But I definitely don't see the need for a checkbox to specify that a message I am posting is "off topic." Like everyone else, I already indicate that by typing in ***OFF TOPIC*** at the top of the message.
When I suggested this, it was done knowing that Off-Topic posts are made even though the poster knows that they shouldn't really do so. It's done anyway, though many, as you have indicated, mark them in some way; to be kind to others I guess.
Anyway, my idea was that since OT posts are going to get made anyway, if there was a standard way to optionally avoid them, some might be better off, and nobody would be worse off. If implemented, it would only take one mouseclick during message entry to indicate off-topic instead of many keystrokes. Also, with a standard way to mark them as OT, an optional filter could be available which would allow those who would prefer not to read OT posts, or not to read them at a particular time, to filter them out.
Granted this idea is not of huge value, but who is hurt by it? There would be positive for some and no negative for others. If you chose not to use the filter and preferred to just skip over the posts, go ahead.
Why do you want to impose your way of doing things on everyone when in every way this new idea is either better or as good?
As far as whether or not OT posts are acceptable on SI, the only thing of possible relevance I saw in the SI TOU is the following:
* Use Silicon Investor for illegal purposes or for the transmission of material that is unlawful, harassing, libelous, invasive of another's privacy, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, tortuous, improper or otherwise objectionable. (boldface mine)
They were not clear in what improper means, but I have not seen, in my 2+ years on SI, any attempt by SI to clean up threads of OT posts. Now, I only look at a small minority of threads, but I do look at a number which have a large OT percentage, especially on the weekends. I don't even think that SI objects to non-labeled OT posts, unless they are against the TOU and then are opposed not because of Off-Topicness but because of other issues. |
