[Rob B]

Lords and Ladies:

I know we tend to stray in our discussions within each topic, but sometimes it goes TOO MUCH off topic. I will admit to being guilty of this sometimes myself. However; for example if the topic is George R.R. Martin, try to stick to discussin GRRM (or relevant to the discussion in the topic)rather than asking a WAY off topic question about another author with no reference to GRRM in your post. There are a few topics for "Suggestions" and "Recommendations".

Or one discussion strayed from how fast we read/# of years we have been reading to 1980's cartoons (yeah, I am the one that went WAY off topic there, poo on me) http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif

There are a few pages of topics already, just click on the bottom for other pages of topics, maybe you will find somthing you want to add that has been discussed. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

Also, there are about 5 topics on Tolkein, 5 topics on Stephen R. Donaldson/Thomas Covenant, 5 topics on Robert Jordan/WOT, 4 Topics on Goodkind/SOT, etc. If you have something to say about one of the above, or about another topic that is already started, try to continue the topic that is already existing rather than starting a whole new topic on the subject; so we can keep all our thoughts in one topic rather than checking 5 of the same topic threads to see if you are repeating something you or someone else said.

Like I said, I have been guilty of this at times myself, so I am not trying to point anybody out specifically and I will try to adhere to this myself.

Since the board has been growing pretty consistently in the past couple of months, it might not be a bad idea to have a couple of ***very loose*** guidelines. (STRESSING ***VERY LOOSE***)

If this sounds too strict **please** let me know. I have seen some bulletin boards and discussion forums become chaotic with topics going WAY WAY off topic or conversely, 50 topics about the same thing. I want this board to try and avoid that, but I also want to have fun here, too.

If you have a personal issue with any of this that you would rather not air out in 'public', please email me and I will be happy to discuss.

Again, I am not trying to be a despotic, dictator rule-monger of a moderator, I am thinking with the best interests of this bulletin board/discussion forum. I am not setting anything in stone here. Also trying to fulfill my duties as a 'moderator.'

[Rob B]

Back to the top:

Some topics newer members should check before starting a new one (recommendations, who are you, fav authors, etc) Here they are:

Recommendations (http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000113.html)
Detailed Recommendation (http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000687.html)
We try to keep this one fairly current:Whatca ya all reading? (http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000094.html)

Check here to see where some members are from and let us know a bit about yourself, if you like:Who are you? Why Fantasy/Scifi? (http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000255.html)

Click here to learn how to bold, italic, smilies, etc (http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/faq.html)

PLEASE dont reply to topic threads by starting a whole new topic, just reply in the already existing thread.

At the bottom of the topic list are numbers linking to previous discussion threads so you can get a flavor of some previous discussions.
http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Erebus]

We have had to remove a topic today as the discussion had strayed a little too far away from its original intent. (Apologies to Brianna - please feel free to post your poems again if you like!) http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Metosblat]

Oh come on. We can't discuss anything on here without it being deleted. I admit I was a little out of order, but should we really run away from confrontation instead of discussing it.
I wouldn't mind if this were in the Fantasy section, but this is meant to be General Discussion.
It's all a catharsis. A releasing of mental tension.
I apologised for trying to provoke people.
I was bored and decided to break the pattern of my bleak existance.
Neo you were right, not only do I bore other people, I bore myself.

[Penumbra]

Lively discussion, however it plays out, is at least fun. Limitations are what dilute message boards. Although I can appreciate FitzFlagg's reasoning, I see nothing harmful in digression. Don't we all use that technique in our writing? No! I think the participants are doing just fine, Fitz, so long as you scold the nasties and encourage the others. Keep up the good work.

[Rob B]

As I say, I have no problem with natural digression.

Penumbra, this topic started because MANY months ago, a GRRM topic denegrated into a very heated, un-thought out, with expletives and finger pointing about abortion and incest.