Instead of just a
Question of the week link on top of the page, how about a 'QOTW' and an 'Off Topic' one?
( Bert Monkeysex is waiting for the mods to delete him, Fri 5 Dec 2008, 15:52, 11 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Not a bad suggestion

( WormuIus, Fri 5 Dec 2008, 15:56, Reply)

But off-topic is basically just /talk...

( SugarSpunSister Yeah, whatever, Fri 5 Dec 2008, 16:07, Reply)

But with intelligent people
and less cunts.

I'm sorry, this isn't helping the situation is it.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 5 Dec 2008, 16:24, Reply)

Does this mean you've come over to /talk then?

( Zuowan, Sat 6 Dec 2008, 3:32, Reply)

I've been
dipping in and out for quite a while now. You probably just haven't been paying attention.
(Bazongaloid, Sat 6 Dec 2008, 12:27, Reply)

I've been disdainful /talkers who troll on QOTW
I've also been lurking on /talk. It's not all idiots, they're very much a minority.

I've no desire to add fuel to any flames, but in the interests of fairness I've nothing against /talkers who post stuff on QOTW, unless they're doing it just to troll.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Mon 8 Dec 2008, 10:00, Reply)

Sorry, Off Topic isn't /talk
/talk is a very quick, often unfriendly, and it's full of troll-like individuals who give short, snappy answers.

On Off Topic we'll talk about anything and everything, when we like, for as long as we like, and there is very rarely any genuine nastiness or unpleasantness.

/talk is one thing, Off Topic is another, I wouldn't choose to post on /talk, but before you think I'm getting all high and mighty, I do think that the Home Sweet Home threads can be a little gay.
( Bert Monkeysex is waiting for the mods to delete him, Fri 5 Dec 2008, 16:33, Reply)

Gay is good.
You homophobe!
( girlinthehole, Fri 5 Dec 2008, 17:17, Reply)

I'm with Bert on this
I lurk in /talk often as it cracks me up. But it's pretty insular and not easy to become part of the board without wading through negativity. I estimate (with very little basis for the statistic other than observation) that /talk is something like 70% nice, funny people and 30% trolling muppets.
I personally prefer QOTW and OT in particular because it's considerably more welcoming and, as Bert says, the stuff we talk about is somewhat more grounded and easy to become a part of. My main criticism of OT is that yes, it can be a bit gay and cliquey.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Sat 6 Dec 2008, 7:21, Reply)

I completely disagree with the cliquey comment.
Definition
clique Show phonetics
group noun [C] DISAPPROVING
a small group of people who spend their time together and do not welcome other people into that group:



Yes, mostly the same people are on off-topic but newbies are very welcome and if they stick around long enough they become part of the group. I remember when you, No3L started to show your face and now your quite a regular on there. I come and go on HSH threads and haven't really participated for quite a while but I know that I can pop back whenever I want and join in.
( girlinthehole, Sat 6 Dec 2008, 9:43, Reply)

OK, it was the wrong word
and despite a little research I can't find the one I need.

I guess I'm trying to say that QOTW has become a bit back-slapping and self-congratulatory, especially since OT came along. There was a period of a couple of weeks where I just lurked because I felt like I was being ignored in the HSH threads. Yeah, I know, boo hoo, but that's what it seemed like.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing and I'm not claiming that because I'm part of it and quite enjoy the whole of QOTW. I really like OT because, in the most part, people seem genuine, are conversational and contribute towards a fluid and interesting forum. But I can see how it might appear to those outside the 'fold'.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Sat 6 Dec 2008, 11:48, Reply)