoops...I posted pix of a couple of my other creatures along with my new Leo in the leo discussion forum; I'll just tell on myself here before you find out yourself, haha. Wasn't meant as an affront though, I was just showing off the new girl I got from KelliH...and I had promised her in private that I was going to post pix of my panthers so she could see that Lilly was going to be in good hands. But I'm sorry; if you wish me to modify it, tell me and I'll do it immediately :)
 
I guess some have already addressed this part but a post going off topic is totally different to me than a an OFF TOPIC that had another forum to be in.

Ive seen alot of post of here is my Leo, then a snake, crestie or other reptile as an addition, I don't see them as off topic.

There are always going to be things that stray from the initial point and some personal post from time to time and I think that is normal and should be fine.

The fish thing just hit a nerve at the end of a hlong hard bad day and any other day probably would not have bothered me to post about it, but fish have a forum of their own and those forums like it that are not used much could get more attention if post were put there for people to view and read.

Kelli, I don't think its that you are above the rules in my eyes.

Posting a photo of your child is different to me, and not becuse its you, just because children are not reptiles and that kind of sharing should be allowed in every forum. Its how we get to know each other better.
 
Posting a photo of your child is different to me, and not becuse its you, just because children are not reptiles and that kind of sharing should be allowed in every forum. Its how we get to know each other better.
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I think so as well, but now I am uncertain as to whether this is allowed. Is it?
 
I think that the occasional inclusion of pics of friends and family is along the same lines as some of the previous "get to know you threads" in the leo forum such as the put a face to the screen name, or the list what you own in addition to leos threads, and are okay and "on topic" in a circuitous type of way since they are about leo owners.

A lot of the species forums on this site are under utilized and posting off topic posts relating to these animals, in my opinion, does a bit of a disservice to the site. I've heard some use the lament / excuse that no one reads these other forums. Maybe, however, if people used them for their stated purpose that would change.

Posting off topic species posts in the wrong forum can also hide these threads from individuals that may have a genuine interest in the animals being discussed. As an example: I like garter snakes and check the garter snake forum regularly for new posts, but never look at the gecko forum; if someone posted an off topic garter snake thread in the gecko forum, I likely wouldn't see it.

-Alice
 
Thanks Alice, you seem to say thing much more politely than I do!

I really think that all of these "not used" forums could and would be used if threads were put where they belonged.
 
Sorry I just read this

A_Kendergirl said:
On the other side (Wendy) you can't have it both ways. If there is no toleration for off topic posts, then it's shouldn't matter what the subject is. I personally like hearing from my friends about what's interesting in their life - be it their sons, or their fish. If it was a newcomer to the forum and they saw a post about Kelli's son they wouldn't like it because they do not know her as we do. You can't let the fact that you like Kelli cloud the issue - such a post would be off topic no matter how you look at it.
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Shanti, I just read this in its entirety and I don't want it both ways, but in my HONEST OPINION this is a fauna forum, and the categories are set as such, there is not, Family Matters Forum, or a Let me Share my Family Forum. There are all FAUNA forums and thats its, other than:

Welcome &
Sound Off


Im sorry but children do not belong in Welcome, thats for newbies, and well they do sometimes need to be in sound off but not all the time.

Im not asking for anything to be BOTH ways, what I am ASKING for I guess if IF it IS FAUNA related ( ya know Animals, especially the animals of a particular region or period, considered as a group) that it be kept in that group.

Children are not animals and they should be allowed in any area that the poster sees fit.

Unless you Shanti feel that there is a forum for Children and our lives with them are already built into the fauna forums by catagory.
 
Since you are dragging this back up, I'll say again that I do not mind the vast majority of off-topic postings. That's what happens when you have a conversation with another person. However, some people get their knickers in a twist over off-topic postings. Children are not animals, and I never said they were (but they can act like them!), but does that make it any less off-topic?

This forum has a problem with making rules and sticking to them. All I ask for is consistency. If you tell me off-topic posting is bad and you'd better not do it or you'll get stung - then that rule should apply to all off-topic posting. The round-about route doesn't apply - just as the photos of a leo owner's kids are off-topic, so are the photos of a leo owners fish tanks. See what I'm saying?

Do I think that topics about certain animals should go in the forums created for them? Yes

Do I think that family photos are off-topic? Yes
Do I care? No - In fact, I like it.

