in reply to Re: "Off Topic" Section?
in thread "Off Topic" Section?

Every offtopic section I have seen on every forum I have participated in so far anywhere on the web has shown a tendency to grow like a tumour and take a life of its own.

Good point. One way to deal with this is to expire Off Topic posts after some fixed interval. One place I hang out has a reserved section that carries the notice "Go ahead and flame. It'll be gone in a week."

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^3: "Off Topic" Section?
by Aristotle (Chancellor) on May 31, 2002 at 20:32 UTC

    That is not the only consideration unfortunately. The point is that an offtopic section attracts "offtopic people", so to say, and that dilution of the populace leads to a dilution of the overall focus of the community as well, often to the point where the offtopic area becomes the main place to be and the rest of the sections is neglected, looked down on, or acquires some sort of elitist air.

    I'm not sure simply setting a short expiry time would help.

    ____________
    Makeshifts last the longest.
[reply]
Re^3: "Off Topic" Section?
by Aristotle (Chancellor) on Jun 01, 2002 at 18:55 UTC
    Something just occured to me: the Chatterbox Section does have a very short expiry time. *grin*

    Makeshifts last the longest.

[reply]

In Section Perl Monks Discussion