Hello ;D
This subject may surprise everyone but there’s nothing strange and improper about this stuff 
Just to know … could we start an off-topic here rather the other one is locked ???
See ya ++
Closing the Off-Topic Forum was a Management decision.
Only Alwil can reopen it.
Considering how long it’s been closed, Reopening that forum doesn’t seem likely… :‘( :’(
Another way that it could be looked at is that Heyyy, it’s been closed down now for 3 years. MAYBE the Riffraff that was allegedly behaving like Kindergartners … might have already left the building. ;D Hey, I wasn’t here at the time. I don’t know what went down. When I joined the avast! Forums recently, out of curiosity, I believe I only went over there and read the the LAST Post and maybe 3 to 5 others. Nnnnggg, it was probably no worse than many of the AOL Boards on which I have posted. Maybe if they opened up the avast! Off Topic Forum, they could do like on the AOL Boards. If you get out of line, you get TOSed (Terms Of Service Agreement Violation) … your Access to AOL is almost virtually totally disconnected. You have only very limited connection to where you have to via Online, contact AOL and be Cyberly Reprimanded and educated on how you have to behave. ;D Then they change all your Screen Names’ Passwords to Default. You then have to Reset your Passwords to teach you a lesson. Or you can Call AOL and explain yourself, your behavior. ;D Then if you become a Habitual Get Out of Liner, you do get Suspended from access to the Boards for a week or two. If you’re REALLY seriously a Troublemaking Connoisseur, then you CAN get Banned permanently. There was one Board on there where there was Mass Chaos and Habitual Havoc-wreaking and Fight Fests. Well, the Board was NOT Closed … but, there WAS a Mass Permanent BAN of most of the Posters … the ones who participated in the disorderly conduct.
So, that’s what they could do with an avast! Off Topic Board. With the RULES known in advance … You get Out of Line … You’re HISTORY … Permanent History!
ok sorry … thanks for your answer bob3160 !
Chim, you particularly seemed to be angry with them :
It is that kind of name calling that contributed to its closure. Bob was one of the moderators fot it, but it still required the intervention of Alwil team members at times and I believe they felt they had better things to do, so it was closed.
There are some very simple rules for the forums and people have been banned in the past albeit few were permanent. There used to be a button at the top of every page for them though with the Babylon theme that I use I can’t see it now.
Uhhh, Nope. Actually, NOT at all. I’m NOT angry with anyone, with any of them on that avast! Off Topic Forum. I didn’t post there. I just barely joined the avast! Forums I guess … a month ago. I don’t know anyone who posted there. I don’t know what happened or who did what to whom. I AM though, from my posting experience on other Message Boards, very familiar with the type of nuclear explosions that can go off. I AM very familiar with Posters on other Message Boards who definitely needed to be Banned, but weren’t and they made posting a horrible experience for many others.
I don't know anyone who posted there.I did a lot of posting there.... :) :)
Just to clarify, again … I didn’t even post at that avast! Off Topic Forum. I don’t know anyone from there. I was merely establishing that for that Off Topic Forum to have been Closed, there HAD to have been some SERIOUS Nuclear Verbal Jousting Exchanges. This of the type of which maybe I’ve never seen because I’ve been posting on various Message Boards since 2003 and I had never flat out seen an entire Message Board CLOSED. I then theorized that maybe in the 3 years since, whoever might have engaged in the altercations, might have moved on and was no longer posting on these avast! Forums. My other references were to establish and differentiate the different levels of trouble you could get into on the AOL Boards depending on your level of infraction. I apologize if it came out wrong. My theory was based on that so far in my month or so on these avast! Forums, everyone has seemed very friendly, helpful and well-behaved. I didn’t sense any tension among any of the Regulars on these avast! Forums. So, I figured if someone had serious differences with someone else, they might have already Left the Building and no longer frequented the avast! Forums … and that thus, it might now be SAFE to Reopen the Off Topic Board.
But, Ehhh, you’re right. Might as well leave well enough alone.
Ahhh, probably like the Ignore Author Button we have on the AOL Boards. Well, time to pull the plug on this post as I’m probably already triggering the Red Alert for being Off Topic. Gotta now pull the steering wheel and get back on avast! Boulevard lest I get Banned myself.
These are the comments I referred to, the name calling, Riffraff and Kindergartners, that you made without knowing as by your own admission, you weren’t there. So perhaps ill advised to say anything when the facts aren’t known.
The “Kindergarteners” reference … I did NOT make that one up. That was a derivative of the very word that the person who closed the Board used. THAT’s why I even added “allegedly acting like.” It was basically almost a quote. The “Riffraff” reference was an unfortunate mistake on my part for forgetting or overlooking the fact that I am NOT on the AOL Boards here … that I am NOT known here … that my posting personality / posting style are NOT known here. By me NOT being known here, obviously you all cannot tell when I will have infused a layer of joking sarcasm, tongue in cheek, Etc. to a post. The tone of voice of the intent of my post was obviously totally missed. Again, my fault. I made an assumption. I have to remember I am NOT on the AOL Boards here. I have to remember that how I write things here, is NOT going to be interpreted the same as it would be on my usual Boards. It dawned on me a while ago that very likely posting on an Off Topic Board with members of many different countries and varying levels of knowledge of the English language would very likely be very tricky and risky … certainly NOT easy. Too much risk of one’s words, context, intent, humor, Etc. being misinterpreted due to something being lost in translation.
Was my usage of “Riffraff” ill-advised? In hindsight, my entire post was ill-advised. From now on, I will keep my posts to avast!, computers, software, Etc.
If only I could understand you completely … it will be more interesting … or is my mind is going feeble ? ;D Oh my! no, please ; such a good language !
But can the decision be reviewed ? :-[ (to re-open the off topic or it will be definitely closed ?)
It’s not a big deal Chim. I understood your meaning. It is when we pick at and are too particular or strict with how we interpret what others say that a lot of problems start. If people would assume each others good will then there would probably be less of an issue instead of just pointing the finger in a blameful way. Some of us are very strict with how we interpret words here. I’ve been at the end of it before and it is the reason why I don’t post much. When I have something to say… I do say it, but I never have any ill intent. I say it knowing it will be picked apart by someone and possibly be misinterpreted… Instead of coming back to explain myself now… I just post and not bother responding anymore. I don’t even take a second look unless I’m posting to offer help. Life is too short for that type of silliness. Most of the people here of course… as you know are very good people. Even the few that have misunderstood me and my intentions are good people.