What happens when there are no rules?

Started by DocJon · 3 posts · 723 views

  1. #1
    Pretty much the same thing as happens on the internet everyday, I suppose. 🙂

    A message board I frequent, The Straight Dope, is undergoing major upgrades, and early Tuesday, will be switched over to a server with the new software and settings. The board was backed up earlier today, and that image will be used for the new server. Consequently, everything posted from today thru Monday will be lost to the internet bitbucket.

    This has prompted the suspension of board rules and moderation, and folks are treating it as a free pass to post whatever crosses their mind. The details are probably not very interesting to someone who doesn't frequent it, but I find it an interesting insight into both ppl in general, and individual posters specifically.

    http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?f=5
  2. #2
    It'd be great if after the weeekend the admins announce they kept it all. Furthermore, Google will do that for them to some extent unless they block the spiders.
  3. #3
    Bubbaspanky wrote:It'd be great if after the weeekend the admins announce they kept it all. Furthermore, Google will do that for them to some extent unless they block the spiders.

    Well, so far they seem to be going the silly route. No posting pics of themselves nude or anything 🙂

    A couple threads are dealing with subjects normally verboten, like "Who do you have in your ignore filter", which was disallowed for discussion previously due to causing ill-will and arguments, I suppose. It would result in some weird arguments, since the angry ppl won't be seen my the ones that made them angry. . . 🙂

    I would suppose most of 'em understand about the Google history, I think it's more about it not being a lasting, searchable part of the board's history, which goes back almost 10 years. I find it an interesting place to hang out, though I mostly just lurk. I've found out about a lot of good books, movies and TV shows there, and learn a lot in their 'Great Debates' section.

    You'll find messages on just about any subject, and ppl who are in a profession related to that subject holding forth within. The Jeopardy! threads are fun: there are several champs there, and we've got to hear about their experiences on the show, and we tune in and watch when they're asked back, etc. No, Ken Jennings hasn't fessed up as a member, though Weird Al Yankovic has said in interviews he hangs out there.

    One recent thread was called "video games that made you throw your controller in frustration" (or something like that), someone talked in detail about one particular game, and one of the designers turned out to be a regular there! The designer actually apologized about the issue, talked about why the game had ended up that way, and mentioned add-ons and expansions for the game that addressed it, even pointing to an add-on custom map made by the designers that spelled out "we're sorry!" in some manner within the level design.

    Some brilliant folks, weird folks, irritating folks, whack-jobs, but it's always interesting.