Please Keep Replies On-Topic

[john]

Hi Gang

 

We,ve had a few requests from members for staff to help try and keep posts as on-topic as possible.

 

We will do what we can to help. We want to do so in a way that is sensitive to the reply poster too.

 

Going off-topic is something we can all be guilty of. 

 

By staying on topic it keeps the original poster happy as their subject is being discussed, not yours. This is especially true on member introductions, critique posts, songwriting and marketing discussions etc. Please note, discussion on your subject is welcome, but greatly appreciated if you can, take off-topic stuff into your own topic, or if you prefer, topics.

 

New topics really help the boards come alive, but importantly they help members find your post at a later point.

 

Search engines like on-topic content. Web pages that wander plummet in search listings. This affects the amount of new visitors each page attracts, and overall how on-topic search engines view the entire site. It also has an effect on how suitable new visitors are as possible new members.

 

So, firstly comes this request to all members:

 

A. We do not want to discourage discussion. We are just asking that we all respect the Original Poster’s intent for the topic and that we each ask ourselves if content we are posting would be more beneficial within a dedicated topic.

 

B. Please try and stay as on-topic as possible. You can of course mention related topics, but if you start drilling down into a topic, please start a new topic on that subject on a new board. 

 

C. I would ask members to help guide topics back to the original topic using BTT or  

 

D. A mod may approach you:

 

1. Asking you to edit your post in order to move some of your reply into a dedicated topic
2. Offering to edit your post in order to move some of your reply into a dedicated topic in your name
3. To inform you that your entire post is off-topic and that it has been moved in to a dedicated topic

 

If 1 or 2 happens and the member refuses, the moderator may hide or remove your post entirely. We do not want to do this. It is a last resort.

 

E. For repeat off-topic posters a moderator may want to speak with you to explain the importance of on-topic posters.

 

As staff we will look to create a video on this topic that members can watch and refer fellow members to.

 

Thank you all for your cooperation, and please take this in the spirit it is intended... constructive and in the best interests for us all, off-topic posters included!

 

Cheers

 

John

 

P.S. This is not a debate topic, or an opportunity to air old grievances. All such posts will be removed.