An Open Letter to Off-Topic

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Headsprouter

Monster Befriender
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Nov 19, 2010
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I'm sorry, what is the intent of this thread, again?

Introspection? ....

I guess I'll start by looking at myself:


Hmmm. Maybe I should try something new! Make an impression around here!



I have a fez, now, fezes are cool. Because that joke isn't old.

I have single handedly fixed this forum through fezzification. This thread is now cool. No need the thank me!

Dr. Cakey said:
Now I will post the opening to Carnival Phantasm as bait to make people read my post.
Sir, your cunning outmatches mine! Your lure worked!
 

Fappy

\[T]/
Jan 4, 2010
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Caramel Frappe said:
Fappy said:
Holy crap, we managed to make it to page 5 without a flame-war breaking out! I'm proud of you guys. I really am.

Wish I had the time to respond to everyone's quotes, but there are a lot of them >.>
But you had the time to read through the posts...?

Ha, just kidding man I am not getting on you ^_^ also this just shows how tired people are of flame wars. We all want peace honestly, and a thread that insists on everyone having fun- well... it's to hard for everyone to resist having just that!
Also added a quote to the number of quotes you have. Sorry about that haha..
Haha, no problem man. And yes, I did read all of them... I just couldn't be bothered to respond to them all XD

Atbird said:
Fappy said:
dunam said:
You know, I've seen a lot complaints about the femrm flame wars. I think we're seeing the start of a social shift, something that will grow more pronounced in the coming 2-3 years, with the internet just leading this development. Despite the vitriol, I've gotten a lot wiser through these discussions and I can only expect that others have experienced this too.

The fact of the matter is that people seem to disagree on some pretty important issues and this disagreement brings a wave of cognitive dissonance. That is by it's very nature uncomfortable and this leads to hot emotions and sometimes even reaction images.

They tend to get locked, but the fact that they go up to 20 pages in just a day or three also shows people's interest, demand, for these subjects to be discussed. I can understand it to be annoying if you don't care, but is it really all that hard to ignore these threads?
As I stated in the OP I am really not at all opposed to the existence of these threads. It's important to be informed after all. I'm just naively wishing that people would be more open minded and pleasant when engaging in super cereal dialogue.
Your avatar. I simply must know where it's from. Tell me, tell me NOW!
Darker than Black. GO WATCH IT NOW!
 

grey_space

Magnetic Mutant
Apr 16, 2012
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dunam said:
Vegosiux said:
dunam said:
Therumancer said:
I'm not going to argue the point, since I know a lot of people will want to disagree with this on general principle....
I disagree on ungeneral principle!
And I disagree with your disagreement on a Major Principle!

Mine hasn't been promoted far enough yet to be a general one and all.
I agree with you, HA FEINT! I disagree. On a personally private principle.
I disagree with you all on Scientific Principles

Because




Fijiman said:
Are we just going to be posting a bunch of fun/happy songs in this thread now?


And pics. because its magic. Of a kind.


 

Ernil Menegil

New member
Aug 2, 2010
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This is exactly why I opened a civil discussion on the issue of vitriol and lack of moderation in forums. I kept seeing the nonsense, and I could hardly stand for it.

I lurk more than I post, frankly, and these forums are sadly becoming more and more vitriolic, while only going all the less enjoyable to read.

I can hardly stand it anymore, frankly. Isn't there enough shit in real life to dedicate one's energies to? Couldn't all this vitriol and bile be distilled into actual, productive energy in banging pans for worthier causes than "THOU ART STRAWMANNING YE FOULE NECKBEARDED JACKANAPE!"
 

Ernil Menegil

New member
Aug 2, 2010
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Incidentally, I now believe we should conduct all arguments in Shakespearian rigmarole.

Lords and ladies of the Off-Topic, let thy quills cast forth thy mightiest thumb-biting.
 

MrMan999

New member
Oct 25, 2011
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Ernil Menegil said:
Incidentally, I now believe we should conduct all arguments in Shakespearian rigmarole.

