There is nothing that wrecks a good swimming related thread faster than getting into a discussion about message board etiquette. So here is a thread that people can use discuss topics related to what should and should not be posted on the message boards while allowing the other threads to stay on topic.
It seems to me that there is a spectrum of opinion on off-topic posting. On one end of the spectrum people think that threads are a mechanism specifically designed to allow people to carry on discussions on different topics and that we would all be well served if changes in topic were just done in new threads. On the other end of the spectrum people think that people should be able to post anything they want anywhere they want and that any suggestion to the contrary is censorship, a personal attack, or simply control freakish.
Pretty much everyone falls somewhere between these two extremes. Very few people object to a humorous quip inserted here and there in an otherwise serious discussion. Very few people would actually advocate that people be able to liberally sprinkle potentially offensive posts randomly through all the threads.
Have you ever been at a party where someone has decided that this is the right time and place to have a big argument or screaming match with someone? Has it ever contributed to the general enjoyment of the rest of the people there?
I would argue that posts that are essentially expressions of anger and/or are essentially personal attacks have no place on the board. They don't contribute anything positive and generally turn off 99% of the people reading the boards. Even if it seems that someone else has attacked you, does it really help anything to post an angry response?
I personally don't see the problem with starting a new thread when one wants to make an off-topic comment, a little cut and paste and/or a link makes it easy enough to carry the context into the new thread. Why is it essential to be able to carry on an unrelated discussion in a thread where some people are trying to carry on a discussion on a particular topic?
Parents
Former Member
I'm pretty new as well...only been around since maybe December? But when I first came on here I was very discouraged with the way I was swimming and the coaching staff and team that I was/am apart of. I posted a few times on the forum and instantly felt welcomed by members. I think it was important for me to get to know some of the people I was talking with, and therefore I do enjoy a few off the topic of swimming posts here and there.That being said, even in the short time I have been a member and on the discussion forums I have noticed a change in the postings. However, I kinda feel like it comes and goes. Every few weeks or so will be an off week, and a lot of NSR will be going on...but another week all the threads are very swimming related with good information and good answers being provided. I would have to say that I was disappointed by the swimming camp thread, because that was information I was VERY interested in, and after only getting 3 topic related posts the topic quickly veered off into the unknown. I also find it disappointing when I log in (mind you I am an AVID visitor-probably visit a couple dozen times a day) and the only threads being responded too are ones that have been hyjacked and/or have nothing to do with swimming...because while I do enjoy the banter and conversations that go on that are not swimming related, in the end...I came here for swimming information.As a new person, it can be fun to sit and read the convos between other posters, but eventually it gets to a point where its just a few core members posting back and forth...and idk about others, but I get to feeling not so apart of things and hesitant to join in the banter. I see posts regarding more relevant info to swimming going unresponded too.After that long rant, I would like to just say that I don't think it would be conducive to producing a more friendly or welcoming site to remove any NSR threads or posts, because its important to see that we're all going through the same things, dealing with life, and having fun at the same time and that it doesn't need to be swimming 24/7...but at the same time, I think SR posts need to take priority, and that posters need to be concious of how much time they are spending off the topic, and how many swimming related posts are going unresponded too. I've seen quite a few good questions/threads disappear into the forums because no one had time to respond to them between all the NSR posting that was going on! I'm just as guilty but thats my 2cents
I'm pretty new as well...only been around since maybe December? But when I first came on here I was very discouraged with the way I was swimming and the coaching staff and team that I was/am apart of. I posted a few times on the forum and instantly felt welcomed by members. I think it was important for me to get to know some of the people I was talking with, and therefore I do enjoy a few off the topic of swimming posts here and there.That being said, even in the short time I have been a member and on the discussion forums I have noticed a change in the postings. However, I kinda feel like it comes and goes. Every few weeks or so will be an off week, and a lot of NSR will be going on...but another week all the threads are very swimming related with good information and good answers being provided. I would have to say that I was disappointed by the swimming camp thread, because that was information I was VERY interested in, and after only getting 3 topic related posts the topic quickly veered off into the unknown. I also find it disappointing when I log in (mind you I am an AVID visitor-probably visit a couple dozen times a day) and the only threads being responded too are ones that have been hyjacked and/or have nothing to do with swimming...because while I do enjoy the banter and conversations that go on that are not swimming related, in the end...I came here for swimming information.As a new person, it can be fun to sit and read the convos between other posters, but eventually it gets to a point where its just a few core members posting back and forth...and idk about others, but I get to feeling not so apart of things and hesitant to join in the banter. I see posts regarding more relevant info to swimming going unresponded too.After that long rant, I would like to just say that I don't think it would be conducive to producing a more friendly or welcoming site to remove any NSR threads or posts, because its important to see that we're all going through the same things, dealing with life, and having fun at the same time and that it doesn't need to be swimming 24/7...but at the same time, I think SR posts need to take priority, and that posters need to be concious of how much time they are spending off the topic, and how many swimming related posts are going unresponded too. I've seen quite a few good questions/threads disappear into the forums because no one had time to respond to them between all the NSR posting that was going on! I'm just as guilty but thats my 2cents
