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
Well like it or not. I'd hazard a guess that only outgoing types post a lot...the others may post here and there.
If you want a mos SR discussion, then discuss. I see a lot of references to lurkers and what not...well stop lurking and post.
From this thread it seems lurkers are coming in and staying because of the warm atmosphere.
I said it before; some of us, we have no team, no coach or no pool buddies. The people here fill those voids with the banter and useful advic. It's kind of like a virtual locker room/snack bar here.
I don't want to irritate serious swim possters, neither does anyone else.
We owned up to train wrecking the camp thread but it no point crying over it. We said we'd try to take the funny side to a new thread if that sort of opportunity arises.
As for sancitfying some posters and maligning others that's bang out of order. We all err, we all make a few hasty responses...I've seen certain people who've been lauded in this thread use very unkind names to describe others...not nice but they were feeling provoked. It will happen.
I'm not religious but this quote seems to stand out right now:
"Let he(she) who is without sin cast the first stone."
Well like it or not. I'd hazard a guess that only outgoing types post a lot...the others may post here and there.
If you want a mos SR discussion, then discuss. I see a lot of references to lurkers and what not...well stop lurking and post.
From this thread it seems lurkers are coming in and staying because of the warm atmosphere.
I said it before; some of us, we have no team, no coach or no pool buddies. The people here fill those voids with the banter and useful advic. It's kind of like a virtual locker room/snack bar here.
I don't want to irritate serious swim possters, neither does anyone else.
We owned up to train wrecking the camp thread but it no point crying over it. We said we'd try to take the funny side to a new thread if that sort of opportunity arises.
As for sancitfying some posters and maligning others that's bang out of order. We all err, we all make a few hasty responses...I've seen certain people who've been lauded in this thread use very unkind names to describe others...not nice but they were feeling provoked. It will happen.
I'm not religious but this quote seems to stand out right now:
"Let he(she) who is without sin cast the first stone."
