Do we want rules, guidelines or neither on QOTW/QOTWOT




( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 20:25, 13 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

It's not rules I'm in favour of, it's guidelines.
As mentioned in the other thread, Both QOTW and QOTWOT can often be confusing to the uninitiated. The seemingly random switch between plucking up the courage and sharing eachother's darkest and most intimate secrets and having a group-hug to telling tasteless and politically incorrect jokes can be dis-orienting.

One of the things I like about QOTW is it's anarchistic nature. What once started off as a means of filling up time on a radio-program has evolved by itself into a new social paradigm where we show off ourselves at our worst instead of at our best (sort of like a reverse Internet dating-agency). Due to the new-ness of it all, we just made up our own guidelines as we went along, and I find that it's mostly worked well (hence the anarchistic nature). This has has grown into something even the b3ta-admins never anticipated. I just think we need to write down these guidelines to help newcomers.

Personally, I think the only rule I'm in favour of should be "don't be a cunt".
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 20:28, Reply)

Fucking hell spak.
Do you really have to do this?

Edit: let me expand.

We put some rules together. Got some feedback. Changed the rules to meet expectations and answer gripes.

Constant self-examination is completely pointless. Let's just get the guidelines up, and get the fuck on with the rest of our lives.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 20:29, Reply)

@No3l
Sadly, a lot of people think that creating a guideline for the uninitiated amounts to imposing order and structure.

EDIT: If we have large numbers of people participating, then this will involve lots of self-examination as we try and make something from it all.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 20:33, Reply)

nggggg
this is getting tedious now.
(Halfy By light alone, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 20:38, Reply)

Right.
Plenty of people were supportive too.

Putting yet another poll up, on a Saturday, when ten or fifteen of us have nothing better to do than come on here and talk shit, simply isn't going to give a balanced opinion of anyone who gives a shit, because they're all out there enjoying their lives.

And what'll happen when we get an opinion? Do we simply go with the majority? Ignore their requirements and do what we want? Who gets to decide who's right and who's wrong?

I'm fucking sick to the back teeth of people trying to decide what's right and wrong around here (despite being quietly guilty of this myself). chart cat's simple attempt to offer advice to newbies and initiates like you and I unwittingly continued Bert's debate about what QOTW and OT should be about.

In my not-very-fucking-humble-right-now opinion, the most recent version with chart cat's edits is perfect. It's taken all views into consideration, found a happy medium between rules, guidelines and whatever the hell else people want and don't want, and we should just post it off to the top bods and get on with QOTW.

This isn't a rant at you, spak, honestly.

Edit: I have to commend Mr Monkeysex tbh - it seems like people are making more of an effort in OT. We've had a run of brilliant and interesting threads this week, with loads of replies.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 20:43, Reply)

SEX!
Stop all this silly nonsense and get back to talking bollox and having fun.
( girlinthehole, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 20:51, Reply)

hahah
you are a one woman lust factory!
(Halfy By light alone, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 20:53, Reply)

*stretches*
*purrs*
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 20:54, Reply)

"...A new social paradigm..."
Come on, this is reading like my brother's "media studies" course notes.

Can we get back to the bit where we talk about raping and pillaging again? That was fun.

It's an internet bulletin board, guys; we all talk shite, we take the piss pretty much of the time and we group hug, meditate and get fluffy when we need to. But mainly we take the piss.

It needs no rules, no regulations, no analysis. The lack of analysis is what separates us from the emos.

Maybe if we all just close our eyes and pretend the last post we read was by someone sitting at their keyboard laughing their tits off, we can get back to the job at hand, whatever the fuck that was.
(MrOli is ugly, but in the morning you will be sober, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 20:55, Reply)

well said oli
so who is ordering the pizzas?
(Halfy By light alone, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 20:57, Reply)

Agreed Oli
with the provision that I really do think there's a place for the edited version of the faq in the overall b3ta faq, to encourage new users to try QOTW.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 21:23, Reply)

no31 & Oli
there already is some qotw stuff in the current faq link
(Halfy By light alone, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 21:24, Reply)

If you haven't already
take a quick look at the version of the faq chart cat updated this evening:

www.b3ta.com/questions/offtopic/post351636

I think it's perfect for new users and gives a good overview of QOTW. It's not heavily prescriptive or
restrictive either. I'd say he's taken everyone's considerations on board and refined the faq.

Anyway, time for QI. Night! :)
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Sat 24 Jan 2009, 22:03, Reply)