# Pointless redefined by Marley23 **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 1, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618 "2009-04-01T19:35:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HumanMonkeyGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c67d28/32.png) [@HumanMonkeyGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HumanMonkeyGod)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/1 "2009-04-01T19:35:38Z")
Well [look](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=512458) it’s a pointless thread in a pointless forum, closed for being pointless. People were participating, and appeared to be having fun. Why closey-closey? Is there any defined boundary between pointless and _too_ pointless? Could it be illustrated? ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/2 "2009-04-02T00:38:22Z")
You closed [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=512458) thread because, in your words, it was a “thread without a point.” Isn’t that in the very definition of that forum? Whassamatter, got your grumpy britches on? Sometimes a stream of conciousness, id-driven, random mutterings thread can be amusing. As far as pittings go, this is about as minor as it gets, but everyone was playing by the rules. Why piddle in the cornflakes? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/3 "2009-04-02T00:54:09Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > You closed [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=512458) thread because, in your words, it was a “thread without a point.” > > Isn’t that in the very definition of that forum? > > Whassamatter, got your grumpy britches on? Sometimes a stream of conciousness, id-driven, random mutterings thread can be amusing. > > As far as pittings go, this is about as minor as it gets, but everyone was playing by the rules. Why piddle in the cornflakes? Critisism of mod actions now belongs in ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/4 "2009-04-02T01:00:07Z")
[QUOTE=Pit forum description] Comments and complaints about SDMB administration should go in About This Message Board. [/QUOTE] Moved from The BBQ Pit to About This Message Board. **Gfactor** Pit Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/5 "2009-04-02T02:42:42Z")
I really hate when this happens, because there’s just no good argument I can make about why you shouldn’t close threads like that. So I’ll make a bad one… Dude, I _really_ wanted to talk about fish. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/6 "2009-04-02T03:57:43Z")
I was going to make a bid to switch up the discussion a bit later on, and declaim, “Tea, Earl Grey, Hot.” I dunno, it was pointless, but… wasn’t it supposed to be? ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/7 "2009-04-02T11:52:29Z")
These are my favorite threads. When the search function was a bit friendlier I even made a collection [[2007’s “too mundane and pointless” collection!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=450882)]. But it’s sort of like “if a tree falls in the woods” thing. In order to rank as completely pointless they have to be \*closed \*for being too pointless. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/8 "2009-04-02T12:30:55Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > You closed [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=512458) thread because, in your words, it was a “thread without a point.” > > Isn’t that in the very definition of that forum? [There are limits, as explained in the forum rules:](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=457052) > [@SkipMagic](#): > > Even this forum—with its spectacular name—has its limits for truly pointless threads. We will be closing threads which cross that line, or exist merely for post-padding reasons. This includes any post count parties. > > We understand that determining what is or isn’t pointless is a subjective process, but we reserve the right to make the final decision. We will, however, be as consistent as possible, with the caveat that as human beings with families, jobs and other distractions, we’ll probably foul up once or twice. I close threads that are just song lyrics being completed one poster at a time, or TV show quotes, or sometimes abstract randomness unless people are really getting into it. Threads for sharing your favorite lyrics and quotes pop up all the time in Cafe Society, they’re fine there. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/9 "2009-04-02T13:48:49Z")
If there was just one rule I could change, it would be this one. You get a bunch of people enjoying themselves, and then some kill joy moderator storms up and thinks to himself ‘Hmm, these folks are really having fun. That’s just not on. They’ve got to be serious, like me’, and stomps on them. No babies are being killed, no tulips being crushed underfoot, so what on earth is the purpose of this? I know it’s in the rules. But why? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/10 "2009-04-02T13:58:54Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > You get a bunch of people enjoying themselves, and then some kill joy moderator storms up and thinks to himself ‘Hmm, these folks are really having fun. That’s just not on. They’ve got to be serious, like me’, and stomps on them. No babies are being killed, no tulips being crushed underfoot, so what on earth is the purpose of this? Sometimes there’s nothing to say but :rolleyes: That’s me, Mr. Serious About Everything. For the record, though, if that thread had continued it was going to kill a LOT of babies. Really cute ones. One of them was going to cure cancer. You see the position I found myself in. > [@](#): > > I know it’s in the rules. But why? People can and do post all kinds of pointless and picayune stuff and that’s the idea of the forum. I think it makes sense to have a little bit of a limit because otherwise a lot of that stuff tends to pop up, and things that might actually interest people get crowded out. ---
