Michael Stockin
Lord
Is there an off topic area/forum where we can ask fellow forum members questions that are not gaming related but we suspect people here will know the answers, or is that a no-no as it could end up a horrible mess?
Off Topic?
- Thread starter Michael Stockin
- Start date
Eric
Administrator
Such as how long is a piece of string? I suspect people here know the answers to a lot of questions and have a lot of interesting thoughts and opinions on a lot of subjects. However there are a million places online to discuss world events, current politics, education, philosophical belief systems and the price of xy and z and in my experience of hosting other forums they are best left off where someone who wants to try to walk the fine line of moderation can deal with them and the consequential fallout. To an extent I'd apply that even to "gaming" subjects, there are plenty of larger forums (fora if you prefer) where you can discuss and get into the nuances of the good and the bad of companies, game systems and their impact or lack of on individuals, groups and communities and the million and one other controversies that naturally come out of human nature and gathering if that's your thing. That said I expect if I scour the forum I'll probably find older threads about say the general lack of female miniatures or say the perhaps the more male orientated presentation of women in gaming artwork of lore so it's not as if such subjects are banned if they stay polite and interesting.
However if it's in the realm of nostalgic tangential hobbies then the general or retro nodes may well be suited to a small well defined question. I mean if you're asking if anyone collected such and such range of Hornby trains back in the day and do they know the best way to deal with the axel corrosion on a such and such tender we're probably safe, although there might be places were the information may be more useful to future readers.
I suppose if it's a question with a factual answer that doesn't just open the doors to political debate that might be okay. So say some technical question about some aspect of say the British Empire which given we have historical wargamers someone may well know, rather than a "was it good or bad for such and such peoples", which may be more akin to opening the ration can of worms.
As ever without knowing the question it's hard to know! As a general rule however I'd rather like to keep the place a respite from other things such as all enjoyable hobbies should be so will trust to the good judgement of our members. If something is way off topic and likely to lead nowhere then it'll probably get removed and hopefully no hard feelings. If it seems innocent enough then it'll probably stand (for instance the music and book threads are not strictly "old gaming").
Does that wishy washy answer answer anything?
However if it's in the realm of nostalgic tangential hobbies then the general or retro nodes may well be suited to a small well defined question. I mean if you're asking if anyone collected such and such range of Hornby trains back in the day and do they know the best way to deal with the axel corrosion on a such and such tender we're probably safe, although there might be places were the information may be more useful to future readers.
I suppose if it's a question with a factual answer that doesn't just open the doors to political debate that might be okay. So say some technical question about some aspect of say the British Empire which given we have historical wargamers someone may well know, rather than a "was it good or bad for such and such peoples", which may be more akin to opening the ration can of worms.
As ever without knowing the question it's hard to know! As a general rule however I'd rather like to keep the place a respite from other things such as all enjoyable hobbies should be so will trust to the good judgement of our members. If something is way off topic and likely to lead nowhere then it'll probably get removed and hopefully no hard feelings. If it seems innocent enough then it'll probably stand (for instance the music and book threads are not strictly "old gaming").
Does that wishy washy answer answer anything?
Michael Stockin
Lord
Perfect and as I thought. Ty.