What is Off-Topic for the AH?

[CrimsonMaiden]

This discussion came about as a result of Sarah's "Is the AH forum a wash-out?" thread. Many are tired of all of the bashing and vitriol that spew from the political threads, etc. Laurel has stated that if we can agree with a 2/3 majority what is considered off-topic, we can give those guidelines to her and then posts/threads can be reported citing those guidelines and they will be moved to another forum.

I received a clarification from Laurel on what has to be done. She has not specified where the posts would be moved to.

1) The guidelines must be specific. Saying "no gender-related or race-related threads" is not specific enough.

2) Also, the guidelines must be drawn up and voted on in total - NOT one by one - in a poll. The poll must be an "I Agree" or "I Disagree" with these set of rules, as a whole. So we are going to have to agree on what we want included before the poll instead of being able to vote in each individual topic.

3) The poll must be left up for 1 month to give everyone a chance to vote.

The tagline for the AH reads: A place for writers and readers to socialize and discuss the craft of writing.

It seems to me that the chat threads, game threads, etc. can be counted under the socializing threads and of course all writerly threads are covered under the craft of writing.

So what do you think is off-topic for this forum?

We can use this thread to discuss and come up with the guidelines we feel are Off-Topic and then a public poll will be created (per Laurel's instructions). If a 2/3 majority agrees on the Off-Topic guidelines, then any posts that fall under those can be reported and removed.

This is the time for all of you who have posted/complained/vented about the state of the AH and how it's no longer enjoyable to come forward and take action. We now have the opportunity to do something about it.

I'll start by saying I believe political threads are indeed Off-Topic for this forum. I also believe that we should have a "reporting guideline" whereas a certain number of members (maybe 5?) must report a thread before it can be moved for being off-topic. That way, something doesn't get moved just because of one person's opinion.

I will keep this thread edited to maintain a list of the topics suggested as being included in the Off-Topic guidelines so no one has to search through the thread to read them all.

So, now's your chance. What do you think?


Considered Off-Topic to this forum:

• Political Threads: Narrowed to Current Governmental International/National Politics (is this concise enough?)
• Religion - not enough against to include
• Racial/Sexist threads - those that are started with the intent to malign or degrade someone based upon their gender, sexual preference, or race

 

[Epmd607]

Discussion of science or pseudo science, ala global warming, Intelligent design, Aliens visiting Earth and not having sexual dalliances with earthlings...

 

[Darkniciad]

Political threads seconded. Most of the worst vibes of all stripes are coming from those.

 

[sadangel]

I'll start by saying I believe political threads are indeed Off-Topic for this forum. I also believe that we should have a "reporting guideline" whereas a certain number of members (maybe 5?) must report a thread before it can be moved for being off-topic. That way, something doesn't get moved just because of one person's opinion.

I could go with this.

Epmd--Perhaps you don't consider Global warming real, but for some it is. However, to me, it falls under political because any time I've ever seen it discussed ANYWHERE, the threads become political.

Edit to add: I think the vanity threads would be best suited for GB. I know that there are at least two of them floating around. I'll try to find them both and that way everyone will know which ones I am talking about.

The "Last Thread", Abs Hangout, Naked thread I believe should all stay in this area. The AH. Like you said, they are socializing threads.

 

[glynndah]

My vote's for the political threads,and I really like the "5 posters reporting" rule, too.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Religion.

This one is a bit tricky, because EL's "Christian writers meet here" thread has been going strong for a very long time. That one seems to function as a social bond-- i don't know whether I would want to move it or not. Anyone?

 

[sadangel]

Religion.

This one is a bit tricky, because EL's "Christian writers meet here" thread has been going strong for a very long time. That one seems to function as a social bond-- i don't know whether I would want to move it or not. Anyone?

I consider that to be a socializing thread, a chat thread and should stay here.

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

This isn't as tight or neat a category as 'political threads,' but I say "off-topic" should include threads that promulgate racist and/or sexist dogma. (i.e. a recent topic entitled "Rag-heads...and gays et. al" just to name one that comes to mind.)

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Religion that doesn't relate to sexual issues.

This one is a bit tricky, because EL's "Christian writers meet here" thread has been going strong for a very long time. That one seems to function as a social bond-- i don't know whether I would want to move it or not. Anyone?

Have religion threads not tied into social issues, sexual, or writing issues been a problem? If so, I haven't noticed it. I think EL's thread falls under socializing. It's not a thread that preaches or tries to convert anyone. It's simply a gathering place for Christian Writers.

 

[Darkniciad]

Religion that doesn't relate to sexual issues.

This one is a bit tricky, because EL's "Christian writers meet here" thread has been going strong for a very long time. That one seems to function as a social bond-- i don't know whether I would want to move it or not. Anyone?

To me, that's no different than the Depression thread. It's a support, meet, and chat thread. It doesn't direct or encourage any kind of hostility toward anyone outside of the thread.

