Should we have a Off Topic Section?

[West]

I cant say I will do this even if we get enough votes but maybe we could at least try it for awhile and see how it turns out.

[DrDubbleB]

Like I said last night, I don't feel it's necessary.  If people want to talk about off-topic things, they can use the zilvia chat on AIM, there are people in there pretty often, and if there aren't, their question/topic can wait.

[boosteds14]

i would have to say yes to this. even though i do post off topic posts every so often. i believe that we should seperate the 240 chat with bullshit.

but dont label it with just off topic.
label it either, photo/video/chat

and change the chat name to Nissan chat. (not 240sx chat because of the fact this is not only a 240sx forum but also 300zx and etc.)

just my 2 cents

and keep in mind, there will be alot of post whores

[ca18guy]

Would'nt hurt to try it as a test. I'm afraid it would create trolls that would only post on the ot section, putting the point of the ot room (a chill area for members) on the back burner.  I'd rather see it stay the way it is cause it lets people know each other better instead of having the ot crew and the 240sx chat crew. If anything a big complaint is having good topics pushed off the first page. Why not make the 1st page bigger.  If people are still to lazy to swift through the OT topics it's their problem.

[240Driver39]

I just think all this discussion lately is just about what direction people want this board to go in, more informational, which i like more personally, or more of a community type.  I dont really think that we need an OT section, just i think a direction needs to chosen for the forums.  Just gotta find the area inbetween informational and online community and i think we will be good.

zilvia is still my place to check out to learn about 240's, i just find myself going to the tech section and avoiding the chat section more often nemore.

just my thoughts...

[Sil80girlie]

I think it's a great idea.  I would really miss the OT stuff I read (even though there is some I could do without).  I always get on Zilvia during my lunch hour, and just sitting and reading technical stuff gets a little repetitive after a while.  I understand that there are other forums/messengers for OT chatting, but you become familiar with ppl's names and what goes on in their life after a while, and even though I may not IM or personally chat with most of you guys, I still like READING about what's going on with yall and what other ppl have to say about it.  I like reading the jokes and stories...it makes me feel like I know you guys a little better, which also makes me more interested in what you guys have to say.  It could just be the estrogen though....

Just my .03 <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>
Steph

[SR20Fastback]

Im with her ^ I think the OT section would be alright to try, but CA18Guy is right, there will be a lot of trolls who just post whore. Maybe if you eliminated the counter effect their. Like every time they posted in that section, they wouldnt raise post count because of it... But yeah, I think the chat part now will probably become a little more boring.. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sleeping.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':zzzz:'> I like having friday humor, and the occasional funny story that happened to someone (esp the shit in a del sol story), and these will all have to be moved to the OT section... I just think it would be smarter to somehow filter out how many OT's there are or how many you are allowed to post every so often... So Im going to vote yes for a trial period of the OT section, I guess its worth a shot.

[West]

I just wish someone made a script for Ikonboard and vB that would allow members to Vote to Delete a post. So if it was voted 5-8 times then it would be deleted. Kinda lets the members choose what happenes on the forum without making us (the Mods) look like assholes.

This is how twinturbo.net does it.

[tnord]

i vote no.

i think it's an invite for idiots and their idiotic tendencies.

[camppain]

i voted yes for now atleast

true what travis said about it promoting ass goblins and such. but i think if we get some mod's to take over the ones that dont frequent at all no more that would help out alot. its been to easy lately alot of the posts needed to get shutdown

who cares what the newer members think of the mods there has to be some rules and guidelines. if their wasnt any of those zilvia would be shot to shit a long time ago.

plus the fact alot of the members that put newbs in check so its not oly the mods that look like assholes at times

[240 2NR]

Travis- it's not their fault, they're stupid

I think the downfall of OT would be lack of old timer involvement there. &nbsp;I don't think we should be catering to newbies who want to change what they barely belong to. &nbsp;I think with time comes a sence of responsibilty. &nbsp;I think I most of the people who have been around know when they can post something a bit off topic since in general they have hundreds of posts that were on topic. &nbsp;I was glad to see the purchase of a house from a longtime member we all know. &nbsp;While based on 240's, the community is deeper than that. &nbsp;At the same time if my first post was about my buying a house, I don't think anyone would care and then it would be irrelevant. &nbsp;Time and place. &nbsp;It's not so much what the topic is that relevant as the circumstances that create it.

Let's keep things as is with a stricter tolerance for OT posting. &nbsp;I think as the board becomes a bit more regulated it will solve it's own problems. &nbsp;When newbies don't get away with post whoring, less post whoring will occur.

[chickenmanq]

Whassup, WeST-dawg! &nbsp;Did I tell you about my pimp-ass 20" dubs on my flippity bippity Honda, yo? &nbsp;They's tite as hell!

Naw, seriously, I got a good idea for you. &nbsp;Make the OT section. &nbsp;Instead of archiving all posts as currently is done, limit the OT section to 2 pages (maybe 30 posts) and then when they hit the bottom, let 'em just fall into cyberspace.

That will keep bandwidth to a minimum for that section, and will keep short-lived short-important posts around for a short while.

[Sil80girlie]

Just have a comment on all of the "newbie" talk....

"Joined date" and "Posts #" has nothing to do with the amount of time spent on the board. &nbsp;Yeah, I JOINED Zilvia in July and I only have 50 or so posts...but I was a lurker before that. &nbsp;You have no idea how long ppl are on this board before they join...and only being an "official member" for a few months doesn't necessarily make them a newbie. &nbsp;Don't make assumptions based soley on what you see.

--some more cents to add to the bucket &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/satisfied.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':satisfied:'>

[240 2NR]

But I think you are probably among the newbie minority then. &nbsp;It's usually pretty easy to tell who's a newbie and new to everything 240 in the first couple posts. &nbsp;When I joined, I had been on the 240sx.org list for 4 months already. &nbsp;

Not all newbies get flamed on just for being new, in fact most are welcomed with open arms. &nbsp;It's being new and not paying attention that usually gets them in trouble. &nbsp;Or when you're first post is HOW MUCH FOR AN S15 SR? &nbsp;and you open the thread and it says, "like, so much for an S15 SR?"

[wherezmytofu]

all i can think of poor poor wests money going into the extra bandwith use.....poor poor West :*( <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cry:'>

[ca18guy]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wherezmytofu @ Aug. 31 2002,07:09)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">all i can think of poor poor wests money going into the extra bandwith use.....poor poor West :*( <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cry:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I thought he ran the server from his work &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/notify.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':notify:'>

[aqwkmf]

i agree with the mods that the OT catogory is probally a waste of space. but we have to do something.
i feel that if there is a OT catagory that the posts made in it do not count toward post count because alot of assclowns think thier post count is thier IQ.

it just pissed me off when posst that wern't off topic were closed and no reason was given why. it leaves people with a "wtf" feeling....but if a mod gives a valid and understandable reason why they closed a thead then the poster can under stand what the problem is and avoid it in the future.

i feel bad that west is all alone in providing us with a free forum that he puts his own sweat into and we have to argue all the time. thank you for the forum and the work you do for us.

i will continue to tack zilvia flyers on 240s that i see.

[AKADriver]

I voted no... &nbsp;like others said, off-topic forums are a magnet for stupidity. &nbsp;If you think frequent "will my 240sx beat a ____" and "SR vs KA" posts are stupid, then you ain't seen nothing yet.

If I want to see arguments about politics, pictures of car show hoochies, and threads about smoking dope, I can find that elsewhere.

[ca18guy]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (aqwkmf @ Aug. 31 2002,07:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">it just pissed me off when posst that wern't off topic were closed and no reason was given why. it leaves people with a "wtf" feeling....but if a mod gives a valid and understandable reason why they closed a thead then the poster can under stand what the problem is and avoid it in the future.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I agree but deleting thread &nbsp;> &nbsp;locking thread. No one hardly notices a deleted thread compared to a big lock icon &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[BEISSEN]

I say ys cus it will free up the chat section and the texh area.yeha there will be some trolls but at least it is ot.But hey i dont feel it will put the chat area out if itis realted to the 240 or 300z then chat is fine but post like friday humor and such are what should be in an ot section plus dumb questions as well.

[West]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ca18guy @ Aug. 30 2002,12:18)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteBegin--wherezmytofu+Aug. 31 2002,07<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wherezmytofu @ Aug. 31 2002,07<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>9)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">all i can think of poor poor wests money going into the extra bandwith use.....poor poor West :*( <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cry:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I thought he ran the server from his work <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/notify.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':notify:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I do run it from work, but bandwidth isnt free still, lets all be happy my boss is a badass. I dont think were limited on bandwidth to be honest, a dedicated T1 line should be all that is needed for the ammount of users. However the server I run the site off is a 700mhz w 1.2gigs of ram and I want to upgrade it but Im not going to dish out 3k for a server of my own until I start making money from the site. The motherboard on the computer can hold 2 1ghz PIII's, so I may buy one of those until I can afford a new server for the site. To be honest I think its Disk I/O that slows us down the most even though we run it off a Raid system. Ill have to get SCSI discs for the next server.

[HippoSleek]

I voted no. &nbsp;I think OT is like saying if you can't beat'em, join'em. &nbsp;

I totally agree that it will be nothing but a space for nubes and trolls. &nbsp;It may be unfair to allow old-timers to post OT about things like girls and their real estate purchases, while keeping a nube from asking a question about photochopping or MTV. &nbsp;Oh well - who said life was fair? &nbsp;Some people have earned the right to post BS topics - most have not.

I also think most people accept that sometimes mods have to be a-holes and they have to put up with it. &nbsp;I'd much rather see more police power than letting the inmates run the asylum.

[dave240sx]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">but dont label it with just off topic.
label it either, photo/video/chat

</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

We can name it something like "The Junkyard" or something??

[JeffNJ]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (dave240sx @ Aug. 29 2002,3:18)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">We can name it something like "The Junkyard" or something??</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Hahahaha...

I'm pretty neutral on whether the section actually gets created or not (since I'm hardly ever here anymore, after all), but OMG, this comment is incredible.

Seriously, if you go through with this, "The Junkyard" has to be the name. &nbsp;The name is so perfect it's almost reason in and of itself. &nbsp;Good call, Dave.

[Kid Zelda]

I'd say let's test drive the OT section; see how it handles, stops and whatnot. &nbsp;
I doubt new user's will come just for the OT section, since they would have to be somewhat into car's (Nissan) to be in here in the first place.

In any case, if it doesn't work out, take it down. The MOD's can always DO their JOB and actually close threads. And if you're worried about coming off like an asshole, just give the power to someone who doesn’t! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/lookaround.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':look:'>

[SimpleS14]

OT section is a good idea, and I agree that it should be archive to atleast 3 pages. But even if you do this, it will not stop "newbies" from making random post in the chat section. If possible we should have a section for "newbies" and limited the size to 5 pages. We should label it "Introductions and first timers (or Novice)", while the chat section is renamed "Advanced and Old timers", which should be limited to 20 pages.

Getting rid of the post count is a OK idea, but what about the stars?....I need the stars!!!! I just got my third one!!! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cry:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cry:'> .........j/k

We shouldn't compare this forum to others (I.E. Freshalloy) mainly because it has few sections, different "software" and covers only one car....well two if you include the Z.

Also if the is about the 240SX and 300ZX......where are the Z owners? where are the threads about the Z and other Z related stuff? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> Maybe you can that another section labeled "Z chat" (if possible)....

I dunno...most of this stuff are just random ideas that came to mind and I'm probably just rambling on.

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh:'>

[fodive]

i think the OT section is just going to cause more arguments over the thigs people put into the chat, because not everyone thinks that the same things are of topic, you know what im saying?

[matic 240sx]

I deserve the moran of the month award.. i voted yes.. but I wanted to vote no.. sorry..

I don't think we need an off topic section.. waste of time.. no one is going to go there except a few newbies.. &nbsp;and no one will reply to them..

i think its fine the way it is.. we just need more mod control.. &nbsp;people are posting anything and everything just to get that cool little number up...

personally.. i feel that the mods are not on here enough.. or not at all...

[whateverjames]

i voted yes. take five minutes to create a new section. if it doesn't work out. take five minutes to delete it.

edit: but i believe it should be moderated.

[DSC]

I'm undecided...leaning to "no". &nbsp;

I think it'd have both good and bad <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'>

Looking at other forums (both car and other) "chat/ot" sections usually become the largest/most popular sections of the forum. &nbsp;If thats how we want zilvia to become, then sure, go for it. &nbsp;

In a way i'd like to see it stay more technical and in a way an OT section would actually make the technical sections more technical but then again...I've made some pretty cool friends through zilvia PM/forums/and offical unoffical chat by just shooting the shit, not talking about HP numbers, suspension, and racing.

I would vote NO but...as a test only then maybe in a couple weeks to a month (however long it actually takes to get a feel for it) have another poll and see what we think of it.

[camppain]

just to add everyone always says we dont want to be lik clubsi. every other forum i go to www.sr20deforum.com www.300zxclub.com www.b15sentra.net and others that arent nissan including clubsi all have ot and are good forums. thats where people post funny links humorous stories and just shot the breeze.

test it out thats all. btw when is the forum going to be upgraded?

[uuninja]

I vote no. There is not point in having "chat" "tech" and "OT" forums. I think that the majority of the posts are on topic or of interest to the members of the forum. Mods do a pretty good Job of locking the crap posts. There are enough regulars to notify the mods when the junk posts do popup.

This forum is fine as it is. I like the posts about events in peoples lives. As well a discussion about 240's and other car related stuff. About the only things I really have issue with are A) stupid questions that could be answered with a search. B) Post whores, say some thing of merrit or don't post.

An OT will just encourage people to post total shit. Pr0n, flame bait, threads about how much beer and weed you can smoke. Like AKADriver said I know where to find those if I want to.

Finally, this recent trend is just part of a cycle. Every 3 or 4 months on every board I am on you get a wave of noobs and lamers. Every one gets up in arms and a few weeks later it goes away. Imagine that.

Don't try and fix what isn't broken. Always good advice.

[AceInHole]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Sil80girlie @ Aug. 29 2002,1:31)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">"Joined date" and "Posts #" has nothing to do with the amount of time spent on the board. Yeah, I JOINED Zilvia in July and I only have 50 or so posts...but I was a lurker before that. You have no idea how long ppl are on this board before they join...and only being an "official member" for a few months doesn't necessarily make them a newbie. Don't make assumptions based soley on what you see.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
LoL... I'll ask for TNord as backup since we joined at the same time, but were we newbies when we were at 0 posts, treated as newbies, or was the point we had 0-10 posts ever brought up??

I don't think so, I don't remember so. &nbsp;I even remember on freshalloy (supposedly HORRIDLY known for it elitist attitude) no being treated negatively in any way (well, Demon and Old_S13 took shots occasionally, but i asked for it).

Point being, the post counter/ join date isn't the source of "newbie accusations", it's more of evidence to bring up when the point is made, usually based on either a repetative post (which usually has the exact same topic still on the first page in a different thread) or when a blatantly stupid question is brought up.

The better fix would be to educate the "newbies" instead of pushing them into their own little playpen. &nbsp;Perhaps a mandatory reading of a FAQ so that they'll understand that their posts are deleted/ locked with a purpose, or perhaps so that they won't post such threads in the first place.

[sykikchimp]

I agree with Ace. &nbsp;I also voted no for the same reasons.