**Author:** ![Rin\_Twisted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/82dd89/32.png) [@Rin\_Twisted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rin_Twisted)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/11 "2009-04-02T14:02:15Z")
Well, I would say two threads about the same closing could safely be called too pointless. 🙂 [link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=512620) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/12 "2009-04-02T14:08:23Z")
> [@Rin\_Twisted](#): > > Well, I would say two threads about the same closing could safely be called too pointless. 🙂 And now they’re merged into one. I do want to add that I’ve been locking threads of this type since I became a mod about a year ago, and I haven’t redefined anything. [Here’s an example of a similar thread locked by **SkipMagic**.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10599604#post10599604) ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/13 "2009-04-02T14:12:09Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Sometimes there’s nothing to say but :rolleyes: > > That’s me, Mr. Serious About Everything. > > For the record, though, if that thread had continued it was going to kill a LOT of babies. Really cute ones. One of them was going to cure cancer. You see the position I found myself in. > People can and do post all kinds of pointless and picayune stuff and that’s the idea of the forum. I think it makes sense to have a little bit of a limit because otherwise a lot of that stuff tends to pop up, and things that might actually interest people get crowded out. If that was to actually happen, I would agree. As it is, I think it would have been fairer to let it run its course. If many of that sort actually did crop up, then that could be dealt with at the time. But I don’t think they would. While (bearing in mind recent events That Shall Remain Nameless) this board is owned by others, the tone is decided by what is posted. When that tone is cheerful and uplifting, it seems criminal to squash it. There’s enough suffering in the world (and in my life at the moment) that I value any attempt at levity very highly. Don’t kill it Carol. Oh Carol oh, won’t you let this flower grow, Don’t kill it Carol. (I couldn’t find a relevant song with Marley in it.) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/14 "2009-04-02T14:42:55Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > If many of that sort actually did crop up, then that could be dealt with at the time. They don’t crop up very often because we close them. . 😉 I think most people know about this already, because we usually don’t get questions about these type of closings. > [@](#): > > When that tone is cheerful and uplifting, it seems criminal to squash it. There’s enough suffering in the world (and in my life at the moment) that I value any attempt at levity very highly. I’m not sure these threads (or most other ones) really uplift anybody. I don’t think we’re immolating nuns by locking them either. Basically I see most MPSIMS threads as conversation (“funny news article/pet pics/kid story/blimp attack”) and these other threads putting your finger up to your lips and going “beebadeebadeebadeePHHHHFFFFT!” > [@](#): > > (I couldn’t find a relevant song with Marley in it.) Perhaps you could find a musician with that name. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/15 "2009-04-03T00:47:13Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m not sure these threads (or most other ones) really uplift anybody. Well, you’ve just been told by at least four posters that they do (in so many words), and I haven’t really noticed any objections from the rest. You piddled in the popcorn. Not nice. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/16 "2009-04-03T19:58:21Z")
Those are exactly the kinds of threads I enjoy the most, because they can become so creative and funny. I think it’s a shame that people can’t be a little goofy in threads like that, while at the same time having a forum dedicated to bitching and whining. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/17 "2009-04-03T19:59:35Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Well, you’ve just been told by at least four posters that they do (in so many words), and I haven’t really noticed any objections from the rest. That. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/18 "2009-04-03T21:22:14Z")
I’ve said it before; I’ll say it again: closing threads in which participants are enjoying themselves in the absence of any egregious rules violations is retarded. The whole point of threads is for people to enjoy participating in them and if you think it’s pointless or you’re not interested in it, then go away and find a thread that does. If it annoys some people, so what? A thread which really is too stupid or pointless will stop garnering replies and will effectively close itself by falling off the page. Try it for a little while and see what happens if you think I’m blowing hot air; what’s the harm in that? The universe won’t end because a silly thread isn’t closed. Really. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/19 "2009-04-04T01:12:31Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > The universe won’t end because a silly thread isn’t closed. Really. Anyone say it would? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618/20 "2009-04-04T01:44:39Z")
You know, if all you have to say in response to a reasonable suggestion is to dismiss what is obviously a mere figure of speech (and a common one, at that) then, please, just don’t bother, thanks. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-redefined-by-marley23/491618.md?page=2)