Lords and ladies of the Off-Topic, let thy quills cast forth thy mightiest thumb-biting.
I think debate on this thread should be written in the form of a rap battle.
 
Oct 2, 2012
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Calibanbutcher said:
Beffudled Sheep said:
Calibanbutcher said:
Beffudled Sheep said:
Calibanbutcher said:
Beffudled Sheep said:
Calibanbutcher said:
Beffudled Sheep said:
Calibanbutcher said:
Beffudled Sheep said:
Calibanbutcher said:
Colour-Scientist said:
Calibanbutcher said:
Church185 said:
Fappy said:
Take a fucking chill pill!
But but but, if they do that then where will my coworkers and I be able to get our daily dose of laughs?

(I guess we're the only ones who finds overreactions to controversy funny) >.<
Hi, have you seen my group?
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Some-men



Just trying to pander to people and shamelessly bump my group here...
Which I founded because I saw myself faced with a decision.
A decision between burning in the flamewars that have plagued these forums for far too long now or to leave this place for good.
But I chose the impossible.
I chose to found a group that pledges not to take part in these arguments, but rather observes them, ever watchful, never averting the gaze, for after this war is over, the world will either be destroyed and nothing but scorched earth will remain or it will be ours to take once the last thread has finally dwindled, once the last flame has flickered and died, then finally shall the world be ours once more and we can work towards making it a happier place once more, a place where Fappy may frolic and Daystar may derail to his heart's content.
Because I have a dream.
A dream of an Off-Topic forum where we, the users, can be friends once more instead of enemies, where controversial statements are met with humour and intolerance is countered with wit instead of insults, where one goes to relax and to have fun instead of arguing and bathing in self-righteousness.

But until this utopian vision can be fulfilled, I shall try to stick to writing humorous posts, getting in trouble for that, and participating mostly in threads that have not erupted into flames yet.

And now I leave you with this:
Some men?
Sexist much? :D
I am not even going to validate that.
OH YES I WILL.
BECAUSE SOME.MEN.JUST.WANT.TO.WATCH.THE.WORLD.BURN.
(Ladies welcome though)
SO LETS HAVE AT IT WITH ANOTHER SEXISM DEBATE YOU MISANDRIST SWINE; WHAT ABOUT TEH MENs you STRAWFEMINIST, YOU MISOGYNIST, ARE YOU IMPLYING I EVER SAID THAT I NEVER DID, STOP PUTTING WORDS IN MY MOUTH WHEN I WROTE SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, YOU MUST HATE ALL WOMEN THEN, BUT AREN'T YOU A MAN-HATING ONE, YOUR EQUALITY IS OPPRESSING MEN, MEN ARE ALWAYS BEING OPPRESSED, WOMEN ARE ALL POTENTIAL RAPE VICTIMS; ALL MEN EVERYWHERE ARE POTENTIAL RAPISTS; YOU MISOGYNIST, AREN'T YOU EDGY AS OF LATE, UH, USING BIG-BOY-WORDS, HUH, WELL I NEVER, YOU SLANDROUS INSECT, I SHALL HAVE YOUR HIDE FOR BREAKFAST, YOU CIS-GENDERED HOMOPHOBE, WELL LET ME PUSH YOU DOWN A SLIPPERY SLOPE THEN, BUT WAIT IT'S A FALLACY, OH GOD I MUST CONSTRUCT AND AD HOMINEM, STRAWMAN STRAWMAN STRAWMAN, STRAWOMAN STRAWOMAN STRAWOMEN, SEXISM IS EVERYHWERE; EVERYONE IS ALWAYS SEXIST, THEY'RE OUT TO GET ME, THEY WON'T CATCH ME, I'M FUCKING INNOCENT, THEY WON'T BREAK ME, I GOT ONE CHANCE LEFT, IN A NINE LIVE CAT, I GOT A DOG EAT DOG SLY SMILE, I GOT A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL, WITH A MATCH TO GO, MY WAY YOUR WAY, ANYTHING GOES TONIGHT, WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE, WATCH IT BRING YOU TO YOUR KNEES, I AM GONNA WATCH YOU BLEED.



