TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Self Moderation of the On-Topic Forum

Go To

First, let me make it clear that shutting down OTC altogether would not harm the wiki's mission in any way. It is being hosted solely out of courtesy toward the interests of tropers wanting to have a conversation.

Secondly, if OTC regulars don't start to report derails and stop falling for troll bait, in short, become more self moderating and participating more in bringing in moderation help when needed, I'll have no problem at all with shutting it down.

Thirdly, I'll underscore that falling for troll tactics is the fault of the fish. This forum is expected to be more savvy, not less. Stop being made fools of.


2024 update:

There is a list of banned OTC topics here. Please read it. We take these rules seriously.

Edited by Mrph1 on Mar 29th 2024 at 11:08:22 AM

mahel042 State-sponsored username from Stockholm,Sweden Since: Dec, 2009
State-sponsored username
#351: Nov 2nd 2011 at 12:58:09 AM

As an example, should I report the last two posts for being off-topic? or do they fall within acceptable limits?

In the quiet of the night, the Neocount of Merentha mused: How long does evolution take, among the damned?
Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#352: Nov 2nd 2011 at 7:29:17 AM

They fall within acceptable limits right now. They're a minor, lighthearted exchange. There's very little chance that they'll drag the conversation off-topic for more than a couple of posts. If the discussion were to stay on the topic of whether I should have said "photons" or "time" or something else entirely, it would be trending off-topic.

The key to off-topic or not is whether it comes back on-topic after a brief digression or shows signs that it can be brought back on-topic.

And, Mahel, what you did was a very effective way of bringing it back on-topic. *applause*

edited 2nd Nov '11 7:31:07 AM by Madrugada

PacificState Love Saves from Reef Since: Sep, 2011
Love Saves
#353: Nov 2nd 2011 at 8:09:22 AM

I suppose that if I posted an amusing video of people applauding I would be off-topic again, would I not?

A case of true love has the same redeeming power as a case of genuine curiosity: they are the same.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#354: Nov 2nd 2011 at 8:23:36 AM

Kind of, yes. In fact, "image macros" and the like are an incredibly annoying meme.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
BlixtySlycat |like a boss| from Driving the Rad Hazard Since: Aug, 2011
|like a boss|
#355: Nov 2nd 2011 at 8:34:29 AM

Is that annoying as in "it bothers me" or annoying as in "you will be reported and punished for using them"? And if the latter, just here or in the entire forum? People use them all the time in Yack Fest.

go ahead and do every stupid thing you can imagine
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#356: Nov 2nd 2011 at 8:36:02 AM

Annoying as in "it bothers me", although from the perspective of OTC, I'd be inclined to moderate them heavily as they contribute nothing to a conversation. Yack Fest is a different matter, of course — quite a bit more is allowed there.

edited 2nd Nov '11 8:39:39 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
BobbyG vigilantly taxonomish from England Since: Jan, 2001
vigilantly taxonomish
#357: Nov 2nd 2011 at 2:54:47 PM

With regards to OTC, I'd treat image macros the same way as posts consisting only of a single joke - potentially OK, but only when used sparingly and in the right context. When in doubt, best avoided.

Welcome To TV Tropes | How To Write An Example | Text Formatting Rules | List Of Shows That Need Summary | TV Tropes Forum | Know The Staff
Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
#358: Nov 8th 2011 at 3:09:09 PM

Question - what's the best way to proceed if you want to start a discussion about an interesting debate, but don't yet have an opinion on it yourself?

What's precedent ever done for us?
abstractematics Since: May, 2011
#359: Nov 8th 2011 at 5:04:08 PM

I guess present clearly the topic and explain what we can discuss. I've had threads where I was unsure of my position, so I just said that I wasn't sure.

If you don't have set opinions, perhaps you have questions to ask about it. Presenting some sample questions would be a good approach.

Now using Trivialis handle.
BobbyG vigilantly taxonomish from England Since: Jan, 2001
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#361: Nov 10th 2011 at 7:41:02 AM

Agreed. Frame the conversation and give it some direction. Ask questions. Engage readers.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
BlixtySlycat |like a boss| from Driving the Rad Hazard Since: Aug, 2011
|like a boss|
#362: Nov 12th 2011 at 2:31:05 PM

But I'm not ready for that kind of commitment yet!

go ahead and do every stupid thing you can imagine
PacificState Love Saves from Reef Since: Sep, 2011
Love Saves
#363: Nov 13th 2011 at 9:53:04 AM

[up]Anyone can give an Engaging Conversation. Come on, troper, move into position, engage those readers!

And this is how you derail a perfectly good conversation. So don't do it.

edited 13th Nov '11 9:53:45 AM by PacificState

A case of true love has the same redeeming power as a case of genuine curiosity: they are the same.
whaleofyournightmare Decemberist from contemplation Since: Jul, 2011
Decemberist
#364: Nov 13th 2011 at 12:04:39 PM

I have a question,

Say we're talking about a debt crisis on a continent and in one of those countries, there is dissent in the army, is talking about past coups and the threat of a current coup offtopic?

Dutch Lesbian
abstractematics Since: May, 2011
#365: Nov 13th 2011 at 3:02:03 PM

Can you make a conclusion that brings it back to the given topic?

Now using Trivialis handle.
whaleofyournightmare Decemberist from contemplation Since: Jul, 2011
Decemberist
#366: Nov 13th 2011 at 3:21:45 PM

Well, the threat of a coup might be on-going because of the debt crisis.

Dutch Lesbian
abstractematics Since: May, 2011
#367: Nov 14th 2011 at 10:29:42 AM

I also think that thread titles should try to be objective and inviting, not repulsive. That should be part of the guidelines.

Now using Trivialis handle.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#368: Nov 14th 2011 at 12:11:55 PM

Speculation about possible coups in a thread about economic policy is at best tangential to the main topic. I would try to steer it back.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
PacificState Love Saves from Reef Since: Sep, 2011
Love Saves
#369: Nov 14th 2011 at 12:23:08 PM

Yeah, otherwise the next logical step is mentioning Nazis, and. Then. We're. Gone.

A case of true love has the same redeeming power as a case of genuine curiosity: they are the same.
abstractematics Since: May, 2011
#370: Nov 14th 2011 at 3:49:01 PM

I've been noticing an explosion of threads made in direct response to a new item. Problem is, the discussion gets fractured into very narrow topics with this trend. Maybe we could have threads being about actual topics beyond just news items, if two articles talk about similar things, they could be merged.

Any thoughts?

Now using Trivialis handle.
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#371: Nov 14th 2011 at 5:27:17 PM

Agreed. I'd go further and dedicate news threads to a particular topic (like we have for the Middle East protests and the Presidential elections, etc) so that even if one line of discussing falls away, another one on the same topic can take its place.

So yeah, similar topics should be merged.

abstractematics Since: May, 2011
#372: Nov 14th 2011 at 5:29:49 PM

I really wish the software would support split & merge...

edited 14th Nov '11 5:30:00 PM by abstractematics

Now using Trivialis handle.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#373: Nov 15th 2011 at 7:50:01 AM

It's enough to lock the duplicates and point them at the proper thread. If you want to be polite you can link to the locked thread or quoteblock relevant portions, so people in the combined thread can follow along.

Eddie might add split/merge at some point but I wouldn't base my posting choices on it.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
FastEddie Since: Apr, 2004
#375: Nov 15th 2011 at 9:37:27 AM

What is OWS?

Goal: Clear, Concise and Witty

Total posts: 692
Top