Off topic remarks

[disney6]

Quick question. if you are on (or you put someone on your) ignore list what does that mean? Can you not see any of their posts? I can't think of anyone I'd even consider putting on an ignore list but was just curious how it works.

 

[WDWLVR]

Originally posted by disney6
Quick question. if you are on (or you put someone on your) ignore list what does that mean? Can you not see any of their posts? I can't think of anyone I'd even consider putting on an ignore list but was just curious how it works.

If someone is one your ignore list any post they make shows to you as "This person is on your Ignore List. " You then have the option to click on the post if you want to see it.

 

[disney6]

Thank you.

 

[Tesabat]

Originally posted by Dave_from_Marietta
A Summary....

Thanks for taking the time to post this Dave. Those of us who missed the whole thing were kinda confused.

 

[Grumbo]

Thanks for taking the time to post this Dave. Those of us who missed the whole thing were kinda confused.

Heck Tesbat I read most of the posts and I'm still confused
Then again that may have nothing to do with anything on these boards
Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[WebmasterPete]

Originally posted by rae519
As a person who has often gone OFF TOPIC, I fail to see the big issue involved with this. Maybe I am missing something here, but many of us are FRIENDS and often share things that do not pertain to the topic but are either "funny or interesting" or both.

So please educate me - someone, anyone - as to the big deal involved with "going off topic".

Rae

Not being sure what prompted this question, I'll answer it on face value.

In the early days, we had a big problem with people posting things that had nothing to do with the topic of a particular board. For that reason, we opened up the Community Board. We had received a lot of complaints from people looking for information that had to wade through several 'off topic' posts to find it. The primary function of the trip planning boards is to, you guessed it, help people plan a trip. Yes, friendships will form, and from that, some off topic discussion will ensue. I don't mind that. However, what I do mind is when cliques start to form and newcomers to a board start to feel as though they can't post because they are not part of the 'in-crowd' on that particular forum. That is the danger when a board is allowed to go off topic.

So, in moderation, there isn't a problem, but if a board becomes an unwelcoming clique, and I see more comments about personal stuff then discussion about Cruise stuff, it will probably lead to stricter enforcement of the "off topic" guideline.

I hope that answers your question.

Pete

 

[WDWLVR]

Thanks Pete! BTW - I think the Mods here on the cruise board are some of the best you got! Thanks again for maintaining a wonderful site!

 

[rae519]

Thanks for your reply, Pete.

Could you please explain a statement I received in a reply to a question I posted privately to a member..

"The freedom of speech does not apply to the use of a Private Internet Board."

Just to clarify, not to start a family feud here.
Thanks,

Rae

 

[Penny12]

Just to add, as I already had this written when Pete posted - as someone who is primarily a lurker on this board, let me put a different spin on this.

I really like this board, it's about a topic I enjoy and it's full of good and genuine people who know how to have a bit of fun and help each other when times get a bit sticky. It's a community all of it's own within our bigger DIS community.

That said, the cosy atmosphere that lives here is just the icing on the cake...the cake itself will always be some good old-fashioned Cruise talk - sorry guys, I come here for the cruise info, not to see you all bonding

I know a good number of you are friends here but you have to accept that not everyone is interested in that aspect - they come to this board looking for DCL info and that's what they should find...strangely because this happens to be the Cruise Board

Off-topic is ok to a certain degree as long as it doesn't detract from the boards original purpose but ultimately this is and will always be first and foremost a trip planning forum - people </i>should not have to</i> simply ignore the stuff they don't like when that reason is because it's OT. Yes, everyone has the right to say what they want - however, they don't have the right to say it <i>where ever</i> they want.

As for the 'big deal' - it's simply about trying to keep <b>everyone</b> happy, not just the most vocal

 

[Penny12]

Rae,

to answer your question your freedom of speech gives you the right to start your own bulletin board and say whatever you like there - your choice, therefore your freedom.

It doesn't give you the right to say what you like on someone elses 'property' though. Just as you wouldn't be able to graffitti your opinion on your neighbours brick wall

 

[Favorite Auntie]

As a fairly new member to this board (april 2003 I think) I can say that I immediately noticed that a few posters were definitley the "popular kids" and others definitely were not. At first I thought BD was rude (just being honest folks) and I felt bad the first time he picked up on one of my many type-o's. I did quickly however learn that this was just him, and he definitely did not mean to offend anyone. Now I get bummed if I mess up and he is not around to poke fun! I also learned that the "popular kids" are not mean to everyone else here...they just have more time to get more involved with others on this board. I don't have that kind of time. So, I do see the moderator's reasoning for closing off-topic threads. And there is no justification for a PM that is attacking another poster. If you don't agree with a post, don't read anymore. If it is that offensive, report it to a moderator. This is just my opinion as a fairly newbie here....

 

[gassmandy]

Off topic--Love those "popular" people here

Off topic again--Favorite Auntie--only 80 days to go!!

