Stay on topic!!!

[bigred760]

This is in regards to Joblo's discussion boards and it's something that's happened a few times now in the last few days.

It's when there's a thread that discusses two or more movies and the similarities or differences, ensues a discussion on the subject(s) - schmoes write in a lot of good stuff, then all of a sudden one guy writes in that one movie sucks and the other is better beyond comparison. It just recently happened in the General Movie Talk forum in a Pirates of the Caribbean 2 vs. Empire Strikes Back comparison. One guy writes in and said, Pirates 2 sucked. Empire is better. That's

Don't do that. We're not comparing how good one is to another; we're talking about how plots, characters, motifs are similar (or different).

If anything, say why one sucked as compared to the other. Try to contribrute something to what is actually being discussed. Doing something like "That sucked" just throws the whole thing off.





Had to get that off my chest. I feel better now.

[jolanar]

Personally I think Empire Strikes Back was much better.






























J/k. Couldn't agree more!

[Monotreme]

Yeah... some posts around here are really reminiscent of the type of shit you'd see on the IMDb boards, not the JoBlo forums. Get your act together and LIGHTEN UP, people! These are just movies we're talking about here, not a life-or-death matter!

[someguy]

I'm really annoyed with lazy posting, which is when you just hit QUOTE and then hit submit reply. It's somewhat acceptable in tournaments (but seriously is it that hard to type it out?) but when it's a post in an upcoming movie or something just don't. If you're going to add nothing, why the hell are you going to post in the first place. I seriously think a rule should be implemented where if anyone is caught doing a lazy post they should be warned or banned if doing it repeatedly. It's just fluffing up a post count and littering the boards.

[Scorpio24]

Originally posted by someguy
I'm really annoyed with lazy posting, which is when you just hit QUOTE and then hit submit reply. It's somewhat acceptable in tournaments (but seriously is it that hard to type it out?) but when it's a post in an upcoming movie or something just don't. If you're going to add nothing, why the hell are you going to post in the first place. I seriously think a rule should be implemented where if anyone is caught doing a lazy post they should be warned or banned if doing it repeatedly. It's just fluffing up a post count and littering the boards.


Where as I agree wouldn't that pretty much kill half of THC posts?


I agree with this rant also. I'm amazed at how others just sometimes refuse to believe there is another possibility or option to their POV. I've been guilty of lazy posting myself on times but usualy as a little throw away joke or line. I hate when someone puts just one line down about something as if it's the end of disscusion.

[someguy]

I don't mind when someone makes a joke in a thread, and the moderators only jump on a thread when it's off topic to the point of no return. Lazy posting is just so blatantly done though. I don't know what you're talking about with THC posts, I've never seen him do lazy posting, and besides he posts something with substance every now and then. I've seen schmoes (well, a schmoe) with over 10000 posts and I don't think that I have ever seen a single post by them that has gone over 20 words. I wanted to make a topic on this in the site suggestions forum but I didn't think it warranted saying and plus I come off as pretty picky/whiny about it, but this thread has made me said what I wanted on it. Besides, doesn't this thread kind of suffer some irony/hypocrisy since it is also off topic? :)

[Scorpio24]

Yeah don't get me wrong the THC reference was just musing that he posts the odd comments that don't exactly add to the conversation. Not saying this is bad per say because i'm pretty sure that most people find his one liners pretty funny. But it is of the same nature you were talking about.

I know what you mean about the people that don't add much to the conversation and what not but what can you do? Lazy posting is annoying but I don't see short of banning people how we can stop it

[The Postmaster General]

I've said it so many times, but this is a discussion board, not a debate club. Everyone has 2 cents, and some people have a few bucks in change, but we all want to share ours, and hear from others. It can be very annoying when someone seems to totally miss the point of the discussion, and attempts to start arguments based on meaninglessness.

I wrote this for you bigred -

http://joblo.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51029&perpage=50&pagenumber=1

[Scorpio24]

I just read through the first page of that thread and give up. I think only Jo got you're point.:confused: :D

[The Postmaster General]

Yeah, my main point was people just throwing in something with no value. I absolutely have no problem with differences of opinion (see the Miami Vice thread) but when people agree or disagree, and....

Well, I can just point out that there is actually a rule here at Joblo about making substance-free posts.

