[MacosNerd]

What ever happened to the rule about not creating nonsense threads
Just today alone I see three threads
http://forums.macnn.com/89/macnn-lou...t-thread-evar/
http://forums.macnn.com/89/macnn-lou...opcorn-thread/
http://forums.macnn.com/89/macnn-lou...atmeal-thread/

Back in the day, when tookie was around this sort of crap would never be permitted.

[subego]

What follows is a 100% serious request.

Can we have a nonsense lounge?

I think this would make an overwhelming majority of the board happy. Both the people who like nonsense and the people who hate it.

[subego]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

http://forums.macnn.com/89/macnn-lou...atmeal-thread/

Back in the day, when tookie was around this sort of crap would never be permitted.

Maybe that's a good thing? There's Neil Gaiman's awesome looking oatmeal recipe in that thread.

[xi_hyperon]

Granted, I don't know that I would start a thread on popcorn or oatmeal, but I like both, so I didn't find either thread to be silly (actually, I was tempted to make some popcorn after reading that particular thread ). To each his own, maybe?

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by subego 

Maybe that's a good thing? There's Neil Gaiman's awesome looking oatmeal recipe in that thread.

which probably could easily be found on google if someone was interested in oatmeal recipes.

[BlueSky]

Popcorn and oatmeal are as silly as you make them, that's what my dad always said. My mom always told him to quit playing with his food.

[subego]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

which probably could easily be found on google if someone was interested in oatmeal recipes.

Wasn't interested in oatmeal recipes until I saw the thread.

[Chuckit]

The popcorn thread is not nonsense. It's about popcorn. It's not inherently any sillier than a thread asking "Do you prefer laptops or desktops?"

[Mrjinglesusa]

Here's an idea: if the thread title doesn't interest you, don't open the thread. Problem solved.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa 

Here's an idea: if the thread title doesn't interest you, don't open the thread. Problem solved.

Exactly, and even if there was a nonsense (not "nonesense"), there would be people complaining about these threads showing up in hte "new posts" listing. There is always something to get Judge Judy about, including Judge Judy.

I'd also add to MrJingle's solution:

Don't take this place too seriously. It's just a forum on the internet.

I think that if everybody took this to heart we would be rid of a lot of MacNN drama and wringing hands over things which simply do not matter (such as this thread, no offense MacOSNerd).

[imitchellg5]

Easy solution. If you don't like the thread, don't go there!

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

Easy solution. If you don't like the thread, don't go there!

iMitchell is a wise man!


Edit: I found another nonsense thread

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa 

Here's an idea: if the thread title doesn't interest you, don't open the thread. Problem solved.

Here's an even better idea, why not follow the rules.

Don't post nonsense threads, +1 posts, or anything else with no semantic value.

http://forums.macnn.com/macnn-lounge...dated-2007-17/

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

Here's an even better idea, why not follow the rules.

http://forums.macnn.com/macnn-lounge...dated-2007-17/

Crazy talk! You have clearly taken leave of your senses, my good man.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

Crazy talk! You have clearly taken leave of your senses, my good man.

It's just a lounge, in a forum on the internet.

[imitchellg5]

Do you know what the section that the Lounge is in is called? It's called "Community." Threads like those build it.

[ghporter]

Whether silly and nonsense threads are good or bad, CALM DOWN, especially besson3c.

I can see a purpose in such silliness now and then, but it's destroyed when people go to such lengths to argue about it.

I have not had a moment to look into these threads and see if the rule about nonsense threads really applies. For example, the "silliest thread" thread is actually about extant threads, not "nonsense" itself. However, wasting bandwidth is not a good thing, and while it's a difficult call to determine the "usefulness" of threads like "The Official Popcorn Thread," users will have to be a bit less unrestrained in starting threads just for the heck of it, at least from time to time. They're called "discussion threads" because there should be something to discuss-they should not exist just to exist.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

Just because you disagree with my perspective on following the rules you insult me and then walk away typical besson.


I suppose since you cannot debate the merits in a mature fashion you need to rant then run away, in a false sense of superiority

I'm not running away, I'm walking away. Your "debate" style in the past with me has proven to be intellectually lazy, often purely emotionally based, very close to being classified as bickering, and thus really not worth the investment, no offense. As anybody can fairly easily see (and as my post count supports), I often, for better or worse become emotionally invested in several threads and in debating several people, so it's not like I don't like a good debate... In fact, many might say that I'm quite stubborn, and you could build a good case to support this notion. So, I'm bowing out of this one for very specific reasons.

[MacosNerd]

I leave with this last post.

I was not the emotional one, you were and you seem to belittle anybody who has an opposing view. So be it, you seem to be immature. Perhaps in time you will grow up.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

Whether silly and nonsense threads are good or bad, CALM DOWN, especially besson3c.

