Off Topic discussions

Ironheart

Let's discuss how to handle off topic discussions

Ironheart

jshickele .......We are kind of like a closely knit group sitting around a big dinner table with numerous little side conversations interspersed with moments.....

We are indeed, but long rambling threads, make things difficult for the newbie. who will inevitable be told "do a search first" and has to read the whole of several threads, to see if his question has been answered . There is new thread "Is the D7100 Nikon's best camera" which seems to asking a very similar question and getting very similar relies

None of what any of you say has any relevance. There is a thread called 'Too lazy to start a new thread' and that is where all of these spurious irrelevant comment belong.

Ironheart

See how easy it is to pull comments in from other threads? I used this nifty feature that every computer, tablet, and smartphone has called "cut and paste". I first hit "quote" in the original thread, then "select all" then "copy", move to the new thread and then hit "paste".

I humbly suggest this is the best way to have off topic discussions, rather than in the thread itself. You can use this thread, or the "Too lazy..." thread, or start a new one if it already hasn't been started in yet another (do a search first!)

Thoughts? Comments?

Vipmediastar_JZ

I say let the admin and mods weigh on this.

If I ask a question of course I want an on-topic discussion or an answer right away. After it has been asnwered and the thread goes off-topic and its valuable info then let it be. I follow some threads and some I do not.

I have not looked at the too lazy thread at all. Maybe I will maybe I won't but I like to read titles and then if i'm interested i click on them.
If I can provide some input then I do so and if I can't I don't type in "not this again" "here we go again" or "do a serach first"

This is by far my most favorite and useful site. we don't want this site to turn into PP commenters.
thats my .2 cents.

ChasCS

I hate threads with a Mystery title, like, "Oh wow, is this real?"
Now I just have to look, to get the hidden gem!!
Often nothing of interest to me...

So why the secret? Spit if out buddy!! ;-) yeah

Ironheart

Well as a specific example when the "real estate" thread started going off into the DX vs FX weeds, how hard would it have been to put a link into the thread off to a topic of "DX vs FX pros and cons" and have that discussion there, rather than polute the real estate thread (hey maybe we should have a DX/FX thread since this comes up in almost every discussion, but I digress).

Some slightly off topic discussion is fine, like the drone photography discussion in the "real estate" thread because it was pertinent to the discussion of photographing property from the air, but too far off and it does get annoying...

@vip what is PP commenters?

Vipmediastar_JZ

@Ironheart p e t a p i x e l dot com that site usually brings out the worst in people. lol.

ChasCS

There is going to be major private drone exhibits at CES 2014, beginning tomorrow.
http://www.reviewed.com/video?event=ces2014&video=3019229606001

Reading some of the other event blurbs here
http://www.reviewed.com/events/ces2014

Not much on the camera front at this years big event though,,,. :-(
http://www.reviewed.com/video?event=ces2014&video=3019236348001

Msmoto

This thread can go for a while and we will evaluate the posts.

When a thread is started with a mystery title I attempt to clarify this.

Photobug

I agree with Ironheart about the drones. That should have been in it's own forum.

spraynpray

Nikodoby (sp) as a mod was very heavy-handed, but his thinking was clear and infringements were pointed out quickly. I used to think it was OTT but it would probably have limited PaRealtor's thread to two pages of relevant posts which would have been good.

The title 'Too lazy etc.' was made up by him in frustration because of the off-topic posters. IMHO it isn't a great title because it isn't clear to what topic it refers, (!) but I use it for stuff that isn't worthy of a thread proper.

Another forum I visit has a section specifically set aside for such threads and it is named like an English Pub - the atmosphere being similar with humour and topics being very pub-like. Maybe that is a way forward for NR? It is a 'sticky' over there.

Whatever happens, something should be done to re-establish the value of the search facility.

sevencrossing

Nikodoby (sp) as a mod was very heavy-handed, but his thinking was clear and infringements were pointed out quickly. .

Ironheart

(hey maybe we should have a DX/FX thread

But we are all scared, Nico will come back from the dead and close it . It was a topic he hated

Msmoto

I doubt anyone could replace Niko. My style is to be much more free in allowing discussions to move about. The primary function I have is to watch for any personality issues which threaten the extremely positive atmosphere on NRF. Attacks against others are not well tolerated by me. I will attempt to clarify issues if the thread is unclear, such as "What do I do" as a thread title, I would attempt to see what the real question is.

There is often a drifting off topic, and I do this myself. But, this may be done to emphasize the point being made and the "off topic" issues need to be related to the original thread topic, IMO.

