Managing the "Off-Topic" section

How do you approach the "Miscellaneous Discussion" or "Off-Topic" section of your forum: do you moderate it in the same fashion as the rest of your forum, or are you more lenient? Do you have a specific/different set of rules just for the "Off-Topic" section?

 

Depends on how "off topic" the Off Topic area is.

Motoring Alliance has 2 Off Topic areas, one seen by anyone. That one is moderated to same sense of decorum the rest of the public area are under. However the 2nd area is for Members only, not paid as there is no subscription model for the site but only viewable by registered members. In that area we have a Politics, Religion and other "messy" Subject area. That is a bit more lenient on subject matter but language and civility are expected to be on par with the rest of the site.

 

I personally don't moderate off topic conversations, they generally moderate themselves and vanish after a week or so.

 

I would say...no moderation to OT forums.

 

The trouble with different rules for different sections of forum site is peoples behavior tends to sink to the lowest level. Letting peoples 'hair down' in a private forum works ok though.

I ask them to 'behave'. And encourage them to post the more controversial topics at our competitors site. It is a win win. They get more traffic and we keep quality up.

 

Some moderation. I used to do jack when I first got control of a forum years ago. Possibly the worst internet mistake I've made ever.

 

pretty much the same as the rest of the forum, but i am very laid back when it comes to forum moderating

 

I just use pretty much the same moderation as elsewhere... simply because I haven't really had problems with any off topic boards.

 

way way way more lenient

basically everything goes but

1) insane spam and/or harassment
2) NWS material not marked appropriately

 

no moderation except to keep a watch on the subbject and ensure emotions dont get out of hand