Off Topic Section Removed

Corran · Post by **Corran** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 2:27 am

Kusoyaro wrote:This is an AMV site. The forum is a peripheral to it. If you're genuinely here for the AMVs, then essentially nothing will change on the site. I don't see why anyone who is here primarily for posting and watching AMV sees this as a great loss. AMV-wise, this removal of OT is no great detriment.

Truuue... but
1. AMVs = fun for a lot of people
2. OT = fun for a lot of people

loss of either will bring sadness. The org just expanded too far and now it is retracting. Change here, while easy for some on one side of the imaginary fence separating the OT forums from the rest, is easy, while those on the other side is difficult.

Kusoyaro · Post by **Kusoyaro** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 2:33 am

Corran Productions wrote: Truuue... but
1. AMVs = fun for a lot of people
2. OT = fun for a lot of people

Maybe so, but OT has nothing to do with the purpose of the site. It was a "bonus" for the site and community. But since it's been abused and even distracts from the purpose of the site, it's sort of outgrown its welcome, IMO.

Brolly345 · Post by **Brolly345** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 2:34 am

Well this about really sucks. I was just getting into this site...

If many of the veterans are going to leave I don't know if I'll be here as much. Those forums are the ones I posted in the most. I am working on a vid so I'll be here on that point, but I might fade away a bit. But I have to agree on several points:

1. Phade, you should have given everyone some warning to stop the useless crap being posted, or those parts of the forum would be deleted.

[MOD384: The increased vigilance of the mods was the original remedy, but as we can all see, it didn't work. Measures have been taken, but this is basically the only way left.]

2. I do like that you are trying to deal with the problem, but I don't like how you are doing it.

But what can I do, I'm just a lowly newb.

That and I won't really be missed.

trythil · Post by **trythil** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 3:04 am

Tab. wrote: But according to Trythil all it would take is for phade to save some tables.

Well, that's the idea. Thing is, by now, those tables have got to be fairly large, so saving them somewhere may be difficult.

Here's what I left out: You'd also have to create some convenient way of accessing and presenting that data, for the data is useless if it is directly read, and it's painful to read forum threads using an SQL client.

Basically, if you wanted to archive the OT forums, the best way to do it would probably be to create a static phpBB2 instance (e.g. locked) that used only the OT tables for forum data.

Which is more or less what we have right now.

I personally don't think it's likely that the OT forums will be pruned. Of course, I'm not Phade.

gundamzuki · Post by **gundamzuki** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 3:59 am

El Banana wrote:Well, this is it then.

I came here because ever since I found it 3-4 years ago, this was a great place to chat. I don't make videos, although I do watch anime. And I had never posted outside the off topics and anime forums, mainly because I make no videos.
I watch them.

Granted, this place was getting really stupid, but it's had its ups and downs over the years. And there was still a group of intelligent posters left, with whom I enjoyed chatting.
But I suppose all things come to an end. It was nice meeting some of you people. But I'm not a productive member of the community, so I doubt I'll be missed.

Ta ta.

I'm afraid i'm in the same situation as El Banana. I'm here to watch vids, not make them. I have neither the skill, motovation, nor the equipment to produce something of quality, so i'll leave it to people who can.

The OT forums were my main drag because I rarely had any buisness posting in any of the others. I will admit that I would spam a couple of times, but i tried to keep my jackass threads in WOT where they'd be gone in a couple of days.

I will miss the OT comunity. I really did respect 99% of all the people who did most of the posts. I know that everyone there would do something stupid once in a while, but hell, 100% serious 100% of the time is just no fun.

I just feel really bad because my last post was "Uber necroposter strikes again!" Not only did I contribute to the problem, but might as well caused it singlehandedly. (I know this is probably not the case, but how would you feel if that had been your last post?) It was one of my old threads that i used to rant about myself, and had resurected it to renew that purpose, but still....

I'll still be around, but my presence here will be cut to virtually nothing. I'll miss it. that's all I can say. Oh, and if any of you see me floating around some other forum, don't be afraid to say "hi" it'd be appreciated.

