What kinds of threads are acceptable on the Hangout?

[KillerMuffin]

I've got no power here, so don't think I do. I'm just curious. I believe I've asked this before, but it's been a while.

What kinds of threads do you think are okay on the Hangout? Or maybe it would be easier to ask what you think isn't okay on the Hangout?

 

[English Lady]

well i reckon that its the place for authors to meet and discuss things,so i think anything to do with writing stories, right from getting inspiration to grammar questions and all the stuff in between too!

but then you have the word "hangout" which to me signifies somewhere to relax and generally chill out, so surely it's not meant to just be a place to disscuss our writing?

 

[Guest]

writing and life

KM-

I've actually never been to the general board...

When this topic was addressed before, I expressed my thoughts that this is a "hangout" for authors. For me, it means that I can read the thoughts of and interact with authors.

I appreciate the writing centered threads (btw, still waiting on your flash fiction thoughts ) for the help they are to my writing. Knowing that Weird Harold will almost immediately address any technical questions posed here is a great comfort.

I also appreciate the threads that are more "bull sessions". Some are not to my taste, so I just don't participate. I think that the market will keep threads that are relevant around, while those that are irrelevant to most will drop off the bottom of the page.

I've met some great people here and my life is richer for them.

b

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I generally hang out here expecting to talk about writing/publishing and various aspects of it...however, having made friends with you guys, I'm always interested in your opinions on other topics. Like many people, I tend to avoid the GB these days...I may contribute one or two comments over there in friend's threads (or nyc litogether threads) but otherwise, I mostly hang out here. At the same time I don't generally expect to see a thread like "wasn't chicago the best movie EVER?" even though I love the movie.

 

[wildsweetone]

timely stepping in KM

While we are all grown ups in here (or at least meant to be), I think any topic at all is fair game for the Hangout. Heck, life itself is a learning curve as the current saying goes. I think as writers we are one group of life's biggest learners.

Talking about politics or religion or any other 'hot' topic is likely to get some people warm under the collar. I guess, if you're not able to understand where other people's opinions are coming from then it's best to go and use the PMing function.

Discussions of current headlines, or history or anything really, are all good so long as we treat each other with respect.

We are all people with opinions, that part is okay. But we also need to allow others to have opinions that differ from ours. We aren't clones eh (thank goodness).

Okay enough of my usual rant - I know lots of people are sick of hearing it.

...Perhaps it's about time this board had a Moderator to step in and sort things out before jugular's get slashed.

I like the learning that I've done whilst being a Litland member, I don't want to lose that privilege.

There are apparently Bush/America threads all over the net. I daresay the one on the Author's Hangout is pretty indicative of most.

Please don't forget, there are other nationalities involved with Litland apart from America, and the only real things we all have in common is that we are human and we are writers.

 

[Chicklet]

I don't come to this board as often as I go to others, and the wide variety of subjects fascinates me.

I agree with Bridgetkeeney, that this seems like a hangout for authors, and whatever authors want to talk about seems to pop up. But personally I come here looking for the grammar questions, the "roadblocked" questions, the inspiration...things relating to our writing on this site and others. (for reading I think of "story feedback")

Chicklet

 

[KillerMuffin]

I don't really want to see political debate in the Author's Hangout. Not because I'm not into politics, but because it gets so evil when people disagree.

However, I don't think that one or two here and there on the first page are necessarily a bad thing. What I don't want to see is a migration of political posters to the Author's Hangout to discuss politics.

Other threads where people just hangout are okay, too. I don't want to see the front page peppered with what's your fave sex position polls, but conversation has never been a problem for me.

This is the "Hangout" and not the "Writing Discussion" forum.

I don't think this place needs a moderator yet. However, I think if there's ever any violent debate, I will ask Laurel to move that thread to the GB. By violent, I mean a bunch of people are getting really hurt by the thread. Whether she listens or not is something completely different.

 

[Chicklet]

personally i wouldn't mind a moderator (like a certain muffin) who could come in every couple weeks and move a violent thread away if needed.

 

[Guest]

Like most of the comments here.....

I often read without necessarily responding. There's a lot to learn, enjoy and occasionally say something. I enjoy the light-hearted questions, interesting insights. After all, it is a curious thing to get to know the minds and ideas of fellow writers/story tellers. What better way to sometimes do that than to ask the often silly, frivolous question.

And yes, of course the obvious. The questions of writing techniques, etc. The "hangout" as it's called here, is a special place to drop in and relax at the end of the day.

And if I feel I've contributed something and someone responds, either way. It's a good feeling. And I'm grateful to be a part of it.

I remain,

 

[NorthwestRain]

I feel it would be a shame to regulate authors from what they can and cannot talk about in the hangout.
We have feedback threads etc. for specific topics, but this should be a place we can all discuss whatever we want to.
Freedom of speech, just watch what you say! (Care of Ice T, yet bloody true!)

 

[TheEarl]

IMHO Anything and everything that Authors want to speak about. Waffling on random should be allowed and maybe even encouraged.

The Earl

 

[English Lady]

waffling at random is good..i can do that

yes shouldn't the general board be called the "bitch and be bitched about" forum?

 

[PaulX35]

I've always seen this place as the spot to talk about more genral aspects of writing erotica. Technical writing issues, general content-issues (not being story ideas) or story structure issues come to mind then. I personally don't mind seeing other stuff being thrown in, but politics is not without danger

Paul

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Threads usually go off track when us talkatives get loose on them. I think that all topics need to be talked about, though there's a time and place for everything.

