I got busted...

[VonBrewskie]

"Please try and make more worthwhile threads to be discussed in future." That's the message explaining my probation. So, I'd like to ask the more experienced posters on the forum, what constitutes "worthwhile" in the off-topic world? I figured that all bets were off in the off-topic area, as long as it isn't overtly racist, loaded with political propaganda, or full of religious tirades. I read the rules and regs already, and I don't really see anywhere that says my topics need to be worthwhile. In fact, I think quite a few topics on here aren't worthwhile. That's why I don't post in them. So I'm at a loss people. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[Primee133]

The main thing for all the forums on this site is Discussion Value.

What he said. You can't really discuss about you stepping on a carpet tack.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Discussion value and lack of offensiveness. These Guidelines [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.116827-These-forums-and-you-Forum-Posting-Guidelines] should help you out.

Not something stupid like:

DAGNABBIT! FREAKIN DURN SMACKING SUCH AND SUCHING CARPET TACK! Dang does that hurt like heck.

 

[reg42]

Anything which holds discussion value pretty much.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I have no idea what kind of thread you could have been put on probation for, but it could've been that you mistook off-topic discussion as 'place for random shit'. Although I myself sometimes have the urge to create some stupid thread, I hold myself.
Emphasis on MAYBE. I've no idea what you did and I don't know you so I'm not implying anything.

Click the bottom of his post...The reason is always there.

Anyways, this will likely get locked or something else, too. You may even get banned/suspended. This isn't a terribly discussion worthy thread either.

As our community grows, the mods have to CRACKDOWN.

 

[lasherman]

The whole point of making a thread is to make something for people to talk about. The thread you got put on probation for had no discussion value.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

There is a rule requiring that your thread HAVE a subject. Not just a bunch of caps about hurting yourself. You put no discussion value and it is pretty simple to see why you got in trouble.

Complaining about it won't help, it's just gonna make things worse.

 

[ma55ter_fett]

"Please try and make more worthwhile threads to be discussed in future." That's the message explaining my probation. So, I'd like to ask the more experienced posters on the forum, what constitutes "worthwhile" in the off-topic world? I figured that all bets were off in the off-topic area, as long as it isn't overtly racist, loaded with political propaganda, or full of religious tirades. I read the rules and regs already, and I don't really see anywhere that says my topics need to be worthwhile. In fact, I think quite a few topics on here aren't worthwhile. That's why I don't post in them. So I'm at a loss people. Can anyone enlighten me?

Try to make a topic that doesn't resemble a twitter post.

 

[zauxz]

You really don't see anything wrong with your thread?

 

[VonBrewskie]

I have no idea what kind of thread you could have been put on probation for, but it could've been that you mistook off-topic discussion as 'place for random shit'. Although I myself sometimes have the urge to create some stupid thread, I hold myself.
Emphasis on MAYBE. I've no idea what you did and I don't know you so I'm not implying anything.

O.K. I can dig it. "Off-topic" doesn't necessarily mean "as random as I want to be". This part of the guidelines seems to make sense, and apply to my situation...bummer. so much for my perfect record. ;[

"Pointless Threads: When someone makes a thread with little way for discussion or little substance whatsoever, it gets locked. The forums are, after all, discussion boards."

Thing is, there WAS a conversation sprouting up around my topic. It wasn't malicious or flamey or anything. Just random. Ok. I'll try to adjust...thanks for the insight folks.

 

[DarkMessiah]

Something that can actually be discussed, preferably.
It was a pretty fair probation considering you made a thread that was about you hurting your foot and started with a post that off made little sense and lacked any intellect or structure, there's no discussion value in that.
There's a line between things appropriate for Off Topic discussion and irrelevant crap that you might update your Facebook status with.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

What She said. You can't really discuss about you stepping on a carpet tack.

Fixed, and without adding "That" to the start of the Sentence.

It requires Discussion value, and no low content Posts (Saying "Discuss" and nothing else will get you hated right quick).
It also helps to Contribute to your own thread, meaning if you make a thread asking a question, such as "What's your favorite type of Marine Life?", be sure to answer the question yourself.