As you may or may not have noticed, this post is not intended to be taken seriously.
Anyways, I named the group after a famous quote, ladies are always welcome as well, as are those that refuse to stick to the bi-gender system.
This is obviously a strawman ad hominem phallus-y. How are we supposed to have a good debate with people running around and disagreeing with my objectively right opin- err I mean facts?
Reported for personal attack. (I'm kidding :D)
Come on, it's all over now and time is on my side, little red rooster, this will be the last time and you should know that you can't always get what you want and if you wanna go against me, you should know that I am a street fighting man, so you wouldn't be a fool to cry, it would be a respectable thing to do, seing as what happens when you start me up will have you recquire an emotional rescue squad, but don't stop now, even if you can'T get no satisfaction, since the future is only doom and gloom.
Mind = Blown
So, someone was saying something about there not being any possibilty anymore to have fun on this forum?
I think it was the one guy. You know, the one with the hair, he had some facial features as well.
Kind of a joyless monkey bagger I say.
And on a completely related note, your avatar makes me smile :D

Ah, that one guy. I know him, what with his teeth and his skin and even his eyes, you know? Of course also his body type and maybe his shoes, more importantly, his toe-nails as well.

And thank you very much for that.
In return I must say that I do very much admire your Username, such simplicity, and yet, so much entertainment value given.
Watch out around those toe nails. Word around the forums is he has some nasty cotton candy fungus down there. The blue kind.
Thanks for that! I contracted the best scientists in the world to come up with that name. Know how w don't have fusion power yet? Yeah sorry about that but I really needed those scientists.
And here I thought that it was due to me kidnapping all the top physicists in the world, chaining them up in my basement and letting them build the ultimate doomsday device for me.
So it was you you magnificent bastard...
But I gotta say, that was effort well spent.

Also, we should just flood this thread with fun and happiness and get it over 4 pages, so we can get a 4 page thread where Zhukov can post in and, at the same time, prove to Fappy that the escapist can still be fun.
If you could share the plans for this doomsday device I will give you a lifetime supply of lambchops

I would love to do that but sadly, I must go to work now. Such a waste of time compared to spreading joy to the escapist and possibly tolling Zhukov but capitalism is a beach. Farewell for now Escapist!
Where do you think you are going, my brother in arms, so far away.
Setting me up for such great posts and then leaving me twisting by the pool.
But, if necessary, I shall engage in private investigations to find you, I must bring a sixblade knife into the wild west end and travel down the waterline with a single handed sailor, watching the news to get a word from you.
But why worry, the ride across the river is easy and this one world is all I need to search, and if it turns out my enemiy is too powerful and the man is too strong, I am still going on, because your latest trick shall not leave me behind.
And I will get money for nothing and the chicks for free, in this tale written once upon a time in the wes.
Lions.
The west is a dangerous place filled neck deep with bandits and cattle.
Very irate cattle.
If you wish to traverse this barren landscape of bovine violence then I will not stop you. But only will I warn you that you will not find me. For I have gone far far away. I have left you an amazing note at the end of your journey and it contains something, possibly words even. See you in the Escapist Basement hell rainbow manatee.
 

DrunkOnEstus

In the name of Harman...
May 11, 2012
1,712
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True that, Fappy. It almost seems like the mods have been more lenient since I arrived (don't look at my avatar, it ruins the point I'm making). Then again, a lot of these flame wars that get us down involve that expertly crafted breed of passive-aggressiveness that seems far less inflammatory than it is (and thus goes undetected). However, I welcome your call-to-arms and imagine that the kinds of topics that bring out the hate can't repeat themselves forever. It's relative too, "strong" hate here looks pretty damned mild compared to many other places one could find themselves in on the Internet. Ah screw it -