Like the Political thread, where I've been in a catfight with a couple of women. Or the thread where we started talking about rape and men's view on women, where I actually used the i-word.

I do get carried away sometimes, but I'm wokring on keeping a decent tone when i argue, and I'm trying to stick to issues instead of attacking people as persons. Sometimes I slip, and I apologize to all who feel offended. I tend to get provoked when the people I talk to act childish, and I react by acting childish back.

I think that's the problem with discussing topics like politics, abortion, rape, religion, etc. Discussions are good, but only as long as we don't sink into the sandbox and start calling each other names.

Such threads maybe belong on General Board instead. I'd too like Author's Hangout to focus on threads that are atleast remotely connected with author-things, like story reviews, questions about posting, discussions about language, etc.

But we could also try to be patient when threads get off track. When I first came to Lit, I objected when people got off-track, but now I've given up and just try to follow the flow. A hangout is a place where you should let your thoughts wander off where they want to walk... And if they don't want to talk about grammar, let them talk about loneliness, silly commercials on TV, hot actors/actrises, etc.

Maybe they'll inspire someone.

 

[karmadog]

Personally, I'd just as soon the political threads stay off the author's board.

 

[Natural Born Eros]

I wonder whether, by contemplating removing political threads from the author's hangout, we are making a political statement. Or, as Hegel put it:

"Everyone is political. Most of all, the man who claims he is apolitical."

We may not all like politics, or like the appearance of politics on this board. By proposing a ban, however, we are making a much bigger statement, the first major limitation on this board. One of the major reasons I first contributed my stories to Literotica was that, after reading the bulletin boards, I felt safe. I felt I could contribute without being attacked. I think that is true for most of us.

This board is the rarest of things; a place where decency and respect are sufficient "law." If people don't want politics here, I think it will leave. I don't think we need to force anything. The system works.

Eros

 

[gauchecritic]

The main problem with political discussion is that it generally tends to be dogmatical posturing.

Author's Hangout should contain any and everything, I go with the concensus; if it's not interesting it will fall off the board anyway.

Just keep the riff-raff out

Gauche

 

[jfinn]

I suppose if suddenly every thread I went into had a bunch of political or social debate going on I'd be less than thrilled, but I've been posting on this board for a little while now and lurking for a whole lot longer and yesterday was the first time I remember a really hot political discussion. I think with the subject being so much in all our minds it was bound to happen.

The fact that the topic was clearly posted and that the argument did not spill over to the other threads makes me think that this is not some new and disturbing trend. We talk about a lot of things on this board that don't specifically have to do with writing, but as KM stated it is a hangout, not a writer's forum, this just went a little further and got a little hotter than usual.

But it's over now. The post seems to have died out and I've talked to a couple of the people privately and no one seems to have been mortally wounded. I guess the best thing is that we'll all be a little more careful of each other for a while.

I know that some people on this thread have said they don't think we should discuss those hot button topics, but really, as long as they're described well enough up front so you know what you're getting into than I see no problem with any of them. And if I don't care for something I'll just skip it.

Jayne

 

[Dirt Man]

I'm relatively new here, but...

I've enjoyed the give, and take that an open, unregulated place such as this allows. I don't have to agree with anyone, or everyone, my opinion is my own. And as a Vietnam Veteran, I've already proved that I would fight for their right to yell at the top of their lungs that for which I would argue against at the top of mine.


The easiest way to get a thread dropped is to ignore it here, and the easiest way to find out what other authors think is to post a thread here. Take that away, and I, and many others will be out of here like the shot heard round the world.

The media already censors the news we get, and in doing so sways public opinion. Just watch the news casters body language for what they really think about what they say, and you'll see what I mean. And they in turn are reporting that bias which is inflicted on them by their superiors who are signing their paychecks. And these people are the bastions of the 1st ammendment. Even so, you'll never hear a news caster use vulgar language. Why? Because while people in general think that they are above that sort of thing, the reality is that, the FCC or their like say emphatically that they can't. And I wouldn't like that to happen here as it might as once you start needing rules, and regulations you stifle personal integrity, and thought.

As Always
I Am the
Dirt Man

 

[Pure]

To me, things seem to be working, so I'm not sure tinkering is in order. Threads that are too tangential have a natural lifespan unless a bunch of crazies cant stop themselves. However, the group should self-regulate, mainly by ignoring threads that seem irrelevant. The craziest of GB posters is only kept alive by the responses s/he gets. .... But isn't that the hardest thing in all of cyberlife? to say nothing, NOT to respond?

 

[NorthwestRain]

I fucking love you all!

 

[Cheyenne]

I don't really want to see political debate in the Author's Hangout. Not because I'm not into politics, but because it gets so evil when people disagree.

However, I don't think that one or two here and there on the first page are necessarily a bad thing. What I don't want to see is a migration of political posters to the Author's Hangout to discuss politics.

Found you!

 

[KillerMuffin]

Found you!

Dammit!

See? This is what we get when we let the riff raff in. Devil emoticons from a Republican! (Of course, I'm a republican too, but hey)

 

[Cheyenne]

 

[masterhypnotist]

When I am unwinding from a stressful day I come here. I would prefer the subject not be politics. Having said that, I think we should allow anything that eminates from a fellow author.