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Posted by: The EAKLE
I'd argue this point with you all day, but it'd would be pointless and for the sake of this discussion you're pretty much right. The LNF threads are just about "Say whatever you want" threads. But so is This thread, which has been around as long as i can remember. Threads such as This are essentially just say anything, but with a 'clever name change' so it appears to be a discussion of a hypothetical scenario, all though it is still really just 'Say anything (to the Older Generation).Obviously, there is a gray area for every user here, moderator and member alike, as to what kind of thread "encourages discussion." The threads you linked, and indeed all of the other threads linked by other members in this thread as examples of similar threads to the LNF threads, either center around a particular premise or focus on a particular topic for discussion.
To illustrate this briefly: if I went into the "post random facts" thread and posted "Red is the best color," it would be off-topic in that thread and inappropriate, but not in the LNF thread.
If I went into the "what is the most important message for the older generation" thread and posted "*sits down at the fireplace*," it would be off-topic in that thread and inappropriate, but not in the LNF thread.
If I went into the Swag Central thread and posted "Master Chief should die at the end of Halo 6," it would be off-topic and inappropriate in that thread, but not in the LNF thread.
If I went into the Members List thread and posted "How is everybody tonight?" it would be off-topic and inappropriate in that thread, but not in the LNF thread.
If I went into Slayer's YouTube video thread and posted "I had a burrito for dinner," it would be off-topic and inappropriate in that thread, but not in the LNF thread.
If I went into the Community Carnage thread and posted "This thread is now about Oreos," it would be off-topic and inappropriate in that thread, but not in the LNF thread.
The fact is that, unless it violates another forum rule such as being a jerk or posting about politics or whatever, nothing is off-topic or inappropriate in the LNF threads. And though I know we all have our own definitions of what kind of thread encourages "discussion," this is simply where I draw the line, and I think it's a fair place to draw it. If no post can be off-topic in a particular thread, the thread does not encourage any particular discussion and, in fact, actively encourages random spam.
As for having to check up on the thread every ten minutes because it 'has no topic,' that just doesnt make sense to me. Aren't you supposed to check up on every thread? For example, threads like "Halo 4 sucks" are allowed as long as no rules are broken in the OP, when we all know they'll attract plenty of replies, mostly being flame wars and trolls. But because a topic is clearly stated they're okay. Are you saying threads like that don't have to be monitored from time to time?Obviously, all threads must be monitored from time to time, and some must be monitored more than others. But it is far easier to tell when a "Halo 4 sucks" thread has derailed and needs to be locked than a thread with no topic. Despite what some people seem to think, reading every post in every thread, even late at night, is simply not possible. Even if it were possible, that would require moderators to do nothing but review threads for rulebreaking, all the time, whenever we are on. This is not expected of us, and frankly I enjoy participating in discussions too much to do nothing but moderate.
I don't mean to sound pretentious, but you have to trust me that a thread discussing a particular topic is much, much easier to monitor than a post-whatever-you-want thread for a number of reasons. Not the least of which is that the context of any particular post I'm looking at in a thread with a certain subject matter is already predefined to some extent.
Basically what i'm saying is this: Every thread, regardless of topic or discussion, can potentially be derailed, flamed, trolled, or used for inappropriate discussions. Late Night Flood is no exception. However, it isn't a catalyst for rule breaking either.This is where we differ in opinion. A "post whatever you want" thread, regardless of its title or who starts it, is far more of a catalyst for rulebreaking posts and discussions than a thread on a particular subject matter.
Furthermore, as I briefly noted earlier, if we were to allow the LNF threads, we would have to allow ALL "post whatever you want" threads. I know I could make an exception, but I've found that exceptions to the forum rules are generally a bad thing. Every single time we do it, those threads are called up in numerous other threads (such as this one), as examples of our unfairness.
So, for reasons already noted, I think that post-whatever-you-want threads are inappropriate because they circumvent the purpose of the forum structure, are difficult to monitor, and fail to encourage discussion and easy, immediate participation by the entire community on a particular subject matter.