Suggestion - MODERATOR

Originally posted by sibleyclan I can understand folks not wanting a serious thread hijacked but, if the thread itself is clearly off topic, it can be easily (& quickly) ignored by anyone who doesn't find it interesting. Except for moderators and administrators who start receiving complaints, and then have to focus their limited resources to the off topic threads rather then, let's say, processing the nationals entries, or writing articles for swim magazine.... Yeah, the same volunteers that are involved in debating the off topic postings are also involved in the organization of the '05 nationals and the '06 world games, working on the online entries and providing you with the information you need, determiningthe quakifying times, keeping track of top 10 times, preparing the articles for the website and the magazine, organizing the swim meets, many of them running for the offices with this year being the election year, working on national sponsorship and the USMS PR, number of other projects. And in addition, monitoring/moderating this forum. When your resources are very limited, you have to prioritize things. I doubt that expanding the forum here, or having a lengthy debate over expanding it will take priority over, let say, making sure that the online entries for the nationals are functioning, verified and processed correctly. When it takes the effort of the same people to make things happen. The bigger issues is not so much whether there shoukd or shouldn't be off topic postings, but the resources that get taken away when it starts going in excess. I know Kyra says that 20% of off topic is not that much.. well, what if that 20% vs. 10% made a difference between her national meet entry being processed correctly, or getting delayed, or having an oversight on it. Which is more important, the fun banter, or the meet entry? Back to my original assertion, if suggestions to expand the forum and allow more off topic postings and fun came along with the offer of additional man power (or money, so someoine can be hired), I bet it would recieve a lot more positive interest, rather than opposition. If the resources weren't limited, I bet that most people overseeing the board would not be opposed to allowing as much fun as possible.

Originally posted by sibleyclan I can understand folks not wanting a serious thread hijacked but, if the thread itself is clearly off topic, it can be easily (& quickly) ignored by anyone who doesn't find it interesting. Except for moderators and administrators who start receiving complaints, and then have to focus their limited resources to the off topic threads rather then, let's say, processing the nationals entries, or writing articles for swim magazine.... Yeah, the same volunteers that are involved in debating the off topic postings are also involved in the organization of the '05 nationals and the '06 world games, working on the online entries and providing you with the information you need, determiningthe quakifying times, keeping track of top 10 times, preparing the articles for the website and the magazine, organizing the swim meets, many of them running for the offices with this year being the election year, working on national sponsorship and the USMS PR, number of other projects. And in addition, monitoring/moderating this forum. When your resources are very limited, you have to prioritize things. I doubt that expanding the forum here, or having a lengthy debate over expanding it will take priority over, let say, making sure that the online entries for the nationals are functioning, verified and processed correctly. When it takes the effort of the same people to make things happen. The bigger issues is not so much whether there shoukd or shouldn't be off topic postings, but the resources that get taken away when it starts going in excess. I know Kyra says that 20% of off topic is not that much.. well, what if that 20% vs. 10% made a difference between her national meet entry being processed correctly, or getting delayed, or having an oversight on it. Which is more important, the fun banter, or the meet entry? Back to my original assertion, if suggestions to expand the forum and allow more off topic postings and fun came along with the offer of additional man power (or money, so someoine can be hired), I bet it would recieve a lot more positive interest, rather than opposition. If the resources weren't limited, I bet that most people overseeing the board would not be opposed to allowing as much fun as possible.