[someguy]

What you were talking about is kind of like trolling where someone comes in and just says something dissenting from the majority to cause arguments. If someone disagrees but makes a constructive post explaining why rather than 'i disagree' then I think the post is fine.

By the way, what happened to you Bubba? Reading that thread was like looking at a different you. You were wild, used caps, swore, etc. This is probably because you had a kid and settled down. Why'd you have to lose the vitality and go all deadbeat dad on us?

[Scorpio24]

Originally posted by someguy


By the way, what happened to you Bubba? Reading that thread was like looking at a different you. You were wild, used caps, swore, etc. This is probably because you had a kid and settled down. Why'd you have to lose the vitality and go all deadbeat dad on us?


Haha.

:D

[The Postmaster General]

Originally posted by someguy
What you were talking about is kind of like trolling where someone comes in and just says something dissenting from the majority to cause arguments. If someone disagrees but makes a constructive post explaining why rather than 'i disagree' then I think the post is fine.


Yeah, right on. Now, I'm not a posting elitist or anything, I just think that people should really realize that we are in fact having conversations when we post on these boards. I like to always point that this is called a discussion board - "Movie Talk". Even with random comments, or jokes, there should still be a flow.

A lot of times, I really just feel like people don't even read other people's posts. Sometimes that's where these comments we speak of seem to come from. To use bigred's example - maybe the topic was titled "EMPIRE VS. STAR WARS" and then the thread starter wrote a kickass essay about the differences and similiarties, then asked others to ring in.

Then some schmoe comes along , sees the title, and knows he has an opinion on that, so just opens up and posts his thought.

Staying on topic could be improved if people just took a few moments to at least figure out where the discussion has gone and where it is now.


By the way, what happened to you Bubba? Reading that thread was like looking at a different you. You were wild, used caps, swore, etc. This is probably because you had a kid and settled down. Why'd you have to lose the vitality and go all deadbeat dad on us?


I would take the time to answer this, but my kid's playing with the surge protector again. Gotta run.... :eek:

[therealjohng]

Originally posted by someguy
I'm really annoyed with lazy posting, which is when you just hit QUOTE and then hit submit reply. It's somewhat acceptable in tournaments (but seriously is it that hard to type it out?) but when it's a post in an upcoming movie or something just don't. If you're going to add nothing, why the hell are you going to post in the first place. I seriously think a rule should be implemented where if anyone is caught doing a lazy post they should be warned or banned if doing it repeatedly. It's just fluffing up a post count and littering the boards.

[bigred760]

Originally posted by BubbaStrangelove
I've said it so many times, but this is a discussion board, not a debate club. Everyone has 2 cents, and some people have a few bucks in change, but we all want to share ours, and hear from others. It can be very annoying when someone seems to totally miss the point of the discussion, and attempts to start arguments based on meaninglessness.

I wrote this for you bigred -

http://joblo.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51029&perpage=50&pagenumber=1

I have no problem with disagreements - that's half the fun of these boards for me. Discussion!! I love discussing movies.

BUT, what I'm talking about went something like this:

Schmoe #1: "Pirates of the Caribbean 2 is like Empire Strikes Back."

Schmoe #2: POTC 2 is not like Empire Strikes Back

Schmoe #3: POTC@ sucked.

We weren't even talking good or bad, but making comparisons. It just irked me.

[AWP82]

Originally posted by someguy
What you were talking about is kind of like trolling where someone comes in and just says something dissenting from the majority to cause arguments. If someone disagrees but makes a constructive post explaining why rather than 'i disagree' then I think the post is fine.

I disagree.




















OK, that was predictable, I know. Sorry...

[someguy]

awp does every post you make involve quoting someone who complains about something and then doing what they complained about? :)

[AWP82]

Not every post, but yes, I am indeed an attention whore, if that's what you're wondering. :)

[TheDeadWalk]

Man, this one time I made a thread about how much I'd love to see a movie about a guy who likes to eat shit sandwiches, and you know what all these bitches and ho's did?

"Ewww man you nasty"

"Why the fuck would anyone ever want to eat a shit sandwich?"

Then I had to be all like,

"Motherfuckers, get off my balls. We ain't talkin bout that shit! We talkin bout a motherfuckin movie about a guy who eats motherfuckin shit sandwiches! Now who with me?"

And then teh thread whas saved.

[The Postmaster General]

Originally posted by bigred760
I have no problem with disagreements - that's half the fun of these boards for me. Discussion!! I love discussing movies.