Oh, and it helps to know the section is called Off-Topic Discussion

Too many people miss the last part.

 

[ethaninja]

The main thing for all the forums on this site is Discussion Value.

What he said. You can't really discuss about you stepping on a carpet tack.

What he said about what he said

 

[VonBrewskie]

You really don't see anything wrong with your thread?

Well, I mean, yeah. Now I do. Before? No. Not really. Seemed pretty harmless compared to some of the other posts. I was wrong. Lesson learned.

 

[AvsJoe]

You've got to have a clear-cut discussion topic in your thread. That thread didn't have one. It took TheNumber1Zero adding a question before the thread had any value. Heck, that's all you have to do to have a valid thread is ask a question or just hastily add something for us to discuss.

Note: please don't just add 'Discuss.' at the end of your post like some other people on this site. This just annoys the crap out of me.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Well... your thread was about carpet tacks. CARPET TACKS! And your discussion provoking sentence was you cursing in pain. It is clear what you wanted, but I don't think it's thread worthy unless you say something like this:
note: presented by Calumon

Calumon:
Wow, it sure is fun walking around isn't it?
Lalalala lalalalala
Owwwww! I stubbed my foot! owowowowowow! It's stuck in there! OWWWW!
Has this happened to you? Because... erm... what does this word say?
[sup]Never mind Calumon, people get the idea... Take five. I'll make you some soda later.[/sup]

You get the idea. You need to set the scene. You need to open up discussion, rather than just cursing at Carpet Tacks... which by the way... are not that annoying, though I hope they become obsolete, because we've been using these for AGES! Don't we have some High tech solution to use? Like Magnets?

 

[atalanta]

I read the rules and regs already, and I don't really see anywhere that says my topics need to be worthwhile. In fact, I think quite a few topics on here aren't worthwhile. That's why I don't post in them. So I'm at a loss people. Can anyone enlighten me?

This is a forum for discussion, not your personal blog.

If all you want to do is tell the world you stepped on a carpet tack, sign up for Twitter. If you're starting a thread here, personal anecdotes are a-okay, but you need to add something for people to talk about.

 

[VonBrewskie]

You've got to have a clear-cut discussion topic in your thread. That thread didn't have one. It took TheNumber1Zero adding a question before the thread had any value. Heck, that's all you have to do to have a valid thread is ask a question or just hastily add something for us to discuss.

Note: please don't just add 'Discuss.' at the end of your post like some other people on this site. This just annoys the crap out of me.

Ohhhhh. Ok. See that makes the most sense yet. I don't have a lot of experience with forums. Some, but not much. I don't understand the value system I guess. I'm kind of a random dude, so I find value in letting my mind wander. Lot of other folks do too. But I'm learning. I certainly won't be putting "discuss" at the end of any of my posts. Noted.

 

[VonBrewskie]

Well... your thread was about carpet tacks. CARPET TACKS! And your discussion provoking sentence was you cursing in pain. It is clear what you wanted, but I don't think it's thread worthy unless you say something like this:
note: presented by Calumon

Calumon:
Wow, it sure is fun walking around isn't it?
Lalalala lalalalala
Owwwww! I stubbed my foot! owowowowowow! It's stuck in there! OWWWW!
Has this happened to you? Because... erm... what does this word say?
[sup]Never mind Calumon, people get the idea... Take five. I'll make you some soda later.[/sup]

You get the idea. You need to set the scene. You need to open up discussion, rather than just cursing at Carpet Tacks... which by the way... are not that annoying, though I hope they become obsolete, because we've been using these for AGES! Don't we have some High tech solution to use? Like Magnets?

Gotchah. That's quite helpful. I appreciate it.

 

[Inco]

A thread that promotes discussion value, yet doesn't aim to offend people.

Its actually quite a simple thing. Its funny how they have polls to help add to this, but they are often abused to try and convince the opening poster (a troll) that their ill-informed opinion is somehow great than those who agree otherwise.