I can see a purpose in such silliness now and then, but it's destroyed when people go to such lengths to argue about it.

I have not had a moment to look into these threads and see if the rule about nonsense threads really applies. For example, the "silliest thread" thread is actually about extant threads, not "nonsense" itself. However, wasting bandwidth is not a good thing, and while it's a difficult call to determine the "usefulness" of threads like "The Official Popcorn Thread," users will have to be a bit less unrestrained in starting threads just for the heck of it, at least from time to time. They're called "discussion threads" because there should be something to discuss-they should not exist just to exist.

I've been quite calm throughout, but rereading my earlier posts I can see how they did not express this as intended. For that I apologize...

If you want my two cents: a variable and perpetual amount of energy will be spent defining what "nonsense" is, and in doing so this energy will be wasted each time. To me, many of the other threads in the lounge that people consider valuable are nonsense to me, yet I just leave them be as most of us do. If the purpose of the lounge is to build community, here I am, participating in several of the silly threads, starting my own, yet also contributing to many technical discussions. I come here for a combination of silly threads and technical discussion, so it annoys me when people try to squelch this in the pursuit of what I consider unattainable, and undesirable to begin with.

Even if we were to somehow miraculously all agree upon a definition of what "nonsense" is, there will always be posts included in content threads that are nonsense to people. This is to be expected in a forum like this, and I grow tired of seeing people chase their tail time and time again criticizing people for contributing to "nonsense" in light of everything I've said here.

MacOSNerd, I apologize for barking at you earlier. You caught me at a bad and stressful time, but I didn't mean to be so intense.

[subego]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

users will have to be a bit less unrestrained in starting threads just for the heck of it, at least from time to time.

You phrased this as a future directive.

Is that what you meant?

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

Here's an even better idea, why not follow the rules.

http://forums.macnn.com/macnn-lounge...dated-2007-17/

OK. You posted three specific threads in your original post that you apparently consider "nonsense". I am just wondering what criteria you used to designate those threads as "nonsense". What if I don't consider them to be "nonsense" threads, are they still "nonsense" threads because you dictate they are so?

Or, what if I consider a thread YOU make to be a "nonsense" thread (like this one for example). Is it a "nonsense" thread just because one member thinks it's a "nonsense" thread?

Until there is a clear definition of what constitutes a "nonsense" thread, I don't think it is really an issue.

I think ghporter has it about right:

They're called "discussion threads" because there should be something to discuss-they should not exist just to exist.

Let's look at your three examples.

1) The "Popcorn" Thread: There seems to be a pretty nice discussion going on about popcorn. Different types, best brands, how to make, etc. Clearly there is something to discuss, thus NOT a "nonsense" thread.

2) The "Silliest Thread Evar" Thread: Again, a nostalgic look at what threads members consider to be the silliest. Clearly there is something to discuss, thus NOT a "nonsense" thread.

3) The "Oatmeal" Thread: I find this thread interesting because there are so many different things people from different parts of the country and world put on oatmeal. Clearly there is something to discuss, thus NOT a "nonsense" thread.

So, 3/3 threads you consider "nonsense" threads appear to have lively discussions going on. Just because you don't find them interesting does not make them "nonsense" threads.

Then again, what do I know, I'm probably talking "nonsense".

[Faust]

Okay then. No more BlackAdder, Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, Simpsons, A bit of Fry and Laurie and so on then. Plain, dull verbal vomit, urine and drivel. These are all comprised of complete and utter nonsense and some of them probably are the most intellectually pregnant works of the last two-and-a-half decades.

[reader50]

I don't recall the context in which the "nonsense rule" was written. It may have referred to incomprehensible threads, such as those sometimes posted by non-english speakers who are trying to sell us viagra. You can guess at the intention, but the words don't fit together properly.

The threads pointed out look like light conversation to me, "small talk". I don't mod the Lounge outside of the occasional guest-mod in a few threads, so it's not my call. They wouldn't fly in a tech forum, but the Lounge is ... um, more relaxed.

[besson3c]

Hence its name!

[Tiresias]

Hello. It's the lounge.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by reader50 

I don't recall the context in which the "nonsense rule" was written. It may have referred to incomprehensible threads, such as those sometimes posted by non-english speakers who are trying to sell us viagra. You can guess at the intention, but the words don't fit together properly.

Judging from how tooki applied it, it seems like it was meant to apply to flagrantly stupid posts that don't contribute anything or produce any meaningful discussion ("+1", "IBL", "hello", etc.). Basically kind of a quality-control on posts.

[Dakar the Fourth]

The Steve Guttenberg thread comes to mind. I'm sure I could find a few more if I perused "Find all threads started by besson3c"

[besson3c]

Yeah, my threads are cool...