This is to acknowledge
Kyoto Returnee's proposition.
It would appear to me that this forum needs a permanant "Off Topic" thread for "Off Topic" posts, with full consideration for the moderators constantly complaining all the time about the subject.
This kind of thing (which is basically what MadamePapillon has proposed above) might be kind of fun, in a way. A total nonsense thread. Of course, it would be a thread rather than a sub-forum or forum, and it would be under Chit Chat & Miscellaneous.
Even with that, however, it would be under all
the rules of JREF. Therefore the rule against being off topic would equally apply there...but only in reverse--that is, no one could post a reply that would be more than, say, 30% in regards the theme/topic of that thread (which would be, of course...something like...'
Off Topic Discussion of Black Holes On the Moon'...)
By way of establishing a few facts that might clear up some questions seen from your proposal, Kyoto Returnee san, I might point out that Dutch Baka san is administration, under AdminJP san. I am a moderator as is Mikawa Ossan san, which is a position under administration.
At JREF, we have primarily three modes of communication, namely (in order of usage, the boards (forums in total), the Private Message system, and the CHAT ROOM. The first and third modes are public and the second one is private.
There will be times when we on the JREF staff will use the PM system to ask members questions or to advise them, or make requests. There will be times when we choose to do so publicly--it is at each staff member's discretion and discern. In my case, and likely equally most other team member's cases, when we choose to draw the attention of a specific member in public, it is exactly for the reason of transparency.
In the case of a post dealing with a moderating matter, it is exactly due to that specific member's lack of execution of a team member's request, and therefore (when it can fairly be judged and held valid) the member in question should feel a bit uncomfortable.
An infraction is just as a good dictionary will define it. The one you recieved (and you only recieved one infraction but it carries two
points), I have investigated, and judge it to have been lawfully given.
The post in question contained far more content on the situation in Australia than that of Japan, and the thread was under the '
Japanese News and Hot Topics' forum under what is '
Japan Forum.' This area is to talk about things Japanese, and the thread was to talk about things in Japan. There had been a public warning given in post #36 after at least one already off-topic post each by you and Chi65 (which were allowed to stand). It is fair enough.
I feel need to point out, Kyoto Returnee san, that you have joined JREF on December 18, 2007 yet JREF has been here for a while. You joined as a bonafide member of this forum, agreeing by doing so to follow the rules that we have. One of those rules is to adhere to the topic/theme of a thread upon which one is posting, and the forum in which the thread is situated.
At times, we give a slight break to some who are new (such as I had done in my post # 84 on the Animal Cruelty in Japan thread, by giving slack to otoko san who is very new) but as a member gets to know the place, the way things work, and how we on the team work, then we expect greater adherence to our advice, requests and actions taken.
While it is good that you are speaking up and making a proposal for the 'Off Topic' thread, and speaking your mind on some things, thereby giving us the chance to clear them up for you and all, I would suggest that you do keep in mind that JREF is here, and has been here, and while we wish to give fair and due consideration to the members at large, it would be very unproductive and negative-in-outcome to entertain the idea that anyone is exempt from the basic rules and procedures we have here.
If you are reluctant to open your PMs, and in the case that failure to open them, read, and act on them causes any loss, that loss is fully your own responsibility.
We, are here to work with you, Kyoto Returnee and Chi65 (since you seconded the motion) but it will be within the guidelines of the Forum Rules, and we shouldn't expect to see them changing any time soon.
Thank you for your help in making the democratic mode work here at JREF, for I strongly feel that has its own place here at JREF too--within limits and to certain degrees. ( I say this because the membership cannot vote on rule changes, or such things, per se...the site has private ownership {which is very fair, I do reason from my experience here})
I hope this serves the purpose well on the areas touched on here. Thank you. Mars Man