So to whatever ends this takes us, I must now say "good bye".

dethmajor · Post by **dethmajor** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 4:03 am

I don't post much, at all. But I read through this thread and was surprised to find Phade had not responded to any of the other posts. I re-read Phade's "opener" and paid attention to this: I would also like to take this time to remind people that this site has a strict “no downloaded source materials” rule. This means don’t post links on where to obtain source material from unofficial sources (ie. downloading episodes and mp3s and such). If links to unofficial source material are continued to be posted, the site will be forced to shut down the entire forum. Is it possible the WOT forum was seeding this source material issue? If so, is shutting down the WOT forum a precautionary move? I agree with SSJVegita0609, WOT means Way Of Topic, but if Phade's decision is for the org's greater good, well then I can't complain.

Org Profile · Post by **Phade** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 11:05 am

Hey,

Ok, I’m going to address a few points that have been brought up:

OT section locked? What the heck? I did this out of courtesy so that (few) people who were actually in the middle of an intelligent thread could view the replies so far. Eventually the section will be removed from view.

OT threads are now going to be in all the other sections. This is not true. As I said in my original post, all off topic threads will now simply be removed.

OT section was for AMV fans, unlike the rest of the forum which is for AMV creators. This is not true (and actually confuses me). The only forum parts that are dedicated to AMV creators are the Video Hardware Help and Video Software Help, though I’m sure that AMV fans can get help like “I’m trying to stream my AMVs to my laptop from my desktop machine over a wireless connection but I’m having trouble. Any suggestions?”. All other sections are for AMV fans (yes, AMV creators are also AMV fans).

This site is all about anime music videos, fans and creators. There are the Anime Music Videos, Anime, Music, and Videos sections of the forum. Any thread that has anything to do with anime music videos can easily go into one of those sections. The Off Topic section was for things like “What do you think about the latest bombing in Iraq?” and “Check this cool web site about cute little bunnies.” People who claim they are leaving because they were here for the Off Topic section were simply here for reasons other than the focus of this web site.

There was no warning that this could ever happen. This is not true. Anyone remember when the entire forum was removed a while back? Anyone remember when SpPanda was banned? Anyone see any complaints about spam posts going up? All of these were warnings, but it seems that they were not heeded.

Phade is happy to see the OT section go. This is not true. Heck, I’m the one who put the Off Topic section there in the first place. I really wanted to have a place where people could talk about important intelligent things that really didn’t have much to do with anime, music, or videos. I have been the chief proponent of keeping OT, but it turns out that it really has degenerated into a useless lump.

Phade.

Rozard · Post by **Rozard** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 11:42 am

IT'S JUST A FORUM!!!

I think everyone is taking this too seriously. All it is is an online forum. Do you know how many of them there are? You could just make your own! Hell, there are popular AMV related ones already! If this bothers you that much, then just leave. You don't have to make a big fuss, and move to another forum if you want.

Except for Hypeo.

Direct any comments to RichLather's quote in my sig.

MAS PRODUCTIONS · Post by **MAS PRODUCTIONS** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 12:38 pm

My voice on the matter -

This site for is Anime Music Videos, true, and such it should be a topic but at the same time it is also a forum where people meet and want to talk together. I dont know how many people have needed help and needed someone that they could trust to talk to about something. Now there is no more outlet for that on the board. Personally I saw nothing wrong with the OT and WOT. Last time I checked it was designed for random crap, and now because you dont want to handle it, it has been taken away. I feel it is a mistake to take away these boards.

On the issue of this being Phade's Site-

It is true that Phade does run this site, but he is only the co owner of it. People's donations keep his server going. When he started accepting donations, thats when it became a community run website. The only way this is not true is if:

1) The website is on a different server from the video hosting
2) None of the money is used for site use, this includes server hosting as well as domain hosting.

As far as using other forums for talking off topic stuff. Quite frankly I have tried going to two forums at once and it was stupid. I think Im gonna try this Demon Seal forum, if it turns out half way descent I'll stay there. Without OT and WOT, this forum doesn't have much of a base to keep me coming. General AMV has turned into a place where noobs ask for help on amvs instead of asking in technical help. General Anime is basically in the same boat, for most part just full of "Whats your favorite anime" or fanboys running around screaming at how their favorite main character could beat up any other main character.

Trident · Post by **Trident** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 1:14 pm

I feel bad adding to the length of this thread, but what the hey: I am sad to see the OT forums go. Yes, a lot of the spamming was out of control, but it was a good place for occasional intelligent discussions. My suggestion: narrow down OT, WOT, and AAM into one auto-pruned thread. It'll give people a chance to goof off and yet it'll be low maintanence at the same time.

At any rate, Phade should see by the quantities of posts here that having at least some of these places back is a good idea...