Do I think people need to worry about silly things like this a lot less? A really big YES. There are so many things in life that are more important.

I've recently seen SO many people wanting to share their life, but because the rules change here on a daily basis, they are afraid too. I've seen a number of "Here's my family/kids/other pets I love.....but just so I don't get spanked, here's a leo to keep you happy". It's really sad that people feel that it's necessary.
 
dragonflyreptiles said:
The fish thing just hit a nerve at the end of a hlong hard bad day and any other day probably would not have bothered me to post about it, but fish have a forum of their own and those forums like it that are not used much could get more attention if post were put there for people to view and read.
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This is at least the second "complaining" type thread you have started where the reason you complained seems to be related, ie "bad day". While the threads may have been not to your standards or opinion of what is proper, I really don't see why they get under your skin enough to make whole threads about them. Report them (I wonder who reported the original thread?), or better yet, just ignore them. Really, on these days maybe you should just kick back, relax, and stay off fauna (or at least the BOI and any threads clearly marked off topic) for the day so you don't get so bunched up.



dragonflyreptiles said:
Shanti, I just read this in its entirety and I don't want it both ways, but in my HONEST OPINION this is a fauna forum, and the categories are set as such, there is not, Family Matters Forum, or a Let me Share my Family Forum. Children are not animals and they should be allowed in any area that the poster sees fit.
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I agree with Shanti, that it seems like you do want it both ways. I don't think there is a car forum here, not to mention guns, girlfriend/boyfriend, astronomy etc, etc forums, but I bet if I posted pictures of a 1973 Trans-am with a 455 HO blueprinted motor, or talked about girlfriend problems, or some other "non fauna, non forum" subject in the Leo forum, you would probably post a "complaint" thread.

Don't get me wrong, I'm by no means complaining about Kelli's family photos. In fact, I'm in the "who cares if posts go off topic, divulge too much info, "seem" superfluous," category of forum participant. If I don't like a thread.......I ignore it. If a thread is clearly marked as off topic, and it doesn't interest me....I ignore it. If a thread gets vulgar, or turns into the same two people arguing for 12 pages.......I bow out. Sometimes, if a thread is not labled properly, and it is off topic, I get a tiny bit bunched up (I'm on dial-up afterall), but not enough that I post a "not my standard" or "not proper in my opinion", thread.
 
Shanti, I did not mean to "bring it back up" my time is limited since I have taken a serious note to the time taken from my family to be on here so so much. I read and reply to what I can when I can and that is not near as often as in the past.

See I do not think that family photos are off topic since there is no area for them as a seperate topic.

John as for the girls, cars, etc, Im pretty sure they should be in Genderal BS or Sound OFF at my best guess.

Maybe I do want it both ways and I am too blinded my my opinion of what is on or off topic to see that.

If I had known that this would go from fish need to be in the fish section and dogs in the dogs to Kelli posted pics of her son, Id never of brought it up to be honest. I think we can post pics of our kids within and thread we post on.

So I guess I am off topic of posting a pic of my daughter in mammals, not in my opinion but in the yes of others, oh well, sorry about that.

I do not know who reported the fish thread since Rich had already nicely made a comment to its correct area and received a smart assded remark about it. I found it after Rich posted and was smirked at.
 
wow, its nice to see that at least one of my posts has become famous ;)

although i do think it is extremely immature for it to to brought up so many times by one person..after seeing what an innocent off topic post has done, i do not even want to post here anymore, some people just need to lighten up, i was sharing a photo of a fishtank with friends, it happened to be on a different forum...where i KNEW people...big deal..its not like i post off topic crap every day, hell i barely post anymore, its either i'm answring a question, or sharing pics of my geckos, its turning into some really petty BS, get over it already
 
Dan I didn't even notice it was you that posted it until later, I tend to ship over the sig lines since I am short on time these days. I don't get to post as much as Id liek to nowadays, I have had to re evaluate some things and spend more time with my family.

And its not just your post at all, there are alot in the leo and other forums, yours just happened to be the one that got picked on I guess.

I still have your veiled :)
 
Not that I care either way but I would say having received warning points for posting in the wrong forum two times prior would indicate that you just don't care to follow that particular rule.
 
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