Guidelines
 

Can we have some kind of guidelines as to what goes in a thread? Too many times, lately, I look at a thread because I'm interesred in finding out why something is drooping, etc. only to find out that the last 10 or 15 responses are a standing joke between two members. Don't we have a humor thread for this?

Re: Guidelines
 

John I have to assume you were refering to me. I didn't think I was causing anyone grief by conversing with friends in this manner, in fact often these threads would have ended sooner if not for these personal notes. I'll try and be more conscious of it in the future.

Re: Guidelines
 

No, didn't mean anyone specifically. I've even been guilty of it myself; when Patty was looking for a use for her old TV dish, I suggested a birdbath, but the conversation quickly got back to the answers she was really looking for.

Re: Guidelines
 

Our rules are here:
Bananas.org Rules
We don't have any rules really about how to treat the ebb and flow of a conversation aside from the obvious things like treat everyone with respect and nothing offensive, etc.

Re: Guidelines
 

I am guilty of it sometimes and at other times I begin to post some whacky comments and then just delete it. I enjoy some of the light-heartedness of the forum and when I see discussions about things that don't interest me (or which I don't understand), I just pass by it.

My wife is great at keeping things well-organized like a proper place for things in the desk such as small paper clips, big paper clips, little binder clips, big binder clips, small post-it notes, big post-it notes, highlighters and the like. I mess them up all the time and she doesn't fuss and just fixes them. I try to not be too messy, though. I think the same goes for posting styles here. A little give and take can go a long ways.

Re: Guidelines
 

I understand the concept but I think if you remove some of the chatter it might make this community as boring as some of the others around. Often times I find the idle chat during the threads a nice thing since it shows the casual manner in which these forums are moderated and encourages more people to post.

Re: Guidelines
 

Amen!

Re: Guidelines
 

hmmmm...I wonder if I still have that old dish

Re: Guidelines
 

There's been a couple of my threads that got derailed, LOL, but they went into another thread that someone politely started (Tog for one on "Weird Foods"). I agree that sometimes it goes on TOO long when, a new thread should be started to keep the old topic going, but a little going "off" is fine & FUN.
John, I LOVED the idea of the birdbath:) & you were not off topic!
Did you here the one about .......? :)
I remember few years ago at GW - 2 ppl were the only 2 posting on a thread for the longest time - it was irritating. Someone posted that they should just email or PM each other since it was just between the 2 of them. It NEVER got that bad here though.
There are a few "derailers" here :) but usually it doesn't last long & it's usually funny. If it does go off topic, just post something & I'm sure they will stop.
I've seen Harvey stop people derailing a thread he started LOL. It worked!

Re: Guidelines
 

You mean no more car pictures (darn!)? A forum is for all of us to join in an learn from one another and also to create new relationships. We had our third fire in Santa Barbara in 9-months and two forum members called to make sure my family was o.k. Others posted their well wishes. This is from creating relationships and not from short to the point conversations. Let the moderators decide what is acceptable and what is not!

Re: Guidelines
 

Hmmm.... I am very tempted to put up pics in a Wanted Poster to warn of the bad guys here...starting with my mug and a few of my accomplices, no names mentioned though. (Don't worry Scot, Beth, your ID's safe with me!:ha:)

Ok, people, chillllll.....:ha::ha::ha:

Re: Guidelines
 

Here's a some of the trouble-makers. Can you figure out which one is me??

Sorry, John, not making light of your concerns.

Re: Guidelines
 

Well, not gonna lie, there are a lot of goofballs on this site (LOL I'm one of em!). To ask us to be 100% on topic at all times is asking a bit much. I don't feel occasional jokes or off-topic conversations are too much of an issue. However, I see your point. Probably the best way to keep things within limits is for members or moderators to post something on topic to get things back on track or for mods to politely ask people to stay on topic. Beyond that, I like the friendly, honest, joking feel the site has, but also like questions to get answered....so if we can work both things in there, that'd be optimal, IMO.

Re: Guidelines
 

I may not always agree with what you say, but I will defend unto my death your right to say it.

Re: Guidelines
 

Well said! :lurk:

Deb

Re: Guidelines
 

Actually, I'm quoting. Voltaire (who was exiled from 3 countries for his writing) said that. I just happen to agree completely.

Re: Guidelines
 

John- I have to be one of the biggest "offenders", but usually it's only for a while that the thread is derailed, and the ride is kinda fun don't you think, until we get back to the point of the original poster. And whenever that person says...hey, what about my problem?....we all shut up and put our serious faces back on.