Well, OT is, by definition, off topic. If we expand the scope of what's on topic for PerlMonks by letting anything at all be perfectly acceptable, then there is no OT, and we have slashdot. OTOH, letting users

solicite and share, their experience, skills and knowledge, beyond those that relate directly to Perl

is something that PerlMonks permits, as long as it relates, however indirectly, to Perl.

In the end, social pressure is the best — if not in fact the only — way to keep PerlMonks from becoming slashdot. It has worked so far, more or less.