Free for all "off-topic" board?

[Moonchild]

This came up in a recent thread where folks got offended by closing an off-topic topic.

The ball was tossed up if we should have an "off-topic" board that is a no holds barred area, discuss anything you want, post anything you want (subject to common sense rules of course). If my attempt at keeping things focused on Pale Moon development is seen as "battening down the hatches" and "enforcing too strict control", then I'll just leave the decision up to you.

If the community at large wants to have a board like that, I'll be willing to create it on this forum, BUT with the following understandings:

• The board will have to be self-moderated. I'll ask our mods to stay out of your way, but the other side of that coin is that you may find very personally offensive content in it, and as a general rule we won't step in if you feel offended by content posted there. Use the friends/foes list, don't visit the board, or otherwise apply self-restraint like a proper adult.
• We do ask that you do not post content not suitable for the (mature) general public, is pornographic, is defamatory or libelous, or is otherwise considered in violation of the law.
• We will in general not apply our community code of conduct principles to that one board as an exception.

If stuff really gets out of hand, and it becomes a shameful display of people being unable to behave themselves, then we reserve the right to shut it down, of course.

[Sajadi]

Sounds like a good idea - that is what almost all boards do have - Some space where you can talk things unrelated to general board topics.

This can be an enrichment with great benefits - So, there is no reason not to insert such a place like that

[Moonchild]

This can be an enrichment with great benefits - So, there is no reason not to insert such a place like that

There are plenty of reasons not to have it. It can also be a distraction, or can turn into a cesspool, to name a few things.

[Isengrim]

I honestly don't care one way or the other, so I will probably refrain from voting, at least for now.

[Nightbird]

MC,
I never posted in the closed thread but i have sometimes the feeling that this forum is something resembling a straightjacket, with rules and discipline.
Maybe for you this is (only) a product forum but what’s wrong with people talking about other things ? That can be cordial and grown-up.
I voted "yes".

[therube]

No.

Actually it all depends on the people involved & if they are able to segregate (see segregation is good) their views, thoughts on the PM forum vs OT forum.

And they will not, so there will be spillover.
People will end up pissed off at one another on OT (which is fine), & the same will come back to haunt the PM end (which is not good).

---

The only thing I'd like to get a feel for in an OT forum is some stuff, Russia.
And driving, & drivers.
And pedestrians.
(And why maybe many [?] use the word, schmuck?)

[Nigaikaze]

or can turn into a cesspool

Considering how inflamed members of this forum have gotten in the past, and how many times that has happened, I can easily see this as being the most likely outcome.

[Michaell]

Another phpBB forum I'm a member of has one of these sections, and yea it is a cesspool. They have it set to not show results for New Posts and Active Topics which helps keep stray visitors away. Also, you have to login to view it. Deleting threads is used liberally as needed, more so than banning users.

[Moonraker]

Nice idea.
Free speech in a free board.it will be putting the cat among the pidgeons so to speak.

I can see people getting banned in a matter of days lol.

[New Tobin Paradigm]

Well maybe you'll be one of them. I can only hope and dream.

I voted yes, btw.

[moonie]

Why not? I don't come here for that sort of thing personally, but if enough people want it...

[John connor]

I think it's a good idea myself. I have an off topic category on my board called The Pub. But it's moderated and if I see posts that are unrelated they are sent to The Pub. So it's easy clean up. No, I don't think such a subforum should be unmoderated because that WILL create a wild west and then the subforum will disappear. It should be moderated, but to a lesser degree than what is normal. Like going after flamers or trolls, etc. All boards have this.

Again, good idea, diverts off topic content and it should have some common sense basic moderation to keep things from escalating out of control.

PS. I would like a subforum like this to perhaps talk about with the other PM users that might like to watch Rick & Morty, or other computer related subjects that aren't related to the other subforms, but may be of interest to fellow PM users.

[back2themoon]

'Off-topic' looks "promising" already...

Voted no. PM is a small project with lots of creative and hard work on its hands. I'd also love a place to chat about music etc. but there are better venues for that. Additional drama and distractions are unnecessary and it's obviously not going to be about "music" for long. Oh look... it already started.

