Open discussion about the community.

[adamtemp64]

Leading on from a thread that was derailed after a member stated there views on the state of the community I am creating this open discussion.

I am also taking the view that was expressed in the thread from post 24 onwards http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Welcome-News/O2-Community-Rewards-April-2014/m-p/661441#M8644 that @Bambino made.

The discussion lead to hints that many long standing members of this community had left for the reasons as stated in the thread linked. I will not duplicate now as the comments are still there.

As this is a customer to customer community I feel it is time that the wishes of the community are acted upon.

This morning I clicked on unread posts and nearly all were in off topic with a few Questions about o2 that were buried amongst all the facebook like talk.

I am as stated before (on previous occasions) and after much concideration thinking of also withdrawing my support for this community as it is not the place it was. After this thread has been replied to I will make my decision on if I stay or go and will post an open letter explaining the reasons I can no longer support the community if I chose to leave.

[jonsie]

Members know my standing on this. Perhaps @Anonymous or @Toby can merge the thread mentioned with this one so as posts aren't repetitive?

[Anonymous]

As long as the Off Topic Discussions do not spill over into the Main Boards ,and the discussions in the main boards stay on topic, I personally don't see an issue.

I quote ;

"Id like to welcome one and all to the O2 Community! Its a great place to get advice, post your feedback and talk about your ideas for the network. If you have a question that you need some advice on, head over to the devices section or the other products and services section. You can also get rewarded for helping others as well chat about anything you like in the off-topic section."

http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Welcome-News/Introduce-yourself-on-the-O2-Community/td-p/571606

[Cleoriff]

For what it's worth this is my personal 'take' on this.

Not all of us are technical experts and I include myself in that category. However I am learning more

purely by reading posts and answers supplied by the 'experts'

However, my area of so called expertise, lies within discussion and debate and therefore if I want to

be part of the community, I am usually found hanging around the off topic/discussion areas.

I personally have rarely started a discussion. My one and only claim to 'fame' was a post titled Good

Manners (posted ages ago)

I do however, enjoy joining in with selected off topic threads IF they are of interest to ME.

I will not post for the sake of posting. I have no interest in increasing my rank. As said before I have

been with this forum for 18 mths and I am 'only' level 15.

Who cares? I certainly do not!!

If there wasn't an Off Topic section then people like myself would not last long on this Forum as there

would be very little reason to be involved.

Having said all of the above, I do feel there are far too many Facebook type threads started in Off

Topic presently.

I am, as you see, between a 'rock and a hard place' with this subject

[adamtemp64]

@Cleoriff that is the issue chit chat is fine but some threads now have seriously way to much personal information i.e. name, age, personal medical history, location, detailed description of the area and all in an open forum that anybody can read and gain information that could be very usefull to some types. This information is spread accross many threads but easy to gather together.

[Anonymous]

I do appreciate that not everybody is here to socialise and some of you are exclusively interested in receiving/providing help.

However, communities are also driven and kept lively by the social element - how many of you have made real life friends here? I certainly know I have an ongoing personal relationship with many of you which goes well beyond conversations about O2 in private.

The human factor is what makes a forum special, because it's all about people. We have designed the forum in a way where people can be people in the off topic section, while the rest of the forum is meant to be for help. The opportunity to interact is complementary, and the popularity of certain off topic threads that are still very active prove that there is a need for human relations.

As for rewards, they are based on factors that are independent from the quantity of the interaction. I'm sure you will all agree that members who have received community rewards really deserved recognition for their contribution.

It's all about balance.

[adamtemp64]

@chiara yes balance but too much personal information is being divulged and advice sought that should be left to the profesionals

[Anonymous]

I don't necessarily disagree with you, Adam, however it's personal choice. We make sure that the information divulged doesn't put members at risk, that's all we can do. Anything else would be censorship.

[Cleoriff]

I can only base my argument on my own personal experience @adamtemp64 

Whilst I agree with some of your points, for me it was starting as completely technophobic and relying

on people like yourself, jonsie, perksie, MI5, BoB (and others) that I increased my knowledge

somewhat.

However, I STARTED by getting involved in Off Topic. Only when I realised you were a friendly bunch

who actually would not 'bite my head off'.... did I venture out into the wide world of technical threads.

I also think I have encouraged one or two newbies on here to seek the help of you expert people,

so surely that is good, that now people will come to you and others?

I just feel there is a place for all types of people  and as long as Off Topic doesn't degenerate into

a mad Facebook type diary.... we should be ok

Finally... I too have made many friends on here (yourself included).

If it wasn't for places like this, I would be stuck in Neverland with my old Motorola Razr..and looking

askance at folk who could do things I could only dream of 2 years ago

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with @Chiara on this I have made friends on this community which I communicate with outside of it and I don't think that would happen without off topic as long as it's separate then I don't see an issue as long as people don't put there address etc then what's the problem if they want to post personal things about their medical history etc that's up to the poster not for anyone else to decide