Idea to stop "lounge only" type posters

**Don Hutton** · 26-Apr-2007, 15:21

It strikes me that at least 50% of the traffic in the lounge is from posters who contribute almost nothing else to this forum except the endless politcal/religious drivel which seems to constitute 95% of what is the "lounge". I'd like to offer a suggestion - if the software allows - I have no idea how sophisticated it is - is there any way in limiting persons postings in sub forums like the lounge such that at least 50% of what they post has to be in other forums or they cannot access the lounge? There seem to be a "usual crowd" of forum sloths who really offer little else to this community except their petty political peeves which they obviously cannot find enough friends in real life to share with. It would at least encourage them to participate in the actual purpose of the forum (i.e. sharing info etc related to large format photography) or perhaps to disappear into a more relevant site elsewhere (or they could start their own like www.howsadami.com)...

**paulr** · 26-Apr-2007, 15:24

how hard is it to not read the lounge?

**Bruce Watson** · 26-Apr-2007, 15:30

Originally Posted by paulr

how hard is it to not read the lounge?

Agreed. If all they want is to talk in the lounge, so be it. That's why we have the lounge in the first place isn't it?

**Ron Marshall** · 26-Apr-2007, 15:33

Doesn't bother me, I can easily ignore the Lounge when a topic is of no interest.

**Greg Lockrey** · 26-Apr-2007, 15:36

Originally Posted by paulr

how hard is it to not read the lounge?

I find it very difficult not to peruse the "Lounge".

I get most of my laughs from it from what is a usually dull day (night) of printing. Most of the "Loungees" I see are pretty knowledgable about photography as well. So what if their politics doesn't jive with my ideal world.

The lounge can be therapudic, it allows one to blow off some steam.

**Marko** · 26-Apr-2007, 15:38

Originally Posted by paulr

how hard is it to not read the lounge?

Almost as hard as to ignore it, apparently.

**Kirk Gittings** · 26-Apr-2007, 15:43

I learn allot about who not to do business with from the conversations on the lounge. It is very useful in that regard.

**Greg Lockrey** · 26-Apr-2007, 15:53

Originally Posted by Kirk Gittings

I learn allot about who not to do business with from the conversations on the lounge. It is very useful in that regard.

I can't agree with this statement at all....I've done some very good business with people here that I have'nt agreed with. Most everyone here are really nice guys. You can't always tell the "book by it's cover" so to speak.

**Eric James** · 26-Apr-2007, 16:13

To each his own, I suppose.

I've found some lounge discussions entertaining and enlightening, but half of the time I end up wishing I hadn't become involved.

Canning the lounge might make for a more lively photography forum, with folks spending more energy on relevant topics, and less on Hillary and Bush. On the other hand, the lounge provides the moderators with a place to dump, rather than kill, OT threads.

**Sheldon N** · 26-Apr-2007, 16:38

I'd forgotten that there even was a lounge, since I added it to my ignore list about 6 months ago. That has been a good move on my part, since it's hard not to read the topics that you know are "hot button" issues.

All you have to do is go to:

My Settings: Edit Options: Forums to Exclude from View (at the bottom)

The lounge will never bother you again.