I will also close a thread if I think it is someone's ego trip. Like "Look at all my photos" by someone who simply wants to skirt the PAD limitations.

So, I am certain I could be more aggressive in dealing with the side issues of various threads, but, from an overall perspective the atmosphere on NRF seems quite pleasant and there is a huge amount of good information passed around. For the most part I think everyone accepts the various opinions, with only an occasional incident of conflict.

Having viewed other forums, I like NRF the best.

Thank you Peter.

ThomasHorton

I hate threads with a Mystery title, like, "Oh wow, is this real?"
So why the secret? Spit if out buddy!! ;-) yeah

That and threads entitled "I have a question" (facepalm)

These forums would benefit if the members would learn how to construct a useful and descriptive title.

WestEndBoy

At a high level, asking members to follow procedures is a little like hearding cats. There are instances where a new thread is appropriate and as a member, I will try to be more diligent about that.

In the end, as Msmoto said, the moderators will review the comments and make the necessary "policy and procedure" adjustments. I think the forum is great and ultimately the credit goes to the leadership of the moderators (or whomever they report to). I will be happy to defer to them and will not begrudge them if their choices are "not perfect for me". Neither should any other member.

shawnino

I think threads here are closed arbitrarily, and often too quickly.

The D300s Successor thread is some sort of group therapy (I'm as guilty of participating as anyone else) at 1845 posts and counting--plus however many hundred were on the old forum. Still useful? I'm not sure.

Somebody wondering if a used D4 on for $3500 is a good deal/stolen/who-the-hell-knows starts a thread and after 12 posts it gets closed with "If it smells to good to be true, it is because it is not." - See more at: http://forum.nikonrumors.com/discussion/2192/nikon-d4-for-3500-wo-box-warranty#Item_12

Lots of us buy used. Some posters are pros at it. Me? I'm a moron. Actually, that's an insult to morons (IQ 51-70). I'm more of an idiot (26-50). I wish more advice had been allowed to be given in that thread. I actually started looking online: there are ways to figure out some of these issues. I returned here to post a couple sources, but the thread was closed.

ChasCS

We won't know if reading that camera thread, whether it was hot, cold or just being kept warm for its next owner...
It didn't bother me to see it being closed, at all. But there is something that bugs the heck out of me.
I hate with a passion, people who are self deprecating...

Smarten up ya big dummy!! J/k ;-) but seriously, no one here is below anyone else, we are equals.
Sure there are levels of knowledge, but just because some of Us are still learning,
Ah, this simply makes us students, say no more,,,.

heartyfisher

I have often done some research on topics and crafted a reply only to come back to a closed thread .. :-(

Maybe we need a thread that request a thread reopen.. .. maybe post your reason .. reply in that thread. ? not exactly sure how that would work.. maybe the moderator that closed it can copy the reply back into the reopened thread .. or maybe have it as a thread of lost threads in general :-) call it the twilight zone ? ;-)

adamz

and maybe you could just simply email the mod or send her/him a PM? isn't the easiest solution? sometimes we close topics when ppl get to angry and emotions are taking over. sometimes if we see a particular question asked for xxxxxxx time and sometimes we just do it because. after all, we are only humans - except Tommie, she is supernatural

ChasCS

I hate threads with a Mystery title, like, "Oh wow, is this real?"
So why the secret? Spit if out buddy!! ;-) yeah

That and threads entitled "I have a question" (facepalm)

These forums would benefit if the members would learn how to construct a useful and descriptive title.

Sometimes that tiny Face Palm doesn't quite meet the posters true meaning,

But this will... tell you the true feeling!! ;-) (-;

Yeah eh?

sevencrossing

I see the "is the D7100 the best camera thread " is turning into the usual DX vs FX argument

Msmoto

@adamz

Mmmm…….

heartyfisher

I see the "is the D7100 the best camera thread " is turning into the usual DX vs FX argument

i knew i should have restarted my "FX is dead" thread .. :-)

WestEndBoy

The "Quote" button is really useful.

A "quote in new thread" button would be really useful.

Ironheart

That's what cut and past are for. You quote it, cut the text from the comment box and paste into whatever thread you want.

WestEndBoy

That's what cut and past are for. You quote it, cut the text from the comment box and paste into whatever thread you want.

Sure, that works. That means we also don't need the quote button. However, my idea is probably a pipe dream as the software for this site probably does not have that feature and the mods are photographers, not programmers.