[Lucio Chiappetti]

I voted no, but I won't mind and actually may like some questions not directly PM-related but about other computing issues.
Concerning completely off-topic threads like the one I seem to understand whose closure instigated the poll, if they are not dominant, I am likely to ignore them by title, or after the first access, as they are unlikely to interest me. So they could be harmless.

You should have set a quorum to change current policy, current votes are too close to 50/50 for one "majority" to prevail on its "minority'.

[New Tobin Paradigm]

Someone implied that the need for this is related to the gradual progression towards a more serious environment that by that nature has become less tollerent to less serious or silly antics happening.

My question is what did you expect was going to happen when we all started taking the work more serious and exponentially expanded in scope and complexity?

The other side of why things might have a more serious tone now are as follows:

People out there don't just want to not use what we have to offer and even to trash talk our projects but want to trash talk us. Some of them want to abuse our rights. Some of them want us punished for thoughtcrime. Some of them want us totally exterminated for the mere crime of continuing to exist. They want to destroy us and anyone involved or who agrees with us even incidentally.

You have to take it serious when you compare and contrast what else is going on in the world.

Context is everything. When it was simpler 5 years ago and we were doing one thing only and Mozilla had not yet gone over the cliff and the world and its people were less dangerous and not so much out for blood and disagreeing with someone wasn't considered a hate crime.. It could be more lighthearted and fun.

Things are different now not only locally but also globally.

With the work its self being more expansive and critical along with the increased threat of the crazies I dunno if things could ever be like they were.

Some of the directly on topic focus and serious down to business tone could also be because we don't want to stray too far away and give the crazies a chance to gain a foothold on the forum.

Incursions have already happened by random crazies but of course none as spectacular as those with the primary weapon of anti-Tobinism to use me as a means to wear down the place.

That isn't to say everyone who has an issue with me falls into that category and that I haven't gone too far on occasion and was rightly called out for it. But some have been part of a coordinated long term agenda to destroy me, the project(s) using me as a justification, or want me gone thinking it would cause degradation of the project(s) and eventual collapse since I have contribued a lot.

There are other things that don't focus on me and indeed predate my involvement. Google's ads on the forum and declaration that we are a browser toolbar ONLY. Mozillazine, etc.

[Thehandyman1957]

You have to take it serious when you compare and contrast what else is going on in the world.

Context is everything. When it was simpler 5 years ago and we were doing one thing only and Mozilla had not yet gone over the cliff and the world and its people were less dangerous and not so much out for blood and disagreeing with someone wasn't considered a hate crime.. It could be more lighthearted and fun.

Things are different now not only locally but also globally.

With the work its self being more expansive and critical along with the increased threat of the crazies I dunno if things could ever be like they were.

Some of the directly on topic focus and serious down to business tone could also be because we don't want to stray too far away and give the crazies a chance to gain a foothold on the forum.

Well said, I myself would love to see a off topic board but I'm afraid a non moderated board
might not end well either. I don't want to see the project image get dinged because of something
that was said or happened on a un-moderated board. I would not be against the idea of
moderating that part of the forum if folks were in favor of it.

[New Tobin Paradigm]

You know why I voted yes? Because people need a visual aid.

Most people won't listen and need something to look at because they have lost or never had the ability for predictive conceptual visualization.

I am almost positive how this will progress and I think we should let it happen. If I can't teach them perhaps reality playing out can.

----

This is exactly how it should look..

Off-topic
Vaguely un-moderated board where anything goes provided it isn't pornographic, the traditional definition of hate speech, or otherwise illegal. Read and post at your own risk! You have been warned.

It should also be excluded from the search and special pages like Unread posts if possible and only show up for those logged in.

MAYBE I should be the one assigned to watch over it!

[Nightbird]

Thehandyman1957 :
I don't want to see the project image get dinged because of something
that was said or happened on a un-moderated board

Here guests are not allowed to write and sometimes to see some forum's categories
You can make an entire category "private" or "hidden" (i guess that any forum software can do it)

[Nigaikaze]

MAYBE I should be the one assigned to watch over it!

That's actually a very appealing idea.

[mr tribute]

MAYBE I should be the one assigned to watch over it!

Yes and you are welcome to participate in the "Unofficial Interlink discussion & support" thread I might create...