Off topic once more(sorry!!)-hope Nate & family are having the time of their lives

 

[wovenwonder]

Rae,
I don't visit here as often as when I was planning a DCL cruise but I DO understand what you mean. I wish it didn't have to be that way -- but it is. I'm going to throw a suggestion to you though..... How about starting a 'crazy cruiser' thread over on the CB. It could be ONE THREAD dedicated over there to all the people from this board that just want to talk about off topic things. You could bookmark it so it would easily be found. Some place different for you to check in to each day.

From a newbie's perspective I have to admit that the off topic threads on the cruise board probably make a new poster feel out of place. Kind of like the lone 7th grader that nobody invites to the dance. If the topics stay cruise related then this isn't usually an issue --- and it IS a cruise board after all.

The same thing happens over on the CB. If someone posts a diet related question they get referred to the WISH board, someone posting a gardening question gets moved to the flower board.

 

[wovenwonder]

After I posted I had gone back and read some of the replies I paged thru the first time. I came up with an idea. Not sure if the 'off topic' posters would think this is a good compromise or not? And not sure if the powers that be would even agree to it??

Would it be possible to have ONE off topic chatter type post on the DCL Board? This could be one post where people could stop in to check on each others 'personal', non cruise related topics. Just like the Ya, Ya posts on the CB. One thread that goes on and on with whoever wishes to jump on and chat with that group? It would stay on the cruise board --- because it would be the cruise crowd --- but for off topic posts only????

 

[plutojudy]

Gee, I missed something. This job is interfering with my DISing.

 

[tezb]

I too agree that some tend to be "Clickish" on this board. There have been times that I posted "on topic" and others were so involved in their own conversations that my comments were totally ignored. Only noticed a few times, but did feel "out of the loop" and excluded from the topic. I have enjoyed this board and did become addicted but also decided NOT to get too involved in some of the things going on...just my choice and I basically accepted this as part of what happens on the board. I am now starting to frequent RCCL board since that will be our next cruise in 2004. I'm sure the same kinds of things go on there too but it will be interesting to compare.

 

[NikSwims]

Well, I don't post here as often as I did before our May cruise, but I still come by almost every day to check up on what everyone is doing-

Personally, I love the banter and fun that many of the Dis Veterans have and I like to follow along even without being a "part" of it. I'm glad that people have found such good friends here on the boards. That is what is truly important in life- finding people to love. So enjoy each other and just ignore those who cannot understand the bond you have and those who try to start the flame wars. Life's too short for flames!

Talk to you all later on- probably should go do some work or something.... sigh.....

 

[gometros]

The "Off topic" issue always seems to be a hot button on bulletin boards. I used to moderate a board dedicated to the New York/New Jersey Metrostars of Major League Soccer and pretty much let anythig go as long as it had to do with New York and soccer. I even once let a thread of dedication to Joey Ramone stay when he died, since he was so much a part of the New York music scene.

I think being a moderator takes a little bit of wisdom and common sense and thankfully the moderators here seem to handle the balance very well. If it were me, I would allow any discussion as long as it had six degrees of separation that brought us back to DCL. Clearly a discussion about the war in Iraq or whther the Red Sox will catch the Yankees (they won't) is inappropriate here, but expresions of sympathy for a fellow cruiser, such as Shirley and Norm or celebrating a fellow cruiser for something special that they did or expereinced doesn't seem too far fetched.

Of course, even though we have one thing in common - love of cruising Disney, we are a very diverse group and we might not all agree on the same thing. That goes for what belongs on this board as well. Remember the recent discussion about topics geared toward specific cruises?

Bottom line, this is not a public square where anyone can say anything they feel like. This are private boards owned an provided by Pete Werner. He has the ccomplete right to run the baords as he sees fit. We just have to trust that he and his mods will use the proper discretion.

 

[figment52]

Originally posted by plutojudy
Gee, I missed something. This job is interfering with my DISing.

I know exactly how you feel. After reading through this at lunch today I am still lost but I must say something.

Even though I am fairly new (spring of this year) I have seen such an outpouring of love, affection and prayers for oldtimers, "favorites" and newbees (ie Page family). That is what keeps me coming back. It is truly a sense of community that I NEVER expected on a "Board".

I feel blessed to have found this place and these people and am looking forward to meeting them on future cruises. I think of these people as family.

I just have to learn how to work this ignore and buddy list stuff ....

Less than 10 days and I'm off ....

and I plan to tell you all about it when I return.

 

[NikSwims]

Hey- thought you would want to know that I am the Athletic trainer for the St. Louis University men's soccer team where Brad Davis went to school and played. So that is kind of funny that you are such a metros fan even though he is in Dallas now. Thanks for being an MLS supporter- we need more of them!! : )

I figured I could put this here considering this is an "off-topic" thread! HA HA!