wait - do you mean a totally separate forum addressed to those particulalr topics?

We tried this idea a few years ago, someone, can't remember who, kindly setup an offsite forum for those of us who wanted to have a say about things not Vegas related, well not directly related.

Just kind of faded away, sadly.

Not that I don't think that a lot of the stuff here isn't important however I really do have to wonder about how it might be viewed in many parts of the world. No doubt Vegas users come from every part of the planet, some even come from places where expressing certain views can land you in a whole lot of trouble, etc.

Bob.

I think it is fine the way it is. Just slap an OT up there and if someone wants to read it, then great. If not, then they can pass it by. I like to come to the forum, take a look at what is current and click through them.

j razz

agreed -

I wasn't talking about something off site, i'm talking about another parent catagory in these forums.

Over a quarter of the posts on the front page of this forum category are OT. We need an OT category. Will a bump help?

This comes up once or twice a year.
I don't get it. If it says, "OT," and you don't want to read it, don't. What's the benefit of a new catagory. The subject line says it all for most posts.

.............Over a quarter of the posts on the front page of this forum category are OT................

That will change when 7 is released

The benefit of housing a new, separate Off-Topic Discussions category is the same benefit we get for housing a separate DVD Architect category. These are two hot topics which have nothing to do with one another, so you have two unrelated topics competing for the same space. Because of the large load (25%+) of the OT threads, Vegas Video topics suffer as they get pushed farther down the forum.

I take a look at the forum almost daily and usually multiple times during the day. I also choose to display 50 threads at a time. I have been a constant user of the forum since 2004 and have not had a problem with the OT posts. Regardless though, it is a mute point. If sony wants an OT forum they will make it; I highly doubt it though.

j razz

I have been a constant user of the forum since 2004...

I read back over this and I made myself out to sound like an addict! :)

j razz

Well, I'm optimistic, and that's my first problem. With that in mind, I figure that if I bring this to their attention, well, then maybe they will make the OT forum, thus making the mute speak. That'll be a miracle.

- miracle max, jon

Take a look at other forums that have chosen to split up into many many different categories.

a) It gives the appearance that there isn't much going on, which would be a disaster for Sony.

b) It is a lot more work for forum participants to scan for useful information, because now you have to flop in and out of the different subforums to see what's new. This quickly gets boring, so you leave and go get your information elsewhere, perhaps the PP or FCP forums that certainly aren't as good as the current Vegas forum, but would still beat the proposed bureaucratic forum model.

This forum is an astonishing community, and with Vegas 7 around the corner I make one of my very rare predictions: that the Vegas forum will become a serious factor in new people's purchase decisions, as existing Vegas owners spread the word about this superb and unique resource.

I'm incredibly grateful for all I have learned in this forum!

Champagne for everybody next week!

I'm incredibly grateful for all I have learned in this forum!
Truer words were never spoken. Some of the best people I know...I've met thru this forum as well.
Course even taught me to be a caffiene addict. ;-)

I understand that logic, so in that case, why don't we ditch the Scripting and Audio sub-categories. I hate navigating over to those. In fact, I would post an audio or scripting question here before I ever tried posting there. The only reason I wanted the other category is because this is supposed to be Vegas Video, and folks seemed to be complaining about all the exterior stuff. That's what I do, I try to voice improvements.

Jonathan -

I totally agree with Course on this topic -

when you've got a situation that is working, it's generally best to leave it alone -
your opitmism reflects your own personal viewpoint, not necessarily the viewpoint of this group -
not liking OT subjects in this particular forum is easily overcome by :
A - reading (note OT at start of subject)
B - scrolling
Problem solved.

I, for one, LOVE the unusual places that OT has taken me. And no, I would never really go to an OT forum - too political - too argumentative and too loaded with people that just want to fight. Further, this particular forum truly functions in many ways like an extended family. It's great to see a real response from people that I have a common interest with (Vegas/Film/Media) - they are people I like, and people I respect - for reasons I understand.

I admit it -
while I often seek and dispense techical advice - it's the OT subjects in this forum that are the "spice" that bring me back. It's fun to see what the "family" is bitching or raving about.

But I would NEVER spend my time in an purely OT arena. I've got better things to do. And I skip the OT's that don't interest me - it's really easy to do.

If it ain't broke - don't fix it.

v

What Vic said.

Also, remember that the purpose of this forum is ultimately to help SONY. It only helps us users in as much as it helps keeps us being happy paying customers.

I can't see any way in which SONY would profit by having an OT forum in here. I can see many ways in which it could be a PR nightmare. Weighing those two considerations, i think it's unlikely that we'll ever see it.

Hmm. Yea, I guess you guys are right. I was wrong.

Great points, all around. And hey, think of it this way - we just had a fun time figuring that all out, and some really nice comments were made. I know I got some insight, and maybe some others did too. Thanks farss, jrazz, vicmilt, mjroddy, winrock, Coursedesign, DSE (oh great SVCT), and Chienworks. But you, JJKizak, you were wrong with me!

Just kidding, we're all winners here on the Sony Media Software Forums!

In all seriousness though, I do think you guys were right; thanks for the discussion :)

JN -
the idea was interesting
the enthusiaam was excellent
the reasoning well thought out
but
the apology was sincere and wonderful

I predict great success for you in this industry (no joke).

Too many people in show business like to get on top of a tall horse and try to crap on eveyone else standing around - good thread.

v

Jonathan Neal:
Sorry if I ruffled your feathers. I wish I could blame it on the full of the moon but I can't.

JJK

The OT comments multiply as we all wait for the next release--it happens every year. We have exhausted the feature discussions, can search for basic editing questions, and just keep adding OT's as we pass the time. In this case, we have waited longer than normal, so the OT's appear to have increased.

OT's will slow down when we get to rave and rant about v7.