Are there any guidelines on what is and isn't off-topic?

[AusWolf]

The question is simple, but I guess the answer isn't. I'm only asking because as I've seen, the definition of "off-topic" can be up to quite a lot of subjective interpretation. Participants of threads have been warned for off-topic posts that I personally don't see as totally unrelated to the topic, and so if I was a moderator, I wouldn't have warned them for.

Some examples:

1. A thread about GPUs that have been subjected to crypto mining may contain posts about crypto mining in general which some may or may not consider off-topic.

2. A thread about a game may contain comments about the gaming industry in general, which you may or may not consider off-topic.

3. A thread of some specific hardware may contain posts of other, potentially unrelated hardware, or related hardware from another brand, which again, may or may not be considered off-topic by some.

All in all, the term "off topic" can be as broad or as narrow as one wants it to be. Without clear guidance, one may be violating forum rules without any intention, or even noticing, as it is entirely up to the moderator's own interpretation (and potentially personal affiliation) to decide.

So... are there any guidelines, and if so, what are they? And if there aren't, then who decides what is and isn't an off-topic post?

 

[the54thvoid]

Off Topic replies are almost always easily identifiable. Sometimes, we wade in when a report comes from another member. Often, we'll not intervene. Other times we do.

What is OT? Easy, it's when a comment is made that isn't relevant to the OP. And people dont make such general threads just about 'a GPU'. So, if someone made a thread about buying a used GPU, then yeah, crypto would be relevant to the used market. If someone wants to know what GPU is better for their tech set-up, crypto would be OT, unless they were building a mining rig.

Generally, people who post OT replies, do so for comedy reasons (sometimes it is funny), because they didnt read the OP properly (common), or because they're not interested in the OP, and are altering the thread direction. For me, as a mod, I'll delete, or LQ, (where I can), if I think the OT post is derailing the thread. Derailing a thread isn't fair to the person who started it.

And don't forget trolls. Trolls are highly manipulative forum dwellers that are triggered by certain content, and/or enjoy ruining other peoples hobby time.

 

[tabascosauz]

Without clear guidance, one may be violating forum rules without any intention, or even noticing, as it is entirely up to the moderator's own interpretation (and potentially personal affiliation) to decide.

We can provide some clarification, but there is no "clear guidance" because of the diversity of threads and users that exist on TPU. Not everything in life can be boiled down to a simple rule.

• Stay away from politics
• Don't flame, bait and troll
• Ask yourself if OP would find your response helpful to their query
• Ask yourself if an OT tangent has gone on long enough to warrant continuing someplace else

It may sometimes get LQ'd or removed as part of a wider thread cleanup where necessary, but we don't infract people for a one-off OT.

 

[AusWolf]

Thanks, guys!