BUT, what I'm talking about went something like this:

Schmoe #1: "Pirates of the Caribbean 2 is like Empire Strikes Back."

Schmoe #2: POTC 2 is not like Empire Strikes Back

Schmoe #3: POTC@ sucked.

We weren't even talking good or bad, but making comparisons. It just irked me.


Yeah, I know what you mean - missing the point of a discussion. Disagreements are often part of a discussion, but before you can disagree with anything, you have to understand what's being discussed or you sound like a little kid who wandered into the middle of a movie and wants to know what's going on.

With that in mind, I declare that we call it The Donny Syndrome.

"Shut the fuck up, Donny."

[The Postmaster General]

I think another condition that should be addressed is when schmoes turn the topic of conversation onto one another. I'm not talking about when one shares a piece of personal information and someone else comments on it, or even camaraderie among schmoes, but I'm talking about when the topic is pretty centered on something related to a topic on the boards, and a schmoe responds just to make a personal comment at another schmoe - be it a joke, a pot-shot, or an insult.

I'm also not speaking of when someone incorrectly states something and someone corrects them - that's part of the topic, that's on-topic.

A good example might be something like this -

Jerry: I'm getting sick of these morons in films doing totally unrealistic stuff like eating bacon for breakfast.

Bubba: Actually a lot of people do eat bacon for breakfast. What the hell are you talking about? Here are some examples of people eating bacon for breakfast <goes on for a while about examples>

Jerry: Oh there goes Bubba with one of his long worthless posts.


It's pretty lame, and I *might* be guilty of it from time-to-time. But beejeezus people, we are here to talk about movies (among few other topics) and not each other. No one really gives a shit who has the biggest tits or dick, so stop waving your around.

Well, some waving of the tits would probably be okay, but unfortunately most of this stuff seems testosterone fueled.

Sometimes I get the feeling that people are carrying over stuff from school or work to the boards - the way it turns personal for no apparent reason. Of course, it isn't my place to comment or think twice about that. Why? Because it's pretty off-topic, and honestly, in general, I care more about the topics than about egos.

[AWP82]

I think I've done that from time to time. I apologize.

[The Postmaster General]

Originally posted by AWP82
I think I've done that from time to time. I apologize.


I've seen you do it, and to me it's always in good intentions - like giving praise, or even just goofing around. Which I don't think ever hurts a discussion.

I'm speaking more of like when someone uses personal attacks as a form of debate. It seems to happen when someone can't come up with an counter-point, or gets frustrated with a discussion.

Not saying you haven't done that, just that I haven't noticed it.

My personal rule of thumb about these things here is that they are all discussions. It's only a debate if you let it be - even if you have a different opinion.

A lot of it reminds me of those old beer commercials where two guys are screaming at one another --- "TASTES GREAT!"/"LESS FILLING!" and the two guys keep getting madder and madder at one another, meanwhile one of their wives walks up and drinks their beer.

[AWP82]

Well, I have done roundabout personal attacks before in situations you've described. I admit that, and I'm certainly not proud of it. Although, in the heat of the moment, I've felt that they were justified. Nothing overtly out of line, just sudden outbursts of anger/dissent in response to posts I find inflammatory. Like racist/homophobic comments or when people state their opinions in ways that put other people down. It's hard to explain without sitrring up more controversy. But the bottom line is I always feel bad afterwards, because I've ended up contributing to a situation I wish hadn't happened in the first place (had the offender not made the offending comment in the first place, which I found hard to ignore). Does that make any sense? In other words, I have a habit of "taking the bait" when I shouldn't. I end up looking like a drama queen.

Sorry to make a therapy session out of this, but I'd rather call myself out on my own bullshit before someone else does. It makes me feel noble. :p

[Scorpio24]

Originally posted by BubbaStrangelove
and a schmoe responds just to make a personal comment at another schmoe - be it a joke, a pot-shot, or an insult.


I agree with this. It seems to be happening quite a bit recently also. Especialy to you in the last week or two.

I have been guilty of it myself in the past. Luckily I was called out on it because I didn't even realise I was doing it. I still do it occassionaly as a joke and meant in fun but there as been some really snidey remarks againsty people recently and then passed off as a joke or as a harmless point. That really annoys me. Funny thing is, is that these people tend to be doing the exact same thing and worse than the people they are accusing.