 

cojo965

New member
Jul 28, 2012
1,650
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Fappy said:
Dear Off-Topic,

Take a fucking chill pill! I usually come to OT to wind down and waste time, but it seems in recent months this place has been getting more and more explosive. I understand hyperbole is the native language of the internet and that vitriol seems to be the name of the game, but in my experience this forum's always been the exception to the rule. I think I've read the phrase "straw man" more times than Daystar has claimed supremacy over the weak and feeble! It's getting a tad... unbearable.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with discussing serious topics in Off-Topic, but "serious topic" SHOULD NOT be synonymous with "flame war". Every hot-button topic in the last two weeks has been locked within 20 pages, and for good reason.

I don't know what the fuck's going on. Is there something in the water? Are there just not enough cute cat pictures floating around these days? Or maybe it's that we're factionalizing shit too much. Yeah, I'm a bit tired of the overdone sexism/feminism/etc. threads, but they have a right to exist. The problem, I believe, is that someone's drawn a line in the sand and turned everyone of these individual issues into one black-and-white war. Believe it or not life's not so simple and it's okay to be on one side of an argument in one debate and the side of the argument in a similar discussion. Instead of judging situations on an individual basis, many here jump on one side of the debate by default and fight to the bitter end.

Which leads me to another point which I know will fall on deaf ears. It's okay to change your mind/admit you were wrong. I can count the number of times I have seen this happen here on one hand. But you know what? I digress. Honestly, trying to get an internet community to open their collective minds is about as feasible as picking nuts out of cow shit while wearing boxing gloves.

The best solution I can come up with is that we should all just calm the fuck down and remind ourselves why we're all here. We all like games and we like talking amongst those with similar lifestyles. So let's start having fun again.

Your Eternal Lover and Baby Daddy,

Fappy

P.S: We may need to sacrifice a lurker to Spider-Mod soon if things don't change! :D
Spider-Mod? Who the hell is Spider-Mod?

Edit: Oh, hey what do ya know I started page 6.
 
Sep 14, 2009
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Fappy said:
Holy crap, we managed to make it to page 5 without a flame-war breaking out! I'm proud of you guys. I really am.

Wish I had the time to respond to everyone's quotes, but there are a lot of them >.>
could this be any more related?


celebration is in order!

THIS DRINK, I LIKE IT, ANOTHA!

 

sky14kemea

Deus Ex-Mod
Jun 26, 2008
12,760
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cojo965 said:
Spider-Mod? Who the hell is Spider-Mod?

Edit: Oh, hey what do ya know I started page 6.
That'd be me. Your friendly neighbourhood Moderator who dresses like Spiderman. But with a shirt and tie. SPIDERMOD!

 

TimeLord

For the Emperor!
Legacy
Aug 15, 2008
7,508
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TizzytheTormentor said:
I agree on the forums being more hostile, not because of the mods, mods fight against the trolls!

Trolls are like Orks! Never ending, smelly and dull witted!


The fight never ends!
 

TimeLord

For the Emperor!
Legacy
Aug 15, 2008
7,508
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sky14kemea said:
cojo965 said:
Spider-Mod? Who the hell is Spider-Mod?

Edit: Oh, hey what do ya know I started page 6.
That'd be me. Your friendly neighbourhood Moderator who dresses like Spiderman. But with a shirt and tie. SPIDERMOD!

Lies! They should worship bow to respect me as their one true god mod!
 

Something Amyss

Aswyng and Amyss
Dec 3, 2008
24,759
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TimeLord said:
sky14kemea said:
cojo965 said:
Spider-Mod? Who the hell is Spider-Mod?

Edit: Oh, hey what do ya know I started page 6.
That'd be me. Your friendly neighbourhood Moderator who dresses like Spiderman. But with a shirt and tie. SPIDERMOD!

Lies! They should worship bow to respect me as their one true god mod!
I may worship you, I may bow to you, but I will never respect you!

...Wait, I did that wrong, didn't I?