Topic Abuse is Getting Out of Hand

Free Republic | 04/04/2003 | xm177e2

[xm177e2]

Take a look at the articles with the topic "Philosophy"--less than half of these articles can reasonably be described as relating to philosophy.

"Soldier Is Relieved for Streaking on Base" or news of a dozen different bomb attacks--those are not philosophical threads!

The same goes for "Constitution/Conservatism" and "Crime/Corruption." These are supposed to be, respectively, "Discussion of conservatism and conservative principles and issues" and "News and discussion of crime, corruption government abuse, power grabs, and scandal."

Miscellaneous is probably the most-abused topic. Miscellaneous is for "Anything which doesn't fit into another category"--so if you've already put your thread in one category, DON'T ADD MISCELLANEOUS. This is pretty simple.

Breaking News--the worst category, in terms of abuse. DO NOT PUT OLD CRAP into breaking news. Breaking news is for NEW news. If it has been posted before on FR, IT IS NOT BREAKING NEWS. It also has to be IMPORTANT news.

Front Page News: this is for IMPORTANT news. I don't see much abuse of this topic.

Anthrax and WoT should be pretty easy to figure out.

States: this is news about specific states. DO NOT PING EVERY SINGLE STATE TO YOUR THREAD. That is incredibly stupid. PLEASE do not do that.

Before you post a vanity or miscellaneous thread, consider if it would not be more appropriate in the chat/general interest forum.

And of course, no discussion would be complete without mentioning the LEAST-ABUSED category: Vanity ("Your Opinion/Questions"). When you make a vanity post here, you MUST put it in this category.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

We are all automatically subscribed to jack.

[petuniasevan]

Seasons we got in abundance.

Winter for 6 months

Spring for 6 days

Then Road Construction until Winter

[mc10]

you just had to "share" this with us didn't you? Why don't you just not go to philosophy if you don't approve.

[petuniasevan]

...And 1 week of bright fall colors until vicious gales rip the leaves off the trees.

[Billthedrill]

Why did you post this in the "Kinky Interspecies Sex" topic area? That's the only one I'm subscribed to.

[pooh fan]

Oh grow up

[Fury]

A steady drip of abuse?

This is abuse - mainlined...

[Fury]

Take a look at the articles with the topic "Philosophy"--less than half of these articles can reasonably be described as relating to philosophy.

This could explain the "C" I received in Intro to Philosophy.

[jackbill]

"Soldier Is Relieved for Streaking on Base" or news of a dozen different bomb attacks--those are not philosophical threads!

Obviously the "streaking" soldier has a philosophy. Just because it doesn't match yours does that mean that his is meaningless, or irrelevant?

I think that you need to reassess your own "philosophy". Perhaps you are a bit intolerant. Perhaps you are a bit more than intolerant. Perhaps you are a philosophobe.

[Fury]

Don't do that! I spit up soda through my nose!

[bwteim]

Frankly, this is the one and only "worthless" thread I've seen on FR.

Scoop signed up 2003-03-22

[Revolting cat!]

"I yam spud!"

[ALS]

"pooh fan" telling me to grow up?

heh

[notyourregularhandle]

Wow, Jim and the Admins must be busy. Thanks for helping out... ???

[Republic of Texas]

I know why you started this thread, and it's a noble cause. But I'd rather discuss the upcoming baseball season, or Civil War history.

Announcer cutting in..."Yes topic abuse is a very bad thing, but let's not forget, THREAD ABUSE. Can we just TRY to stay on topic? It's for the chil'ren.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Abuse--infused!

[Fury]

Occam's Razor is all we need to know...

[error99]

What?
You went to college?
Who'd a thunk it.

[Revolting cat!]

Tomorrow's headline today:

Accuser: Looser Users Abuse Abuse!

[mrsmith]

I couldn't believe that idiot that has posted 8 "bomb" articles in Constitution/Conservatism.

He needs a straight-jacket.