I just wanted to make a comment about some of the threads in the Way Off Topic section that get locked because they're perceived by the mods as being too esoteric, and some of the threads that are allowed. I thought it would be ok to post it here, as this is the place to discuss site issues - just want to put in my 2 cents.
I think threads like the Your Eccentric Ideas thread that someone started, which was locked after about three posts was potentially FAR more interesting than, for example, the many sports threads that are allowed to thrive. Considering that this is a forum that 1) is trying to maintain a "community" of sorts, and 2) focuses on a genre of music that thematically dwells much more on issues of society and humanity than it does on sports, I'm really wondering what the intention of the Way Off Topic section is. I can understand wanting to minimize very specific threads about home repair, etc. - been there, done that. I get it. But threads that are more general, and allow everyone to participate, even if they're unrelated to music, seem to make sense to me. (I also think threads about audio and video technology have a place, even if someone is asking a fairly specific question, because most of the discussion in the main and OT sections is about audio and video recordings. and also they always seem to branch off into a discussion about various facets of the technology, various choices, etc.) I have almost zero interest in sports - IMO, sports is the ultimate esoteric subject. Moving an object around according to a specific and almost random set of rules. Actually, a general thread about sports could be interesting, but a thread like "NFL Season 2013" is pretty specific, and totally unrelated to music.
As far as the community aspect, I'm more interested in the Illness and Injury thread, where I can learn a lot about the other individuals who make up this community, than I am about what people thought of the football game the night before. Aren't there WAY more other forums where people can discuss sports than there are where people can share ideas and thoughts where it's actually important to know something about the people with whom you're discsussing them?
Ultimately, if left alone each thread will live or die depending on the interest of the members, and since there's enough interest to sustain the sports threads, fine. But can the mods at least wait and see what kind of potential a new thread has before killing it, unless it's obviously either too controversial or of no interest to anyone? It's pretty frustrating to see a new, interesting header with the little lock symbol next to it.
BTW, I do think the original poster should take some responsibility for sort of explaining the intention of the thread, in order to get it off to a viable start. And probably the eccentric ideas thread didn't quite do that, and the Thinking About Star Wars thread definitely didn't. I think the subject lines kind of do this, but if the first post is really specific, it can kind of kill the thread. I wonder if the mods could help to get the threads off to a good start rather than just locking them, though. It might be a little more proactive, and get people less bent out of shape. And if people ask why a thread was locked, saying "We're not required to explain" is a bit..."Don't annoy us further, we have our work to do. Just think about the average - what use have they for you?"
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