OT on OT's

[DoReMi]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 10:54pm

Anyone else tired of these?

I thought this was a THEATER message board.

Didn't Rob issue a statement awhile ago about stopping OT's?



(now just waiting for one of the OT'ers to post the usual, stupid "if you don't like 'em, don't read 'em" comment)

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 11:15pm

I agree. Topics such as gay marriage, suckiest job and Norbert Leo Butz should not be allowed.

[Sunfish]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 1:16am

The big problem with O/T's, in my mind, is that they push the real topics out of view. Not everyone has hours and hours to pour through several pages of threads. If it's not in the first page of 50, I'm not going to see it. And every OT thread pushes another thread off the screen...possibly an actual theatrical discussion.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 1:18am

I agree completely. Rob, HELP! Can this be controlled or is there hope of an off-topic board being created?

[Sunfish]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 1:20am

At this moment 8 of the threads on the first page are labelled OT (including this one!); if you add "Stevos is hot" it's 9. That's nearly 20%.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 1:24am

The reason they exist is that as a community we like to know each other's views on related or even non-related topics. And seeing how theatre and life are so entangled, it makes sense most of the time--especially when you consider that other artforms and political/social issues affect theatre ultimately.

However, I agree that it gets excessive and that many threads and posts belong in pm's.

=)

Updated On: 11/21/03 at 01:24 AM

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 2:02am

what does OT stand for ??? thanks :)

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 2:11am

off topic =)

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 2:13am

Wow sooo sorry. Obviously many people don't have a problem with it if you look at the number of replies to o/t messages. O/T people getting there panties in a wad over nothing Updated On: 11/21/03 at 02:13 AM

[DofB5]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 6:49am

Yes, Rob PLEASE do something about the OT's. I mean I can't STAND IT when they take up space and push important theater related topics like "Taking a dump on stage" off the main page. I need that kind of information in the worst way.

And how would I know what color to dye my hair? What my favorite song is (for the 50th time), what roles I would like to play (for the 150th time)and the shill threads. Not to mention the all important "Which theater has the best bathrooms" or "The best carpet". All of these are to important be lost in the maze of OT posts.

PROTECT THE THEATER THREADS! NO MORE OT'S!

D

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 7:37am

DoReMi....didn't you just add another OT thread to the board? You could have done a simple search and revived one of the countless other threads where this subject has been beaten to death.

[orion59]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 8:28am

I agree that there are, at times, way too many OT threads but, that's why we have that little scroll button on teh side of the screen. It's really not that difficult to skip them and ceratinly, in my opinion, less difficult than creating a huge issue over. The OT threads are the same as any theater related threads that don't interest you.

Ok, so I've posted the same stupid response even though i'm not one of the usual OT thread authors.
I don't mind being considered stupid especially over a stupid argument.

There is one observation I want to make. It seems that when one of these anti-OT threads start teh posple who join in with the strongest protests against OT threads are the ones I rarely see posting on theater realted threads. Honestly, I look at the screen names and think, "who is this person?" or "I haven't seen anythinmg from this one in months". It seesm some people are right in there when it's time to complain but otherwise add very little on the topics they want to see on this board.

My point is, the best way to combat the OT threads is for you to start on topic threads or resurrect ones from further down the list. Why take up more space fighting a losing battle over and over?

Updated On: 11/21/03 at 08:28 AM

[robyn525600]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 10:31am

I don't mind them. You are all educated people and I like to hear peoples opinions on various topics.

Posted: 11/21/03 at 10:35am

Some of them are not bad. I agree with robyn. It is nice to know that we have other lives then just our complete passion for theater. (Not that there is anything wrong with that!

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 10:42am

I don't mind off topic threads either.

***The alledgly "humorous" threads that are started because "someone" thinks they have a funny title, have gotten to be a bit much*** The first five or six were kinda cute, but it is enough.

I think, (for the folks with low load speed on their computer, more threads means slower response--so this is a real problem for some folks) the REAL problem is not Off Topic Threads.

The REAL problem is the threads that are started because the originator couldn't resist posting the "clever thread title they thought of."

I agree with Dofb5. Some of the threads started have been rather disgusting. Just because this board tries to be as "liberal" (is that the word?)as possible, Does Not Mean that it is inappropriate to exercise Good Judgement and reasonable standards of good taste.

There are MANY YOUNG people visiting this board and it is unfortunate that they sometimes get to see disturbed adult behavior run amok here.

But, even for the old people, a bit of class and restraint would be nice.

[mamamia sammy]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 12:01pm

Very disturbing, indeed.

[RobbO]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 12:56pm

again, many of you have won you very own copies of "spell check"

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 1:03pm

When I saw the Michael Jackson broohaha turn up, I thought, "well, golly, there goes my fantasy of him doing a revival of PIPPIN..." so you see? Even OT can be T.

Funny, when I started here, I thought "OT" meant "over the top." Couldn't wait to read those.

[RobbO]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 1:22pm

would you know it was OT, if it did not have an OT in front of it?!?

[orion59]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 1:29pm

Yeah, yeah, yeah, bad spelling, bad grammer, OT threads, let's just keep posting the same complaints over and over and over. Because, as we know, that always resolves the issues.

I realize it is very difficult to hit that "next page" command and that it is maddening for the people who are perfect in every way to see spelling and grammer mistakes but, come on, aren't there more important issues in your life?

I wish the only thing I had to complain about was someone's spelling and an ot message board thread. there are plenty of things I see on this board that I think are stupid. Many of the OT threads annoy me. Get over it. The most annoying thing to me is the whinning and complaining from people who are unable to oevrlook some minor discretion.

Updated On: 11/21/03 at 01:29 PM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 1:54pm

well, if they weren't popular with some of the folks, they'd go rocketing down the list wouldn't they? freedom of speech and freedon of choice...the constitution and devo, what could be better? if you don't wanna read or comment on on a thread, dont. american idol is on my tv, i just choose not to watch it. i know there are capital letters, i just choose not to use them.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 2:06pm

I'm sorry to those of you who don't like the OT threads, but some of us don't have Theatre on our minds 24/7. We have other interests and it's nice to be able to post about something (even if it's not theatre related) and find out that their are other people who share your feelings, or even people who don't and explain why they don't.
I read/post on both Theatre and OT threads if they interest me. There is only so many times I can post what my favorite song, actor, actress, show is before I become bored.

I guess we'll just have to find some way to make even the OT threads theatre related somehow.
How about: Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson taking on the roles of Miss Dorethy and Millie Dilmount, with Michael Jackson as Mrs. Meers? Is that On Topic enough?

[RobbO]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 4:07pm

:-P

[WSS2]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 8:03pm

Hmmmm..let's see.

This board is called BROADWAYWORLD.com
It's mission is the dicussion of theater and Broadway.

And some think it's ok to discuss what to make for dinner?

I thought this was a serious theater board, much like ATC. But apparently those who need to discuss the best kind of carpet have won out.

Too bad. This place had promise.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 8:21pm

Bye!