BuzzerBeater Forums

And even if the reason is obvious, I think it should still be given.

Well, like I said I see no benefit in bumping spam threads. The users should rely on the competence of the GMs/Mods in evaluating what is purely spam. Even better would be for users to never post spam, but I guess we have Monty Python and Tim Berners-Lee to thank for that not happening.

Another related suggestion, is perhaps GMs could be less strict on offtopic conversations.

I think we are too lenient. I know I am too lenient. OT discussions can be fun and they can even be constructive, but in both cases there is a possibility to continue the discussion under a new topic (that can be linked to). If the discussion is first on topic, then goes off topic, and returns on topic, many people who would like the on-topic information will miss the second part of the relevant discussion as they see the discussion take a new direction. People just don't have time to go through all the chatter when they are looking for something specific. Improved search tools would help (and I don't mean just in BB), but we should do our best to help with our own actions.

I feel the policy should change because it kills forum activity.

That's really up to the users IMO. Off-topic discussion serves mostly forum actives, not the masses.

there are often some great offtopic conversations relating to BB that happen because of an original topic sidestepping in to this new topic.

There is very much flexibility in such cases IMO.

Even better would be for users to never post spam, but I guess we have Monty Python and Tim Berners-Lee to thank for that not happening.

haha I don't see that ever happening lol.

Improved search tools would help (and I don't mean just in BB), but we should do our best to help with our own actions.

I think that is a key factor here. Off topic discussions wouldn't hurt anyone if there was a simple and easy way to search for the information required. Most people don't search for threads anyway, they just post their question in a new thread, so I don't think off topic discussions will affect many people in that situation. Just take a look at the help forum for repeat posts :P

That's really up to the users IMO. Off-topic discussion serves mostly forum actives, not the masses.

hmm I would argue that the masses don't use the forum. It would be interesting to see the stats though. How many users access the forum, how many different users post, and how often. From what I've seen, there are a couple hundred users that post frequently (in Global, Help, Bugs and Suggestions) and these are the forum actives but I imagine that they make up over half the people that use the forums.

That's really up to the users IMO. Off-topic discussion serves mostly forum actives, not the masses.

hmm I would argue that the masses don't use the forum.

Sure, majority of BB users probably don't use the forums (regularly anyway). But most people are usually happy to just read, and most of them don't even want to spend a lot of time doing that. I have seen very different numbers over the years for different types of Internet forums, mailing lists etc. Anyway, the often quoted ratio is 90-9-1 for lurkers, time-to-time contributors, and heavy contributors ("no-lifes"). Some estimates based on studies (where the total population is however usually relatively small and the field of discussion is fairly narrow) go as far as claiming 50/50 between lurkers and contributors, but based on my own experience I believe the typical ratio is closer to 90/10. In BB, most of those who have found the forums have probably posted at least once, because that is required to complete the tutorial.