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Verse in the Switchboard (and elsewhere)

Regrettable Juvenilia

14:04 / 17.01.03

There's been a number of instances recently of people posting verse in the Switchboard, sometimes in threads that were already underway. Now, so far as a Moderator I haven't been asked to do anything about this, and am unsure of how to proceed, largely because it seems that a precedent will be set either way. I wanted to canvas opinion, and not single out specific posters for fairly obvious reasons, so...

What do people think about this? If someone wants to express their view on the prospect of a US/UK invasion of Iraq in the medium of poetry or lyrics, is that perfectly valid, or should it be discouraged? (Please note: the issue of the quality of the verse seems fairly irrelevant for the purposes of this thread, and when it comes to on or off-topicness, I think posts should always be judged on a case-by-case basis and the same standards apply as for prose...)

Hattie's Kitchen

14:24 / 17.01.03

I'm a relative newbie so maybe veteran posters' opinions will count for more than mine but personally I think it's wrong to post prose in Switchboard, as there's a danger of the thread going off topic very quickly, and other people getting annoyed and posting snarky comments about it - if people want to express themselves through prose/poetry/lyrics, then they should provide a link to their own blogs where they can do so, rather than clutter up the Switchboard...but that's just me...

grant

14:26 / 17.01.03

It seems to me that as long as it's on topic and not violating the spirit of the forum, it's welcome. I don't see any reason why verse can't examine tough concepts in the Head Shop, or current events in the Switchboard. As long as that's what it's actually doing.

ONLY NICE THINGS

16:35 / 17.01.03

On topic is the relevant thing here, I think. if people wish to express themselves in verse, or through the medium of dance, they are certainly welcome to do so as far as I am concerned. However, just posting a song lyric or poem or whatever with only tangential relevance to the topic is, AFAIK, self-aggrandising spam, which *will* rot the thread.

Matthew Fluxington

18:41 / 17.01.03

I'm going to agree with Haus on this - so long as the post is completely on-topic, and the reason for posting in verse is a logical one and not part of someone's clever shtick, I think it would be perfectly fine. I'd be very wary of anyone making a habit out of something like that - I can't imagine that there's all that many occasions in which posting in verse would really add to the discussion and not become a curiosity or distraction.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

21:40 / 17.01.03

Yes, I think the main criterion should be relevance.

Fist Fun

15:00 / 19.01.03

Again yes, any relevant contribution is welcome whatever form it takes. As long as it doesn't completely derail a thread, like posting a huge pre-written essay, then it should be left as is.

Tom Coates

22:12 / 20.01.03

If it contributes to the thread, leave it. Otherwise unfortunately it has to be deleted. It would be better if it could be moved into the creation, but this isn't a perfect world...

deja_vroom

10:24 / 24.01.03

With Tom on this one. Create a topic for it on The Creation, if possible.

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