How many other religious threads are there that wouldn't also be political? Not many, I'll wager.

 

[Stella_Omega]

To me, that's no different than the Depression thread. It's a support, meet, and chat thread. It doesn't direct or encourage any kind of hostility toward anyone outside of the thread.

How many other religious threads are there that wouldn't also be political? Not many, I'll wager.

Exactly. So we have room for subtleties.

 

[Guest]

Yes, agree with leaving EL's thread alone. It seems a lovely place for people to be together, social and friendship.

Political threads must leave the AH.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Have religion threads not tied into social issues, sexual, or writing issues been a problem?

Not very often, thank goodness!

 

[Handley_Page]

The sometimes vitriolic words spewed out on politics is amazing and, to my mind, not really anything to do with writing. That said, I think a thread of it's own might be appropriate, if only under the "socialising" heading.

I'd suggest that as soon as someone links an "event" to politics (as opposed to sarcasm), it gets moved.

 

[driphoney]

I agree with the political threads going. I generally like the broad topic choices. Like Dark says, almost all the negativity bleeds out from the political threads.

What I want to know is, is there a way to deal with random and not-so-random personal attack posts? Or would some of that just melt away if the politics did?

 

[jomar]

This is a hangout for authors. And like at any hangout or bar patrons can talk about anything and everything, politics included. Pay no heed if you have no interest - no need to stop by that table and listen in. It's a big room.

Report racist/sexist threads/posts and perhaps Laurel can do something about that. The "at least 5 complaints" rule would be good here.

 

[driphoney]

Report racist/sexist threads/posts and perhaps Laurel can do something about that. The "at least 5 complaints" rule would be good here.

I thought so until I re-read the working and it was specificallty 'threads', not individual posts. Some of the personal attacks are not directed at race or sex, but are nasty just the same.

 

[Epmd607]

I could go with this.

Epmd--Perhaps you don't consider Global warming real, but for some it is. However, to me, it falls under political because any time I've ever seen it discussed ANYWHERE, the threads become political.

Edit to add: I think the vanity threads would be best suited for GB. I know that there are at least two of them floating around. I'll try to find them both and that way everyone will know which ones I am talking about.

The "Last Thread", Abs Hangout, Naked thread I believe should all stay in this area. The AH. Like you said, they are socializing threads.

that hurt my feelings. I said Science and fake Science, Global Warming is science and Intelligent Design isn't. Regardless, I'd like an Authors hangout without discussion of either. Even better would be you have to have a story on Literotica to enter the Author's Hangout. Which wouldn't happen, because maybe someone wants to author their first dirty porno story and they need some advice. Just a thought, one that would eliminate James but not Amicus. boohoo.

 

[lance gt]

that hurt my feelings. I said Science and fake Science, Global Warming is science and Intelligent Design isn't. Regardless, I'd like an Authors hangout without discussion of either. Even better would be you have to have a story on Literotica to enter the Author's Hangout. Which wouldn't happen, because maybe someone wants to author their first dirty porno story and they need some advice. Just a thought, one that would eliminate James but not Amicus. boohoo.

there is a point in there EPM. It is an Author Hangout after all. Questions can be answered in other forums, than here.

 

[cloudy]

that hurt my feelings. I said Science and fake Science, Global Warming is science and Intelligent Design isn't. Regardless, I'd like an Authors hangout without discussion of either. Even better would be you have to have a story on Literotica to enter the Author's Hangout. Which wouldn't happen, because maybe someone wants to author their first dirty porno story and they need some advice. Just a thought, one that would eliminate James but not Amicus. boohoo.

There are plenty of people who post stories under one name, and post in the forum under another - I'm one of them, and JBJ might be another. There's no way to know whether someone has stories posted or not.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I had my stories on lit and removed them....

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Politics definitely needs to go. Religion would be difficult, given that the holy books of all religions have a lot of importance as literature. Proselytizing hasn't been any problem that I've seen, at least by Believers . . .



Anyway, anything that defames another needs to go. I like the 'five complaints' idea.

 

[jomar]

I had my stories on lit and removed them....

I'm protesting by submitting to LW.

 

[English Lady]

Okay, as much as I appreciate you all being so kind about my thread, if you feel religion is off topic, it should be removed. I don't want to be an exception to the rule. It is a religious thread, it's meant to be, that is it's purpose. It could work as well in another forum. The only thing I would ask is that it get moves not just deleted. It's a great thread and I'd be upset to lose it.

As I say, I don't it to be an exception to the rule, that's a start of trouble right there. I can see accusations of favouritism flying about if such exceptions do happen.

Personally, I vote for nothing being off topic. I think all subjects are part of us socialising and I can easily not post in threads that don't interest me or that I find insulting etc. That's my vote.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

It seems that Religion hasn't really been an issue, so it might not even be included in the Off-Topic list. Politics and Racist/Sexist threads appear to be what most people want gone.