Topic Poll

Two points: I draw a distinction between "private and confidential" and "said while no one else was around". If someone privately tells me something confidential I will do my best to keep it confidential. If on the other hand someone calls me nasty names while no one else is around to hear it I don't feel any compunction to treat the fact that they did so as confidential. The idea that because I choose to abuse you via private message does not earn me any right to your silence in my opinion. I think there are two separate objections to content that are getting mixed up in this thread. One is "these topics should not be allowed to be discussed on this message boards" the other is "serious discussion about swimming should not be drowned out with frivolous off-topic posts". I think the vast majority of people participating on the boards have no problem with the actual content of almost anything that has been posted here, except the personal attacks. I think Rich correctly identified that most people who have an issue are really objecting to people changing the topic of a thread instead of starting a new thread. The point is that threads are a great mechanism for keeping everyone happy. Talk about whatever you want in a thread that is about that topic (within the rules of the board), let the people who want to have "serious" discussions have them uninterrupted. If something in one thread inspires a humorous but off-topic thought, post it in a new thread. I don't think anyone seriously objects to a brief quip or witty comment in a serious thread, it is just a matter of respecting the right of people to carry on a coherent discussion on a particular topic. Just my :2cents:

Two points: I draw a distinction between "private and confidential" and "said while no one else was around". If someone privately tells me something confidential I will do my best to keep it confidential. If on the other hand someone calls me nasty names while no one else is around to hear it I don't feel any compunction to treat the fact that they did so as confidential. The idea that because I choose to abuse you via private message does not earn me any right to your silence in my opinion. I think there are two separate objections to content that are getting mixed up in this thread. One is "these topics should not be allowed to be discussed on this message boards" the other is "serious discussion about swimming should not be drowned out with frivolous off-topic posts". I think the vast majority of people participating on the boards have no problem with the actual content of almost anything that has been posted here, except the personal attacks. I think Rich correctly identified that most people who have an issue are really objecting to people changing the topic of a thread instead of starting a new thread. The point is that threads are a great mechanism for keeping everyone happy. Talk about whatever you want in a thread that is about that topic (within the rules of the board), let the people who want to have "serious" discussions have them uninterrupted. If something in one thread inspires a humorous but off-topic thought, post it in a new thread. I don't think anyone seriously objects to a brief quip or witty comment in a serious thread, it is just a matter of respecting the right of people to carry on a coherent discussion on a particular topic. Just my :2cents: