Discussion vs Chat

[The Saucepan Man]

From the Tale of Years:

30 May 2003: The great cull of the Barrow-Downs forum.

It's a shame really, as there was some good and interesting stuff on those threads. But they had to go. I think that we should all take it as an object lesson in how not to post, if we want to keep threads like these going.

[Imladris]

I was serfing the old threads on the Downs forum, and I came across this one. I think it a very useful thread, full of advice that we should all remember.

I suppose you could say that I'm pulling an H-I.

[HerenIstarion]

Your post was a transition, Imladris. Mine is chat:

Look at my new sig (and in case it is changed some time hence, see it here on the spot):

George Lashkhi

The ability to edit your posts is a privilege, not a right -- Sharkû
Ask yourself if you are on-topic, off-topic, or on Mars. -- BW

Seems we need Squatter for heroic attempt now

[The Barrow-Wight]

It is time again to remind people that the Downs is a discussion forum, a Middle-earth discussion forum, to be precise, and not a chatroom. I am seeing a proliferation of chatty comments across the forum, and it is time they stopped. All levels of members are responsible, from our newest internees to our oldest, most decrepid corpses (who know better).

When posting, your remarks should:
1) Address the topic of the thread
2) Address a previous remark without straying from the topic of the thread

Conversely, your remarks should not:
1) Address a previous remark, unless doing so is part of a discussion of the thread topic
2) Address another topic unless tying threads together somehow

Let me give some examples:
Topic Where are you from?
Discussion I'm from Canada. Tolkien is quite popular here.
Chat I love Canada!
BW Comment I love pizza, but who cares!? Stop chatting!
This type of topic is chatty by nature, but is still not a place for chat.

Topic What music goes best while reading Tolkien?
Discussion When I listen to Rush "The Trees" I think about Ents.
Chat When I listen to Rush "The Trees", I think about Canada. I love Canada!
BW comment When I listen to Rush "The Trees", I think about hatchets, axes, and saws, which I intend to use on chatty posts!

I could cut and paste dozens of examples from recent posts, but I won't point fingers at anyone yet. Just stop doing it. Get back on topic and stay on topic.

Thanks
BW

[The Saucepan Man]

In light of my recent grouches with threads that have become chatty, I would heartily endorse the sentiments expressed by the Barrow-Wight above.

And I would add one further comment, if I might. Earlier in this thread, Bethberry quite rightly railed against one-liner posts that serve no purpose other than to agree with, or express delight at, an earlier post. You know the ones: "Wow, that was so funny [insert Downer name here]" or "I agree with everything that [insert Downer name here] said".

They were unnecessary back when Bethberry commented on them, and they are even more unnecessary now that we have the Rep system to enable people to express such sentiments.

Now, perhaps I can go back to being less grouchy.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I agree with everything that The Barrow-Wight and The Saucepan Man said...


I make use of the moderator's option to delete chat posts without notice or explanation - if you see your post count diminishing, you might want to stop and think about the reason.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

the Downs is a discussion forum, a Middle-earth discussion forum, to be precise, and not a chatroom.

Although this is not the exact thread appropriate for my question... In desiring to chat rather than post (although I have been guilty of doing the former in the latter), I tried to go to the chat room [through Java if that makes a difference] and the "Loading Java Applet Failed". I thought I saw something last night about something happening today, but then my screen was bombarded by all sorts of other things and I brushed it off. Is there something wrong with the 'Downs chat room?