Quote:
Originally Posted by Lady Blue
Maybe, but . . .
I don’t know anything about programming codes, and I certainly wouldn’t assume that what Alexander does is easy (although mostly anything is easy once you know how) but how difficult could it be, and what harm would it do to add a 7th sub-forum to the MISCELLANEOUS category to address the desire to keep a topic’s tone sincere and sensible? Obviously enough people think it’s important, or at least worthwhile.
I don’t believe it’s a matter either of those who wish to engage in serious discussion versus the silly-minded posters being mutually exclusive. It’s just that “sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t” and it would be nice if simply having a new sub-category could make the road to take a little easier to find without a GPS system.
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Yes, having an option is always nice. That's why an opt in/out system works so well.
The alternative is someone deciding what sort and amount of humor will be allowed in any forum and removing the offending post or warning the poster that no humor is tolerated in [name your serious posts only forum here].
I happen to prefer public fora that do not impose censorship, except as may be necessary considering the age/sensibility of the audience.
Opt in/out forums are wonderful creations in that they allow the user the option of only viewing those posts from the fora in which they participate. I, speaking for myself, would prefer not to be bothered by posts from a forum where I am not free to say what I think because someone out there decided that I was being too humorous. My guess is that the first time I saw one of those "keep it serious" banners, I would just pack my bags and leave MR altogether.
I happen to see MR generally as a "social" place. Lots of people discussing lots of things .... but no one being too anal about the exact place or content of the discussion. Take, for example, the post in "Reading Recommendations" about escapism. It has nothing to do with reading recommendations, does that mean it should be moved, removed, or have banners throughout telling people that they should only be discussing reading recommendations in that particular forum?? I don't happen to think so ... but then I'm probably in the minority.
What it comes down to is ..... you all can decide to self-censor or have a form of censorship imposed on you. I would simply hope that there would be a way for those of us who don't care for censored fora to be able to opt out of those fora .... you know .... it's all about having options.