Originally posted by Sankon I hesitate to post this, not least because this thread lost it's original (funny, useful) purpose long ago. But after three moderator posts in a row, all continuing the offtopic chat, it seems now or forever hold my peace: why is this thread allowed (and by the moderators' own contributions, encouraged) to become a general chat thing, whereas other threads equally harmless are firmly shutdown, often by those same moderators, for "going off topic"?
I own a K3, and come to this forum to see what if anything is new and interesting. This thread is always bubbling at the top with inanity about cars, crocodiles and other stuff. Perhaps it could be renamed or moved somewhere less specific to the K3? The activity means it pops up in Google when searching for the K3, and it makes neither a good impression on the model, Pentax, Pentaxians and dare I say, this forum.
I imagine this will be my last post.
Something just occurred to me.
There is a mention of moderators posting here, multiple times, in a row, off topic even. Yes, I, and others, responded, but looking at this again I get an additional takeaway.
Apparently moderators aren’t seen as members first, moderators second. Indeed, all of us are members of this community, drawn together by the common thread of photography, and Pentax cameras and lenses.
And every moderator was a member before volunteering to help moderate this awesome community. So is it not OK to mingle and socialize with other members, by virtue of having moderator status?
If it isn’t, then I should ask Adam to terminate my moderator status, as I enjoy participating in discussions on this forum, and for some reason I cannot discern, this discussion more than any other. Perhaps it is the free form nature of the conversation here. I’ve gotten to know most of the regular posters here quite well, and consider them my friends. If I am ever in their neighborhood, I will message them and try to coordinate a meetup for a beer or coffee.
There are thousands of discussions here, but I doubt many that are as close as this one.
It is an anomaly, for sure. And to those who stumble upon it, expecting the regimented, stay on topic nature of most discussions may be given to pause, be put off balance by it.
I can’t explain it.
I just accept it.
So join in if you like, get to know the regulars. Who knows, you might make some new friends.