General / Off-topic / forum sections

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 13 Apr 2012, 13:57

Hi

There has been quite a lot of discussion recently about what counts as "on-topic" or "off-topic", and I think maybe this forum might benefit from introducing a new section.

What is "on-topic" for this forum, which is supposed to be about peak oil?

It is easy to say certain things are off-topic, such as 9/11 conspiracy theories or somebody's friend taking pictures from the top of a construction site. But there's a massive range of topics which, while they aren't directly about oil, are very much relevant to the discussion which develops after you've accepted peak oil is happening. As the regulars here all know, peak oil isn't some sort of isolated event but the cherry on top of a very large cake - the most important part of "peak everything" (which is a dodgy term, but will do.) That means pretty much anything to do with the economic/monetary chaos that is only just getting started, globally-relevant ecological issues, overpopulation, the societal/psychological responses to these things, and anything concerning the academic, cultural and philosophical backdrop to the whole debate.

The truth (and I think we all believe this too, in one way or another) is that we are heading for the biggest crisis/transformation in the history of civilisation, and that provides a lot of scope for stuff which is neither off-topic nor directly about oil. So I suggest that instead of just having a "general" category and "off topic", we have three.

Peak Oil: stuff which is directly to do with peak oil or the oil industry in general.

[What shall we call it?]: all the stuff which isn't directly related to peak oil or the oil industry, but is related to the wider crisis/transformation.

Off-topic: stuff that has nothing to do with either oil or any of the other stuff mentioned in this post.

What could we call it?

Suggestions:

The Bigger Picture: the consequences of "peak everything" and the fate of industrialised civilisation.

Civilisation and Ecology: the context of Peak Oil and ecological sustainability.

Or something along those lines...

Post by **clv101** » 13 Apr 2012, 14:36

We already have:
General Discussion
Forum for general discussion of Peak Oil / Oil depletion; also covering related related subjects

And
Off Topic
Where off-topic threads go. Spam will sometimes be moved here before deletion, if it's amusing.

I'm not connived there's room for a third forum, General Discussion's description already includes "also covering related related subjects." Quite why there are two relateds I'm not sure.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 13 Apr 2012, 14:47

Good points UE but I don't mind veering away from the central focus; I always think of the name of forum (and all its ramifications which touch on most human endeavours) rather than the strapline.

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 13 Apr 2012, 15:57

I tend to never notice which forum something is in as I just click the "posts since last visit" link.....

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 13 Apr 2012, 16:01

Perhaps it is the name "off topic" that is frustrating... as in "You have deviated from the subject and your thread is banished to "Off Topic". "

Calling it "Other Stuff" might sound less like a banishment.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 13 Apr 2012, 16:45

Keela wrote:I tend to never notice which forum something is in as I just click the "posts since last visit" link.....

Yus.